Bass through a guitar amp.
Moderator: jingle_jangle
Bass through a guitar amp.
Yes, I´m afraid it´s a silly question. I wonder if I could play my 'Epiphone Viola' bass going through my 'Vox Cambridge 30 RT' without damaging the amplifier. See, just for home practice, not at great volume... etc. I have done this before with a little 'Roland Boss' guitar amp, but then I didn´t mind if the 'Roland' went to pieces! Any advice will be welcome!
Miguel: I believe that you have answered your very good question. Played at low volumes you are safe. As human nature has it, however, playing bass certainly brings out considerable enthusiasm (at least for me) and sooner or later you are likely to exceed the limits of your guitar amplifier. My two cents would be to get a bass amplifier. Now let's see what the bass enthusiasts have to say.
Life, as with music, often requires one to let go of the melody and listen to the rhythm
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I messed up my little Peavey combo doing just that......
On the other hand, I've played my guitars through my bass amp and it sounds fantastic!!
Peter is right about getting too enthused while playing bass.....how can you just play your bass "not at great volume" ???
On the other hand, I've played my guitars through my bass amp and it sounds fantastic!!
Peter is right about getting too enthused while playing bass.....how can you just play your bass "not at great volume" ???
1973 4001 MG cb fwi
1986 4003 Shadow
2012 4004Cii FG w/gold trim
1986 4003 Shadow
2012 4004Cii FG w/gold trim
Stick a bass speaker in it and you'll be OK. I stuck an Eminence B102 in my Marshall AVT20 and it rocks harder than ever. Works great for bass or guitar. A good Celestion speaker for bass/guitar dual duty is a G12H80 or G12H30 depending on the power handling required. They are very similar except for power handling, so one is for stacks and low powered combos while the other is for high powered combos. The G12H80 will handle at least 40 watts of tube power on bass with no problem in my combo amp.
The Celestion has the classic British rock tone and handles 30/80 watts depending on model. The B102 has a clean bass tone and enough treble extension that qualifies it for acoustic guitar applications as well as bass. It handles 100W RMS, 200W peak power. Country guitar players should investigate it for their 10" twin combos, Metal players for the lows it gives to detuned guitars without killing the highs.
These are two great "crossover" speakers for people who want to play bass and guitar through the same amp. Each will set you back about $100.
The Celestion has the classic British rock tone and handles 30/80 watts depending on model. The B102 has a clean bass tone and enough treble extension that qualifies it for acoustic guitar applications as well as bass. It handles 100W RMS, 200W peak power. Country guitar players should investigate it for their 10" twin combos, Metal players for the lows it gives to detuned guitars without killing the highs.
These are two great "crossover" speakers for people who want to play bass and guitar through the same amp. Each will set you back about $100.
Chris, it's OK if you like the tone and they don't fart out on the lowest notes and can take the pounding over time. If they can't take the pounding, you needed different speakers anyway, right? So no real loss there if they blow. Also, the output transformer must work down to 41Hz without wimping out. No speaker can make up for an output tranny that wimps out at low frequency. Most guitar amps with solid state output can handle bass speakers just fine if enough power is available to get the necessary volume before clipping.
The original Celestion Seventy 80 in my YCV40 combo lacked extension in the bottom end, farted when pushed hard, has less sensitivity, and just didn't sound as "right" to me as my G12H80. The G12H80 has the 50 oz. magnet seen on Celestion's best guitar speakers. Most good bass speakers have rather hefty magnets and a lot of travel, or Xmax, in speakerese. This prevents farting from occurring. Most bass cones are very stiff to prevent cone breakup, but if you want some dirt in your bass tone, then heavy duty guitar speakers with lots of lows like the G12H80 and G12H30 are good. Since Avatar speakers is selling NOS Celestion G12H80 speakers for $50 each delivered in the States, WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR? The black powder coated frames look cool in an open backed combo. If you don't like them, there will be lots of guys willing to take them off your hands at that price in mint condition. I ordered a couple, and if I wasn't planning on moving, I would have bought a quad. I think of Jack Bruce and his Marshall bass sound when I hear this speaker. Not as tight as modern "bass only" speakers. But at bass practice volumes, it might sound tight to you.
The original Celestion Seventy 80 in my YCV40 combo lacked extension in the bottom end, farted when pushed hard, has less sensitivity, and just didn't sound as "right" to me as my G12H80. The G12H80 has the 50 oz. magnet seen on Celestion's best guitar speakers. Most good bass speakers have rather hefty magnets and a lot of travel, or Xmax, in speakerese. This prevents farting from occurring. Most bass cones are very stiff to prevent cone breakup, but if you want some dirt in your bass tone, then heavy duty guitar speakers with lots of lows like the G12H80 and G12H30 are good. Since Avatar speakers is selling NOS Celestion G12H80 speakers for $50 each delivered in the States, WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR? The black powder coated frames look cool in an open backed combo. If you don't like them, there will be lots of guys willing to take them off your hands at that price in mint condition. I ordered a couple, and if I wasn't planning on moving, I would have bought a quad. I think of Jack Bruce and his Marshall bass sound when I hear this speaker. Not as tight as modern "bass only" speakers. But at bass practice volumes, it might sound tight to you.
I believe that Watford Valves has good reviews of the premium line of Celestion speakers and Jensen. Also good reviews of currently available preamp and power tubes.
I'm constantly amazed how many reviews there are of every bass, guitar, and amp you can think of on Harmony Central, but next to nothing on speakers and tubes. Changing tubes and speakers can transform an amp. Changing the Chinese preamp tube that comes in a cheap little Kustom Tube 12 and using an Ei, JJ, E-H instead makes a major difference in sound.
Chris, isn't the CyberTwin that gonzo modeling amp of Fender's? (my exposure has been to the old Fender amps) A really clean speaker might be the best route if you want clean tone for modeling. An Eminence Delta or JBL type speaker might work well. If you install G12H80's, it will have a bit of the classic Celestion sound of the 70's at every amp setting. Not exactly a bad thing, but it will throw off Fender's presets, which may or may not sound better. For instance, you have to have a clean speaker to model a Roland JC-120. I always thought the JC-120 would make a good bass club combo amp with the right speakers. A G12H80 will have the CyberTwin sounding like all those amp models hooked to a Marshall cab from the 70's. I could really dig it, but store the original speakers in a safe place for when you sell the amp.
I'm constantly amazed how many reviews there are of every bass, guitar, and amp you can think of on Harmony Central, but next to nothing on speakers and tubes. Changing tubes and speakers can transform an amp. Changing the Chinese preamp tube that comes in a cheap little Kustom Tube 12 and using an Ei, JJ, E-H instead makes a major difference in sound.
Chris, isn't the CyberTwin that gonzo modeling amp of Fender's? (my exposure has been to the old Fender amps) A really clean speaker might be the best route if you want clean tone for modeling. An Eminence Delta or JBL type speaker might work well. If you install G12H80's, it will have a bit of the classic Celestion sound of the 70's at every amp setting. Not exactly a bad thing, but it will throw off Fender's presets, which may or may not sound better. For instance, you have to have a clean speaker to model a Roland JC-120. I always thought the JC-120 would make a good bass club combo amp with the right speakers. A G12H80 will have the CyberTwin sounding like all those amp models hooked to a Marshall cab from the 70's. I could really dig it, but store the original speakers in a safe place for when you sell the amp.
hey Chris-
My favorite "bass" amp used to be a Marshall JTM-45 re-voiced for bass fz.
Older Marshall valve amps were identical in the power section, just the preamps were voiced differently with caps 'n resistors.
Thus Super Bass amps were often used by those guys wanting a more 'brown' sound.
My favorite "bass" amp used to be a Marshall JTM-45 re-voiced for bass fz.
Older Marshall valve amps were identical in the power section, just the preamps were voiced differently with caps 'n resistors.
Thus Super Bass amps were often used by those guys wanting a more 'brown' sound.
Buy it before someone else does
