Playing Bass through a guitar amp?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Joeytpg
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Joeytpg

Joeytpg

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guys, is it safe to play bass through my Einstein (I got the 50w head and a 2x12 120watts cab)

I won't be playing loud or anything....just for fun at low volume, intended for bedroom playing mostly....


is it safe? (I've heard Lemmy uses guitar amps for his bass playing)
 
Yes, if you don't play too loud. Basically playing bass is more dangerous for your speakers, it will not do anything to your amp.
 
Ok, I guess if it's ok then I'll try it. Like I said it'll be at very low volumes, just for bedroom jamming and stuff...
 
I remember Peter adressing this a while back and he said that you could no problem. I don't even remember if he said to limit the volume.

Consider this a bump to await the masters response.
 
Get a bass cab & rock all you want, just make sure you match the impedance. At least that's what tech told me.
 
nbarts":36sghth1 said:
Get a bass cab & rock all you want, just make sure you match the impedance. At least that's what tech told me.


I wish I could but I just don't have space anymore for another amp here. (I live with a flatmate, and I have to store all my gear in my room, so imagine so far: 4 guitars, one bass, two amps one cab, recording gear hehehe, already too much stuff)

Plus I won't jam THAT much, I use the bass for recording, but I wanna be able to write basslines and play some songs along with the album versions......you know :D
 
don_huberto":e97iu7u7 said:
Hi

Take a look at this thread: http://www.rig-talk.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=14&t=21487

And also in this thread: http://www.rig-talk.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=14&t=27439 - On this record about 80 % of the bass has run through my Herbert. With lots of gain... But I used also a normal Bass amp for the "clean" signal. Herbie has given me a very compressed and distorted bass signal. This made the mixing much easier.

BW don_huberto


Did you use a bass cab?
 
No... although my Orange cab is also made for bass guitar. I had some problems with the accoustics of the room so I decided to use the compensated out of the Herbert.
 
I've now ended up joining another band on bass (https://www.myspace.com/iamimmune), so I'm using my herbert as I haven't got a bass amp! I'll just have to watch my volume and hope we don't play smaller venues un-mic'ed. I guess if I blow a cone in the marshall cab I'll have to get a loan and buy a new diezel guitar cab, and a sh*te behringer budget bass cab.

Anyone know how "loud" on the master vol is probably safe with a bass and 300W G12T-75 4x12?

Would using a compressor increase the safety margin much?

I best avoid slaps and pops too at high volume... :(
 
I don't know how it is in England, but here used Ampeg bass cabs go freakishly cheap. I believe you should have the same situation with Ashdowns, no? Or you could get a guitar cabinet with EVM12Ls, but that would cost you a lot.

The thing is that it's not just master volume that determines the level of danger, how your gain, volume, bass, deep are set will have a big effect on it.
 
Joeytpg":3fmm4jhn said:
nbarts":3fmm4jhn said:
Get a bass cab & rock all you want, just make sure you match the impedance. At least that's what tech told me.


I wish I could but I just don't have space anymore for another amp here. (I live with a flatmate, and I have to store all my gear in my room, so imagine so far: 4 guitars, one bass, two amps one cab, recording gear hehehe, already too much stuff)

Plus I won't jam THAT much, I use the bass for recording, but I wanna be able to write basslines and play some songs along with the album versions......you know :D

If you have some money to spend & this is for recording get Ampeg SVX plugin, the thing is really good. I think they have 15 day free trial, check it out.
 
nbarts":30s37nnq said:
Joeytpg":30s37nnq said:
nbarts":30s37nnq said:
Get a bass cab & rock all you want, just make sure you match the impedance. At least that's what tech told me.


I wish I could but I just don't have space anymore for another amp here. (I live with a flatmate, and I have to store all my gear in my room, so imagine so far: 4 guitars, one bass, two amps one cab, recording gear hehehe, already too much stuff)

Plus I won't jam THAT much, I use the bass for recording, but I wanna be able to write basslines and play some songs along with the album versions......you know :D

If you have some money to spend & this is for recording get Ampeg SVX plugin, the thing is really good. I think they have 15 day free trial, check it out.


thanks man, I'll look into that :)
 
A bass-player played on my Marshall combo, after I had to change my speaker ! He told me it was possible but it wasn't :doh:
 
Fend":17gvml6a said:
A bass-player played on my Marshall combo, after I had to change my speaker ! He told me it was possible but it wasn't :doh:

our bass player never wanted to take his box to the rehearsal room...always played over my old combo - i always told him "volume down! go and put a mic before!" - between the songs he turned it louder and louder -> speaker was gone after 1 month.
 
I'm going to try to get a 2nd hand bass cab. Then I can turn it up a bit more. I assume with a proper ~700W-ish 8ohm bass cab I can go as loud as I like with the herbie, and turn the bass and deep knob above 12:00 if I like, without damaging it at all? I guess if the output tranny is overspec'ed relative to the max power out the tubes the worst that'll happen is power amp distortion?

I will then possibly have the best bass amp on the planet... until Lucy turns up! :)
 
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