Using active bass with no padded input?

[fu22ba55]

Just got a '99 Thumb NT (18v, an amazing instrument), and my question is this:

Is it OK to run an active (or pre-amped, whatever) bass through a NON-padded input?

I have an Aguilar DB359 (which has padded and non-padded, but the non-padded sounds way better IMHO), a 70's SVT (actually V9), and a Boogie D-180.

All three amps are all tube.

Are there any permanent ill affects to the amp running an active bass without a pad, or will I just clip and get more distortion.

(I don't know whether this instrument is active with EQ, or passive with a preamp, and I don't know if this makes a difference to my question.)

 

[RickenBoogie]

No problem, just adjust your pre-gain accordingly.

 

[KJung]

+1 The input pad is there for instruments that have hot output levels, and not if they are 'active' or 'passive'. There would be very little reason for anyone to ever use a padded or the mislabeled 'active' input on amps unless they have an extremely gorilla touch/technique or have one of the few very few intruments that have output high enough to clip an unpadded input with the gain set relatively low.

No harm will be done in any event.

 

[fu22ba55]

Awesome. Thank you.