Sorry, I get interested in something and go all kid in a candy shop about it.

I know that the Bassman was originally designed for - wait for it - Bass.

But it's only like 4 10" speakers (I see the original had a single 15)

Nowadays we tend to associate ridiculously stupid wattage (often solid state) and bigger speakers (with smaller ones mixed in sometimes).

Would Baritones and Bass VI guitars have been played through regular old amps at the time?

Conventional wisdom is that playing a bass through a guitar amp is likely to result in blown speakers - especially if it's a singel 10 or 12 style combo...

With 7 string guitars we're getting down into Baritone territory, but a lot of those guys like super distorted (compressed, so the peaks are gone) tones through marshallesque cabinets which seem to be able to handle the low end.

But your typical blackface 60s amps - would they handle Bass VI frequencies OK? - Twin, Super, Pro, Bandmaster, etc. Baritone probably wouldn't be as bad and I assume all these amps can handle them.

I play octave down and have toyed with C tuning (pitch shifter model pedal) through my Twin around the house, but would be hesitant to go out and gig playing bass through the Twin for example - so wonder what I would think of a Bass VI (short scale, so a Bass I could actually play, as well as it being the cool Bass VI vibe).

Just curious basically if these amps (or which amps) can handle the low frequencies without injury to the amp (ears are a different matter...)

The Bass VI and those tic tac baritone guitars were original played through a wide variety of amps back in their studio heyday.

I really like the Bass VI with a Vox amp, same reason I really like a Gretsch with a Vox. It tightens up the lows and gives it more a guitar-like attack. If you want to play a Bass VI as a bass, use a bass amp and cab!

I also love anything through 4x10" speaker cabs, no matter the guitar. And remember, it is the speaker that blows, not the amp blowing the speaker. So if you are concerned about blowing speakers you can buy a more modern speaker that will handle bass frequencies better. You will not harm the amp portion by playing bass through it.

Last edited: Jan 24, 2016 13:42:38

The needs/demands in a recording situation are very different from live. Assuming you don't already have one of the set ups above, don't intend to play with the bass cut witch on all of the time, and expect to be playing medium sized club or larger volumes, I might suggest a bass amp/cab and then a separate guitar amp, probably with the low end rolled off for the guitar amp. This is a crude but effective bi-amp system that allows you tonal choices as well as reliability. In the pic below, I use a Markbass which is probably more than most people would need. I play bass as my primary instrument so I chose to spend that kind of cash. You can get by with plenty adequate sound on cheaper bass amps. Hope this helps.

mj

mj
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Hey Jo. Next time SANDBLAST! has a gig coming up, I'll post a note here. I'm still experimenting, trying to find the optimum sounds for the VI, but this pretty much gets the job done!

mj

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stevel wrote:

montereyjack66 wrote:

Wait, what are you playing through the - looks like a Custom Vibrolux Reverb? Bass through Markbass and Bass VI through the Vibrolux? Or are you saying yo play both through all that and have the Vibrolux with the bass control way low so it acts sort of like 10"s in like a Hartke bass cab with a 15 and 210s?

In the pic below, I use a Markbass which is probably more than most people would need. I play bass as my primary instrument so I chose to spend that kind of cash. You can get by with plenty adequate sound on cheaper bass amps. Hope this helps.

mj

To clarify - I run (usually) into my pedal board and then into my Mark Bass (usually only one as these are LOUD little f*ckers, I just use two for outdoor gigs) and then I run out the back from the Markbass effects loop OUT into the guitar amp. In this case, I am using a Fender SuperSonic 22 (excellent gigging amp! Think Fender's response to a Mesa Boogie using Deluxe Reverb DNA). I sometimes also use a Mustang III which sounds pretty cool on some settings with the Bass VI. NOTE: I did upgrade both amps with a Swamp Thang which gives me LOTS more headroom than the stock speakers and tends to handle lows better than your average 12.

Second NOTE: it is also possible to run reverse order, going from the pedal board to the SS22 and out of the effects loop in the back of that amp and into the Bass amps - which gives thing a more tube-ish sound over all.

Third NOTE: one could also do something like run them out stereo outs on your pedals such as a TC HOF and go directly into the front of each amp.

Each route has it's pluses and minuses. Just depends on what you are trying to accomplish.

Finally, usually most bass combo amps don't really put out the kind of highs you probably want for the upper registers of your VI - and guitar combo amps tend not to be able to but out lows at any real volume without rolling the speaker or doing actual damage. Remember, it's physics, and low notes means MOVING AIR. This requires a certain amount of physical movement back and forth that most guitar speakers aren't designed for. (they CAN be, but usually are not. GROUPS of speakers can help make up for this to some extent BUT then you gotta lug them around. Assuming you like to travel somewhat light you can do what I do if you choose.

In short, roll off the lows on the guitar amp and adjust the highs to taste on the bass amp. This requires some experimentation to arrive at the magical and optimum sound both solo and playing with the band. As stated before, it is crude, but effective - and cheaper than all sorts of crossover crap!

To close, the market builds things for basses and for guitars, but not a whole lot for a full range Bass VI. This is both a blessing and a curse. Mainly, it forces you to be creative in all sorts of ways in order to do something a little bit different, a little bit off the beaten path...which can be kinda fun!

CAVEAT! NONE OF THE ABOVE IS NECESSARY IF YOU INTEND TO PLAY THE BASS VI WITH THE BASS CUT ENGAGED! Standard geetar amps are just fine.
Hope this helps.

Pat/mj

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Last edited: Jan 25, 2016 23:34:14

stevel wrote:

Is the "bass cut" on the instrument itself?

Yep. There's a series of on off switches for each PUP and then one that cut's the low end and you just get upper low mids. It gives you a twangin' retro vibe that pops in the mix nicely, but doesn't provide much bottom. If you also have someone on a P bass, this is a plus.

mj
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That's quite the setup Pat. Nice!