Playing bass on a guitar can be done, but the tone and vibe you would get if played the other way around won’t be quite the same.
Bassists typically use low frequencies that guitar amplifiers cannot handle, leading to a distorted and murky tone.
Amplifiers
Amplifiers are an integral part of your bass playing experience, helping you get the most from your gear. They can amplify your signal, add effects, and offer a diverse palette of tonal choices.
Bass players have a range of amplifiers to choose from, such as combo and stack amps that can be used with both guitar and bass instruments. Popular brands include Orange, Ashdown, and Markbass.
Your ideal amp depends on personal preferences and what works best in a live performance setting. If you’re just starting out, opt for an amp specifically tailored to bassists with all necessary features.
For a more versatile option, consider investing in an amp with multiple inputs and an integrated EQ. Equalization (EQ) is key when shaping your sound, so any bass amp equipped with multi-band EQ offers numerous tonal possibilities.
Many amps feature a patch bay, which allows users to plug in effects that don’t rely on the preamp section for operation. This can be handy if you want an extra bass tone from your pedal or want to introduce another effect before the preamp, such as electronic distortion.
Bass-specific amplifiers often come equipped with a built-in fuzz pedal. Some guitar amps also provide an integrated bass EQ, which can help boost low frequencies without distorting the sound of your bass guitar.
Another alternative to investing in a dedicated bass amp is using your computer as an amplifier. This will let you utilize software that models an amp and provides an analog experience, but digital.
Preamps
A preamp is a device that transforms low-level signals into high-quality audio suitable for driving speakers. Usually, it features volume and tone controls to customize sound, as well as other features like Bluetooth connection or WiFi support.
Guitar amps typically feature a preamp output (known as the pre-out) that can be connected to other amplifiers, PA systems and recording equipment. Some preamps even have power outputs which could be used for powering the guitar amp itself if required.
Playing bass with a guitar amp is not recommended due to several reasons. Not only could this compromise the sound, but it could damage your amp if you put too much strain on it.
Particularly when playing a high-powered guitar amp with your bass, more distortion from the amp can be expected and this will only compromise the bass sound.
You don’t necessarily need a high-wattage guitar amp to practice and develop your bass skills. You could start out with a low powered amp with the volume reduced or boost treble and bass controls for an enhanced sound that appeals to more ears.
Most high-end guitar amps feature built-in preamps that help shape the sound before it reaches the power amp and speakers. They can be an excellent way to achieve more saturated, natural tube overdrive tones without needing a pedal box.
Most preamps feature an Equalization (EQ) section to adjust the frequencies picked up by the preamp. These are typically two or three-band EQs that can be tailored to your playing style.
Distortion
If you’ve ever turned up the volume on a guitar amp, distortion is likely to have occurred. Although many guitarists and bassists use this effect often, few truly comprehend what gain does – or how it relates to volume.
Distortion is the process of clipping a signal, creating extra harmonics that can be used to create new sounds in the mix. It’s similar to how microphones enhance sound by adding frequencies not present in the original audio signal.
Distortion applied to guitar signals can give it an aggressive tone, especially in rock and metal music. It’s great for pushing certain sounds up front in a mix or ornamenting tracks with specific vibes or moods.
Another essential consideration with distortion is that it can significantly reduce dynamic range if not done properly. This could impact vocals, drums, percussion and any other sound which has been over-distorted in a mix.
Distortion pedals are typically left for recording studios, where you have more time to experiment with different effects and find one you enjoy most. However, distortion pedals can be invaluable during live performances – particularly on bass guitars that hang low (80Hz – 1.2kHz) frequencies.
When selecting a distortion pedal for your bass guitar, make sure it can handle the frequency range of your instrument. Doing this will prevent your instrument from sounding mushed or distorted at the knees, which may occur when using fuzz and distortion pedals on bass guitars.
Tone controls
Guitar amplifiers typically feature several controls which you can use to customize your tone. These include bass, mids and treble controls which can be adjusted to alter the guitar’s sound; these are known as EQ or tone controls and may differ from amp to amp so it’s important to get familiar with each model’s different settings.
Tone controls typically operate in the preamp stage of an amplifier and filter out frequencies not needed by the device. This helps to ‘clean up’ the sound so it’s not too gritty or muddy, while also enabling you to make better use of effects like reverb or delay which can add extra flavor and depth to your sound.
Another set of controls are presence and resonance which are commonly found on many amps and control the high frequencies and treble portion of your sound. Increased presence can make your sound more dynamic and punchy which could be beneficial when playing with a band or living in an environment where people will notice you.
Resonance works similarly to presence, treating both high and low frequencies of your signal but also amplifying the middle range so you can hear your music more clearly at higher volumes. With adjustable levels, resonance allows for different degrees of prominence for different sounds in the mix.
Never play with more than one control at a time and pay close attention to the effect it has on your tone. Doing this allows for faster fine-tuning of your sound and saves you time figuring out which controls work best for you.
Speakers
A guitar amplifier is a type of speaker designed to amplify sound produced by an electric guitar. Depending on its model, it may also be capable of generating sound for other instruments as well. This makes it a good option for guitarists who want to play bass on their guitar but don’t want to spend a fortune on an amp specifically made for it.
A speaker system consists of three parts: a driver that generates sound, a voice coil (also called a voice horn), and a speaker cone or dome. The voice coil is an internal copper wire that transmits sound waves to the driver/cone assembly, creating the audio we hear. As this cone moves back and forth quickly between high notes and deeper ones, it creates different tones.
Speaker systems typically consist of four to seven speakers, with the woofers producing lower frequencies and tweeters producing higher ones. Nowadays, most 2-way speakers feature two drivers for left and right channel production of sound on separate channels for improved stereo imaging. Surround sound systems usually consist of four to seven speakers plus a subwoofer for additional bass response.
Typically, speakers have an impedance of 8 ohms and can be driven by a typical solid-state amplifier. However, this is not always the case and it’s essential to purchase loudspeakers with the correct impedance for your amplifier even if it means spending more money.
Due to the limited range of sound we hear, speakers are designed with certain frequencies in mind. This means they tend to be better at handling low and mid frequencies while being less effective at the high end.