Do guitar amps work for bass?

[adeliapinot]

I play guitar and I'm going to start playing bass. If I use a guitar amp for bass will it work? Or also, vice versa[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
Note: Will it blow the speakers out if it is too loud with the other one?

Thanks

 

[Scott549]

It will work but it won't sound good.

 

[AciDBatH666]

I've heard of using a bass amp for a g**tar, but a bass through g**tar speakers?

Playing electric guitar through a bass amp (please dont hate me)

Can i play a standard guitar through my Bass amp?

 

[sharkbait130]

You can play a guitar through a bass amp with no problems other than it probably won't sound as good as it will through a guitar amp. The speakers are made a bit differently. Bass speakers are designed for lower frequencies and won't reproduce the higher frequencys of a guitar as well. As for playing a bass through a guitar amp , you can do it at fairly low volumes. Guitar speakers aren't designed to have as much excursion as a bass speaker. (I.E. the speaker cones don't have to move back and forth as much with the higher frequencys of a guitar as they do with a bass.) Running a bass through a guitar amp and trying to get loud will usually blow the speakers in a guitar amp. Even if it doesn't blow them , it will stress them and it won't sound good. If you are just using a guitar amp for low volume practice at home with a bass , you should be ok. Just don't try to get loud with it.

 

[JimmyM]

You can play a guitar through a bass amp with no problems other than it probably won't sound as good as it will through a guitar amp. The speakers are made a bit differently. Bass speakers are designed for lower frequencies and won't reproduce the higher frequencys of a guitar as well.

Actually, bass amps can do the highs just fine usually, but I agree that guitar rigs don't do as well with the lows.

As for playing a bass through a guitar amp , you can do it at fairly low volumes. Guitar speakers aren't designed to have as much excursion as a bass speaker. (I.E. the speaker cones don't have to move back and forth as much with the higher frequencys of a guitar as they do with a bass.) Running a bass through a guitar amp and trying to get loud will usually blow the speakers in a guitar amp. Even if it doesn't blow them , it will stress them and it won't sound good. If you are just using a guitar amp for low volume practice at home with a bass , you should be ok. Just don't try to get loud with it.

Yep, I would agree. Now a guitar amp with a bass cab can work out pretty well sometimes, although some have filters in them to keep too many lows out. But the cab is definitely the weak link in this scenario.

 

[REV]

One of the best bass sounds I ever got in the studio was playing through an old tweed Fender Deluxe. We actually miked the back of the cabinet and on tape it sounded incredible. This all happened by accident.

 

[marklaforest]

I tracked an entire album through a Fender Blues Junior mixed with a clean DI tone. Sounded awesome. There's very little difference between most basic tube circuits whether they be for guitar or bass.

 

[drunkenDAYlewis]

I've done it! Maybe I not in a traditional sense but I have dabbled with multi amp blending and things while experimenting... I don't think it sounded bad but they obviously are meant for a certain job. If your wanting to play bass you should set yourself up properly IMO.
For experimentation? Do it up, that's what music is about

 

[Junior Shark]

Don't forget that one of the most sought after guitar amps, the Fender Bassman, was originally released and marketed as a bass amp (hence the name). The other way is a bit trickier, IMO. Like others have said, I too have gotten some killer bass tones through guitar amps. Some bassists, like John Wetton, relied on overdriven guitar amps for their gnarly tone. But, proceed with caution, as a bass through a guitar amp is much more susceptible to damage, particularly if it is tube.

 

[CL400Peavey]

I run a guitar amp from time to time for bass. I use a bass cab though.

 

[Mr. Foxen]

Many guitar players wish they were bassists, correspondingly many guitar amps are actually bass amps. first clue is being 100w and needing a 4x12 cabinet. That's bass stuff, mostly based on what Pete Townshend borrowed off John Entwhistle.

 

[maxschrek]

I use a Carvin X100B sometimes and it sounds great.

 

[KenHR]

I use my 2x12 guitar combo (with a BDDI) in Beaked Whale for bass (I switch between the two, so this obviates the need to bring two amps with me). I've used the rig for recording (along with a DI signal) as well. The tone's good for that band, where I do need an aggressive and cutting tone.