Which guitar amps also work well as bass amps?

#5
Plug a bass preamp into the FX Return of a guitar amp and you can use its power section that way. Basically the more power the better, even a high powered guitar amp will just barely cut it for bass in a live scenario. I've enjoyed plugging preamps into 4x6L6 power sections (for example Dual Rectifier). I think 4x6L6 can get you by in light-medium rock situations.

I owned an Ibanez Thermion (IMO highly undervalued) for a while and it had a killer power section especially when loaded with 6550's or KT88's. I've thought of getting one again just to use as a power amp.
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: A. D. Fairhurst
#11
Guitar heads can sometimes be a good deal used...for example, vintage Ampeg guitar heads sell for much less than their bass heads. I wouldn't go out of my way to buy a guitar head but if one came along at a great price, maybe. Personally, I wouldn't bother with guitar cabs at all but if you must, skip open back cabs...weak low end, easily blown if you try to compensate with EQ.

With older tube guitar heads the output transformers sometimes restrict the low end, the Fender Bandmaster compared to the Bassman for example. Voicing of the EQ may be sub-optimal, you won't find the "deep" or "ultra-low" switches found on bass heads.

Amp companies that used the same basic circuitry for their solid state guitar and bass heads (usually just removing reverb and tremelo) like Kustom, Sunn, Acoustic, Peavey (up to about 1990) are good choices.

deathness said:
The YBA-1 was originally designed as a bass amp, no? Isn't that the "B" in "YBA"?
Click to expand...

Yes, the guitar amps are YGA.
 
  • Like
Reactions: TomB and 10cc
#13
I used a Randall 50w tube head once for a practice; got good breakup but not loud enough.

I'll tell you what NOT to use - a GK 250ML (into external cabs). Tried this once and while it got pretty loud, the bass freq's were too much for it - even into an 8 ohm load per side. The chorus sounded awesome until I let the magic smoke out of it. Suffice it to say I have not tried this with my Ampeg SS-70c...
 
  • Like
Reactions: A. D. Fairhurst
#14
This one landed in my garage yesterday. It fits the bill. Canadian! Looks great.
image.jpeg
 
  • Like
Reactions: adje, quickfix and deathness
#19
Hiwatt, Roost and Sound City amps were all purpose amplifiers originally, as where Simms Watts, the AP200 Super was a 4XKT88 ultra linear design that had plenty of good solid controlled low frequency power.
It did have an enormous 5 wire primary output transformer.
That seems to be half the trick, nice big transformers generally result in nice big bottom end.
 
#20
I have a Peavey Classic 50 head paired with a single 15 cab that sounds great with a bass. It doesn't get loud (and I don't want to push it) but it has great tone.

It would work great for recording.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top Bottom
Back