Punk sound?

[Bransonf]

Hey guys, Quick question for you. I have a few pedals I was hoping to get some help with. I have the Boss DS-1 Distortion Pedal, Boss C-3 Compression Sustainer, and the MXR M-108 Ten Band Graphic EQ. I play Skate Punk, Pop Punk styled music. Pennywise, Descendents, Early Blink ect. I was wondering what you suggest to put the settings at to get that type of sound? Also, what setting would I put my amp at to get that sound? I have the Marshall DSL 40 Combo.

Sorry, Im new to all of this. I just play lol. So any help or suggestions would be great.

Thanks!

 

[LonePhantom]

Re: Punk sound?

You'd be able to get the sound with your amp on its own. Dirty channel, set all the eq controls to noon and start tweaking. Use your ears to find the sound that you like best. Boost the mids and highs a bit and work from there.

 

[phil_104]

Re: Punk sound?

With the style of sound and the influences you describe, I can also add that you shouldn't assume you necessarily need as much gain as you think you do. Sometimes rolling it back a bit adds attack to the mix, and makes things more interesting.

 

[mysquaredontfit]

Re: Punk sound?

Throw the DS-1 in the garbage or sell it some one that doesn't know any better. That was the first pedal I ever bought and I still hear it in my nightmares.

The comments above me are right on - keep it simple. Amp gain (not a ton), lots of volume and a healthy dose of mids will steer you in the right direction for a clear tone with lots of bite, no mud, and plenty of pick attack for those really fast palm muted parts. Oddly enough I used to play a lot of that music through that same amp myself (the jcm 2000 dsl 401 anyway, not the new dsl. so maybe not the same. i'm dumb). I would strongly suggest getting at least a 2x12 extension cabinet at some point as well to really open the amp up and let it scream.

Don't be shy to let us know what guitar(s) you're using, either. We're here to help!

 

[LonePhantom]

Re: Punk sound?

The DS-1 ain't that bad and is a perfect base for learning to modify pedals. And outside of that it makes a reasonable overdrive too if you use the output and tone to boost and shape your tone. Keep the gain down.

 

[hydro]

Re: Punk sound?

Throw the DS-1 in the garbage or sell it some one that doesn't know any better. That was the first pedal I ever bought and I still hear it in my nightmares.

hahaha my bass player wanted to take mine to the shooting range!

But I used it for years anyway until I became a pedal dork.

 

[CountFeedback]

Re: Punk sound?

yep.... sack the pedals.
If you had a Twin or a Vintage Marshall the DS-1 could get "that sound" but the DSL should have more gain than you need on its own.
Go straight into the amp :headbang:

 

[El Dunco]

Re: Punk sound?

From my experience in producing punk records, the guitar sound can often have a lot in common with more mainstream metal as it's more to do with the playing than any specific tone. Some employ really crazy fuzzes, some like a straight up grind from a marshall or something.

They love their Dimzario Super Distortions. Has that "motorcycle" top end for early Green Day type palm mutes (that metal-lite sound I'm talking about) rapid powerchord attack like The Descendents.

Strip it down and play around, you're bound to find something.

The latest punk EP I produced (which has been in the top 20 on the radio since it's release and has peaked 3 times) for the double tracked parts we'd use some home built fuzz on the left channel and straight into the drive channel of the Evil Twin on the right.

 

[B2D]

Re: Punk sound?

Hey guys, Quick question for you. I have a few pedals I was hoping to get some help with. I have the Boss DS-1 Distortion Pedal, Boss C-3 Compression Sustainer, and the MXR M-108 Ten Band Graphic EQ. I play Skate Punk, Pop Punk styled music. Pennywise, Descendents, Early Blink ect. I was wondering what you suggest to put the settings at to get that type of sound? Also, what setting would I put my amp at to get that sound? I have the Marshall DSL 40 Combo.

Sorry, Im new to all of this. I just play lol. So any help or suggestions would be great.

Thanks!

Hey there, and welcome.

In my understanding, punk guitar is really more about going for broke on the attitude than anything else. A lot of prominent punk guitarists I've read interviews with don't really spend a whole lot of time dialing in tones or fiddling with gear - they just crank up, make sure it sounds decent, and hit the ground running.

That being said, punk is also about really doing your own thing, too.

Were I in a punk band, I'd probably go with an old Marshall and maybe an overdrive pedal as a booster pedal just to give it some extra punch. Most punk bands don't use a whole lot of effects, either. Maaaaybe a splash of reverb or a short delay to get some "space" in the sound but not much else.

As far as settings... depends on what you'd wanna hear. With that Marshall, set everything on 7 and go from there. A lot of your tone is gonna be in how you attack the guitar.