strat714
Experienced
Tone chasing can be very rewarding, but don't have any expectations.
At a bar gig many years ago the bar owner told us to turn down during soundcheck, even though we were definitely NOT playing loud. The next song was "perfect " according to him. I was using a clean tone throughout the song he approved of. The next song was a dirty guitar tone and he raced up and said "I told you to turn down". I turned my amp down to a barely audible tone and stomped on my dirt pedal and asked him if it was loud. He said "YES". I then cranked the amp up and played a (much louder) clean tone and again asked him again if he thought it was loud. He said "That's perfect".
I pointed out the "as-is" clause in our contract that allows us to control our sound and that we could leave, but he had to pay us anyways. He cursed my ancestors and never bothered us again. Funny thing is, it was a biker bar and the patrons freakin' LOVED us. He hired us back (profitable for him) even though he HATED us.
Point is; Some people have no stinkin' idea. Play for yourself and your audience, but don't have any expectations. I chase tone mainly for myself, my band mates and some friends that regularly come to hear us play. Some people like anything that's distorted..."YOU GUYS ROCK". Some folks will only respond to movement and visuals. Do your thing and if they don't like it...
At a bar gig many years ago the bar owner told us to turn down during soundcheck, even though we were definitely NOT playing loud. The next song was "perfect " according to him. I was using a clean tone throughout the song he approved of. The next song was a dirty guitar tone and he raced up and said "I told you to turn down". I turned my amp down to a barely audible tone and stomped on my dirt pedal and asked him if it was loud. He said "YES". I then cranked the amp up and played a (much louder) clean tone and again asked him again if he thought it was loud. He said "That's perfect".
I pointed out the "as-is" clause in our contract that allows us to control our sound and that we could leave, but he had to pay us anyways. He cursed my ancestors and never bothered us again. Funny thing is, it was a biker bar and the patrons freakin' LOVED us. He hired us back (profitable for him) even though he HATED us.
Point is; Some people have no stinkin' idea. Play for yourself and your audience, but don't have any expectations. I chase tone mainly for myself, my band mates and some friends that regularly come to hear us play. Some people like anything that's distorted..."YOU GUYS ROCK". Some folks will only respond to movement and visuals. Do your thing and if they don't like it...