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running bass into a marshall 40 watt tube amp into a 4x12?
Posted: Sun Nov 11, 2012 12:50 am
by decomposing
ok thought I would get your thoughts on this before I really do some damage like lemmy, heh
so...
I'm running a short scale SG bass into a 40 watt tube Marshall JCM2000 DSL401 hooked up to a 4x12 loaded up with wgs clones of the G12H 30 watt with bass resonance (55hz).
All the wattage and ohm loads check out, the main concern is melting the transformer or whatever in the amp with running bass.
I mainly run an SG guitar drop tuned to C or C standard, which is bassy but not a bass.
Essentially it'd be like running a octave down playing the bass then... and would be alright... so confused?
They used to do this all the time back in the day because that's all they had, but they just changed out pieces when they melted down.
...or that's how they got THAT sound.
anyways. trying to not fry my amp or voice coils.
all my pedals are guitar and bass friendly. would be cool if my rig was too...
thanks for helping out with my madness

Re: running bass into a marshall 40 watt tube amp into a 4x1
Posted: Sun Nov 11, 2012 12:54 am
by Bassboar
The amp will not fry, unless you're running at 300% to get some headroom for the bass.
It's the speakers you need to worry about, the low frequencies will overtax the them and cause them to blow.
Only if you pump a lot of bass through them though.
Re: running bass into a marshall 40 watt tube amp into a 4x1
Posted: Sun Nov 11, 2012 1:06 am
by decomposing
ok I remember reading that, the excursion of the speaker...
just have to be careful and get a feel for how everything reacts before notching up the volume.
just not a bass amp guy I think, I live for the GROWL
Re: running bass into a marshall 40 watt tube amp into a 4x1
Posted: Sun Nov 11, 2012 1:09 am
by snipelfritz
Yeah, you're probably better trying to find a bass cab. Maybe a tasty 2x15, MUURRRRRRR?????
Re: running bass into a marshall 40 watt tube amp into a 4x1
Posted: Sun Nov 11, 2012 1:11 am
by decomposing
yeah bean leaning that way, could use the guitar on em too.
what would be comparable to the G12H's I have for guitar for bass?
Re: running bass into a marshall 40 watt tube amp into a 4x1
Posted: Sun Nov 11, 2012 1:18 am
by bigchiefbc
As was said, the amp will be fine. My main gigging bass rig right now is a Bugera 1960 (which is a clone of a 100 watt Marshall 1959 Super Lead) through a bass cab and it sounds the tits.
Re: running bass into a marshall 40 watt tube amp into a 4x1
Posted: Sun Nov 11, 2012 1:36 am
by decomposing
what are you using for speakers? want something more like the g12h in character if possible at all
Re: running bass into a marshall 40 watt tube amp into a 4x1
Posted: Sun Nov 11, 2012 1:36 am
by MEC
Those speakers go pretty low so I think you'll probably be alright using what you have.
The amp will run a little hotter with the bass so if you plan on playing for more than an hour or so
at a time you may want to put a fan on it if it doesn't already have one.
If you can find a lower wattage Bass speaker with a high sensitivity rating that may work well too.
Re: running bass into a marshall 40 watt tube amp into a 4x1
Posted: Sun Nov 11, 2012 5:29 am
by univalve
Those speakers will take that. Don't worry. I use them too. And they sound so good with bass.
And back in the days those were invented for bass(guitar).
And i never blew an amp because of playing bass through it...
Re: running bass into a marshall 40 watt tube amp into a 4x1
Posted: Sun Nov 11, 2012 8:06 am
by bigchiefbc
decomposing wrote:what are you using for speakers? want something more like the g12h in character if possible at all
I have a Carvin 4x10 and an Avatar 2x12 that I use depending on the situation. The 2x12 are Neos that are made for Avatar. No idea what speakers are in the Carvin, I've never opened it up.

Re: running bass into a marshall 40 watt tube amp into a 4x1
Posted: Thu Nov 15, 2012 9:25 am
by decomposing
awesome, thanks guys. just sold the bass I picked up for a les paul that needs a little love.
first world problems. I know I'll pick up a bass again sometime...
but good to know I set up my rig as a bass monster.
my old neighbors kinda miss me haha