ZOSO <(")

I might be getting a bass soon but I don't have a bass amp. Can I play a bass through a regular guitar amp?

ChucklesMginty

No, it can severely damage the speaker.

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Fisheth24

This.

Am I right that it's the attack of the bass that will damage it?

or am I totally wrong and it's something else entirely?

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katalyzt13

It is like gambling with your guitar amp, for real. I've played a bass through a 212 120 watt solid state guitar amp and it was okay, but I did it knowing full well that I could potentially kill my amp. I wouldn't recommend it.

moody git

we should probably rename the forum to add this in. don't take the risk. even if it doesn't cause your speaker to break into millions of pieces it will more than likely sound like a fart and who wants that? guitar speakers aren't meant or built to handle the frequencies put out by a bass.

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DONT RISK IT, BUY A BASS AMP

jetwash69

Don't do it through your guitar amp, but if you have a PA, you can plug it into the PA thru a DI Box.

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fudger

We should make a thread for this and get it stickied so we don't have to answer thus question quite as much.

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chatterbox272

No-one reads the stickies, and if they did there'd be like no posts in here (or in many other forums). Just seems to be the way UG is

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tabdog

It depends on the guitar amp.

If you use an old Peavey Basic 80,
you'd be fine. The Trasntube, not
as much. Especially an open back
is bad.

I put an old 1960's 12 inch JBL
guitar speaker in a bass amp
and it was a big improvement.
I used that amp over 25 years
with no problem.

Wish I hadn't sold it,

Tabdog

John Swift

.

The problem that will usually follow is damage to the speakers due to the extra cone movement/excursion that is required for bass application.
Sound from a speaker is about moving air, the lower the frquency the more air is moved this means extra cone movement.
Bass speakers are more expensive to produce due to the added/type of materials used on the front and rear suspensions which are not needed on a standard/guitar loudspeaker.
Another point to consider is that a low wattage amplifier can overheat in the output stage if being used for bass application, this is due to the extra power required when making the loudspeaker reproduce low bass frequencies with the extra cone movement.
A standard speaker can and usually will fatigue and soften the surrounds if used in bass applications at high levels over a period of time.

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_ThePanda_

It's not a thread completely on its own, but it is in one of the stickies in this forum. 2nd post of the "Ultimate Bass Forum FAQ":



I believe it can work the opposite way around, though. (Playing a guitar through a bass amp = ok)

John Swift

Buddy Holly and Eddie Cochrane played through Fender Bassman amps.

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eddiehimself

Sure people would read it. Just make the title "DON'T PLAY YOUR BASS THROUGH A GUITAR AMP!"

Anyway, the only issue with guitar amps is the speakers. You can play a bass through a guitar amp as long as you use some kind of crossover or EQ to limit the low frequencies.

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John Swift

Not true.

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Ashdown RPM pre-amp
Ashdown Little Giant 1000
300 watt 15" powered cab
450 watt 15" powered sub bass cab
2x10 + horn
1x15x10 + horn

_ThePanda_

Yup. I think blues guitar players use bass amps as well because of the certain tone that is achieved from it.

BassKitteh

It's fine to use a guitar on a bass amp, but the other way round could rip your speaker cone.

Generally, bass amps are built from tougher materials to account for the lower frequencies and the speaker cones having to do more work, so if you try and run a bass through the guitar amp you'll see that the smaller cone of the amp won't be able to handle the air pressure of the bass.

eddiehimself

Yes it is though. There are plenty of famous bass players who use a guitar amp as part of their rig. Shouldn't you be on basschat anyway?

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Ziphoblat

Down for maintenance. :P

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John Swift

The only difference regarding the amplifier is the preamp stage whereas the output stage can be used for PA, Guitar, Bass, Keyboards, disco etc.
The difference regarding application for guitar or bass is in the speakers used.

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G&L L2500
Squier Affinity Jazz Bass 5
Ashdown RPM pre-amp
Ashdown Little Giant 1000
300 watt 15" powered cab
450 watt 15" powered sub bass cab
2x10 + horn
1x15x10 + horn