Members NoirAbattoir Posted August 14, 2008 Members Share Posted August 14, 2008 Someone suggested that running a bass guitar through a guitar amp could hurt the output transformer because the transformers aren't made to handle the bass frequencies. Is there any truth to this? I'm planning to run a bass into a 120 watt Peavey Butcher amp head into some bass cabs. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Renfield Posted August 14, 2008 Members Share Posted August 14, 2008 If you do a search you'll find about a thread every other week asking this. It's an age old debate that breaks down to who you believe more. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members jannda Posted August 14, 2008 Members Share Posted August 14, 2008 :facepalm:NO! It wont hurt the transformer It will hurt your speakers if your going to be useing guitar speakers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Renfield Posted August 14, 2008 Members Share Posted August 14, 2008 :facepalm:NO! It wont hurt the transformer It could hurt your speakers if your going to be using guitar speakers if you don't know what to listen for and what to do about it. Couldn't have said it better myself. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators Kindness Posted August 14, 2008 Moderators Share Posted August 14, 2008 If you do a search you'll find about a thread every other week asking this. It's an age old debate that breaks down to who you believe more. I've actually never heard anyone suggest it would hurt the output transformer. That's even dumber than most arguments against using a guitar amp. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members NoirAbattoir Posted August 14, 2008 Author Members Share Posted August 14, 2008 That was my assumption, I just never heard such a thing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Renfield Posted August 14, 2008 Members Share Posted August 14, 2008 I've actually never heard anyone suggest it would hurt the output transformer. That's even dumber than most arguments against using a guitar amp. My bad, I skimmed ahead a little too quickly, I was expecting it to be another "bass into guitar speaker" debate. It is dumber. I dare say they probably can't make a transformer that is bandwidth limited, nor would I understand why. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members NoirAbattoir Posted August 14, 2008 Author Members Share Posted August 14, 2008 Well, the guy said some mumbo-jumbo about the bass frequencies "saturating" the output transformer and damaging them. I've been a guitar tube amp freak for years, and I went and bought a Peavey Butcher to build bass rig with. I don't think anything other than leaving the amp running with no load would hurt those transformers, they're bigger than my freakin' head. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators Kindness Posted August 14, 2008 Moderators Share Posted August 14, 2008 I dare say they probably can't make a transformer that is bandwidth limited, nor would I understand why. Sure they can and do on a regular basis. The point is, the output transformer will not be harmed by seeing a full spectrum signal on the primary. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Narcosynthesis Posted August 14, 2008 Members Share Posted August 14, 2008 The electronics will be fine, if anything the earlier stages will probably limit the bass frequencies, but in any case, the transformer should be more than fine. The only piece to watch out for are the speakers, which will not be able to handle the lower frequencies and will most likely tear themselves to shreds, use a bass cab though and you are sorted. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members misterhinkydink Posted August 14, 2008 Members Share Posted August 14, 2008 Well, the guy said some mumbo-jumbo about the bass frequencies "saturating" the output transformer and damaging them. Some people know a little bit too much... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members fretless Posted August 14, 2008 Members Share Posted August 14, 2008 ok so what does kill a tranny ? Incorrect loads and I have heard that running it on 10 all the time can take them out , like with a attenuator ,I seem to recall guys where burning them up with their powersoaks , and also seem to recall Eddie Van Halen tricked a bunch of guitards into using variacs and many a fried Marshall was the result . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members fealach Posted August 14, 2008 Members Share Posted August 14, 2008 Someone suggested that running a bass guitar through a guitar amp could hurt the output transformer because the transformers aren't made to handle the bass frequencies. Is there any truth to this? I'm planning to run a bass into a 120 watt Peavey Butcher amp head into some bass cabs. Did he work in a music store? I bought my first Sound City amp from Guitar Center. I knew nothing about them then. The salesman (who had traded the amp in) gave me a story about it being a super rare prototype,showroom condition, all that rot. Sounded OK in the store, I convinced them to let me try a bass & bass cab with it, sounded wicked, so I bought it. I get it home, and before I even got ht echance to use it my guitarist wanted to try it. We hook it up, and at volume it starts doing all kinds of funky (in a bad way) stuff. It's clearly ill. I return it. A few weeks later, the salesman is trying to sell it to another customer. A couple weeks after that, it's sitting in a pile of broken amps bback at the store some guy is buying for parts. I overhear the salesman saying "some guy played bass through it and broke it." Funny enough, the salesman was gone the next time I was in the store. Your guy was using big words without the proper training. Big words should require a permit and a safety course so nobody gets hurt. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members puckdude66 Posted August 14, 2008 Members Share Posted August 14, 2008 ok so what does kill a tranny ? .... Completing the sex change? Sorry, I couldn't pass that one up. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members misterhinkydink Posted August 14, 2008 Members Share Posted August 14, 2008 ok so what does kill a tranny ? Incorrect loads and I have heard that running it on 10 all the time can take them out , like with a attenuator ,I seem to recall guys where burning them up with their powersoaks , and also seem to recall Eddie Van Halen tricked a bunch of guitards into using variacs and many a fried Marshall was the result . Other than an improper load, winding insulation can be damaged from thermal cycling. Doping of the windings is supposed to prevent this but sometimes it just happens. Power transformers can be destroyed by electrically leaky capacitors that present too much of a load. Usually the fuse will blow to protect the transformer but occasionally the proper fuse is replaced with a larger one. The power transformer then becomes the fuse. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members fretless Posted August 14, 2008 Members Share Posted August 14, 2008 Other than an improper load, winding insulation can be damaged from thermal cycling. Doping of the windings is supposed to prevent this but sometimes it just happens. Power transformers can be destroyed by electrically leaky capacitors that present too much of a load. Usually the fuse will blow to protect the transformer but occasionally the proper fuse is replaced with a larger one. The power transformer then becomes the fuse. ahh , that reminds me I do need to check my fuses , Thank you Sir ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members NoirAbattoir Posted August 15, 2008 Author Members Share Posted August 15, 2008 Thanks, guys! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members BigPigPeaches Posted August 16, 2008 Members Share Posted August 16, 2008 Well, it's not quite close, but I think this thread qualifies. BINGO! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members bholder Posted August 16, 2008 Members Share Posted August 16, 2008 ... It is dumber. I dare say they probably can't make a transformer that is bandwidth limited... I dunno, isn't Optimus Prime still on dialup? As to why his folks made him, I can't answer that one. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Guttermouth Posted August 16, 2008 Members Share Posted August 16, 2008 Well, the guy said some mumbo-jumbo about the bass frequencies "saturating" the output transformer and damaging them.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members James Hart Posted August 16, 2008 Members Share Posted August 16, 2008 and a whole bunch of too Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Guttermouth Posted August 16, 2008 Members Share Posted August 16, 2008 and a whole bunch of too yes. many, MANY Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members The Real MC Posted August 16, 2008 Members Share Posted August 16, 2008 Years ago during an impromptu jam session I ran my bass through my guitar amp. It melted the power tubes. Didn't hurt the transformer though, but it is not a practice that is recommended. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators Kindness Posted August 16, 2008 Moderators Share Posted August 16, 2008 Years ago during an impromptu jam session I ran my bass through my guitar amp.It melted the power tubes. Didn't hurt the transformer though, but it is not a practice that is recommended. Any problems the tubes had were entirely unrelated to you playing bass through the amp. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Guttermouth Posted August 16, 2008 Members Share Posted August 16, 2008 Any problems the tubes had were entirely unrelated to you playing bass through the amp. welll...... unless they were GUITAR tubes.......... . . . :poke: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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