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Are you talking about the TB members/audience.
Just check how many postings/threads are about questions of "dragging/rushing"/ahead/behind the beat/"deep pocket", etc... drool
I'm going to reiterate that people know stuff. They usually can't identify exactly what's up, but they know when something sounds "wrong" or "off" to them. Tuning, tempo, and OMG, the lyrics... they notice everything.IME-
Most audiences can't tell if the song is dragging/rushing. Most can't tell if the vocals are out of tune. I can't imagine those same people honing in on the nuances of bass tone.
Just my two bits not adjusted for inflation
Let me see.
Most probably, more than 90% of our TB members are NOT professional bass players.
Most probably, a lot of our TB members are "in the crowd/audience" while listening to some "professional" musicians; therefore,
WE are in the same crowd, and I've never heard any Serious/PRO musician saying "I don't give a damn what the audience thinks. They are dumb". NEVER
I'd like to add something.
I'm not a car designer, or some transmission expert, but I know that I like to drive "THIS, NOT THAT" car.
I don't know for sure WHY I prefer "THIS" car (and I don't care) but I will purchase "THIS, NOT THAT" car.
As, I will listen to THIS NOT THAT music group/vocalist/etc...
Next.
I have a few friends - who are not in any CAR INDUSTRY, but they (probably, some hobby) could explain to me WHY I prefer "THIS" car, or WHY "THIS" car drives better.
The same thing is about the music fans/audience. You will find a few NON-musicians who know much more about music than we (amateur musicians) think.
Another question.
A lot of people listen to classical (very complicated) music. Is it because they are Classical Musicians?
Still, a lot of people listen to Jazz music. Are they Jazz Musicians?
Most probably, more than 90% of our TB members are NOT professional bass players.
Most probably, a lot of our TB members are "in the crowd/audience" while listening to some "professional" musicians; therefore,
WE are in the same crowd, and I've never heard any Serious/PRO musician saying "I don't give a damn what the audience thinks. They are dumb". NEVER
I'd like to add something.
I'm not a car designer, or some transmission expert, but I know that I like to drive "THIS, NOT THAT" car.
I don't know for sure WHY I prefer "THIS" car (and I don't care) but I will purchase "THIS, NOT THAT" car.
As, I will listen to THIS NOT THAT music group/vocalist/etc...
Next.
I have a few friends - who are not in any CAR INDUSTRY, but they (probably, some hobby) could explain to me WHY I prefer "THIS" car, or WHY "THIS" car drives better.
The same thing is about the music fans/audience. You will find a few NON-musicians who know much more about music than we (amateur musicians) think.
Another question.
A lot of people listen to classical (very complicated) music. Is it because they are Classical Musicians?
Still, a lot of people listen to Jazz music. Are they Jazz Musicians?
IME-
Most audiences can't tell if the song is dragging/rushing. Most can't tell if the vocals are out of tune. I can't imagine those same people honing in on the nuances of bass tone.
Just my two bits not adjusted for inflation
Most don't analyze it to that extent, but they can still feel and hear the difference.
IME-
Most audiences can't tell if the song is dragging/rushing. Most can't tell if the vocals are out of tune. I can't imagine those same people honing in on the nuances of bass tone.
Just my two bits not adjusted for inflation
So far I've held off dropping names, but it seems the only way to make the point. Back in the 80s my audiences included the likes of Hugh Cornwall and JJB from the Stranglers, Kurt and Roland from Tears For Fears, Van Morrison, Peter Gabriel, Vince Ely (Psychedelic Furs) and James Taylor, to name but a few. Mr Cornwall once paid me the compliment of being one of the coolest looking bass players he'd seen - quite something from someone who shared a career with J-J Burnel. But what do they know - they were just the ignorant audience after all...
The point is you never know who's out there...
Last edited:
- Mar 8, 2011
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- Authorized greenboy designs builder/Owner of BNA Audio
- Oct 7, 2000
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- Endorsing artist: Musicman basses
Probably.Maybe, there is a reason for that?
I don’t go around talking about my tone to audiences, nor asking them what they think. Maybe that has something to do with it?
I’ll add that when playing to more than 100 people your tone has far more to do with what the sound person is doing than with your strings, amp settings, or choice of bass.
Nobody goes around and starts asking, “What do you think about my bass tone!”
There are so many ways for someone from the audience to approach the musicians and start talking to them.
About the sound engineer.
Once again, there are numerous situations but a musician plays a very important role in the tone forming and participates in the sound person’s aural vision/creation of the overall band’s music.
Yes, I'm so egotistically insecure that I go around asking audience members how I sound. That's it.
If anyone ever catches me doing that, you have my permission to kill me, because that would mean I need to be put out of my misery.
I do my best to make darn sure of it on my gigs, too, with all the stuff I add specifically for my line. Plus at the Villages, all the sound techs who work there know me and what I like, and they're excellent at getting it in the PA.
buldog5151bass
Kibble, milkbones, and P Basses. And redheads.
. We need a dead horse emoji. 
- Oct 7, 2000
- 18,619
- 38,941
- Disclosures
- Endorsing artist: Musicman basses
I was talking to that other guy who keeps defending you. Not you
.I like Talkbass better when I just chime in on the threads where I can be of help, say something funny, agree with what's being said, inspire, or offer something positive.
I had no business coming here and I apologize for kicking up BS. Had a rough couple of days, but that's not excuse.
My apologies. I'm outta here now.
Joe Nerve, you should know by now as long as we've both been on here that I always welcome your input, even if I don't agree with what you're saying, which rarely happens. I didn't post this topic with the idea that nobody would challenge me on it, as I'm going against the TB norm of "audiences don't know or care." I will certainly defend my opinions vehemently, but it's not like I don't want any scrutiny at all, and I'm happy to admit when I'm off base. It just so happens I'm right on with this postI was talking to that other guy who keeps defending you. Not you
I like Talkbass better when I just chime in on the threads where I can be of help, say something funny, agree with what's being said, inspire, or offer something positive.
I had no business coming here and I apologize for kicking up BS. Had a rough couple of days, but that's not excuse.
My apologies. I'm outta here now.
but I'm not infallible.
The problem started when you gave bad evidence for an argument and called those who don't agree with you arrogant. If you're describing someone negatively, you can't be that thing that you're using to describe them. It's like telling someone "yoo suck aht spelling."
dont care what the audience or anybody else thinks of my tone or playing and that includes musicians
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