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Strings for a good growling punk tone?

#21
Thank you everyone for your input! I will make sure to check out your recommendations whenever I can, but now for the amp settings. What kind of bass strings would you buy and what would you have your amp settings that if you are like me and play more near the bridge, where the strings typically sound sharper and brighter? Remember I want a deep Low growl and yet I have difficulty playing more in the middle where most bass players can get that kind of sound
 
#23
Cole Louis Allar said:
Thanks! I will check them out! And by the way you guys, what should I turn my amp settings to for playing punk? Usually, I just turn down the bass setting all the way down and then crank up the equalizers, but I'm not sure if I should turn the bass setting up halfway little bit to get a little bit of extra depth in my playing
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Regardless of genre: try setting everything on your amp at 12 o'clock. Then listen for what you like, and what you don't. As a quick guide:

Too much lows = boomy, muddy
Not enough lows = weak, bottomless sound
Too much mids = honky
Not enough mids = lost in mix
Too much highs = shrill, painful overtones
Not enough highs = no note definition

Try to make as many cuts as you do boosts. Otherwise you're using the EQ section as a volume knob, which isn't what it's designed for.
 
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#25
Cole Louis Allar said:
Thank you everyone for your input! I will make sure to check out your recommendations whenever I can, but now for the amp settings. What kind of bass strings would you buy and what would you have your amp settings that if you are like me and play more near the bridge, where the strings typically sound sharper and brighter? Remember I want a deep Low growl and yet I have difficulty playing more in the middle where most bass players can get that kind of sound
Click to expand...
Consider that you might be over thinking this. You play primarily alone right? Nothing wrong with that. So do I. But keep in mind that how you might eventually sound in a band setting can be very different from how you sound in your bedroom. If you're after a particular sound that you're hearing on recordings, know that the bass sound in a mix differs greatly from a bass sound solo'd.
 
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#32
It also helps to know what kinda bass and amp you're using.

I'm not really in a punk bank anymore, but I still like that kind of aggressive bass tone. It works well in a lot of rock contexts.

Unfortunately, bass strings are kind of expensive to try out costing between 20-30 a set, but I say try as many as you can. I mostly use the same brand, type, and gauge, on most of my stuff but some strings sound better on certain basses than others.

DR makes a great string. Most of my basses are strung up with Hi Beams 50-110. They're bright and flexible allowing me to do bends and pulls even at the first fret. Lo-Riders are also good and I use them on basses where I want a stiffer and more responsive string for tapping or harmonics. Both of those would run you about $23 a set on bass strings online.

Bass Strings Online also has a clearance section where you can get new sets for cheap.
 
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#37
What also helps to your question on growly is my punk bands single that we recently dropped. Although the strings on this recording are not Dunlop Super Bright Nickels, I used GHS Infinity Steel strings. The strings have a really great warm/mellow tone with enough brightness in higher registers. I absolutely love them and can't wait for GHS to re release them with a tapered E string!

 
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#39
Discussing bass strings for punk? OK. #hipsters Any roundwound will do, just play them hard enough.

Also: The pick you play with has a huuuuuge influence on tone (unless you play fingerstyle). Go buy a bunch of different ones and try them out.
For aggressive attack, growl and lots of top end try Ultex Jazz III 2.0 or any other Dunlop ultex pick - nylon makes everything mellow.
 
#40
First of all the words" punk and tone" do not match!!
Punk and noise ? absolutely !
In my opinion For punk theres no such thing as tone!! Any strings will do ! Who the hell will notice any type of tone from any Instrument in punk! Trust me it Wont make a bit of a difference wish strings u use! ! For a gd growling punk sound or noise !
(not tone) all you need is one thing..
LOUD !! Bass at 10! Mids at 10 treble at 10 !

a 2000 Watt amp along with 2 15s and 4 10 cabs! Yeap you guessed it.. also at 10+!! Punk & tone? Lol..
 
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