Will I ruin my Bass amp if I play six string guitar with heavy distortion threw it?

Nope amp and speakers should be fine (assuming the speakers are properly matched to the amp in terms of impedance and power handling). The other way around is trouble though.

 

If the amp has a tweeter, you can certainly damage the tweeter and crossover.

 

No, but doing so may open up a wormhole to the other side of the universe, perhaps altering the time-space continuum. Probably not a good idea.

 

I do it all the time, horns are off anyway.

Ampeg PF-50t
GB 9.2
Ampeg SVT 4 pro

and always through 2, 4, or 8 10's

 

I'd recommend getting a guitar amp at some point if this is something you plan on doing for the long term. Not because of damage, but it will sound better.

 

It's not a stupid question but you can blow a tweeter by overpowering it (too much power in the high-frequency range) just as you can a woofer (too much power in the LF range). I hadn't thought about the crossover, but it stands to reason that you could damage that, too.

That said, the Rumble 200 has an overdrive circuit (though I don't know how the voicing will work for guitar) and, it appears, an ON/OFF switch for the tweeter. I would run with the tweeter OFF if playing overdriven guitar through it. (Whether this disconnects the relevant parts of the crossover or just disconnects the tweeter, I don't know.)

Whether you're looking to do this for home practice or at loud gig volume might matter as well.


ADDENDUM: While I imagine that you'll be using various pedals through the amp, I mention its onboard overdrive because it means the designers of the amp anticipated some overdrive through it (and it's not like bass players never use OD/distortion).

That said, 1) I wouldn't be surprised if the onboard OD included some sort of high-frequency roll-off, 2) screaming guitar will likely have more high frequency content than most distorted bass signals, 3) tweeter with a lot of distorted HF is unlikely to sound good, and 4) rolling off some highs at your pedals is likely to sound better (and might help protect the amp).

 

I should've known to wait for the pros, didn't think about tweeters and such.

 

I have run an acoustic and electric guitar thru my rumble 40. No tweeter in it. Sounds good.

 

You can, I separated the cone on my amp many years ago with a flexed wah, distortion, chorus, delay doing a Star Spangled Banner solo. But it was glorious until it went "click".

 

I don't get. Is this a new thing? Why would you want to throw your bass amp around?

 

Sorry-schoolteacher here:

through

Your cab will be fine. But always remember: guitars are stupid!!

 

Plus with the tweeter on, unless you are using a speaker sim it will probably sound awful too.

 

It's fine! I've used my Rumble 200 for guitar a zillion times. I don't see why guitar would be able to damage the tweeter any more than bass could with fx, high harmonics, etc., but I keep the tweeter off anyway, for both guitar and bass.

 

Getting it to sound good might be the hard part

 

As a (former) guitar player, bass/keyboard amps make excellent guitar amps for CLEAN sounds (with a touch of reverb and chorus).

But as mentioned, don't do the reverse (bass into guitar amp).

 

I've seen guitarists use an Ampeg B15 head with a 1x12 cab (liked the warmth he got) and the Fender 50W Bassman was a very popular choice for blues guitarists.

I suspect you'll get a definite sound out of it, and whether you like it or not, is going to be up to you.