Interesting. Some years ago I bought a small Fender RAD bass amp to use with a flamenco guitar. The salesman had said bass amps were the way to go for acoustic instruments.In fact, we (Guitar Merchant in LA) sell more bass amps to uke players than the standard guitar amp. People try both and pick the sound that suits them. Usually the bass amp wins out, typically a Fender Rumble 15.
...Another downside to bass amps is they have no reverb or chorus effects, you'd need outboard processing for that.
The guys who have come in looking to amp their ukes are looking for a loud ukulele sound as opposed to a sound-effected ukulele. As you say, you can always add a pedal or other effects inline to the bass amp. Either way, it will not hurt the amp. Your ears, maybe, but not the amp!
Yep, my first uke amp was a bass one. Only one problem though. Possession of bass amp + I.A.S = new bass!Hi. I am planning to buy a bass amp this week. Is there any way playing my ukulele through it will damage it? Thanks in advance for any help.
Yep, my first uke amp was a bass one. Only one problem though. Possession of bass amp + I.A.S = new bass!
Why, yes of course, you're entirely correct!I don't see this problem of which you speak...
They're not the optimum match, since the speakers are tuned two octaves lower than the range of a uke.
They're not the optimum match, since the speakers are tuned two octaves lower than the range of a uke.
But a good bass amp has more utility than vice versa, i.e. trying to play bass through a guitar amp. You might want a u-bass someday.
Are the speakers really "tuned" to only play bass notes?
I actually don't think so.
Bass amps appear to simply accomodate for a wide range of frequencies, both high and low tone.
Just about every bass amp I've run ukes through play the high end superbly. Does not sound bassy at all.