Can a Bass Amp Be Used for Electronic Drums? (Explained)

If you're thinking of buying an electronic drum kit, you might be wondering if a bass amp can be used with them. Read on about how to set it up.

There are many bass amps that are versatile enough to be used with electronic drums, but it’s important to make sure that the amp you choose can handle the power and frequency levels that electronic drums can produce. Additionally, bass amps typically have more features than electronic drum amps, making them better suited for specific types of music.

This article covers whether a bass amp can be used for electronic drums. So if you’re looking to add an extra layer of sonic firepower to your electronic drum kit or are just curious about whether a bass amp can be used, this post is for you!

Can a bass amp be used for electronic drums? As long as the level is kept under control, a bass amp may be used to securely enhance an electronic drum set. A drum amp could be better, but a bass amp gets the job done and sometimes even sounds decent.

What is a bass amp, and what does it do?

A bass amp is a type of amplifier modified to work with bass guitars. These amplifiers are particularly well-suited for processing and amplifying low-frequency signals. The electric bass guitar is the most common instrument to use a bass amp with. However, the amp may be used with any instrument that produces low tones.

Image of a man playing electronic drums. Source: pexels
Image of a man playing electronic drums. Source: pexels

They do a good job with electronic drums, especially the bass drum and floor tom, by bringing a lot of depth. However, despite this, they do not improve the snare and cymbal sounds in the higher frequency range as much as some musicians would want. Due to this, they shouldn’t be considered a top choice.

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Can a bass amp be used for electronic drums?

Only some have the need or means to get a drum amp. So the good news is that all amplifiers share many of the same components and functions. If you’re a multi-instrumental musician, your production and recording equipment will have a lot of cross-compatibility.

…the bass amp can work just fine and produce a good sound as long as you control the volume and keep an eye on your amp settings.

Bass guitars and electronic drums produce lower octave pitches than most instruments and share quite a few similarities, which is why the bass amp is ultimately compatible with either. The best amplifier for either one of them must be sensitive to low-pitched sounds.

While it’s not the ideal amplification option, the bass amp can work just fine and produce a good sound as long as you control the volume and keep an eye on your amp settings. It’s worth noting that specialized drum amps or headphones are generally considered better options as they can cover more frequencies and provide a more accurate representation of the drum sounds. However, if a bass amp is the only option available, it can still be used effectively with electronic drums.

Which bass amps can be used with electronic drums?

Choosing the right bass amp can significantly enhance the sound quality of electronic drums, and this table can help drummers make an informed decision. Here are five popular bass amps for electronic drums. The amps were chosen based on their popularity and features that make them suitable for electronic drums.

BrandModelPower (Watts)Speaker Size (inches)Weight (lbs)Price ($)
AmpegBA-2104501048$699
FenderRumble 5005001236.5$650
HartkeHD5005002×1035$679
Gallien-KruegerMB112-II2001228$749
MarkbassCMD 102P5002×1044$1,199
Data table on popular bass amps for electronic drums based on their power, speaker size, weight, and price
Image of an electronic drum pad. Source: pixabay
Image of an electronic drum pad. Source: pixabay

How to connect a bass amp to your electronic drum set

To connect a bass amp to an electronic drum set, there are a few options available to you. One option is to use an amp that has room for multiple inputs, allowing you to use it for both the electronic drums and the bass guitar. This can be especially useful if you are playing solo, as you can loop a rhythm, then plug in your bass guitar and lay down a bass line, with the amp able to cover both instruments.

Another option is to connect your drum module to your speakers or PA system using long ¼ inch cables or XLR cables. To do this, plug one end of the cable into the output jack of your drum set and the other end into the input jack of your amplifier or one of the channel inputs on the PA mixer.

If you decide to use a bass amp, it is important to be cautious with the volume levels. Start low and get a feel for the amp’s limits before increasing the volume. If the amp has a built-in limiter, that can help to prevent any damage to the speakers. Additionally, electronic drums often have a headphone jack that can be used for silent practice, which may be a good option if you need to keep the volume down.

If you want even more tips and insights, watch this video called “Can You Use Keyboard/Guitar Amps With Edrums?” from the 65 Drums YouTube channel.

A video called “Can You Use Keyboard/Guitar Amps With Edrums?” from the 65 Drums YouTube channel.

Frequently asked questions (FAQ)

Do you still have questions about whether you can use a bass amp for electronic drums? Below are some of the most commonly asked questions about bass amps.

Can you use any amp for electronic drums?

Although you can play electronic drums over a guitar amp, better options are available. For example, if you need to play your drums loudly but don’t have access to a PA system or drum amp, you may make do using a keyboard or digital piano amp, a computer speaker system, or a bass amp.

Can you use the same amp for bass and electric?

A bass guitar may be used with a guitar amplifier. To be clear, bass input may be used with a guitar amp, but it isn’t intended for that use. However, playing a bass through a guitar amp at very high volumes may cause irreparable harm.

How many watts does a bass amp need to play with drums?

The bare minimum is a 100-150 watt bass amp for practice and small gigs; 300 watts is preferable because it allows the amp to push out the same or louder volume with less effort or strain. In addition, a louder amplifier has less chance of overheating, blowing a fuse, or damaging the speakers because it doesn’t have to work as hard.

Conclusion

While a bass amp is primarily designed to amplify bass guitars, it can also be used for electronic drums. However, it is important to consider the power and size of the bass amp and whether it will adequately suit the needs of your electronic drum setup. Additionally, if the sound quality is important to you, you should look into more specialized amps that are designed specifically for electronic drums.

So, have you tried using a bass amp for your electronic drums? And did I cover everything you wanted to know? Let me know in the comments section below (I read and reply to every comment). If you found this article helpful, share it with a friend, and check out my full blog for more tips and tricks on music production. Thanks for reading, and never stop making music.

Key takeaways

This article covered whether a bass amp can be used for electric drums. Here are some key takeaways:

  • A bass amp is an amplification device modified to work with bass guitars.
  • Bass amps are suited for amplifying low-frequency signals.
  • You can use a bass amp for electronic drums, but you need to control the volume and keep an eye on the amp settings.
  • Some of the popular bass amps that you can use for electronic drums are Ampeg BA-210, Fender Rumber 500, and Hartke HD500.
  • To connect your electronic drum set to a bass amp, you can use an amp with multiple inputs or connect your drum module to your speakers.

Helpful resources

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Written by Andrew Ash, Staff Writer

Hey there! My name is Andrew, and I'm relatively new to music production, but I've been learning a ton, and documenting my journey along the way. That's why I started this blog. If you want to improve your home studio setup and learn more along with me, this is the place for you!

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1 thought on “Can a Bass Amp Be Used for Electronic Drums? (Explained)<h2 class="post-excerpt">If you're thinking of buying an electronic drum kit, you might be wondering if a bass amp can be used with them. Read on about how to set it up.</h2>”

  1. First, an 8 inch woofer is an insult to anyone who knows what is needed to accomplish proper amplification of an e kit. Yes the 8’s are cheaper and so will be your sound. Second, the cost of Roland’s amplifiers are insane for what you get. There’s got to be a better way.

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