Pro Co

Pro Co

59

Also known as: ProCo, Pro-Co, ProCo Sound, Pro-Co Sound, Pro Co Sound

Unclaimed

Pro Co Sound was founded in 1974 in Kalamazoo, Michigan by Charlie Wicks, beginning as a loudspeaker and professional cable manufacturer before growing into a comprehensive pro audio brand. The company produces a wide range of professional audio products including instrument and microphone cables, stage snakes, direct boxes, wall boxes, and Dante-compatible digital audio distribution systems su...

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Pro Co Sound was founded in 1974 in Kalamazoo, Michigan by Charlie Wicks, beginning as a loudspeaker and professional cable manufacturer before growing into a comprehensive pro audio brand. The company produces a wide range of professional audio products including instrument and microphone cables, stage snakes, direct boxes, wall boxes, and Dante-compatible digital audio distribution systems suited for live sound, broadcast, and studio environments.

Pro Co Sound is perhaps best known in the guitar world for the RAT distortion pedal, developed in 1978 by company engineers Scott Burnham and Steve Kiraly. The circuit's distinctive character emerged from an accidental discovery — an incorrect resistor value driving an operational amplifier into heavy clipping — producing an aggressive distortion tone unlike existing pedals of the era. The RAT became one of the best-selling guitar effects pedals of all time, and the lineup has expanded to include variants such as the Turbo RAT, You Dirty RAT, FATRAT, Lil' RAT, and Deucetone RAT, all assembled and tested by hand in the USA.

The RAT pedal has found a place on the rigs of a wide range of influential guitarists across multiple genres. Kurt Cobain, David Gilmour, Jeff Beck, Dave Grohl, and Thom Yorke are among the well-documented users of the RAT, reinforcing its reputation as a versatile pedal that crosses stylistic lines from classic rock to grunge to alternative.

Pro Co has 46 products cataloged on Equipboard, including Distortion Effects Pedals, Instrument Cables, and Microphone Cables. Their gear is featured by 515 artists, with the strongest followings in Rock, Pop, and Electronic. Notable users include Dave Grohl, Graham Coxon, and Buzz Osborne (aka King Buzzo). Pro Co's catalog spans the full price spectrum — from entry-level options to high-end flagships.

Artists Who Use Pro Co

Dave Grohl uses 3 Pro Co products

Dave Grohl

Guitarist, Drummer · Nirvana

Graham Coxon uses 3 Pro Co products

Graham Coxon

Guitarist · Blur

Buzz Osborne (aka King Buzzo) uses 3 Pro Co products

Buzz Osborne (aka King Buzzo)

Singer, Guitarist · Melvins

Pat Smear uses 3 Pro Co products

Pat Smear

Guitarist · Nirvana

John Scofield uses 3 Pro Co products

John Scofield

Guitarist, Composer · Medeski Martin & Wood

Peter Holmström uses 3 Pro Co products

Peter Holmström

Guitarist · The Dandy Warhols

Nick Steinborn uses 3 Pro Co products

Nick Steinborn

Guitarist, Drummer · The Wonder Years

Krist Novoselic uses 2 Pro Co products

Krist Novoselic

Bassist, Keyboardist · Nirvana

Daniel Johns uses 2 Pro Co products

Daniel Johns

Singer, Guitarist · Silverchair

Neil Halstead uses 2 Pro Co products

Neil Halstead

Singer, Guitarist · Slowdive

Trey Azagthoth uses 2 Pro Co products

Trey Azagthoth

Guitarist · Morbid Angel

Christian Savill uses 2 Pro Co products

Christian Savill

Guitarist · Slowdive

Stephen O'Malley uses 2 Pro Co products

Stephen O'Malley

Guitarist · Sunn O)))

James Dean Bradfield uses 2 Pro Co products

James Dean Bradfield

Guitarist · Manic Street Preachers

Francisco Durán uses 2 Pro Co products

Francisco Durán

Singer, Guitarist · Los Bunkers

Jason Pierce uses 2 Pro Co products

Jason Pierce

Guitarist, Singer · Spacemen 3

Bernard Butler uses 2 Pro Co products

Bernard Butler

Guitarist, Composer · Suede

Alec O'Hanley uses 2 Pro Co products

Alec O'Hanley

Guitarist · Alvvays

Dylan Carlson uses 2 Pro Co products

Dylan Carlson

Guitarist · Earth

Bootsy Collins uses 2 Pro Co products

Bootsy Collins

Singer, Bassist · Funkadelic

Community setups featuring Pro Co

Show yours
hashimoto

hashimoto

Gear IQ 14666

hashimoto

hashimoto

Gear IQ 14666

diamondhead27

diamondhead27

Gear IQ 287

msh3005_records

msh3005_records

Gear IQ 396

fahq

fahq

Gear IQ 270

itsjustmylo

itsjustmylo

Gear IQ 992

dorgsan

dorgsan

Gear IQ 838

cursefolk

cursefolk

Gear IQ 274

cursefolk

cursefolk

Gear IQ 274

kerbzgabe

kerbzgabe

Gear IQ 189

F

fernando_peral

Gear IQ 82

D

dave_porter

Gear IQ 83

the_flea56

the_flea56

Gear IQ 325

zaza_3121

zaza_3121

Gear IQ 476

deepfreq

deepfreq

Gear IQ 157

jackwilliam

jackwilliam

Gear IQ 222

colby_haugen_xlvii

colby_haugen_xlvii

Gear IQ 982

extraterrestrialreptile

extraterrestrialreptile

Gear IQ 232

fiskburger

fiskburger

Gear IQ 229

daniel_korhonen

daniel_korhonen

Gear IQ 229

Gear Guides featuring Pro Co

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