Nobody cares about your tone....

[gregmon79]

I understand your point OP. I've only read your post so far. But, tone is everything to me today. The bands that I love and follow, all my favorites, have great, unique tone. To me, it's what sets bands/most music apart. You're right, most people don't get it. But they do usually know and can tell one band from the other. Well, most musicians and serious fans. IMO anyway. But they just don't quite know what sets them apart from each other. They just know they sound different. That says a lot to me.

Tone, to me, is everything. There have been some great timeless bands that weren't particularly super talented at playing, but they were/are remembered. Because they write good songs and had/have great tone that set them apart. That's how I think of it anyways.

Tone is what sets everyone and everything apart.

 

[gregmon79]

My tone kicks so much ass and everybody cares about my tone. Absolutely every single person cares about my tone and they all think it rocks. I spent ALL the money on the quest for the best.

It really does. Seriously. bad a**

 

[bassmusic17]

It really does. Seriously. bad a**

Thanks dude! I was being a smartass of course. Obviously.

 

[bassbenj]

A ridiculous statement on its face. First off, sometimes you might want to use an effect that isn't necessarily perceptible but makes a difference in how the mix plays out. I do this with overdrive all the time. Second, there are plenty of effects you can use that are entirely noticeable if that's your thing, and if he can't get them to sound different from his clean sound, I consider it a failure in him, not the pedals. I saw that video and thought he was quite arrogant about his position, and it kinda pissed me off If you don't want to use pedals, that's fine, but it doesn't make you a big shot.

Hey Boomie! I don't use pedals (right now) and I'm a big shot (in my own mind)!

 

[JimmyM]

Listen, I'm a part-timer with a career and family responsibilities. I was a full-timer many many moons ago. Now, I primarily play music for my enjoyment and fulfilment. This, for me, constitutes being in a band that gigs. I like reasonably nice gear and feel I've earned that luxury, Hell, I'm a Canadian who does not hunt , fish or drive an expensive snowmobile. I play bass. If I determine that tone, which includes passive P basses though a tuber, fulfills me musically, that's enough.

And that's it in a nutshell. Nobody needs to justify anything as long as it makes them happy and it's not too illegal

BTW, I had a short period where I had given into the idea that my tone was out of my hands and just plugged into anything they gave me. I kept getting lectures and arguments from sound techs, and I gave into them for a while. I functioned, but I was miserable because the sounds they would often get for me were the polar opposite of what I wanted. Now that I micromanage my signal to the house, I don't always get mixed perfectly, but they're darn sure not going to make me sound like a watered down version of me.

 

[Osztertag2112]

Because the audience pays you to play your music?

Exactly. They are paying to hear MY music. My personal expression shouldnt be dictated by others thoughts

 

[JimmyM]

See, I didn't get that feeling. He seemed, to me, to be commenting on what worked for him. He does say in the video that the pedals did change the tone on stage but in the house it didn't. He didn't seem to be putting them down, just that they didn't work for him.

"Guess what? In the house, it sounded like...that's right...BASS!"

Nah, sorry. It was insulting to those of us who use pedals. Frankly, I think he had a soundman who dicked him. I think he was taking a bypass DI signal and going with that

 

[bassbully]

I agree and have been saying the same thing for years. People hear bass and feel bass they don't know good or bad tone. Bass is one frequency in a live band people listen to the least...it's the facts. Bass players don't want to hear it but it's the truth. My band mates never care about my tone as long as it's full and not loud. I have said check out this amp, this pup, this bass and they say..yea ...um?.ok.

 

[gregmon79]

Thanks dude! I was being a smartass of course. Obviously.

I was being serious

 

[JimmyM]

I agree and have been saying the same thing for years. People hear bass and feel bass they don't know good or bad tone. Bass is one frequency in a live band people listen to the least...it's the facts. Bass players don't want to hear it but it's the truth. My band mates never care about my tone as long as it's full and not loud. I have said check out this amp, this pup, this bass and they say..yea ...um?.ok.

Just because you're beaten down doesn't mean we all have to be beaten down.

 

[bonespatrol]

People that know will care.

and the people who care, will know.

 

[bassbully]

Just because you're beaten down doesn't mean we all have to be beaten down.

Who said I was beaten down? I serve a role but it ain't lead frickin guitar.

 

[Chrisk-K]

The tone doesn't really matter. What matters is the song. A great song is a great song whether you play it on a $50 bass or on a $10,000 (name your dream bass). A poopy song is a poopy song even if you have the best bassist play with the best possible gear.

 

[bassbenj]

Now, they were educated music fans mind you, and realized that I made it a point to stand out.
But honestly, it can be a genre thing.
Fans of (for example) The Jesus Lizard, Young Widows or Shellac or something of the sort, expect a certain bass tone.
And are pleased when others have it. Or something similar.
It may be something that's not necessary in, say, a cover band or a pop group.
But, in the underground, it matters, even to the ladies.

I think this is sort of homing in on the truth. The truth being is that an audience doesn't judge bass tone. But they DO judge the bass. They expect something from the bass be it intellectual interest or the bass player's footprints all over their booty! When we as bass players hear another band, we look at the bass player and evaluate his tone, his groove, his virtuosity, his creative level and so on. And we do it individually. But virtually all of the audience doesn't take it all apart like that. They just know if the band rocks or not. And it might be the groove is off or the tone sucks or there's no skill in the player or all three. But they are never coming up and telling you "man, I dig your tone" because their evaluation is much wider than that. But if your tone isn't there, then the whole picture will be wrong. So in that sense tone matters.

 

[JimmyM]

Who said I was beaten down? I serve a role but it ain't lead frickin guitar.

And that is YOUR role, not mine. My role and everyone else's role is whatever we want it to be.

 

[joebar]

a generally good bass tone is really all that matters. the rest is up to your abilities.
a good tone will make you play better, but as long as a decent, tasteful well executed bass line is produced, most middle of the road bass tones will get you there.
I like simplicity-
if my bass and amp cannot get me a decent acceptable tone, well I may as well hang it up. chasing tone sucks and can make you miserable.
I like the ultimate tone just like anyone else, but I also know that the chances of getting it FOH or on tape or in the monitors is slim.
people will remember your playing; your tone...not so much.

 

[bassbully]

And that is YOUR role, not mine. My role and everyone else's role is whatever we want it to be.

Ok and we both still are playing a bass guitar right?

 

[JimmyM]

Ok and we both still are playing a bass guitar right?

No, I'm playing a digeridoo.

Dude, I'm gonna tell Phalex on you!

 

[bassbully]

No, I'm playing a digeridoo.

Dude, I'm gonna tell Phalex on you!

Lol for what having fun here? I wish I was playing the digeridoo people might notice me then.

 

[bassistheplaceofcourse]

Plenty of my audience members comment positively on my tone, even non-musicians (they call it my 'sound'). Finding the tone you like is a big part of the journey for me. If I like my tone on stage then it inspires me to play better, and if the bass player plays better, and cuts through with warmth and clarity, then the band is inspired to play better. If the band is inspired to play better, then you are making better music. If you are making better music then that's pretty much the whole friggin point to me. (Surely this ain't rocket science...)

Even if no one but me cared about my tone, (which I don't believe is the case), that would still be enough. Sure it's nice to give a good tone to my audience and bandmates, but I also do it for me. I like it.