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That 'Punk bass' sound.

Dee Dee Ramone, John Doe, Sid Vicious, Mark Hoppus, Billy Rath, Paul Dean, JJ Burnel, ME:
Fender Precision Bass!

Order yourself a Tech 21 VT Bass pedal while you're at it -- helps make any amp sound like a cranked SVT.

+1

Whatever bass you go with, you've got to get that growly, grindy, SVT tone happening. SansAmp nails it (or Ampeg if you happen to have the $$$).
 
May be wrong about that then, was sure it was a Jazz he recorded with an played live with a P, but, not really listened to them for a while. The budget they will have for recording, they will be able to make any bass sound like whatever they want it to sound like.

I think it's all about that bright twang, but then again, punk has more tonal varieties than most people give it credit for. For long enough I gigged with my ATK with flats on it, I was just going by what I'd think the conventions are, when the fact is, there aint no convention, play whatever you want :bassist:

That has gotten me in the mood to crack out my Ibanez EDA905 and play some piezo punk!:bassist:

I think your probably right for most albums, it sounds like a Jazz for most of the other stuff, just a few songs on album 5 really sound like a P bass to me.

I don't really go too much for the bright twang, depsite owning an ATK, the highest I like to go is a pretty well defined clank on the top of my sound. I proper bum Klauses sound though, although I am selling out a bit by getting a 2x10 in the near future to put on my NV215, although I am evening that up with the Jazz pickup I'm getting I guess :p

Bet the piezo sound interesting for punk though, one of our guitarists was using a £800-1k PRS when he joined at first, we prompty got him to buy another guitar, but he's ended up with a PRS again, albeit a £300 one. Mind you I own the most expensive piece of equipment in our band, least I got it when it was £850 not £1080, not very punk...

Stingray's right though, if you want an Ampeg on a budget get a Sansamp. Then you can make every amp you play through sound like one! Alot of people buy one and get a power amp and cab so they don't have to deal with the heavy tubes and also it's more reliable too.
 
Punk rock? Man, in my younger days, I spent my share of Sunday afternoons at CBGB. Most punks used whatever crappy ass instruments and amps they could get their hands on. It makes me cringe to think of a punk band playing with expensive gear.
 
I for one have never understood how all these posters post looking for the right instrument to sound a certain way. "How do I sound, punk? bluesey? or metal?" ***? If you're a n00b to the instrument, I suppose it can be a valid question. But any player worth his salt knows that it is all about technique, not what brand you rock.

Just because you buy an SRV edition fender, do you really think you will sound anything remotely like him? That mentality is just plain silly. I have played punk for over 20 years. I started on a Cimar (p-style) with emgs. Then I went to a Ft. Worth made Jackson (yes, playing a Jackson in a punk band). Then a Rick. Then a '94 Warwick I still own 13 years later, used in several punk bands and recordings. Now, I rock the old, american, handmade BC Rich mockingbirds. EW! shouldn't I be METAL now cos I own 3 Richs? Non-sense. I decided to try a 4003 again last fall. I have never ever owned a Fender P, or J bass, I just don't like them.

AND I stopped using a pick in '92, cos I consider playing w/ a pick more like playing guitar - not actual bass. So did I stop being punk then? These posts are starting to border on complete idiocy. Everyone wants everything handed to them on a silver platter. Sorry fellow bottom feeders, it just don't work like that. You can't buy "just add water (bassplayer)" equipment, to play the style/genre you want. You have to invest time and research in it...and be yourself for christsakes, don't buy something cos someone else thinks it's great, or cos it's what someone else who you like plays. If you noobs are looking for a starting point, fine. But don't expect a template or a "How to" guide for the direction you want to go in..

BTW: Mike Burkett (fat) played a fender P all three times we opened for them in the 90's. Before that he used a steinberger, before that a peavey. I'm sure the only reason he uses dano's are cos he gets them FREE and in turn endorses them.

Talk about sheep mentalities. :rollno:
 
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Coming from a punk bass player of nearly 5 years, you play what you want to and make it sound how you want to, and that's all you need. That said, I've been told I have the fattest and best tone out of my punk scene, with either and SX jazz or Fender P, Behringer BDI 21 pedal thingy, Behringer head ripped out of old combo, and an Ampeg 410 HLF, it really is just finding what works for you.
 
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It makes me cringe to think of a punk band playing with expensive gear.

Really? Why? Seems like you have a background in the stuff, which would indicate to me that you realize punk wasn't all just effed-up snotty kids who couldn't play trying to wreck everything.

This sentence doesn't make any sense to me. You could say the same thing for anyone playing a live gig or outdoor show.

Not all punk was immature, amateur directionless noise.
 
Really? Why? Seems like you have a background in the stuff, which would indicate to me that you realize punk wasn't all just effed-up snotty kids who couldn't play trying to wreck everything.

This sentence doesn't make any sense to me. You could say the same thing for anyone playing a live gig or outdoor show.

Not all punk was immature, amateur directionless noise.

Why? Because punk rock at its core is a reaction against structure, slickness, and even affluence, and is infused with the DIY sensibility and glorifies immediacy and accessibility of musical, political, and societal expression.

Seeing punk bands playing with expensive gear would seem like a contrivance. Punk isn't about nice gear, and if you can afford the nice gear, what have you got to be so angry about?

I did not, and would never, imply that punk rock amounts to immature, amateur, directionless noise.
 
Why? Because punk rock at its core is a reaction against structure, slickness, and even affluence, and is infused with the DIY sensibility and glorifies immediacy and accessibility of musical, political, and societal expression.

Seeing punk bands playing with expensive gear would seem like a contrivance. Punk isn't about nice gear, and if you can afford the nice gear, what have you got to be so angry about?

I did not, and would never, imply that punk rock amounts to immature, amateur, directionless noise.

Ah. I see your point exactly now. I just misundertood 180 degrees.

I thought you were implying that punk players sucked anyway and always played in dives so they didn't have any justification for having good gear.

Now I see what you are saying--sort of Mike Watt's credo of "jam econo" (although he does happen to sport some nice basses.) The punk ethos of DIY and "anyone can have this", etc.

Right on.
 
I for one have never understood how all these posters post looking for the right instrument to sound a certain way. "How do I sound, punk? bluesey? or metal?" ***? If you're a n00b to the instrument, I suppose it can be a valid question. But any player worth his salt knows that it is all about technique, not what brand you rock.

Just because you buy an SRV edition fender, do you really think you will sound anything remotely like him? That mentality is just plain silly. I have played punk for over 20 years. I started on a Cimar (p-style) with emgs. Then I went to a Ft. Worth made Jackson (yes, playing a Jackson in a punk band). Then a Rick. Then a '94 Warwick I still own 13 years later, used in several punk bands and recordings. Now, I rock the old, american, handmade BC Rich mockingbirds. EW! shouldn't I be METAL now cos I own 3 Richs? Non-sense. I decided to try a 4003 again last fall. I have never ever owned a Fender P, or J bass, I just don't like them.

AND I stopped using a pick in '92, cos I consider playing w/ a pick more like playing guitar - not actual bass. So did I stop being punk then? These posts are starting to border on complete idiocy. Everyone wants everything handed to them on a silver platter. Sorry fellow bottom feeders, it just don't work like that. You can't buy "just add water (bassplayer)" equipment, to play the style/genre you want. You have to invest time and research in it...and be yourself for christsakes, don't buy something cos someone else thinks it's great, or cos it's what someone else who you like plays. If you noobs are looking for a starting point, fine. But don't expect a template or a "How to" guide for the direction you want to go in..

BTW: Mike Burkett (fat) played a fender P all three times we opened for them in the 90's. Before that he used a steinberger, before that a peavey. I'm sure the only reason he uses dano's are cos he gets them FREE and in turn endorses them.

Talk about sheep mentalities. :rollno:


who

the

f**k

iz

SRV?

:spit:
 
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any gear can and will sound acceptable

it really is up to the player, although a good instrument does work better, and may last longer

think of the difference of crappy tools like wrenches that come from bad manufacturers, they dont last as long and it takes more work on your end to get the results you desire,
good tools are much better, and you discover this when you compare snap-on tools to other manufacturers

klaus in dead kennedys is a dedicated fender jazz bass guy, and because he uses a jazz bass does not disqualify him as a punk bass player