Guitar amp for electric drums?

[1 21 gigawatts]

I bought an electric drum kit for my kids for Christmas. Both love beating on the drums when I drag them into Guitar Center. I doubt that either will really put time into learning to play, but I want to at least give them the chance. They can use headphones, but will probably want to make some noise as well. I've got a couple of unused, unwanted (aka cheap) guitar amps laying around. I know that it won't sound great, but will it work well enough or do I need a dedicated drum amp?

 

[corliss1]

For what you're doing, close counts. The only potential issue could be loud volume from the kick drum as that's a pretty bassy note, and most guitar amp speakers won't reproduce that well.

 

[uriah1]

Bass amp

 

[JustABluesGuy]

A bass or keyboard amp would be better. A powered speaker would be best.

I see used Peavey KB amps pretty regularly around here. As @corliss1 mentioned, be careful with the bass frequencies so you don’t blow your amp’s speaker.

 

[arlum]

I'd use a keyboard amp or studio monitors. Guitar amps, (especially the speakers), are built to handle a limited frequency range. You'll get a truer sound with less chance of damage with a different choice.

 

[Peegoo]

A small keyboard amp is perfect for electronic drums.

Check out the Rolands...they make a 40-watt 1x10" combo and a 60-watt 1x12" combo. Both are surprisingly good for drums.

 

[radiocaster]

I've put keyboards and drum machines through guitar amps.

What you have to watch out for is the output volume. If the drums have a volume control, put it no higher than 2 on a 0-10 scale. To be clear, I am not referring to the amp volume.

 

[zook]

Our drummer uses a powered speaker and he is very happy with it.

 

[1 21 gigawatts]

Thanks all. I'll start with the guitar amp because I have 2 basically "throw-away" amps that I don't care if they get damaged. As long as it can make reasonable sound on Christmas, they will have something to play with.

If either shows any real interest in learning, I'll invest in either a dedicated drum amp or a portable PA speaker. I can get dual use out of a PA "party" speaker (use it to listen to music outside), so I might lean that way.

I also have a spare Pioneer home theater receiver and a couple of Bose 10" speakers not being use for anything. I wonder how the drums would sound through a hi-fi system?

 

[Peegoo]

Thanks all. I'll start with the guitar amp because I have 2 basically "throw-away" amps that I don't care if they get damaged.

One thing you can do with a guitar amp is install a full-range speaker; it will get you more top end for cymbals. The tone stack in most guitar amps is engineered for guitar (~midrange), but a full-range speaker will make a noticeable difference.

 

[scelestus]

Thanks all. I'll start with the guitar amp because I have 2 basically "throw-away" amps that I don't care if they get damaged. As long as it can make reasonable sound on Christmas, they will have something to play with.

If either shows any real interest in learning, I'll invest in either a dedicated drum amp or a portable PA speaker. I can get dual use out of a PA "party" speaker (use it to listen to music outside), so I might lean that way.

I also have a spare Pioneer home theater receiver and a couple of Bose 10" speakers not being use for anything. I wonder how the drums would sound through a hi-fi system?

I think this will work fine. Audio quality will probably just be "ok" and my bigger worry would be the kick drum shredding the speaker with too much low end excursion.

If you're good with the sound and you don't care if the speakers get fried, I think it's fine.

 

[kuch]

I bought an electric drum kit for my kids for Christmas. Both love beating on the drums when I drag them into Guitar Center. I doubt that either will really put time into learning to play, but I want to at least give them the chance. They can use headphones, but will probably want to make some noise as well. I've got a couple of unused, unwanted (aka cheap) guitar amps laying around. I know that it won't sound great, but will it work well enough or do I need a dedicated drum amp?

I have a Roland TD-9. I play them either through a pair of 8" powered monitors, my 2x8 acoustasonic amp, or a set of powered JBL Eon 610. I love to plug my phone in and play along with mp3's. Led Zep is my fav to play along with. When my wife is home, I sometimes play through headphones too.

I bet your kids will love it. My grandkids play with my set almost every time they come over.

Good dad!

 

[nojazzhere]

Thanks all. I'll start with the guitar amp because I have 2 basically "throw-away" amps that I don't care if they get damaged. As long as it can make reasonable sound on Christmas, they will have something to play with.

If either shows any real interest in learning, I'll invest in either a dedicated drum amp or a portable PA speaker. I can get dual use out of a PA "party" speaker (use it to listen to music outside), so I might lean that way.

I also have a spare Pioneer home theater receiver and a couple of Bose 10" speakers not being use for anything. I wonder how the drums would sound through a hi-fi system?

I agree with you and @scelestus......go with what you've got for Christmas, and proceed from there. As long as you can "restrain" them from cranking the drums up very loud, you should be OK. (both the amps and your sanity)
If, in the future your children want to really get into drums, they'll probably want REAL, acoustic drums.
And.....I'm not sure the party PA speaker or your HiFi system would be a good idea. If you eventually want more amp, I'd definitely go with a small (30-60 watt) bass amp. Use the party amp for your budding Freddie Mercury.

 

[SPUDCASTER]

Ampeg SVT with both cabs.

And several people to help you with it and a small truck or van.

Maybe a little overkill. But man would it sound killer.

 

[Red Ryder]

When I was a kid we got an old pot and a wooden spoon and were told to go outside and play.

 

[1 21 gigawatts]

Drums are up and running. They sound great through headphones, but not so good through the guitar amp (as expected). The cymbals are very quiet and the kick drum anemic. I guess that I will need to invest in a drum amp. As good as they sound with headphones, I'm wondering how a 2.1 (sub and 2 satellites) computer speaker set would sound.

 

[bottlenecker]

Drums are up and running. They sound great through headphones, but not so good through the guitar amp (as expected). The cymbals are very quiet and the kick drum anemic. I guess that I will need to invest in a drum amp.

I see cheap powered PA speakers all the time on craigslist. Maybe sell an unused guitar amp or two and you can have a decent sound even steven.

 

[Lowerleftcoast]

The kick drum needs to have a speaker that can handle excursion like a bass guitar. Every kick is like a mic drop. The speaker coil will want to jump out of the magnet gap. Regular PA speakers do not have enough X-Max. Forget home stereo speakers.

The speaker spec should list an X-Max of 4mm or more.

Some guitar amps could be used with a bass cab.

 

[41144]

Get a small powered speaker and xlr cable.... eg starting at something like an Alto TX208 upto whatever price you want to pay.
Drums thro' guitar combos stuck, imo.

 

[Henry Mars]

Randall .... everybody I know who uses electric drum kits uses them. They sound great and have other useful features. Any keyboard amp should work fine BTW.