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I've always been somewhat 'puzzled' by the 'professional' designation on music instruments. Were some of them originally produced for the professional market? .... or were they simply instruments that became favored by professionals?

Case in point.... the Conn 6H tenor trombone. I've worked on lots of them and have never seen anything other than perhaps the reversed tuning slide that even smacked of being professional level. What is the difference between the others and the 6H?

I also see the Yamaha YBB-641 being touted and a 'professional' instrument and we all know that is faaaar from the truth.

It's interesting the Conn-Selmer also lists the King 1135, 1140, and 1151 tubas as professional as well as the Conn 12J.

Is it mostly marketing hype? ... or is there really something to it?

Probably marketing. Besides that, most makers identify their "student" or "beginner" line of instruments. If you're going to identify one end of the scale, you might as well identify the other end as well.

I think the Meinl-Weston 32 was always listed as "intermediate." Whatever made that less "professional" than anything else, I have no clue.

I bought some "professional" hand lotion the other day...

Makes me wonder what "amateur" hand lotion is.

Ken S.