Dummy load on bass head?

[jesus69lol]

Do I need to run a dummy load on a bass head to protect it from damage or is that only in guitar heads? The amp is part solid state part tube so I'm not exactly sure and it does have a direct out line. Anyone?

The head in question is a hartke ha3500

 

[gorath23]

If the power amp section has tubes it'll need a dummy load. If its only the preamp section that has tubes, then no dummy load is needed.

 

[006]

Most likely you have a tube preamp, solid-state power amp...in that case you would not need a dummy load. However, tell us what amp it is so we can be sure. Otherwise, I'm not liable for any damages.

~006

 

[jesus69lol]

Most likely you have a tube preamp, solid-state power amp...in that case you would not need a dummy load. However, tell us what amp it is so we can be sure. Otherwise, I'm not liable for any damages.

~006

http://www.musiciansbuy.com/Hartke_3500_Bass_Amplifier_HA3500.html

 

[006]

Tubes in the preamp only...you're good to go.

~006

 

[Melodeath]

What is this sort of thing (dummy load) typically used for?

 

[Unavailable]

If you don't have a cab or a dummy load plugged in to a tube amp, you can damage it. People here use it for reamping with impulses.

 

[006]

Search ftw

Quickly though, basically a tube amp has a lot of power that needs to go somewhere - traditionally a speaker cabinet. Without a cabinet connected to the amp, the power just circulates inside the amp, which isn't good. At all. A dummy load is another way for that power to exit the amplifier. As Unavailable said, people use dummy loads so that they can record the line output or FX Send of an amplifier (basically just the preamp signal output) directly to their interface, at which point they can use impulses. This is very popular amongst people that can't crank up their amp because of neighbors, old people, parents, etc. They can enjoy the tone of a cranked tube amp without the extreme volume of the speaker cabinet.

However, with solid-state amplifiers, a dummy load is not necessary. Likewise for an amp that has a tube preamp but a solid-state power section.

~006

 

[Unavailable]

Search ftw

Quickly though, basically a tube amp has a lot of power that needs to go somewhere - traditionally a speaker cabinet. Without a cabinet connected to the amp, the power just circulates inside the amp, which isn't good. At all. A dummy load is another way for that power to exit the amplifier. As Unavailable said, people use dummy loads so that they can record the line output or FX Send of an amplifier (basically just the preamp signal output) directly to their interface, at which point they can use impulses. This is very popular amongst people that can't crank up their amp because of neighbors, old people, parents, etc. They can enjoy the tone of a cranked tube amp without the extreme volume of the speaker cabinet.

However, with solid-state amplifiers, a dummy load is not necessary. Likewise for an amp that has a tube preamp but a solid-state power section.

~006

Much better explanation of it.

 

[Melodeath]

Thanks for that guys