Guitar amps = bass amps?

Question

I started playing guitar about a year ago. I want to make the change from acoustic to electric, so I will need an amp. I plan on buying an electric Ibanez bass. My brother has an ibanez electric guitar and has an old amp that he used to use with it. Will this work with my bass or is this a stupid question?

Answer 1

Hi Dusty.  Yes... a guitar amp will work for bass, but theres some precautions you MUST use... and I will explain why.  First of all, while a guitar and bass amp have eq controls, such as low, mid, and high, the frequency's are set at different "pick points".  What this means.. while on a bass amp when you turn  the low or bass k**b UP on the eq... it may be a frequency in a range of 60-100 hz you are boosting by a certain amount of decibals.  Turn the same "low" or bass k**b on a guitar amp.. might be from 150-200 hz.  Quite a bit of sonic differences with what the eq's are designed for.

  Another reason is the differences in the speakers of the two amps.  Bass speakers will handle a lot lower frequencies than guitar speakers, as its in these lower frequencies that more air has to be pushed.  Also.. A 15 inch bass  speaker neccessarily isnt better than an 8" 10" or 12" bass speaker.  Usually, the bigger the speaker.... the more wattage you have to have to drive the speaker. (the bigger the speaker, more air to push to be heard at the same distance)

   For the time being.. if this is all you have.. by all means.. use it. Just be VERY careful with your eq settings on the amp and on the bass too.  If you do plan down the road on playing with a band.. you will need a bass amp for rehersal and stage use.  Chances are if you dont... and crank that puppy up... the speaker WILL blow!

  Hope this has been of help... However and whenever.. keep playin.. thats the main thing!  

Answer 2

most likely it wont even work. but on the strange case it does it will quickly destroy the speeker. Ibanez Bass rock.

Answer 3

It will work as long as it is not very loud and you turn the bass down in the EQ. It won't sound that great.  The bigger the speaker you have, the better luck you will have.  I would just save up and get a bass amp.  You could get a cheap Peavey for a couple hundred.