Bass Amps for Keyboards

[matante]

Am I right that a lot of keyboard players use bass amps rather than dedicated keyboard amps?

Do you guys know what the pros and cons of this are?

 

[Bassics101]

Long ago that was the rule, but it was more bass vs guitar amps. Back then there weren't any/many keyboard amps, none that I remember. I've recently started playing keys again, and now I use the PA system. There was a discussion about amps on the Nord users forum not long ago, the Electro section. As I recall, keyboard amps were not popular. You might try looking at some of the keyboard forums to get more info.

 

[flatfender]

I play keyboards in another local band (been playing for decades) and the last couple of years I've been using an EV ZLX-12P powered PA speaker instead of a keyboard amp. Working keyboardists in general have moved away from keyboard and bass amps. QSC-K10 & K12's are very popular also.

I still have a Peavey KB5 which is a 2x10 stereo amp that weighs 100 pounds. Loud and harsh. The EV sounds much better, louder if needed, and about 70 lbs lighter.

A friend who's a jazz keyboard player uses a Aspen Centerpoint Spacestation V3 which is probably one of the few good "keyboard" amps around. Pricy and it doesn't go super loud, but for what he does it's perfect. It isn't loud enough for my classic rock band.

I've also used a couple of different bass combos in the past and at one point, a yamaha S15M-V wedge with a small rack with a power amp, mixer & eq. They all worked well but the EV powered speaker is much easier to set up and move.

You can see the EV in the back (behind the mic stand with the tambourine)

 

[Bassics101]

Second the EVs. The PA system I use has EV ELX series.

 

[3506string]

Most keyboard combo amps are designed similar to bass combos. Woofer in too small an enclosure with a poorly crossed tweeter and a gaping hole in the mid-range.

A decent PA monitor is usually worlds ahead of bass and keyboard combos in terms accurate reproduction, but they are some times lacking on the bottom end that so many board players are addicted to. Especially the ones with bass players.

 

[Yahboy]

Before I sold my fender rumble V3 200/115 combo, I use it for keyboard , digital drum and elec guitar.

Using Aux for keyboard and digital drum, let the horn ON for present hi frequency. it work and sound good. I also do the samething with previous Marshall MB450H + MBC410.
It fine. no worry.

The strat is direct using instrument input, turn the horn ON and let the Bright switch Engage. I am using Valetone dapper , so I let the gain fully down, just tweak the EQ and volume. The volume at noon is quite loud, the is no problem at 3o'clock.The guitar sound would be little thick compare to guitar combo, but the EQ could fix it.

Hope help.

 

[DukeLeJeune]

A decent PA monitor is usually worlds ahead of bass and keyboard combos in terms accurate reproduction, but they are some times lacking on the bottom end that so many board players are addicted to. Especially the ones with bass players.

Nowadays there are bass cabs that meet the "full range flat response" criteria of a good modeling cab, and can of course deliver the bottom end well (much better than a PA monitor or top anyway). Unfortunately such cabs are usually more expensive than a PA monitor or top with the same size woofer, as the characteristics that deliver bass-guitar-worthy bottom end are expensive, especially if weight is also a consideration.

 

[Fishheadjoe]

I plugged my daughters keyboard into my TC RH450 and Berg AE410 and it sounded glorious! I was quite surprised!
Fishheadjoe

 

[BassmanPaul]

All I can say is that @flatfender them legs need waxin’.