Bass heads

are you referring to the brand name Acoustic?

 

I am thinking you are meaning amps for acoustic basses? Yes? There is a big difference between an electric bass and an acoustic bass. I think that is where the answer to your question is.

 

Yeah, but you can use any amp to amplify either.

 

Yup. They can be used either or, but in the op, the question was what was the difference between the 2

 

Hi everyone, and David.

If I may, I think the answer the OP is looking for lies in the preamp section for the most part, though heads for acoustic instruments are typically much lower in power too. The EQ section, the impedance of the inputs, and the gain of the first preamp section are (ideally) quite different between the two. The input impedance will be matched for piezo pickups often, and the the EQ tailored to the characteristics of an acoustic bass. One can use a regular bass head for upright amplification, but best results usually require use of an external preamp tailored to the pickups. Fishman pickups sound particularly horrible without one, IMHO.


Hope that answers your question.


Jamie Campbell