is it me or does Bass sound better when it's raining or cloudy weather?

[de la mocha]

I've noticed this for a while but never said anything. It seems if i'm playing music in the car on a cloudy day or when it's raining, or even if I'm playing my precision on my practice amp at home when it's rainy or cloudy outside, the bass sounds thicker, or has more presence.

Playing on sunday, yesterday at church the bass settings was the same and so was the volume that I always play, but the bass was rattling my brain, it was so thick and so present.
It was raining off and on yesterday too.

Am I crazy or does this have something to do with the atmosphere when it rains or the air. By the way, I'm not a smart guy so I won't be mad if you say i'm crazy.

[puddin tame]

The humidity might affect the wood. The only thing I notice with my bass is that it feels all moist on a rainy day when I pick it up

[shadow_FIX]

I think you might be crazy.

I've never experienced this, but if it really is some weird phenomenon I'd be willing to entertain it!

[s_mcsleazy]

i live in glasgow where we get one sunny day a year

the rest is rain or snow so i dont notice a diffrence

[de la mocha]

Originally Posted by puddin tame

The humidity might affect the wood. The only thing I notice with my bass is that it feels all moist on a rainy day when I pick it up

I noticed that too, but nothing about the sound?

[Marty Forrer]

The humidity in the air on a rainy day may take some of the "sparkle" out of the strings. Just a guess. If you prefer that thicker sound, I suggest you try a set of quality flatwound strings, such as Thomastik-Infeld Jazz Flats. Put them on, play for a few days to settle them in, and you'll start to hear a gorgeous thick sound, but still with plenty of mid-range definition.

[Ace Marconi]

Humid air transmits heat better. Also transmits sound better than dry air. I never thought about it before, but I would not have thought one might hear the difference. Time for a science experiment....

[retardedpossum]

Originally Posted by de la mocha

I've noticed this for a while but never said anything. It seems if i'm playing music in the car on a cloudy day or when it's raining, or even if I'm playing my precision on my practice amp at home when it's rainy or cloudy outside, the bass sounds thicker, or has more presence.

Playing on sunday, yesterday at church the bass settings was the same and so was the volume that I always play, but the bass was rattling my brain, it was so thick and so present.
It was raining off and on yesterday too.

Am I crazy or does this have something to do with the atmosphere when it rains or the air. By the way, I'm not a smart guy so I won't be mad if you say i'm crazy.

I thought I was the only one!

[Jazz Ad]

Originally Posted by Ace Marconi

Humid air transmits heat better. Also transmits sound better than dry air. I never thought about it before, but I would not have thought one might hear the difference. Time for a science experiment....

While what you say is generally true, on a rainy day, the air tends to be saturated with humidity, to the point of bordering 100%. If it goes over 100%, droplets of liquid water will condensate in the air and dampen sounds instead of propagating them better.
The extreme example of this phenomenon would be fog.

[seismic]

If one lives in a constantly humid or damp climate, one would not notice it. The difference is most apparent in a climate that is dry and undergoes occasional bouts of humidity or downpours.

Sound also travels better at night because atmospheric heating is not a factor and the humidity usually rises. Wind is also usually reduced.

In the Arizona, Nevada, and New Mexico deserts it is markedly noticeable.

[eyeballkid]

i just thought it was my moodiness.

[tangentmusic]

Barometric Pressure of the upper atmosphere and it's direct correlation on your cerebral cortex can cause signifcant increase in low frequency response in respect to your inner ear and it's effect on surrounding ambience.
Now that's science.

[THORRR]

yeah . . . . whut he said ! ^^^^^^^^^

[funkifiedsoul]

maybe I'll design a "Rainy-Day Simulation Pre-amp" and sell to all those poor suckers living in beautiful warm, dry, and sunny climates.

[Lesfunk]

Drugs are bad Mkay?...

[JimB52]

I always thought high frequency sounds were crisper in low humidity cool air, and muddier is high humidity warm air.
Maybe low frequency sounds are less affected by atmospheric humidity, therefore seem relatively louder than the highs.
Perhaps that's why they use low frequencies for fog horns.

[Catbuster]

Barometric pressure isn't battling the bass as it tries to move lots of air from the amp, as well as the strings moving. Rain is a low, and dry weather is high. With less pressure, the bass should sound thicker and louder.

[lowphatbass]

Ever notice how phat the organ is on Hendrix's Rainy Day?

[peledog]

The humidity may affect your hearing as well.

[basspraiser]

I think it just "cheers you up more" when the weather stinks!!