steadystate
Fractal Fanatic
The last part of the above quote seems at odds with the first. I regularly get comments from audience members after a show complimenting the accuracy of the guitar tones for every song. It is a frequent occurrence. If the accuracy is there, some people will most definitely notice and let you know in a very enthusiastic manner. I've had people come up to me and cite song after song of the evening's setlist, relaying how much the guitar sounded like the one on the record in each instance and how much it enhanced their enjoyment of the show.In my experience no one will notice. Normal people are not paying attention to guitar tones., And as has been said, a constantly shifting guitar tone that shifts throughout the mix can actually be jarring.
The power of recognition matters.
True, the majority will not notice the finer details. But I don't put in the effort for them. I put in the effort for myself and for those who can appreciate it. Why work toward the lowest common denominator, i.e. "normal people"? Normal people tend to like McDonald's and reality television. It would be a shame if no restaurants or producers ever aimed for higher standards.