Difference between an amp and a 'pro' amp?

[bdeaux]

According to Geddy Lee, a good washer & dryer works well for touring. Or a rotisserie oven.
But on the serious tip, I can tell you specific venues and dates when my vintage SVT’s and Sound City amps gave up the ghost during my set. I realized it wasn’t worth it (for me, your interest levels may vary) to tour with such delicate amps. Later years I would have a tech on the road, but I had since found my love for Aguilar amps. Not one time did I have my DB751, nor rentals of the same model during fly dates, stop working during a show. Same with the Tone Hammer amps I used for acoustic sets, radio visits, etc... That’s my experience.
If someone has an amp they like, but are nervous that it might have some cheap parts, or it sometimes performs like it was built on a Friday at 4:30pm , take it to a tech. Have them tighten that little monster up, solidifying contact points, and anything else they might suggest to help it last longer.
I think everyone else that commented touched on a good variety of approaches to your question.

 

[CryingBass]

A high end DI + FOH

But what’s a House now?

 

[drumvsbass]

Maybe wattage... but that isn't a definable number as my fav corporate gigging amp was a PF50T. The sansamp has no watts, I used it stand alone into the PA all the time, sounds amazing. But now try that maneuver with a really loud metal band with no in ears. SVT (or comparable) becomes necessary if you don't want your fingers to be bloody stumps by the end of the night.
The 'amp' should be capable of delivering the tone you want at the volume you need in the situation you are in.

 

[sawzalot]

There’s only differences in sound, price and quality. Use the best you can afford and if you want something better, go for something better in one or more of those categories.

 

[N4860]

What are characteristics of a pro bass amp? Is it features/power/marketing/reliability/quality of build/that guy has one? My Rumble has some good features and works great but is definitely mass produced.
If the thread already exists, sorry, I'm still pre coffee.

I'll admit to not having read the thread at all, but some pros just use a preamp direct to the FOH. In regards to bassists, the most famous might be Geddy Lee just running a rack of Sansamp RBI to the FOH in the 90's with some washers and dryers on stage instead of amps. It makes sense, if you don't need an amp on stage, you might as well get your laundry done at the same time. Each night he would have his clothes ready to go for the gig the next night.

It's important to note that Geddy made sure to use fabric softener as that is a key part of his bass tone.

 

[JKos]

Geddy made sure to use fabric softener as that is a key part of his bass tone

It helps prevent static electricity so you don't get unexpected pops and noise.

 

[cnltb]

Difference between an amp and a 'pro' amp?
Marketing.

 

[dannylectro]

Easy. Pro amps are too heavy to move by yourself.

 

[crguti]

I got an Ampeg SVT Pro, so my amp is more pro than yours

 

[dabis]

I'll admit to not having read the thread at all, but some pros just use a preamp direct to the FOH. In regards to bassists, the most famous might be Geddy Lee just running a rack of Sansamp RBI to the FOH in the 90's with some washers and dryers on stage instead of amps. It makes sense, if you don't need an amp on stage, you might as well get your laundry done at the same time. Each night he would have his clothes ready to go for the gig the next night.

It's important to note that Geddy made sure to use fabric softener as that is a key part of his bass tone.

...and the catering as well...

 

[JEDI BASS]

My amp is a pro amp because I act like a professional. I show up at a venue, earlier than necessary, with working gear, a working PA, and musicians that know the songs and perform them well, with great crowd interaction. We smile and thank everyone working at the venue, and try to help them sell alcohol and get more tips. We bring everything, and there's no sound guy at the cover band gigs we play all over the Knoxville TN area. We change clothes before we perform, to look more pro and less like the patrons, we don't get drunk, and we leave zero messes when we leave. My amp of choice is a Genz Benz Streamliner 900 paired w/ 2 Aguilar DB112nt cabs. But, I would not care to play through a combo amp and rely on our powered subs more, if needed. But, I choose my rig because it feels and sounds great behind me.

 

[pcake]

with kitchen mixers, the words pro or professional mean nothing - my kitchenaid pro 5 isn't as strong a mixer as my bosch compact, which is much smaller but much more powerful and makes no claims to be a professional unit. with imxers, commercial is the word to look for, and even then it's a good idea to consider price, motor strength and torqude.

 

[Downunderwonder]

How are there another 3 pages after this post?

Because everyone has an opinion.

 

[SteveHeissner]

Me playing through an Ampeg SVT is not a pro amp. Marcus Miller playing through an SVT is a pro amp.

 

[Flying B]

I can't get my cat to stay in front of my amp, i think it hurts his ears.

it almost always has to do with the cat standing in front of it.

the player is the determining factor --- if she/he is a pro: the amp she/he chooses is a professional's choice.

could be any amp/combo. "mass production" has nothing to do with it. some pros 'hot dog' their own rig. some pros play 'as is'. same as everyone else!

 

[marchone]

I noticed some people mentioned minimum power levels to define a professional amp. A 5W Fender Champ has been used on a lot of records, including ones by Eric Clapton, Joe Perry, Robert Cray, Joe Walsh, Slash, George Harrison, Peter Frampton, and Keith Richards, among many others.

 

[N4860]

I noticed some people mentioned minimum power levels to define a professional amp. A 5W Fender Champ has been used on a lot of records, including ones by Eric Clapton, Joe Perry, Robert Cray, Joe Walsh, Slash, George Harrison, Peter Frampton, and Keith Richards, among many others.

I'm sure you're also aware that the needs of a bass player are much different than a guitar player. While I would also agree that power level is not indicative of a professional amp, its not a fair comparison to suggest that because a guitar player can use a 5w amp that it would be sufficient for a bass player. Most guitar players mic their speaker in a live situation, that is most definitely not always the case with bass. Can you tell me some pro bass players that mic a 5w amp on stage?

 

[JakobT]

One way to tell - at least when it comes to intended application, IMHO, is to look at what tradeoffs have been made in design and production. Features that are deemed to be less important will often give way to more important ones, light weight in a cab, for instance, might be deemed to be less important than a sturdy construction for road use. However, that only tells you about what the intended use is - it doesn’t actually tell you if the gear can be used successfully in a pro setting.

 

[marchone]

I'm sure you're also aware that the needs of a bass player are much different than a guitar player. While I would also agree that power level is not indicative of a professional amp, its not a fair comparison to suggest that because a guitar player can use a 5w amp that it would be sufficient for a bass player. Most guitar players mic their speaker in a live situation, that is most definitely not always the case with bass. Can you tell me some pro bass players that mic a 5w amp on stage?

The OP didn’t specify whether a “pro amp” was a bass or guitar amp or was to be used on stage or in the studio.

 

[BassBrass]

I can't get my cat to stay in front of my amp, i think it hurts his ears.

Your cat is too smart to obey your idiotic no benefit command and false assumption of some kind of authority.