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Anyone Playing Thier Bass Through a Guitar Amp ?
- Thread starter Fender4Me
- Start date
I used a Fender Champion 600 5-watts with 8" speaker tube combo.
I even played bass in one input while my friend played guitar in the second input.
A Fender Blues DeVille Reissue 60 watts, 4x10 tube combo.
This one could get quite loud (even disturb the neighbors) before the speakers started to complain.
I sometimes would use my Vox AD120VTX Hybrid modeling amp (top right)
I've never blown guitar speakers playing bass through them. Some speakers sounded like crap when pushed too hard, but that was about all that ever happened.
PS: We should send this question of blowing up guitar speakers with bass guitars (using guitar amps) to Mythbusters. They love to blow stuff up! (SUBMITTED)
I even played bass in one input while my friend played guitar in the second input.
A Fender Blues DeVille Reissue 60 watts, 4x10 tube combo.
I sometimes would use my Vox AD120VTX Hybrid modeling amp (top right)
I've never blown guitar speakers playing bass through them. Some speakers sounded like crap when pushed too hard, but that was about all that ever happened.
PS: We should send this question of blowing up guitar speakers with bass guitars (using guitar amps) to Mythbusters. They love to blow stuff up! (SUBMITTED)
rockstarbassist
Inactive
Yes it is!
I've thought about losing one of my PH212 cabs and investing in that type of combo, but I can already foresee the PITA and issues it'd cause when playing live. I can't even get guys to mike my cab, much less have me run bass+guitar amp setups and it sound good.
My rhythm guitar player uses an old Gibson amp with a 15in speaker. We sometimes use it for real small gigs as a guitar amp and a PA. He said I could plug my bass in at practice.
No thank you. I know I will blow the speaker. The speaker is big but the magnet is small. I once had a lead guitard player play thru my 1966 B15, and blew the speaker.
No thank you. I know I will blow the speaker. The speaker is big but the magnet is small. I once had a lead guitard player play thru my 1966 B15, and blew the speaker.
Interesting responses! Keep them coming. The amp that I am playing at practiceis a newer, tweed Fender Deluxe. Maybe 10 years old or so. I think the great tone I am hearing is defiently tube-driven. I think i will start keeping my eyse open for one. Guitar tube amps are easier to find than bass ones and, I have a good selection of bass speakers in storage from "upgrades" I have done in the past.
Interesting because I've heard good things about those from guitarists and if I were to ever double up a practice amp.... nice.....
- Jun 3, 2009
- 3,330
- 399
- Disclosures
- Bassgearu, Music Industry Consulting and Sales. Tech 21, NBE Corp, Sonosphere.
Joe Osborn and Carol Kaye were recorded often through Fender Twins with the Wrecking Crew. Overall, not a problem to play bass through a guitar amp, just not to push the volume or over attack your instrument.
My backup amp is an old Peavey Basic 60, which is a Guitar/bass amp. My guitarist of decades used to use it instead of his amp for all shows. It really is more of a guitar head with a 12" speaker. It is adequate for bass.
I've played through some old Silvertone guitar tube amps and never had a problem and had sweet, sweet sound. Same for the old AMPEG B-12 (or is it B-4?) which has inputs for both guitar and bass.
My backup amp is an old Peavey Basic 60, which is a Guitar/bass amp. My guitarist of decades used to use it instead of his amp for all shows. It really is more of a guitar head with a 12" speaker. It is adequate for bass.
I've played through some old Silvertone guitar tube amps and never had a problem and had sweet, sweet sound. Same for the old AMPEG B-12 (or is it B-4?) which has inputs for both guitar and bass.
I have a Peavey Penta that I ran a 15 and a 2x10 for quite some time. I loved it. But it was soooo heavy to carry around that I eventually changed to a smaller head unit.
don't now but in the very distant past i played through a peavey renown. it worked pretty well and i didn;t have to lug a giant amp around. i had a giant amp too but just usually used the combo.
Before I got my Ampeg I sometimes played on a Fender Supersonic head through a matching 4x12 cab. Sounded great but I didn't want to turn it up past 4.
I sometimes use a vintage Hiwatt DR103 (or two). They are better known as guitar amps, but the full broadband range of the transformers make them plenty suitable for bass. I use different cabinets for bass and guitar though. Some guitar cabs are okay for bass at low to moderate volume, but it's best to use proper bass speakers for certain.
For more headroom, I use my Hiwatt DR405 400w which is a bass amp. Well, all of the standard vintage Hiwatt amps of various power were labeled 'AP' for 'all purpose' on the serial tag.
For more headroom, I use my Hiwatt DR405 400w which is a bass amp. Well, all of the standard vintage Hiwatt amps of various power were labeled 'AP' for 'all purpose' on the serial tag.
I am using an Orange Thunderverb 200 through Ampeg or Sadowsky 4x10 cabs and sometimes TC Electronics 1x12 and 2x10 cabs.
The Thunderverb is technically a guitar amp but will also do bass.
200W of tubey goodness!
The Thunderverb is technically a guitar amp but will also do bass.
200W of tubey goodness!
I leave my bass amp at our practice space, so when I'm at home if I want to plug in at all, I use my Ampeg SuperJet. It's a 50-watt 1x12 class AB tube combo. It sounds amazing at low volumes, and will blow the doors off if actually played with a guitar. It has dual inputs...one for guitar...and one for accordian. Amazing little amp. If I play my Hofner Icon through it, I can really get those old vintage tones that lacked a lot of bottom end.
I'm using a Bugera 1960 guitar head with an ampeg 610 as my primary amp. I've also practiced at low volumes with a band that had an old Fender tube combo amp and it sounded great on bass as well.
When we cut down to acoustic sets, I play my CS 55 P bass through a '63 Fender Concert 410 combo. It's such a sweet woody sound...and is the sound that defined late 50's rock 'n roll.
Since I use an Acoustic/Electric Bass, and I live in an appartment where hard cranking bass is frowned on by the other tenants, I use a Fender Acoustasonic 30 to practice. It gives off a great tone that matches the natural sound my Bass gives off, just amplified to where I need it and can feel it. Plus, I don't bother anyone. 
FWIW, my SuperSonic on the bassman channel sounds pretty amazing through my SWR cabs. Mine's a combo though, so using it as a dedicated bass amp is pretty impractical.
I also plugged my Gretsch 5222 (same 5W/one 6V6/6" speaker amp as the Champion 600 above) into the SWR cabs. Talk about warm and filthy.
I often use my Fender Blues Deluxe guitar amp (1x12/40 watts) for practice and small settings. I retubed it to make it even more vintage and have never had an issue with the speaker. I keep the volumn reasonable and tone controls centered. Have even flipped the bright switch to solo.
