| Title: | GUITARnotes - Where Every Note has Emotion |
| Notice: | Discussion of the finer stringed instruments |
| Moderator: | KDX200::COOPER |
| Created: | Thu Aug 14 1986 |
| Last Modified: | Fri Jun 06 1997 |
| Last Successful Update: | Fri Jun 06 1997 |
| Number of topics: | 3280 |
| Total number of notes: | 61432 |
Help please. I do not consider myself a bass player, but I own one. I bought it because I would rather PLAY something rather than nothin at all. It's my solution for the common situation where everybody that shows up for a jam is a guitarist! Needless to say, most of my investment is in guitar equipment, but I want to be able to fill-in ocasionally with a bass. Here are my questions... 1. Can you cause any harm playing a bass thru a guitar amp? My guess is that it might be more of a stress on the tubes, especially if you have to run it on 10 to get volume. I know its rough on 12" speakers, so I disconnect them in favor of a 15". Any other known stresses? I have access to a fender twin, fender bandmaster, and Mesa Boogie MKIII. The boogie sounds real good drivin the 15", but I'd hate to ruin it, or have to change tubes every month. The bandmaster doesn't have much pep. 2. Whats a reasonably good (but inexpensive) bass head capable of driving a 15" speaker? What kinda wattage is needed. I'm thinking used, and Fender Bassman has come to mind. I want to hear myself play while in a reasonably loud band. 3. Any opinions on transistor heads? Remember I'm lookin for reasonable, but I don't want junk either. 4. Can I get a reasonable used BASS head for less than $200 (preferably 100-150)
| T.R | Title | User | Personal Name | Date | Lines |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 804.1 | The Amps/Speakers are pretty tough stuff | TYFYS::MOLLER | TAICS / You Are Number 6 | Mon Aug 29 1988 12:42 | 16 |
I've been playing heavy duty Bass guitar off and on thru my Twin Reverb
(the normal channel) for years. My twin has ALTEC 12's in it, and it
has a very punchy bass sound when needed. The old Fender Bassman Amps
used 2 12 inch speakers & I used one of those for years also. I haven't
changed the tubes in my twin for 2 years and it sounds fine (my wife
ran into it with her Subarue 2 years ago, necessitating a rebuild of
the rear of the cabinet, and replacement of nearly all of the tubes &
a new front bumper on the Subarue - it had been left in gear, and she
started the car, leaping forward into the back of the Twin Reverb,
which was up against my P.A. cabinets, which are up against a wall).
The tubes in my Fender Reverb unit (my brother bought it in 1957) are
the originals & they still work fine also - I guess they made better
tubes back then. You should be fine with any of the amplifiers that you
have available.
Jens
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| 804.2 | probably ok | SPHINX::WEBER | Mon Aug 29 1988 12:56 | 6 | |
Playing a bass through a guitar amp can't hurt the tubes or the
amp itself, but has been known to blow cheap speakers, especially
if the amps are open-back. Virtually any quality amp with
EV/Altec/JBL/Mesa etc speakers should be fine at moderate volumes.
Danny W.
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| 804.3 | 'Tis Fine | RUGRAT::POWELL | Dan Powell/274-6608 | Mon Aug 29 1988 13:29 | 5 |
I have a bass player friend that uses a Carvin guitar amp with a
12" Electro-Voice speaker. Other than a new set of tubes now and
then, he's had no problems. And, he's been using this amp for at
least 10 years.
Dan
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| 804.4 | I think you've saved me some $ | VOLKS::RYEN | Rick Ryen 285-6248 | Mon Aug 29 1988 16:29 | 10 |
Hey, I think you guys saved me some money! (and from luggin around another head) You've convinced me that I can use my boogie with a bass without worring about it too much. I think I'll continue to disconnect the 12" to save it for the high stuff, using the 15" for bass'in it. Thanks for the advice. Rick | |||||