Do you need a different amp for a bass then one that you would use on a electric guitar?

Answer 1

It is easily possible to play bass through a guitar amp so long as you take a few precautions. Basically you cannot use any overdrive or reverb at all, and don't have the bass, middle, treble to high. Then very gradually build the volume up, If it hear a lot of distortion when playing hard then stop as this is a warning that u may be damaging your speakers. I have used guitar amps for my bass many times and found no problems so long as follow these steps. you can't always safely get full volume out of the amp but its normally plenty to get you by.
All amps are fundamentally identical in almost every way, the guitar amp just has the extra circuitry for overdrive & effects etc. and this is what makes them less universal. Obviously you won't get as good a sound as a proper bass amp and you do have to watch your speakers but it is still very useable and has got me out of trouble many times.
Also as an extra piont i have found that on most amps cutting out a lot of the mid frequecies helps reduce distortion.

Answer 2

Guitar amp speakers are design for higher frequencies (higher notes). Be very careful playing a bass through a guitar amp, keep the volume low or you will blow out the speaker cone. You can pick up an inexpensive fender rumble 25 bass amp, it will cost no more than re-coning your guitar amp when you blow the speaker.

Answer 3

Yes, you can play a guitar through a bass amp, but playing a bass through a guitar amp can blow out the speaker.

Answer 4

A friend of mine use to play rhythm guitar through an old Peavy bass stack.
As the others have said, I wouldn't play a bass through a guitar amp

Answer 5

you can use any amp but a bass amp sounds better, they are designed for bass's.