Author Topic: Urban Myth? (Read 3970 times)

noodleplugerine · « **on:** April 26, 2008, 03:32:33 PM »

Will playing a bass through a guitar amp damage it?

I allways thought it would - But just thinking about it now, I can't think why.

FELINEGUITARS · « **Reply #1 on:** April 26, 2008, 04:03:21 PM »

It is the speaker that can be damaged as a bass puts out a big low frequency spike when struck hard and sometimes the guitar speaker cant handle it.
Bass speakers often have a rubber rim whilst guitar speakers are always paper and the rubber allows for a bigger excursion

Maybe not such a problem at lower volumes maybe.

Newer speakers can handle a bit more than 1960s ones as well

Ratrod · « **Reply #2 on:** April 26, 2008, 04:28:16 PM »

Jonathan is right.

Just don´t do Lemmy at Lemmy volume.

dave_mc · « **Reply #3 on:** April 26, 2008, 06:09:01 PM »

ah i was interested in this too (considering buying a bass for a laugh, have no room for another amp)... so at bedroom practice volume, it should be fine then?

:)

Ratrod · « **Reply #4 on:** April 26, 2008, 08:37:25 PM »

I played Ace Of Spades at 50% volume no problem. Overdrive and all.

My bass is pretty loud so I set the overdrive's output low, just to be on the safe side.

I'm not a bass player, I just happen to own one.

Roobubba · « **Reply #5 on:** April 26, 2008, 08:51:52 PM »

Quote from: Ratrod

Jonathan is right.

Just don´t do Lemmy at Lemmy volume.

Although it could be argued that Lemmy shouldn't do Lemmy at Lemmy volume either!

Heh, that's a bit unfair given my extension cab made up exclusively of bass speakers :D

Roo

dave_mc · « **Reply #6 on:** April 27, 2008, 06:32:54 PM »

Quote from: Ratrod

I played Ace Of Spades at 50% volume no problem. Overdrive and all.

My bass is pretty loud so I set the overdrive's output low, just to be on the safe side.

I'm not a bass player, I just happen to own one.

thanks :)

ledzettervall · « **Reply #7 on:** April 27, 2008, 10:21:12 PM »

Quote from: Ratrod

I played Ace Of Spades at 50% volume no problem. Overdrive and all.

My bass is pretty loud so I set the overdrive's output low, just to be on the safe side.

I'm not a bass player, I just happen to own one.

Well, you can still blow it if you keep doing it alot. Just cuz it didn't break right away it doesn't mean it'll last forever with a bass and 50% volume.

Also, the speaker will break easier in an open cabinet than in a closed one.

Ratrod · « **Reply #8 on:** April 28, 2008, 06:16:32 PM »

I only do it on rare occasions.

Some idiot once thought my cab was a bass cab and ran a 150 Watt bass amp on it at full volume wich broke one of the speakers. Of course this guy denied he did it. That whole band was banned from the rehearsal studio.

Them barstewards also wrecked all the drum skins. Some people have no respect for other people's stuff.

(rant over)