That 'Punk bass' sound.

[theavondon]

Well, in the punk band I'm in, I like using the franken-p i put together for like $80 off of ebay, but I'm lazy enough to not tune it back from D standard most of the time, so i end up using my T-bird. And, as far as amps go, in the local scene I'm in (DFW), as long as you're loud and don't have a Crate, you're leagues ahead of the rest. Shoot, I use a Sunn.

And, to cap all of this off, THE INTERNETS IS SERIOUS BUSINESS.

 

[Korladis]

Sid Vicious

I don't see how that's relevant. The man never learned how to play bass.

 

[anon65884001]

Well don't forget your technique!
I believe that it is just as important as what bass you use

 

[Joe164]

I don't see how that's relevant. The man never learned how to play bass.

I dont see how this is relavent either. like 1/3 of posts in this topic.


That Dano is pretty hot. and the sound fat mike gets is to die for. I think i'll be investing in one of those VT Pedals, i saw a youtube vid of them and its pretty much exactly what i want. Thanks for all you're help guys.

 

[Korladis]

I dont see how this is relavent either. like 1/3 of posts in this topic.

Because Sid didn't record the bass parts on Never mind the Bollocks... so, he's not really relevant to "That 'Punk bass' sound."

 

[Surly]

My last punk jam was flats on a P-bass and a pick, old school vibe.. The flats sound cool and fill in nicely, but I'm probably going back to rounds because I think they are heard more. Guitarist says "still got those dead strings?"..lol..

 

[Dee_01]

I would use an aggressive sounding Jazz Bass for punk. Roundwound strings, of course.

 

[Dee_01]

Well don't forget your technique!
I believe that it is just as important as what bass you use

I would disagree. First of all, what is punk? It is a genre that started as a backlash to the 70's prog rock masturbation merchants. Technique was probably the last thing on the list for most people! Punk allowed people with barely any technique to pick up an instrument and make music, as dreadful as most of it was.

When punk started out, a lot of us then couldn't afford good quality instruments, never mind a fresh set of strings. "Authentic" punk sounds came from POS instruments.

I'm actually kinda insulted that Green Day are even considered punk, but that's a whole other thread.

 

[PauliePower]

I may be starting an entirely new argument here, but am I alone in thinking that the SD 1/4lb pickup possibly isn't the best choice for an older-style 'punk' sound? Certainly, for newer stuff (am thinking Blink 182 as an example), it's perfect, but whenever I play my '05 Precision fitted with said pickup, I'm always reaching for the mid control for a boost. My '85 Precision (fitted with whatever Fender Japan decided to fit) has a far less scooped sound, and seems perfect for the Matt Freeman and (sorry) Mike Dirnt style sound.

Discuss.

*Dons flame-retardant suit, runs*

 

[Surly]

I use my stock '08 Precision (with the tone knob about half way), along with the VT pedal, and sometimes a tube amp.. It's not a problem to tweak the mids, or low-mids in my situations.. I don't know what certain pickups sound like, so I'm not going to most likely waste my money. I've heard Lollars are more old school sounding, but again if I can turn knobs I'm not wasting money.

 

[bazzanderson]

I immediately think of Picks, P-basses and Ampegs.

 

[JDeewond]

One warning though, sometimes you'll have to deal with never sounding like the record, not that it can't be pulled off(or that it'd be interesting to do int he first place, hah!) but know this, if you take pennywise(circa from the ashes) for instance, they recorded through ampeg but split it to a tiny orange combo. Surimposing the latter over the prior would give this punk sound, lot's of trebelly punk. Just a little info.

 

[Joe164]

Interesting, pauliepower.


I think i'll just have to see where my bass life takes me try to get that sound, one day i'll buy some bass and some amp and just nail it.

 

[Korladis]

One warning though, sometimes you'll have to deal with never sounding like the record, not that it can't be pulled off(or that it'd be interesting to do int he first place, hah!) but know this, if you take pennywise(circa from the ashes) for instance, they recorded through ampeg but split it to a tiny orange combo. Surimposing the latter over the prior would give this punk sound, lot's of trebelly punk. Just a little info.

Pennywise isn't punk.

 

[LCW]

Punk playing

-down pick always
- p bass and j bass both work great id use a p
-tone and volume on full
- amp wise? wel punk is not suppose to be pretty get an old peavey head and a 410 cab

basically your set up should beunder a 1,000$ easy and fit the bill good

 

[PatAteThePaste]

Pennywise isn't punk.

First off pennywise IS punk. This whole argument about trying to define what punk is, its lame. Punk rock is about an attitude, weather you want to admit it or not pennywise had that attitude and therfore they are punk.

This whole thread was made to discuss how to get the tone thats common in punk rock, not about who is and isnt punk.

 

[Din Of Win]

"Punk rock should mean freedom. Liking and accepting anything you like. Playing anything you want as sloppy as you want. As long as it's good and it has passion."


THAT is how you get "that punk sound".


Hi-five to whoever knows who said it

 

[PatAteThePaste]

"Punk rock should mean freedom. Liking and accepting anything you like. Playing anything you want as sloppy as you want. As long as it's good and it has passion."


THAT is how you get "that punk sound".


Hi-five to whoever knows who said it

Thats a cobain quote if i've ever heard one.

 

[PatAteThePaste]

So its been a few years since i tried playing with flatwound strings, anyone know of a good brand for punk sound?

 

[Din Of Win]

Thats a cobain quote if i've ever heard one.

*hi-five!*

Haha, took me a few years to learn that though. I first heard it as the sample on "In Love With An Apparition" by Pg.99 and wrongly attributed that quote to them for a long time...

It also took me a few years to really appriciate Nirvana... I remember "Nevermind" comming out and all the kids i really couldn't stand sweating the hell out of that record...