Answer: I count sometimes....
Mainly when the arrangement is stripped down
Most of the time I sort of 'sing' the rhythm (and melody) of the line in my head as we go along....
I know
I'm weird.
One thing I do know though~: our drummer NEVER counts when he's playing and he's unable to play to a click - the click puts him off....who'd have thunk it? a drummer that doesn't count the rhythm?
Yet we've been going as a band, well over 30 years...
Counting rhythm is a myth - totally unnecessary