Are combo accordion amps safe to use for low-volume recording of a bass?

[Edword]

If it's safe I'd like to try recording some bass through a FLOT-A-TONE Model 600 accordion amp.

I'm a little concerned about the possibility of doing something bad the speaker, but I remember my cousin giving it some pretty good workouts with his accordion back in the day. I'm thinking a little low-volume bass recording won't hurt it.

Am I going to ruin the speaker? All opinions welcomed!I

TIA

 

[tfer]

The only way to know, is to plug in and try. Start low, and go from there.

If you hear any distress from the driver, stop.

 

[Passinwind]

In an open back cab those Jensens will blow with very little provocation, and in working order they are worth very serious money these days.

 

[beans-on-toast]

Ampeg marketed the same amps for bass and accordion in the later 50's/early 60's. Accordion popularity petered out for some reason in the 60's. Some of the amps had inputs for bass and accordion.

This is the back of an Ampeg 835, they used Jensen speakers. Like Charlie said, not the best design but state of the art at the time. The other thing to consider is that this is an old speaker and could be delicate. Just watch your volume level and listen for signs of distress.

 

[sonic 7]

Ampegs were pretty much the go to amp for accordians back in the 60s. (Unless you played a "cord o vox" but thats a whole nother story) Accordians go pretty low and our accordian players B15, and Gemini sounded great. The Gemini had a beautiful breakup when overdrivin with the accordian, if you can imagine that ! You're just not going to get a lot of volume from those amps .

 

[basscooker]

If that's a P-12N in great shape you could partially fund a nice small cab by selling it. I sold some that came from old Ampro boxes for decent coin. I didn't want to use them for bass either. They sounded great while I did use them, but I just didn't trust 50(?) year old "general purpose" speakers to live a very healthy life with me slappin da bass with them. I had two with a 20 watt tube amp. At 10+ watts (per speaker) I leaned into them I heard a little cone whoot once and that sold me on letting them go.

 

[Omega Monkey]

I would just find some way to hook the amp up to a bass cab. Preferably a high efficiency one like a 15 or 4x10. Should sound pretty good that way.

 

[two fingers]

Accordion to all my sources, you should be fine.

(Seriously, I have no idea and was just making a joke. Pay zero attention to any of my thoughts on the matter.)

 

[beans-on-toast]

 

[gary m]

Hm, I see a pair of 6L6s and a 5U4, so that's about 35 watts give or take. You could run your bass through there, but not with that speaker -- take it out, store it carefully, and drop in something much less valuable with a higher Xmax like one of Eminence's Beta series speakers.
Oh, and notice that black stain on the left 6L6? That's a sign that the tube has been run pretty hard and is probably in a weakened state. Unless you want to experience power tube failure firsthand, I would give serious thought to replacing it. Better yet, replace both power tubes...better safe than sorry.