Tube Amp Archive

This may be a daft question, but is it ok to play a bass guitar through guitar speakers? Such as Celestion G12Ms? I just recall years ago I plugged my friend's bass into my Marshall AVT20 and it sounded like the speaker was going to burst!

Should be fine for low volume applications. If you want to keep up with a drummer, I'd suggest the speakers be mounted in a sealed enclosure, and you should have at least 2x rated speaker power to amplifier power ratio, 3:1 even better.

Its not for an actual practice, I just fancy plugging a bass into my 67 Marshall and playing some Motorhead

I already have the speakers in a cab and they sound great. Just didn't want to ruin them by doing this!

Are your G12M's the original greenbacks or the reissue G12M-65 creambacks? The new ones are rated for 65 watts apiece, though I am not sure about the originals - I have a vague memory they were rated for 25 watts.

They are the G12M-20 reissues that are actually rated for 25W. They're in a 2x12 and don't worry I always play with the amp attenuated. I normally shave off 12dB so its only kicking out about 5W.

Most of the response curves I've seen for guitar speakers drops off quite rapidly below 65 Hz or thereabouts, which means you'll be missing the better part of the lower half octave from a bass. Might be OK though, for low volume,,,

Oh thats alright it won't be cranked believe me!

Interesting idea. Hopefully you don't damage your speakers.
I've read here that using bass speakers for guitar sounds very bright.
Although i paired a G12M with a G12H in a 2 x 12 closed cab & it sounded good. I think the G12H has a 55Hz rated cone assembly.
If you try this, let us know how it sounds.
Lemon Curry!

I'll let you know. I will be attenuating so it should be fine.