Marshall JCM 2000 for bass?

[bluarcher]

Hi,
I'm not currently gigging, but I have a Marshall JCM 2000 DSL 100 head and a 4/12 cabinet that I bought for using with my LP several years ago. I'm wondering if I could (in a pinch, at least) use this amp for bass also. I haven't tried it yet but just thought I'd throw the question out there for kicks and future reference. thanks

 

[Wasnex]

Hi,
I'm not currently gigging, but I have a Marshall JCM 2000 DSL 100 head and a 4/12 cabinet that I bought for using with my LP several years ago. I'm wondering if I could (in a pinch, at least) use this amp for bass also. I haven't tried it yet but just thought I'd throw the question out there for kicks and future reference. thanks

I have not played through this amp, so I don't know how it is voiced. I own a JMP 2203 and early JCM 800 1959 and both sound great with bass. The amp should be safe with bass, so try it.

You should be able to play bass a low volume through the 412. Good chance you will blow the drivers if you really crank it. Depending upon the drivers in the cab, it may be fine, but probably not. IMHO, even a full stack of 412 guitar cabs will generally not safely handle bass through a cranked 100W tube head.

If the amp sounds decent through the guitar cab, consider getting an efficient bass cab.

 

[bluarcher]

you may be right but also bear in mind that the big Ampeg SVT cabs have 8/10s, as they originally did back in the day. I'm thinking at reasonable volume I'd be ok. thanks for the response.

 

[definenredefine]

It's not about the number or size of the drivers. Bass cabs and drivers are built differently. Guitar drivers won't do well with low frequencies at high volumes for long and you'll probably end up blowing at least one speaker if you gig with that rig.

That said, I'm curious what that head would sound like with a bass. I could see vintage Marshall guitar heads sounding good with bass...a lot of old guitar and bass heads are used more or less interchangeably. A newer head would be...interesting.

 

[chris_b]

Hi,
I'm not currently gigging, but I have a Marshall JCM 2000 DSL 100 head and a 4/12 cabinet that I bought for using with my LP several years ago. I'm wondering if I could (in a pinch, at least) use this amp for bass also. I haven't tried it yet but just thought I'd throw the question out there for kicks and future reference. thanks

Many years ago I was able to try out the whole Marshall amp range. I bought the Super Lead 100. It just sounded better than the bass version. It had more punch and more than enough bass. As far as I know the power sections would be the same and the differences will be in the pre amp section. I'd get dedicated bass cabs though.