In simple terms - you can plug ***any*** electrical instrument into ***any*** amp. Bass, mandolin, mic keyboard, banjo, etc, etc... In the 50's & 60's it was common to plug a mic into a guitar amp for vocals. An amplifier takes a small electrical signal (any signal) and makes it larger.
As explained in great detail by Roly, the problem lies with the speakers. The speakers provided in guitar combo amps are not designed for bass.
If you like the sound of a guitar amp, get a properly matched (impedance - if you don't know what that is, look it up - you need to know it) bass speaker and rock on.
I regularly use a '79 Traynor Monoblock II amp with a Hartke 410 cab for bass or a Fender 112 cab for guitar. I have also used my '72 Fender Princeton Reverb for bass at low volumes.
As explained in great detail by Roly, the problem lies with the speakers. The speakers provided in guitar combo amps are not designed for bass.
If you like the sound of a guitar amp, get a properly matched (impedance - if you don't know what that is, look it up - you need to know it) bass speaker and rock on.
I regularly use a '79 Traynor Monoblock II amp with a Hartke 410 cab for bass or a Fender 112 cab for guitar. I have also used my '72 Fender Princeton Reverb for bass at low volumes.