Nobody cares about your tone....

[Eminor3rd]

except for you!

So now that I have your attention, I have come to the realization that people who come to your shows couldnt care less about your bass tone. I have found that if they can hear you, it sounds good. If they can't, they still think it sounds good! Musicians that see your shows are exempt of course.

So why do we spend our lives buying expensive gear that will give you a 400hz notch instead of a 800hz notch on the amp you just sold at a $500 loss to get the amp with the 800hz notch. The people we are playing to realistically have no changes in the experience in the show.

So is it we are doing this to amuse ourselfs? Is this another form of playing with our peckers? Do we try to get better tone then other bass players, Just so you can say "so, how about those new pickups I installed....I bet your jealous, it gives me a crystal clear terrible boost at 6.5khz"?

Really? Give me feedback and hate comments!

Because, to many of us, the pursuit of art is about more than what it means to people who aren't really listening.

 

[M.R. Ogle]

Because, to many of us, the pursuit of art is about more than what it means to people who aren't really listening.

Very nice. So true.

 

[spectorfreak]

I have seen shows where the bass sounded *great* and other shows where it sounded AWFUL. I saw a clinic by *BASSIST TO BE UNNAMED BECAUSE HE'S WILDLY TOUCHY* where his playing, skilled though it was, sounded like caca. Amps/instrument - whatever, it was mud-fart city. Not good.

So yeah - tone *can* matter... though probably not as much as most folks think.

Billy Sheehan? lol

 

[spectorfreak]

Essentially it's because even after 40+ high end basses, some come and gone, many still here, and countless rig configurations, gear is still cheaper then a wife.

 

[JimmyM]

Billy Sheehan? lol

Already answered...wasn't Billy. Billy's never struck me as being thin-skinned. He seems to take negative comments in stride. Or maybe he just puts up a good front in public and throws things around his house

 

[Matthew_84]

... Is this another form of playing with our peckers?

Hey! I'll take any chance I can get!

 

[spectorfreak]

Already answered...wasn't Billy. Billy's never struck me as being thin-skinned. He seems to take negative comments in stride. Or maybe he just puts up a good front in public and throws things around his house

Yeah didn't catch the second post until after I hit enter, either one works. Billy's a Scientologist, if he gets mad he just declares you an SP and shuns you, and maybe hires a private detective to follow you around and attempt to find material to blackmail you with. Or possibly sends Xenu after you.

 

[Baird6869]

Yeah didn't catch the second post until after I hit enter, either one works. Billy's a Scientologist, if he gets mad he just declares you an SP and shuns you, and maybe hires a private detective to follow you around and attempt to find material to blackmail you with. Or possibly sends Xenu after you.

I didn't know Billy was a scientist. Cool he has time for that and playing bass too!

 

[SLivinghouse]

I think most non-musicians do not usually hear the bass separately nor would appreciate our efforts to get a good bass sound. What they do appreciate is if the band sounds good or not (in addition to looks, etc.) If your good sound contributes to the band sounding good or enhances your ability to play well, then it's done it's job.

Personally, I think Anthony Jackson could sound just fine on a $15,000 bass. And maybe even pretty good on a $10,000 bass. I don't know if Anthony has played any "crap" cheaper than that. Maybe the cheap bass tone would distract the Maestro from his playing Contra Bass Guitar movimento bravi Soli and he would end up sounding malinconico.


Also, who of you be able to tell the difference in tone from a $5,000 viola from a $10,000 viola? A $1,500 saxophone versus an $5,000 sax? Or would be able to ski better on a $3,000 set of skis versus a $1,500 set of skis?

Steve

 

[stingray56funk]

P Bass?

 

[spectorfreak]

I didn't know Billy was a scientist. Cool he has time for that and playing bass too!

Don't get me wrong, I'm a huge Mr. Big fan, but well, yeah

 

[JimmyM]

I think most non-musicians do not usually hear the bass separately nor would appreciate our efforts to get a good bass sound. What they do appreciate is if the band sounds good or not (in addition to looks, etc.) If your good sound contributes to the band sounding good or enhances your ability to play well, then it's done it's job.

Personally, I think Anthony Jackson could sound just fine on a $15,000 bass. And maybe even pretty good on a $10,000 bass. I don't know if Anthony has played any "crap" cheaper than that.

You kidding? Anthony originally made his bones on a straight-up Jazz Bass!

 

[JimmyM]

RE: Billy and Scientology, I know Scientologists and they're alternately as decent and lousy as any other bunch of people. Got no interest in being one ever, but if it makes them happy, que sera sera.

 

[Mystic Michael]

except for you!

So now that I have your attention, I have come to the realization that people who come to your shows couldnt care less about your bass tone. I have found that if they can hear you, it sounds good. If they can't, they still think it sounds good! Musicians that see your shows are exempt of course.

So why do we spend our lives buying expensive gear that will give you a 400hz notch instead of a 800hz notch on the amp you just sold at a $500 loss to get the amp with the 800hz notch. The people we are playing to realistically have no changes in the experience in the show.

So is it we are doing this to amuse ourselfs? Is this another form of playing with our peckers? Do we try to get better tone then other bass players, Just so you can say "so, how about those new pickups I installed....I bet your jealous, it gives me a crystal clear terrible boost at 6.5khz"?

Really? Give me feedback and hate comments!

Clueless. Just clueless.

Speak for yourself.

MM

 

[buldog5151bass]

I agree that a lot of us could get away spending less on gear and still getting a presentable sound. But tone (or lack thereof) is noticed. We allcould get to work in a Hyundai Accent, but I don't see many people driving one. We all have our reasons.

 

[JSandbloom]

Clueless. Just clueless.

Speak for yourself.

MM

Most not run run thru FOH very often.

 

[JSandbloom]

Because, to many of us, the pursuit of art is about more than what it means to people who aren't really listening.

Which separates the hobbyist from the working player. IMO.

 

[JSandbloom]

Essentially it's because even after 40+ high end basses, some come and gone, many still here, and countless rig configurations, gear is still cheaper then a wife.

Well, maybe not if you get rid of the wife. Might as well hand all those basses over! Lol

 

[JimmyM]

Which separates the hobbyist from the working player. IMO.

If people aren't listening, then maybe said working player needs to work a little harder.

 

[JSandbloom]

If people aren't listening, then maybe said working player needs to work a little harder.

Hey, I know the role of a bassist that makes his living playing casinos. Be good enough to not run them out of the casino, but not so good to keep them at the slot machines. Easy.