keyoboard with a bass amp?

aznrambo481 · July 4th, 2008, 02:13 AM

is it fine if my keyboardist gets a bass amp to play through? will there be any problems?

beep.click · July 4th, 2008, 04:09 AM

Depends on a lot of things. A lot of keyboards I've seen only have a LINE-LEVEL output, which is a much bigger signal than a typical bass puts out. A friend of mine blew a fuse on my transistor guitar amp, trying to use a keyboard with it.

It's worth taking some time to look at the inputs and outputs and see what you have to work with.

Sound-wise, it might be OK, or awful.

I guess I'm wondering why the guy would WANT a bass amp for his keyboard. Does he have a strategy in mind?

gibsonjunkie · July 4th, 2008, 08:19 AM

In a pinch I've used a keyboard amp for a bass so why not. I'd start out slow and work up to it volume-wise.

ole6string · July 4th, 2008, 09:50 AM

Like acoustic amps most keyboard amps that I have seen use full range speakers and some type of tweeter to cover the full sonic spectrum of the keyboard or acoustic guitar. I would look into one of those alternatives if I was going to spend money before I jumped on a bass amp for a keyboard. Not surew how great it would cover the hi-end. My 2 cents...

Tim Armstrong · July 4th, 2008, 10:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by beep.click

Depends on a lot of things. A lot of keyboards I've seen only have a LINE-LEVEL output, which is a much bigger signal than a typical bass puts out. A friend of mine blew a fuse on my transistor guitar amp, trying to use a keyboard with it.

+1

Make sure he turns the output on his keyboard all the way down, and then brings it up slowly to taste. It's easy to overdrive the imput on the amp, and it won't be pretty (and as noted, could even be harmful!).

Cheers, Tim

franchelB · July 5th, 2008, 11:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by aznrambo481

is it fine if my keyboardist gets a bass amp to play through? will there be any problems?

As long as the bass amp has a tweeter to cover the higher eq frequencies of a keyboard...otherwise the keyboard would sound "muffled"....

JohnnyCrash · July 5th, 2008, 12:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tim Armstrong

+1

Make sure he turns the output on his keyboard all the way down, and then brings it up slowly to taste. It's easy to overdrive the imput on the amp, and it won't be pretty (and as noted, could even be harmful!).

Cheers, Tim

I routinely see Keyboard players use Bass amps. Do as Tim suggests.

Bass amps are great for Keys in a pinch since they have a cleaner, louder, wider frequency responce than most Guitar amps.

Silverface · July 6th, 2008, 11:01 AM

Most modern bass amps are made to handle a much wider frequency response than bass amps of 15-20 years ago. The poppers and slappers have made it necessary. However, they can be EQ'd for more traditional "Duck Dunn" bass sounds as well.

Essentially, most of the amp companies took the general idea of keyboard amps - wide response, tons of headroom - and adapted it into newer bass amps. So essentially, most new bass amps are based on keyboard amp technology.

So - as long as the keyboard isn't one of the cheapos (usually with on-board speakers) that puts out a huge signal it'll be fine, and essentially the same as a keyboard amp.

If it puts out a ton of signal he has to be REAL careful to keep the keyboard output at a lower level - I'd tape the control in place, or install a "stop" so it cannot go above a certain level (if it has a sliding control).

robbysturgis · July 7th, 2008, 01:39 PM

in the lower price - a GK Backline 112

Modern keyboards have their own effects (reverb and chorus) so none is needed on the amp.

jjmantele · July 7th, 2008, 11:29 PM

Some bass amps have separate "active" and "passive" inputs. Use the "active" for the keyboard and you should be pretty close to ideal I would think.

July 4th, 2008, 02:13 AM	#1 (permalink)
aznrambo481 Friend of Leo's Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: La Jolla, California Age: 17 Posts: 2,842 6 Photos	keyoboard with a bass amp? is it fine if my keyboardist gets a bass amp to play through? will there be any problems? __________________ "Never age. Never die. Live forever in that one last white-hot moment, when the crowd screamed. When every note was a heartbeat. Burn across the sky."-Terry Pratchett, Soul Music.

July 4th, 2008, 04:09 AM	#2 (permalink)
beep.click Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: California Age: 49 Posts: 1,807	Depends on a lot of things. A lot of keyboards I've seen only have a LINE-LEVEL output, which is a much bigger signal than a typical bass puts out. A friend of mine blew a fuse on my transistor guitar amp, trying to use a keyboard with it. It's worth taking some time to look at the inputs and outputs and see what you have to work with. Sound-wise, it might be OK, or awful. I guess I'm wondering why the guy would WANT a bass amp for his keyboard. Does he have a strategy in mind? __________________ "It looked like a giant green gum drop to me."

July 4th, 2008, 08:19 AM	#3 (permalink)
gibsonjunkie Tele-Holic Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Bloomfield, Connecticut Age: 55 Posts: 582	In a pinch I've used a keyboard amp for a bass so why not. I'd start out slow and work up to it volume-wise. __________________ The early bird gets the worm, but the second mouse gets the cheese...

July 4th, 2008, 09:50 AM	#4 (permalink)
ole6string Tele-Meister Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Williamsport, PA Age: 39 Posts: 178	Like acoustic amps most keyboard amps that I have seen use full range speakers and some type of tweeter to cover the full sonic spectrum of the keyboard or acoustic guitar. I would look into one of those alternatives if I was going to spend money before I jumped on a bass amp for a keyboard. Not surew how great it would cover the hi-end. My 2 cents... __________________ http://www.myspace.com/rodchubb http://www.rodchubb.com

July 6th, 2008, 11:01 AM	#8 (permalink)
Silverface Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Hermosa Beach CA Age: 56 Posts: 1,879	Most modern bass amps are made to handle a much wider frequency response than bass amps of 15-20 years ago. The poppers and slappers have made it necessary. However, they can be EQ'd for more traditional "Duck Dunn" bass sounds as well. Essentially, most of the amp companies took the general idea of keyboard amps - wide response, tons of headroom - and adapted it into newer bass amps. So essentially, most new bass amps are based on keyboard amp technology. So - as long as the keyboard isn't one of the cheapos (usually with on-board speakers) that puts out a huge signal it'll be fine, and essentially the same as a keyboard amp. If it puts out a ton of signal he has to be REAL careful to keep the keyboard output at a lower level - I'd tape the control in place, or install a "stop" so it cannot go above a certain level (if it has a sliding control). __________________ “No Chops – Great Tone” ©

July 7th, 2008, 01:39 PM	#9 (permalink)
robbysturgis Tele-Meister Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: fairfax Posts: 498 5 Photos	suggest... in the lower price - a GK Backline 112 Modern keyboards have their own effects (reverb and chorus) so none is needed on the amp. __________________ In early '57, I bought a Fender Telecaster. ~ Johnny Rivers

July 7th, 2008, 11:29 PM	#10 (permalink)
jjmantele Tele-Holic Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: New Jersey Posts: 846	Some bass amps have separate "active" and "passive" inputs. Use the "active" for the keyboard and you should be pretty close to ideal I would think. __________________ JJman If it says "Vintage" on it -it isn't.