That’s a generous budget for a “punk” bass. I rock Precisions, personally. All of mine were cheap. If it is the look you are concerned about, I would imagine that at that price point you might end up with something a little too fancy.
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Good Punk Bass?
- Thread starter LeChickenNug
- Start date
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- Tags
- punk
This was my thought exactly.
Here's one for a 10th of your budget on EBAY that's perfect (and it's already got the sticker on it)
Base Guitar Hondo With Case | eBay
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Approach it with the true punk mindset: No rules. Use whatever you want - and too bad what anyone else thinks.
Back in the day many punks gravitated towards whatever pawnshop bass they could afford.
Now that “punk” has largely become a hipster’s fashion statement geared for the weekend “costume party” club crowd, someone who’s a true punk just might decide to show up with a Fodera.
It’s all a matter of where your head is at.
On a less philosophical/political note: a Fender PB is your generic utility infielder bass. When in doubt, grab a Fender or Squier PB. It will fit in with virtually any genre or musical context, is virtually indestructible, is affordable and available for purchase just about anywhere, and has decent resale value if you ever change your mind.
Speaking purely for myself, if I were doing a punk gig tomorrow I’d probably bring a Gretsch Junior Jet short-scale with a set of old rounds on it and play it with a pick. But that’s me.
Welcome to TalkBass!
Back in the day many punks gravitated towards whatever pawnshop bass they could afford.
Now that “punk” has largely become a hipster’s fashion statement geared for the weekend “costume party” club crowd, someone who’s a true punk just might decide to show up with a Fodera.
It’s all a matter of where your head is at.
On a less philosophical/political note: a Fender PB is your generic utility infielder bass. When in doubt, grab a Fender or Squier PB. It will fit in with virtually any genre or musical context, is virtually indestructible, is affordable and available for purchase just about anywhere, and has decent resale value if you ever change your mind.
Speaking purely for myself, if I were doing a punk gig tomorrow I’d probably bring a Gretsch Junior Jet short-scale with a set of old rounds on it and play it with a pick. But that’s me.
Welcome to TalkBass!
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Really anything will work for punk. I've used a Squier P bass, an ESP five string, and an SX short scale modded jazz bass. I've even used flats in a punk setting, it's all about how you play. My simplest suggestion is to get a higher end used Squier P bass, drop a Seymour Duncan Quarter Pound in it, and pocket half your money. Throw some steel strings on it and you'll be pretty much have a perfect punk rock tone.
The bass player for Leftover Crack plays a Dingwall jazz bass, so that's an option...
I'm thinking maybe a Carl Thompson or a Ritter. 
As a punk rock bassist, I played four different Precision basses. I think they are the best for punk and rock in general. 3 of them of J bridge pickups so I can get a similar tone to a Jazz bass.
My top 3 Punk rock basses
1.Precision bass
2.Jazz bass
3.Rickenbacker 4001 or 4003 tied with a Gibson Ripper
4 and 5 would be a toss up between Stingray and Thunderbird
My top 3 Punk rock basses
1.Precision bass
2.Jazz bass
3.Rickenbacker 4001 or 4003 tied with a Gibson Ripper
4 and 5 would be a toss up between Stingray and Thunderbird
A Peavey Fury, or an Ibanez Blazer. Both are P-style basses that you can get for around $300.
Here's my Blazer:
Here's my Blazer:
None of these answers are wrong
...but G&L is certainly not a bad choice.
or you could DIY a Warmoth if you're feeling so inclined.
...but G&L is certainly not a bad choice.
or you could DIY a Warmoth if you're feeling so inclined.
Your budget is too high and your brow is too low.
Here's what I'd do - look for a nice used Squier Affinity P or P/J in black or poop-burst, or whatever color you find. If it happens to have three or more strings, bonus. It shouldn't cost more than about $120.
Save the rest of your money for beer, stickers, and Doc Martens.
Here's what I'd do - look for a nice used Squier Affinity P or P/J in black or poop-burst, or whatever color you find. If it happens to have three or more strings, bonus. It shouldn't cost more than about $120.
Save the rest of your money for beer, stickers, and Doc Martens.
A Peavey Fury, or an Ibanez Blazer. Both are P-style basses that you can get for around $300.
Here's my Blazer:
+1 for the blazer!
Killer basses
If you play punk, you should not ever seek out the opinions of others.
shag it, buy a $50 kit off amazon and smash it together with a better pickup.
Fits the DIY Punk asthetic
QP's must have changed since I had them years ago. The once I had we're all fat warm and scooped.
Get a Squire Vintage Modified Jag Special - Mod it to get the sound and reliability you want, have it set up and pocket the rest of the dough. When it gets dinged or stickers put on it and such you wont cringe and Squire is just anti establishment enough yet good enough to be a truly punk move 
FTW!
FTW!
