practice amps and effects...

[UnDoNe]

word up friends! i recently sold my rig due to not gigging anymore, but i want to pick up a small (15watts or so) practice amp so i can hear myself a bit better. Also, i'll be running effects into this.

Just wondering if effects can damage such a small amp? I won't be blasting it obviously, and not too bothered about my 'tone' cos i know it wont sound great through a tiny speaker anyway.

I was thinkign things like distortion and filters may make the amp a bit tired. Any experiences or thoughts? Cheers folks

[OptimusPrime]

My Bass-Drive actually sounded its best on my old Rogue 30 watt piece of trash.

[ksandvik]

There's a theoretical chance that if the effect box of some odd reason pumps out higher signal input than what the amp assumed a plain bass works with, then that could start causing problems with the amp and cones. Most likely that's a very rare situation, if so the amp design is of poor design. --Kent

[niftydog]

Ostensibly you have little to zero chance of blowing ANY amp up just because you use effects. Amps blow up because they are abused (or faulty), plain and simple. If you're even half way sensible with your equipment you'll be fine.

Just because an effect might boost the input signal doesn't mean the amps gonna blow up. It'll just distort the input stage.

[ksandvik]

Originally Posted by niftydog

Ostensibly you have little to zero chance of blowing ANY amp up just because you use effects. Amps blow up because they are abused (or faulty), plain and simple. If you're even half way sensible with your equipment you'll be fine.

Just because an effect might boost the input signal doesn't mean the amps gonna blow up. It'll just distort the input stage.

It's mostly that the higher input signal is pushing in high volumes the amp to operate close or beyond it's designed capacity. Anyway, if that happens and the amp/cab breaks, it's a bad design. --Kent

[Elemeninki]

If you mean distorting effect pedals then no. Turning up the amp till it distorts: yes.

Check out the Roland Bass Cub. It sounds respectable and has a nice handful of effects ( no distortion though, if I remember correctly)

[niftydog]

Originally Posted by ksandvik

...operate close or beyond it's designed capacity.

The crux - "designed capacity." How does one define that?!

I would suggest that if someone is running their practice amp at or near capacity then you can't really blame the effect pedal when the amp blows up!

If you buy a reputable brand, like ksandvik alludes to, it will be designed to withstand just about anything you can throw at it.

[Hawaii Islander]

I use a Fender Champion 600 (5 watt, class A, tube amp) with several effects pedals, including a Boss MetalZone 2 and a Tech21 Character Series VT Bass amp pedal, for lower volume practice. It sounds great and, I haven't had any problems with the amp or it's speaker.