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Bass amplifier facts for kids

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Bass instrument amplification is an amplifier used for bass guitars, double bass and similar instruments. It makes the sound they make louder. It is different from other types of amplification systems because it is difficult to reproduce low-frequency sounds (bass). Bass amps need strong loudspeakers, and a relatively larger speaker cabinet. Speaker cabinets for bass instrument amplification usually have larger (or more) loudspeakers than those used for the amplification of other instruments. The loudspeakers themselves must also be sturdier to handle the higher power levels.

Images for kids

  • A large bass speaker cabinet with an amplifier unit sitting on top of it.

    An Ampeg SVT cabinet with eight 10" speakers, with a separate Ampeg SVT amplifier "head" on top.

  • An amplifier unit sitting on top of a bass speaker cabinet. The speaker has four ten-inch loudspeakers.

    A Hartke 500 watt amp "head" on top of an Ashdown 4x10" speaker cabinet.

  • A museum exhibit of vintage musical instruments shows a 1930s amplifier and speaker cabinet and an upright bass with a pickup.

    A 1930s era combo amplifier and a Rickenbacker electric upright bass from 1935.

  • A 1950s era amplifier unit sitting on top of a bass speaker cabinet.

    A vintage Ampeg B-15 amp and speaker cabinet.

  • A 1970s era amplifier unit sitting on top of a large bass speaker cabinet. The speaker cabinet contains two fifteen-inch loudspeakers.

    A Kustom 200 bass amplifier from 1971, featuring a separate amp head on top of a 2 x 15" speaker cabinet..

  • A bassist/singer, Sting, is shown at a performance. A number of speaker cabinets are shown onstage.

    In this 2007 photo of The Police's singer-bassist Sting, several Ampeg cabinets with multiple 10" speakers can be seen on the left side.

  • A portable bass amplifier/speaker cabinet is shown. This Markbass brand unit has three ten-inch loudspeakers.

    A Markbass 3x10" combo amp.

  • The bassist for grunge band Pearl Jam, Jeff Ament, plays upright bass in front of large, tall bass speaker cabinets. Two cabinets, each with six ten-inch speakers, and two cabinets with four ten-inch speakers, are shown.

    Bassist Jeff Ament (Pearl Jam) in front of a wall of bass stacks.

  • A Fender bass cabinet, a Genz Benz bass cabinet, and two Aguilar cabinets are shown. The Genz Benz and Aguilar cabinets each have amplifier "heads" sitting on top.

    A selection of bass cabinets. From left to right: a Fender cab, a Genz Benz cab (and amp head) and two Aguilar cabinets.

  • A Hartke bass amplifier unit. This is only the amplifier electronics. It has to be plugged into a bass speaker cabinet to produce sound.

    A Hartke LH500 bass amplifier "head", which is rated at 500 watts.

  • Glass vacuum tubes glow inside a Traynor tube amplifier.

    The glow from four "Electro Harmonix KT88" brand power tubes lights up the inside of a Canadian-made Traynor YBA-200 bass guitar amplifier.

  • A tall, large speaker cabinet with a bass amplifier sitting on top. The speaker cabinet has eight ten-inch speakers.

    A Peavey bass amp head with an Ampeg 8x10" speaker cabinet.

  • The front control panel of an Ampeg SVT amplifier is shown. Several control knobs are shown.

    A close-up of an Ampeg SVT amplifier head's front panel.

  • A bass stack has two speaker cabinets (one with four ten-inch loudspeakers and one with two ten-inch loudspeakers). On top of the stacked speaker cabinets is a bass amplifier unit.

    A bass stack consisting of an SWR amplifier head on top of Mark Bass 4x10" and 2x10" cabinets.

  • A small bass amplifier head made by Ampeg is about the size of a cigar box, but it is loud enough to power a tall, large bass speaker system.

    The Ampeg Portaflex is a small, lightweight, yet powerful bass amplifier head. It is small and light enough to be carried with one hand, yet powerful enough to run a large bass stack.

  • A bassist is onstage with a number of large speaker cabinets.

    In some genres, bass players use a large number of speaker cabinets for a powerful onstage sound.

  • A thin, rack-mountable bass amplifier unit.

    The controls for a rackmount bass amp "head", the Hevos400D.

  • The rear panel of an amplifier unit is shown. Various jacks for plugging inputs and outputs are provided.

    This rear view of an Eden WT-400 Traveler Plus amp head shows a 1/4" speaker output, a 1/4" signal out (to plug into a second amp, if needed), a "send" and "return" jack for creating an effects loop, a DI output, auxiliary left and right inputs and a tuner out jack.

  • The rear jack plate of a bass speaker cabinet is shown. It has two quarter-inch jacks for speaker cables.

    The rear jack plate of an Ashdown 4x10" speaker cabinet shows the parallel speaker cable jacks that are usually provided on speaker cabs.

  • A modern amplifier unit is shown. It has three LED indicator lights to show the status of the amplifier.

    A DNA-1350 amp head; note the three indicator LEDs on the right-hand side, indicating amplifier status.

  • A music store display of effect pedals for bass is shown. The pedals have foot-operated switches to turn the effect on an off and knobs for controlling the tone.

    A selection of bass effect pedals at a music store.

  • A selection of Peavey amplifier head units and speaker cabinets are shown.

    Over the years, various Peavey bass amplifiers have had built-in distortion effects.

  • A selection of Marshall guitar amplifiers and speaker cabinets.

    emmy Kilmeister, the bassist for Motörhead, obtained a natural fuzz bass tone by overdriving his triple 100 watt Marshall Bass stacks.

  • A stage set-up for an electric bass player shows a bass amplifier unit and two bass speaker cabinets.

    A bass amp head used with two speaker cabs, with each cabinet containing two loudspeakers and a high frequency horn.

  • A small, lightweight practice amplifier/speaker cabinet is shown. Like most "combo" amplifiers, it has a built-in carrying handle.

    This small practice amp has a carry handle. On most combo amps, the handle retracts or folds over to make the amp easier to stow during transportation.

  • A small tube headphone amplifier.

    A Little Dot Mk III tube headphone amplifier.

  • An equipment rack from a modern bass player's performance system is shown. Several electronic devices are mounted onto the equipment rack.

    A bass rack from a professional bass player's touring setup. The bass amplifier is the lowest chassis in the rack; above it are a wireless receiver, several pre-amplifier devices, and a power conditioner.

  • A small portable bass amplifier/speaker cabinet is shown. It has a small speaker and only a few knobs for controlling the tone.

    Small practice amplifier have low wattage and low volume which make them mostly suited to individual learning of basslines.

  • An upright bass player, Jimbo Wallace, performs onstage with his bass plugged into a large Gallien-Krueger bass stack and amplifier.

    Psychobilly bassist Jimbo Wallace onstage with Reverend Horton Heat and a large bass stack consisting of a 1x15" cabinet, a 4x10" cabinet, and an amplifier "head".

  • A Mesa/Boogie brand bass amplifier unit.

    A Mesa/Boogie bass amplifier "head"; note the graphic equalizer sliders on the right side

  • A display of bass amplifiers and bass speaker cabinets at a music store.

    Music store display showing a variety of bass "combo" amplifiers and speaker cabinets.

  • A cross-section view of a bass reflex system for bass speaker cabinets shows the use of a vent or port hole in the cabinet. This vent helps the cabinet to produce better deep bass sound.

    A bass reflex enclosure schematic (cross-section).

  • A combination bass amplifier/speaker cabinet with both a loudspeaker and a tweeter. The tweeter is mounted in a horn.

    A 150-watt "combo" bass amp with a horn-loaded tweeter (in the top right of the speaker cabinet).

  • A jazz bassist playing double bass using an amplifier and speaker cabinet for a show.

    A jazz bassist performing on an upright bass, using an amplifier and speaker to augment the instrument's natural volume

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Bass amplifier Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.