Danger of using the wrong amp... ?

[BlackAngusYoung]

Hi Guys,
Is there anything dangerous about plugging an electric guitar into an acoustic amp? Or the other way around? What about plugging an electric bass into an acoustic amp?

I know it might not be recommended for good sound... but is there anything wrong with trying it out? I mean at low volume, if that means anything.

My acoustics have magnetic pickups and sound good through an acoustic amp, so I started wondering what solid guitars would sound like through it... since I really like the unplugged tone of my Les Paul and bass. I just don't want to get into it and blow something.

Thanks!

[newey]

Using a bass through an acoustic amp might be more problematic than a 6-string electric, but at low volumes neither one should be a problem.

Most acoustic amps have a tweeter/woofer set-up, with a crossover so the highs from the acoustic don't become buried by the lows, giving a more full-range response. Lots of bass and keyboard amps have a similar set-up, but usually with more robust speakers.

You won't hurt the amp any, but high volume might pop a speaker, particularly the tweeter.

I'd also watch out, even at fairly low volumes, using massive distortion on an electric signal- leave the stompboxes out of the equation, particularly the ones that generate something akin to a square-wave like fuzz, distortion, etc.

[JohnH]

I agree theres no risk at low volume. With a guitar, its likely to be all fine at any volume that the amp works at. provided you keep the signal clean. I quite often plug into a PA (via a buffer), or a clean amp and speaker with tweeter. The clean sound is very nice. But any distortion, even from my smoothest stomp boxes, sounds completely disgusting!

John