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Will my current rig work for punk music?

Hypercaffium

Hypercaffium

Jan 5, 2018
2,956
4,227
Rome, Italy
#1
Hi,
I currently play with some friends and we do many genres including rock, hard rock, blues, reggae, electronic, folk and other stuff. I built my entire rig with the idea of maximize versatility while having a portable/lightweight/efficient solution.
I'm about to join a second band which plays specifically punk, punk rock, melodic punk, pop punk etc. and since I'd prefer to not turn upside-down my current rig, I'm asking you if it can work for this genres.
This is what I use:
  • Fender American Professional Passive P Bass
  • Quilter Bass Block 800 head
  • Barefaced Super Midget cab
  • Tech 21 BDDI v2 preamp
  • Pedalboard with EQ, analog octave, overdrive, fuzz, an H9 and a sample rate reducer.
I guess I'd go with just bass, amp, cab and preamp. I don't think I'd need my pedalboard.
What do you guys think?
 
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#3
Hypercaffium said:
Hi,
I currently play with some friends and we do many genres including rock, hard rock, blues, reggae, electronic, folk and other stuff. I built my entire rig with the idea of maximize versatility while having a portable/lightweight/efficient solution.
I'm about to join a second band which plays specifically punk, punk rock, melodic punk, pop punk etc. and since I'd prefer to not turn upside-down my current rig, I'm asking you if it can work for this genres.
This is what I use:
  • Fender American Professional Passive P Bass
  • Quilter Bass Block 800 head
  • Barefaced Super Midget cab
  • Tech 21 BDDI v2 preamp
  • Pedalboard with EQ, analog octave, overdrive, fuzz, an H9 and a sample rate reducer.
I guess I'd go with just bass, amp, cab and preamp. I don't think I'd need my pedalboard.
What do you guys think?
Click to expand...
Go wireless so you can hear how you sit in the mix.

Use whatever equipment sounds like you want it to. No rules.
 
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#7
JGbassman said:
Sounds like you are good to go then. I’ve always seen punk more of an attitude than a sound.
Out of any genre, I’d say a picked P bass or stingray suits punk more than anything. As long as the amp can handle the aggression you should be good.
Click to expand...
The punk attitude is alredy covered. :)
My amp in an 800W solid state, so I have plenty of power.
Stumbo said:
Add a Super Compact cab so you can win the ensuing volume war.:laugh:
Click to expand...
A single Super Midget can handle 450W, I don't think I'm gonna need another cab honestly. We'll ses how it goes.
 
#9
Yukimajo said:
To help with a punk tone, play with a pick and play as close to the bridge as you can.
Click to expand...
Thanks.
Technically speaking, I'm familiar with the genre so I know hot to get a decent instrument tone, I just wanted to be sure to have an appropriate setup.
Yesterday I was practicing with my BeatBuddy over a punk drum set and after a while I needed to lower my strap pretty low to avoid right hand fatigue.
This was unexpected since I always played both fingerstyle and pick style having my strap set high (like when I'm seated). I guess the causes can be fast tempos, downstrokes and digging harder.
Now my right arm is almost completely extended and my wrist feels relaxed, but I'm having some litttle troubles with the left hand. No pain, I guess I just need to adapt and/or find the sweet spot for me.
 
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#10
Hypercaffium said:
Thanks.
Technically speaking, I'm familiar with the genre so I know hot to get a decent instrument tone, I just wanted to be sure to have an appropriate setup.
Yesterday I was practicing with my BeatBuddy over a punk drum set and after a while I needed to lower my strap pretty low to avoid right hand fatigue.
This was unexpected since I always played both fingerstyle and pick style having my strap set high (like when I'm seated). I guess the causes can be fast tempos, downstrokes and digging harder.
Now my right arm is almost completely extended and my wrist feels relaxed, but I'm having some litttle troubles with the left hand. No pain, I guess I just need to adapt and/or find the sweet spot for me.
Click to expand...
I know it's punk to do only down strokes, but alternate picking is much more efficient, and to be honest no-one will notice the difference. Also don't have the bass too low, remember that Dee Dee Ramone had a very wide leg stance that made his bass look lower slung. You've got to play where it's comfortable, check out these guys:
Paul Simonon from The Clash


Algy Ward from The Damned


Klaus Flouride from Dead Kennedys


JJ Burnell from The Stranglers
 
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#11
Thanks for the clips, I'll watch them later when I get home. :)
About downstrokes: however my strap is set, high or low, I can play all downstrokes up to around 200 bpm without any fatigue in my right hand. With my strap set high, I start to feel fatigue after a while and that's why I'm experimenting with strap height. I'm not trying to emulate anyone, I just like to use downstrokes on certain songs/parts because I CAN hear the difference and it just sound better imho. I can definitely say that I'm more proficient with alternate picking, so I use mostly that.
About the strap height: again, I'm not trying to emulate anyone and/or look more "punky", I'm just trying to find the sweet spot for both my left and right hand.
I'll report back after I see the clips, thanks again.
 
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#12
Yukimajo said:
I know it's punk to do only down strokes, but alternate picking is much more efficient, and to be honest no-one will notice the difference. Also don't have the bass too low, remember that Dee Dee Ramone had a very wide leg stance that made his bass look lower slung. You've got to play where it's comfortable, check out these guys:
Paul Simonon from The Clash


Algy Ward from The Damned


Klaus Flouride from Dead Kennedys


JJ Burnell from The Stranglers
Click to expand...

All of these guys seem to have the same "loose right hand" style, which is the result of low strap height and heavy picking, using both wrist and forearm. It's all about the right hand, so the entire arm should be loose and relaxed. Having the strap high gives you more versatility imho, but this kind of appoach sounds different.
 
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#15
Hypercaffium said:
Hi,
I currently play with some friends and we do many genres including rock, hard rock, blues, reggae, electronic, folk and other stuff. I built my entire rig with the idea of maximize versatility while having a portable/lightweight/efficient solution.
I'm about to join a second band which plays specifically punk, punk rock, melodic punk, pop punk etc. and since I'd prefer to not turn upside-down my current rig, I'm asking you if it can work for this genres.
This is what I use:
  • Fender American Professional Passive P Bass
  • Quilter Bass Block 800 head
  • Barefaced Super Midget cab
  • Tech 21 BDDI v2 preamp
  • Pedalboard with EQ, analog octave, overdrive, fuzz, an H9 and a sample rate reducer.
I guess I'd go with just bass, amp, cab and preamp. I don't think I'd need my pedalboard.
What do you guys think?
Click to expand...
Looks great to me. I'd probably just ditch the pedals, and up the high mids a little. Solid
 
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#19
Hypercaffium said:
Yeah, for sure.
I don't think it's only about attitude and looks, there's a reason why people playing that style have low straps. I just rewatched those clips and man... such great music. Dead Kennedys are really something special. The singer is completely crazy.
Click to expand...
There’s always room for Jello.
 
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