Why are bass amps so much more powerful than guitar amps?

[Deltaphoenix]

Because drummers are loud and many of us have 2 guitars to compete with. It takes a lot of glue to hold all of that together.

[Jero]

Bass...good
More power...good
I really don't see the confusion here

[WeHuntKings]

Bass...good
More power...good
I really don't see the confusion here

I like this attitude.

[foomanfat]

So why make the bass amps so damn powerful?

Because doom.

[bigchiefbc]

Because drummers are loud and many of us have 2 guitars to compete with. It takes a lot of glue to hold all of that together.

I'm sick of the idea that the bassist has to be the "glue". That's so background and unappreciated. I prefer to consider myself the feces that is smeared on the wall.

[Deltaphoenix]

That was kind of tongue in cheek.
Depends though. I don't exclusively play that role but it is a valid role at times. Shit I play with a ton of effects and am in the forefront of the song often, but there is something to be said about locking with the drummer. I weave in and out, depends on the song. I use a lots of mids so I am heard too. I used to feel like I had to be more up front, I slapped and popped to show off because I was sick of bass players being in the background. Being able to straddle several parts has made my band stronger. I'll take that. I know I wrote about half of our songs.
I also have done solo shit that was electronica-ish. Synth bass, pads, and beats. I do whatever I want, it is about the performance, the experience, not the songs.

[GardenoftheDead]

Basically what's been said before: It's harder to push low frequencies. You need more watts to do it.

Though, 1000w probably means solid state amps, and the big drawback there is of course you get to use half of that before,"oh hai clipping, didn't see you there."

[Bassus Sanguinis]

4) Bassists are assholes. Nobody needs 1000 watts for any reason, and often times the speakers that can handle that sort of power do it inefficiently, so it's cancelled out.
5) Ok, maybe there is an advantage to all that power. Less speakers can get louder, so instead of an 8x10 at 300 watts, you can use a 4x10 at 600 or even 1000 watts. Less weight, assuming the speakers are loud enough.

I was told by a house soundguy who didn't see me standing there that I am those guys who are the reason why drummers need the PA. By that he meant asshole.

AND:

I was taught as a rule that the tube amps ARE way louder than sold state amps measuring the same watts. And yeah, my 100w vint. tube head into 15" + 18" is way loud! My 600 hybrid amp is - with the pedalboard as an preamp - even louder, just not that much really. But I've really never understood why the watts ado not translate into real output volume?

verily, verily I say unto thee:

Bassists somewhere back in history got convinced that they wanted a clean sound. The ongoing tragedy.

Bass...good
More power...good
I really don't see the confusion here