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Modern-Punk Basses

#21
I find that punk is more in your EQ (emphasized highs) and attack (REALLY HARD!) I think it was Flea who said that the punk mentality when he was growing up was: upstrokes are for pussies :bassist:

You can EQ any bass to sound punk, though a beat up bass definitely LOOKS more punk, and IMO post 9-11 punk is as much about the looks than tone or the mindset.

and a bass that usually sells for at least a grand new, a stingray might not look as punk as you want it to. :p

so assuming that you've got the cash, find a beat-up p-bass (preferably a squier) on craigslist, put some hot pickups in it, and use the rest of your money on a DI with a built in EQ.

Now scratch the hell out of the bass, put stickers all over it, throw it down the stairs and snort some heroin off of the back of it, and you will be well on your way to sounding punk.

also do you have a mohawk yet?
get one, a.s.a.p. ;)
 
#23
DeivoxCarnal said:
I find that punk is more in your EQ (emphasized highs) and attack (REALLY HARD!) I think it was Flea who said that the punk mentality when he was growing up was: downstrokes are for pussies :bassist:

You can EQ any bass to sound punk, though a beat up bass definitely LOOKS more punk, and IMO post 9-11 punk is as much about the looks than tone or the mindset.

and a bass that usually sells for at least a grand new, a stingray might not look as punk as you want it to. :p

so assuming that you've got the cash, find a beat-up p-bass (preferably a squier) on craigslist, put some hot pickups in it, and use the rest of your money on a DI with a built in EQ.

Now scratch the hell out of the bass, put stickers all over it, throw it down the stairs and snort some heroin off of the back of it, and you will be well on your way to sounding punk.

also do you have a mohawk yet?
get one, a.s.a.p. ;)
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haha I don't care about looking punk at all honestly... it's just what I want as tone, flea is also one of my fav bassists, and **** picks, fingers all the way (ok, there are a couple exceptions...)
 
#31
Actually, the very most punk thing you could do is show up with a 6 string Ritter fretless, or maybe a 7 string F Bass, something like that, rather than some "pre-approved" punk worthy bass.

Punk is about actually not caring what the establishment thinks, and not adhering to a rigorous orthodoxy.
 
#32
jasper383 said:
Actually, the very most punk thing you could do is show up with a 6 string Ritter fretless, or maybe a 7 string F Bass, something like that, rather than some "pre-approved" punk worthy bass.

Punk is about actually not caring what the establishment thinks, and not adhering to a rigorous orthodoxy.
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That's true and all, but I think he was going for a certain tone, not just the punkest bass.
 
#33
jasper383 said:
Actually, the very most punk thing you could do is show up with a 6 string Ritter fretless, or maybe a 7 string F Bass, something like that, rather than some "pre-approved" punk worthy bass.

Punk is about actually not caring what the establishment thinks, and not adhering to a rigorous orthodoxy.
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Great reply!

As for tone - for god's sake, take just about any bass you like and EQ to your satisfaction... for a punk sound getting into discussions about tone - and we're really talking nuances here with just about any electric bass - seems silly.

There, I said it...
 
#34
All those bands you mentioned in the OP use Fender basses.

All Precisions IIRC, except for Taking Back Sunday. Matt Rubano plays a Jazz - extremely well, in fact. Funny how him and Pete Wentz can get lumped into the same category, but Matt schools him in talent. Hell, he schools a lot of bassists in talent, the dude went to Berkely for bass.
 
#35
G&L's have a nice tone for both punk and metal IMO. Check out Dillinger Escape Plans' bassist Liam Wilson's tone. I love that tone in that kind of music. Very growly and punchy. Sounds a bit like that Krappy bass in the video but a little more over driven due to the effects he uses.
 
#38
5string5fingers said:
You say you hate picks,but talk about how much you like pete wentz tone,and mention blink 182 along with brand new,and liking so many other punk bass tones when many punk bass players sport a pick. 3 out of the 4 bands you mentioned..their bassist uses a pick.
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+1

Unfortunately OP, you're gonna need the pick to achieve a lot of that tone - it's just a fact. I'm a finger-style player too, and I've noticed more and more bands I love use picks. Not all in the post punk genre, but indie rock too.

But if you get good strength in your fingers, build some thick calluses, EQ your amp, and put some STANK on it, you can get that tone with fingers. Its not impossible, but maybe not 100% exactly like your aforementioned bass heroes.
 
#39
zmoney682 said:
Hey guys, I was talking to my dad (a fellow bassist) about basses that are great for modern-punk type band aside from fenders (both our fav basses are P-basses with J necks and one J pick up)

I was wondering, what are some great basses, tone and playability wise for that type of music?

I'm talking about the Brand New, Blink-182, Taking Back Sunday, and fall out boy bands, those bands tend to have really really good bass tones (yes even pete wentz chugs out a great bass tone, IMO)

So what are some other brand basses aside from Fender that can pump out this quality and a really thick, gritty, and consistent? Thanks in advance.
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If you like the p-bass tone...why don't you just settle for a pbass?


FOB= Pbass
Blink182=Pbass (well u know what I mean...)
Not sure bout takin back sunday...but I'd venture to guess.

Or am I missing something?
 
#40
Okay... i hate these threads and their blind subjectivity and semantic bee ess...

But i'll cime in because i'm on my lunch break...

I've played 'punk' music as long as i've played bass. I've played a P bass, Ibanez ATK, Peavey T20, Jazz, P/J, and a few HH.

THEY ALL WORK, for **** sake!!


I've done write ups for the last 2 years of the same 3-day punk fest i've played a few times. Check out the list of basses being played:

2009: http://www.talkbass.com/forum/showthread.php?t=557446&highlight=mosrite+ritter

2010: http://www.talkbass.com/forum/showthread.php?t=670231&highlight=insubordination


P basses reign. But there was a WIDE array of basses being played. Much more bass diversity than guitar diversity, and there are almost twice as many guitarists as bassits at these things.


THEY ALL WORK. Just get one that feels good for you.


On another note, seriously, the tired notion of "u gotta play w/a pick for punkrawk, derp derp" should seriously never be brought up ever again... ever. Listen to The Ergs! or the Descendents if you think finger-style has no place in punk. You can totally get pick-like tones with knowledgable EQing just as you can get finger-like tones with a pick. Or hey... here's an idea... stop trying to sound LIKE someone else, and find your OWN ******* sound :mad:


up the punx... or whatever...
 

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