Bass Amp Double Duty

[amper]

I use my Mesa/Boogie Walkabout Scout 12 combo as the other half of my stereo guitar rig, along with my Mesa/Boogie F-50 1x12 guitar combo.

The Walakbout Scout 12 is also a good amp for double bass and acoustic guitar.

Both are used as clean pedal platforms, and all my tone shaping comes from my pedalboards. In the case of guitar, I have been using, at various times, for my amplifier simulator: a tc electronic Spark booster, a DSM Humboldt Simplfier, and a Boss GT-1000Core.

Current version of my main guitar pedalboard:

The next version of my main guitar pedalboard; I'm going all digital:

 

[Killing Floor]

I have occasionally played bass through my guitar amp at low volume. Usually because I had a guitar thingy I like on my looper and just wanted to throw a bass on in a hurry.

I’ve also played guitar on my PJB Double Four and it is actually pretty good but waaaaay too clean.

I’ve tried baritone on guitar and bass amps and it sounds better in a guitar amp to me.

 

[DJ Bebop]

View attachment 5452204

Was just about to post that same pic.

 

[MrVentures]

Some people seem to have success running 1-2 QSC K12.2s (or similar powered speakers) and the preamps of their choice, typically from a modeler like an HX Stomp that can also pull double duty.

 

[DJ Bebop]

 

[InnerCityBass]

I run both bass and guitar through the same amp, a 60's Bassman tube amp rig. Couldn't be a happier camper with either sound through that amp. And I love the fact that I only need one amp for both

 

[crentest]

I run both bass and guitar through the same amp, a 60's Bassman tube amp rig. Couldn't be a happier camper with either sound through that amp. And I love the fact that I only need one amp for both

what cab (or cabs) do you use? {vintage, modern. etc.}

 

[InnerCityBass]

what cab (or cabs) do you use? {vintage, modern. etc.}

A bit of both. When using it for both guitar and bass, I use either the oiginal cabinet, but with a 15" D140 JBL, or a second hand home build 1x12" cab, with a full range speaker, that sounds good for both too. When I use it for bass only, I go with either the original cab, or a modern 2x10, or both.

 

[crentest]

that sounds nice!

 

[PBO Blues]

Thanks for all the great input, gents. Guess I have some experimentation to do. Sort of figured that all along, but you've given me some good ideas and practical tips.

Cheers!

 

[KeepItMoving]

ive used my fender rumble 100 with a guitar, its usable.

I've done the same, and agree! Admittedly, I'm more of a rhythm-and-texture guitar player than a provider of screaming leads, but I've found the Rumble 100 to be a perfectly plausible option with the addition of pedals for reverb and fuzz.

And for something more than "plausible," I really like playing guitar through my "big" bass rig, a GK 400RB into a Bergantino 2 x 10 + tweeter cabinet. Crunchy and cutting enough that I've not felt the need to own an actual guitar amp, though again external reverb is needed.

 

[Dabndug]

I good tube guitar preamp into the fx return will work fine. I use a Mesa V twin into an Aguilar TH500 and it sounds great.

 

[matty1039]

I think a couple of pedals would be all you need for it to work. (Preamp or eq, reverb, some drive, whatever else.) In my experience the biggest complaint about guitar through a bass amp is how dry it is.

I’ve been looking at the TC Electronic Combo Deluxe 65, a Fender in a box. Something like that would be good as it has a preamp, reverb, and drive all in one pedal. Just grab something like that and run it into your rumble.

 

[tr4252]

I was a guitarist in the late 60's and used a blackface Bassman as my main amp. It had a Bandmaster cabinet which had Altec Lansing speakers and was ported accordingly. I suppose the cabinet made the amp more guitar friendly and it was my all time favorite amp. I also had a silverface Twin, and it didn't compare favorably to the Bassman. At the time I was playing Hendrix, Cream, Beatles, blues, etc. and the Bassman seemed perfect for what I was doing.

Tom

 

[logdrum]

My AI Clarus combo was designed and functions well as a bass amp and guitar amp. It also has built in reverb. I play a dual output bass + guitar 7 string a la Charlie Hunter. Although I prefer a tube amp for guitar. I have gigged using just the Combo with a pedal tube preamp . It definitely sounds great with a 6 string acoustic and excels at upright bass and workable for passive bass. It's EQ points are neutral than a typical bass amp that's solved by an EQ pedal.

 

[gtirard]

In theory, Barefaced Big Baby and Big Twin are FRFR, you can use them for bass & guitars, or even for a PA.
So in theory, if you use it with a head that's good for bass and guitar, like the Fender Bassman for example, it should sound fine with 4 and 6 strings?

 

[Slevage]

Nope.. based on experience... bass amps do not have the frequency range required for guitars. It will always be muddy.

This is not accurate information.
I’ve heard some great sounds from a Fender Bassman coupled with a reverb pedal. Speaker choice is critical.

 

[pie_man_25]

It sounds like you've got two options:

1) you go full modeling and Ruger have two sims - one for each instrument or however many you need for the sounds you need and either have a micro pa to plug into or play through the house entirely, or

2) you just accept bringing two amps or having mediocre tone on one instrument.

I've seen bands run entirely modeling rigs that went through the pa and some really did it right and one in particular you could really hear a difference - I'd honestly want to choose VERY carefully on your modeler and probably work on tweaking that sound until it's perfect - but that'd be my choice.

 

[Jefenator]

There seems to be some crossover in the tube realm.
Certain tube bass heads I've used & researched - like the Sunn 200s, Ampeg V-4B & Fender Bassman - have been said to work great for guitar. I've occasionally heard the reverse of certain guitar heads (like Hiwatt IIRC).
Using those actual units might not be an ideal solution if you're "tired" of hauling stuff. (Doesn't factor in the cab, either.) But it might at least inform your search.
Going 180º from that, I wonder if a programmable multi-fx unit might help for doubling? You could have a different bank set up - complete with reverb and even an appropriate amp sim for the guitar.

 

[_Tay_]

Try plugging into the amps FX return. I do that with my pedalboard and it sounds great. Guitar sounds decent too.