What can damage a bass amp?

[appelsauce]

I play bass in my band most of the time, but I like to play guitar too.

But does playing guitar or keyboard on my bass amp damage it?

I have a Hartke 112c, its a 250 watt combo.

also, are there any other things that could damage my amp, e.g. putting the volume all the way up?

 

[PaulWarning]

woudn't think so, the other way round wouldn't do a guitar/keyboard combo any good though

 

[jackcheez]

it's no problem at all. Our keyboard player uses one of my bass amps all the time. It's a great amp for keyboards.

 

[elavate7]

the only way you can damage an amp would be turning the gain or volume to max. i heard someone say "treat 7 as your max".....i think thats a really good rule to go by.

 

[somegeezer]

Bass amps are powerful things. I'd say the only amp more powerful that you'd usually find, would be a PA setup. But it'd be silly to use a bass amp as a PA. I've never seen anyone damage a guitar amp by playing bass through it either though. The only problem seemed to be not enough low end. I've used bass amps for guitar and keyboard before though. Surprisingly good for it.

 

[ian_s]

Beer.

Don't put your beer can on top of your amp head. Someone will knock it over and get beer inside your amp.

 

[appelsauce]

the only way you can damage an amp would be turning the gain or volume to max. i heard someone say "treat 7 as your max".....i think thats a really good rule to go by.

thanks for the tip, I will keep that in mind

 

[dalkowski]

UPS can damage your amp AND they'll charge you for it.

 

[kuys]

If you throw it out a window it will be damaged. Unless it's a peavey in which case it will create a crater and cause a small seismic event but be relatively unharmed.

 

[panama]

Dropping a bass amp off your tailgate can damage it. So can falling down a flight of stairs with it.

 

[dalkowski]

If you throw it out a window it will be damaged. Unless it's a peavey in which case it will create a crater and cause a small seismic event but be relatively unharmed.

If it's a Peavey combo or cab, it'll also re-align the planet's magnetic field, diverting the magnetic north pole to downtown Saskatoon.

 

[lindseyp]

My first thought when I opened this: Drop it.
My 2nd thought when I opened this: Keep dropping it. That's about the only thing that I have seen damage a bass amp.

I plug keyboards and guitars into mine all the time, no problems there.

 

[dalkowski]

I've used bass amps for guitar and keyboard before though. Surprisingly good for it.

I don't stay current on Springsteen's gear, but I know years ago he ran his Esquire through Fender Bassmans (Bassmen?)

 

[panama]

One time Chuck Norris fought a Peavey cab. He died.

 

[dalkowski]

The Titanic sank after hitting a Peavey 2 X 15 cab in the North Atlantic.

 

[Chasarms]

I don't stay current on Springsteen's gear, but I know years ago he ran his Esquire through Fender Bassmans (Bassmen?)

Old Fender Bassman tube heads are at least as popular for guitar, if not more popular, than they are for bass. An old black face is a KILLER guitar amp.

 

[west*coast*bass]

Angry monkeys can damage a bass amp.

 

[Ferret]

Your ex-wife! (once she finds out she is an ex that is!)

 

[Chasarms]

"Very small rocks . . ."

 

[NKBassman]

My first thought was "A hammer".

Also, dropping it, overheating it, running it with too many cabs.
Also extreme sub-lows from some synths/effects could damage your cab, but I'm not sure if they'd do anything to the amp.