The addition of mass anywhere on the rod change the frequency and amplitude of the vibration.
The vibration still has the same total energy but has been affected by the inertia of the rod components. As inertia goes up frequency goes down and amplitude goes up.
I believe we are better capable of "feeling" high frequency low amplitude vibration. Like the buzz of a cell phone is readily detected but the rythmic low frequency high amplitude of or own heartbeat goes completely unnoticed. By reducing mass the vibration frequency is kept higher increasing our perception of the strike. Adding mass to either end of the fulcrum has the same effect. The vibration is transimitted not to our hand directly but through the line to the tip top and through the fibers of the entire blank. Our hand feels the vibration of the blank through the grip. Stiffer lighter grips transmit that vibration more effectively. The idea is to maintain the high frequency low amplitude that we are sensitive to.

Eugene Moore

Steve every new rod/blank is a new trial. We all learn something new. I enjoyed reading and learned a few things from Eugene

Good Wraps Bob

Steve,
The hardness of the material has absolutely nothing to do with the velocity that vibrations travel up a rod. The velocity is a function of the mechanical impedance of the material. The mechanical impedance is determined by the elasticy and the mass density of the material. Though not absolutely correct you can think of the mass density as the weight per unit of length and the elasticity as the stretch in the material. When the mechanical impedance goes up, as when the vibrations go from carbon fiber to cork, the amplitude goes down but the velocity goes up. However, the velocity is irrevalent to you and me as fishermen because it is so high we can not detect it with our hands. The velocity in a vacuum is about 1000 ft./second. In carbon fiber it is almost 10 times that so obviously we cannot detect it with our hands.

In the relatively little worm fishing I have done for bass I relied more on my sense of sight than my sense of touch, precisely as I do while nymph fishing. I watch for the line , not the rod, to move or stop moving. If I relied on "feel" to catch fish on nymphs the fish would be quite safe from me. Perhaps touch sensitivity is over emphasized in bass angling and a discussion of balance is of little importance.

Eugene,
I missed your comment earlier, It is not really the stiffness or the total weight it is the mechanical impedance which is determined by the square root of the mass density times the elasticity.

Emory;
Thank you for the correction on velocity not being influenced by hardness.
In your opinion does hardness effect how well vibrations are felt as in mono vs graphite?

And am I correct in that the greater the angle of the rod to the bait or bite of the fish the better those vibrations will be felt through the rod when retrieving said bait or detecting bite?

Sense I am totally ignorant, when it comes to advanced Mathematics and Physics. These post have started to make more sense and I see where a true application can be a factor. I, like Steve am a sight fisherman. In some cases I use what is called a strike indicator. Fry Fisherman use them. My hands are totally free of any real sensation from Diabetes Neuropathy disorder. My hands feel like they are being constantly being shocked or asleep.

Good Wraps Bob