Play Guitar on Boombox?

[trippy1313]

Found an electric guitar at goodwill for $14 the other day. Looks like it just needs strings, bUT I wondered if anyone has ever hooked up a boombox and used it as an amp? Would that be a bad idea? Could it even work?

This is assuming using either a mic input or possibly rca input?

 

[Lasonic TRC-920]

There are modern radios that are meant to have guitars plugged into them. It think the JVC Kaboom is designed for that. I think the new Pioneer tube will do it too.

But I don't think the classic boxes have the circuitry for that. You could try it, but honestly, you might end up damaging your radio especially if the guitar has active pickups.

Can anyone else chime in on this?

Sent from my SM-G925V using Tapatalk

 

[trippy1313]

That's what my worry is about ruining something. Never used an electric guitar before. Not sure how they work, sending a signal and such.

 

[Van Presence]

I thought those 3 piece brief case (rx6400?) National Panasonic boxes are designed to have a guitar pluged in to?

 

[THAFUZZ]

I thought those 3 piece brief case (rx6400?) National Panasonic boxes are designed to have a guitar pluged in to?

That would be my recommendation.

 

[-GZ-]

About 3 summers ago i took my m90 and 20/20 over to my buddy's house. His son hooked his electric guitar up to one of them...i believe it was the m90....through the mic jack in the front. From what i remember it sounded pretty good. I know that i was doing some major adjustments to the treble/bass controls and did not turn the volume up very loud. I'll see if i can find the picture on my laptop when i get home later tonight.

 

[Radio-Active]

Oh yeah! You can totally do it. But don't!
It was common to rock a few late-night emergency party jams back in the day with whatever box or hifi was in the place.
Probably killed about 50% of those speakers or amps.
The 1/4"-1/8" m/f adapter was a handy hack.
But don't do it. Guitar amps are for guitars. Its a whole different game.
Although,it would be rad to have a classic box by your feet on jam night,though.

 

[jimmyjimmy19702010]

Seeing that your guitar has no strings, you'll be limited to playing air guitar rifts - any Boombox can handle that!

 

[MrMcBlaster]

^^LOL at this guy......but you do raise a valid point James 😂

If you do string it up the Pioneer Disco Robo would do the job nicely..... if you've got one laying around

 

[trippy1313]

Seeing that your guitar has no strings, you'll be limited to playing air guitar rifts - any Boombox can handle that!

Hahaha. I just got the strings last night, I'll probably mess with it unplugged, maybe get a cheap used amp. Thought it'd be pretty awesome to have it go through a radio though. Maybe play along with something going through the tuner.

 

[THAFUZZ]

Seeing that your guitar has no strings, you'll be limited to playing air guitar rifts - any Boombox can handle that!

 

[Mystic Traveller]

I thought those 3 piece brief case (rx6400?) National Panasonic boxes are designed to have a guitar pluged in to?

Yep, plus a way more Japanese domestic boxes with a separate guitar input, like Panasonic RiddimVox, etc.

 

[Lasonic TRC-920]

^^LOL at this guy......but you do raise a valid point James

If you do string it up the Pioneer Disco Robo would do the job nicely..... if you've got one laying around

Man, I WISH I had a Disco Robo laying around!

 

[trippy1313]

Well... I plugged it into the mic port on one of my 931's tonight. Started with the mic, radio, and guitar volumes all down. Strummed lightly on the two strings that are still on it. Nothing.

So I turned the mic volume up halfway, radio a quarter, strummed. Nothing. Then slowly turned the guitar volume level, started hearing it. Got to halfway and the input meters on the 931 started lighting up, and sounded pretty clean. I never slammed on the guitar, but messed with the volume and kept playing those two strings on every fret.

I'm wondering if the input meters could also guide me to playing it without blowing anything on the boombox?

 

[mancardo]

There are modern radios that are meant to have guitars plugged into them. It think the JVC Kaboom is designed for that. I think the new Pioneer tube will do it too.

But I don't think the classic boxes have the circuitry for that. You could try it, but honestly, you might end up damaging your radio especially if the guitar has active pickups.

Can anyone else chime in on this?

Sent from my SM-G925V using Tapatalk

Yep...I usually play my bass guitar on my kaboom.

 

[boomboxbilly]

Those are long, loooong frequencies on a bass guitar!
Mic input impedence is too much, line input impedence is too little.
Trouble is, if you get carried away on the guitar, you will do damage.
I still miss lending out my Acoustic Research speakers for a party and one coming back blown lol. Maybe a little preamp, a compressor/limiter to boombox aux would be okay, so if you like to kerraang you won't blow something! I do put my bass through my hifi sometimes, but very carefully, 'cos it's screaming for 10 inch speakers really