The perfect Ska Punk Distortion

R

RudeKelly

New member
Hi everybody

I am working hard on my distortion sound and I need your help.
I have a clear vision how my distortion should sound like: 90ies ska & punk (Goldfinger, Reel Big Fish, NOFX, Blink 182).

My gear at the moment:

Guitar:
Gibson SG Standard equipped with Gibson 490R in the neck and Gibson 498T in the bridge

Amp:
Marshall JCM2000 DSL100 Dual Superlead, Pre: 4 x 12AX7 End: 4 x EL 34
played on 16 Ohm through a Marshall JCM MR1960A with 4x 12’ Celestion G12/75

Stomp Boxes:
  • Boss Metal Zone MT-2
  • Ibanez Tubescreamer TS9
  • Boss Giga Dilay
  • MXR Micro Flanger
  • Boss Noise Suppressor NS-2

I’m very happy with the clean sound of the amp, but as soon as I switch to the lead channel I have a vintage sounding overdrive/distortion. The Boss Metal Zone works o.k. but it’s still not very well. The palm mute sound is not satisfying.

Where should I start to improve my gear? Are my pick-up fitting that kind of sound? Should I switch to a high-gain amp?

I’m looking forward to your answers.
Best,
Kel
 
Re: The perfect Ska Punk Distortion

With Ska Punk, I hear a bright, middy tone with less gain than most think. That way the percussive clicks come through really well and the chord stabs are punchy. Basically a Marshall 800/900 type tone.

NOFX and Blink on the other hand are Skate Punk to me and that tone is Mesa all the way. More gain, grunt and growl than mid punch and cut.

I know that may not help, but I hear two different core tones based on the bands you are referencing.
 
Re: The perfect Ska Punk Distortion

I am not a Ska Punk afficianado, but I must admit, I find the question intriguing. I shall observe this thread and learn something. Novel question! Bravo and Welcome!!!!

Also - in my old age, I have to agree: Less gain is more better. Can't remember the last time I dimed a fuzzbox or an amp.
 
Last edited:
Re: The perfect Ska Punk Distortion

let me give you an example:



I'm looking for something like this :-)
 
Re: The perfect Ska Punk Distortion

Yeh I guess you need more low mid chunk then the marshall is giving you? Modded DS-1 as suggested would be good but maybe seems a waste of a JCM2000 if this is the only genre you play. You can get the MT-2 modded which may be better for Blink style but for that Goldfinger tone a DS-1 would work well as suggested.
Reading guitar geek one of the guitarist uses a JCM900 and both them and modded 800s were popular with lots of pop punk in the 90s (early Green Day, Offspring and a few others). I would have expected you could get that tone maybe with a booster from your DSL
 
Re: The perfect Ska Punk Distortion

For Blink 182 tones, Tom used only Mesa Boogie amps on the first albums and tours. He switched to vox recently because of his Angels and Airwaves project. I think the Mesa's are the surefire way to get a punk tone.... B-52 amps do a pretty good job as well.
 
Re: The perfect Ska Punk Distortion

get a cheap amp with 2 channels and use the dirty channel, replicates that classic ska/punk tone cause honestly the kids couldnt afford a lot, nice and gritty, trebly, or buy the cheapest OD pedal you can find, just go cheap cheap cheap to get that tone
 
Re: The perfect Ska Punk Distortion

Dude, just take any plain jain overdrive pedal and run it into the crunch or lead channel and call it a day.

Yeah, it may sound different, but I feel it will sound BETTER than anything those bands can do.
 
Re: The perfect Ska Punk Distortion

I no expert on Ska Punk tone, but I'm hearing some fizziness in there. As others have said, the DS-1 comes immediately to mind. The Monte Allums Recto mod is a great pedal (I should know, I built Immortal6's, and then missed it enough to build another for myself), but actually removes some of the stock unit's fizz.

Here's my outside-the-box, go-your-own-route suggestion: try an MXR Distortion+ or better yet, the modern Whirlwind re-creation of the vintage D+. I've read good reviews.

While you're at your local store, try the new MXR 78 Badass - it's supposedly similar to the Keeley modded DS-1. If it gets bright enough, it might do it for you.
 
Re: The perfect Ska Punk Distortion

Boss DS-1 is THE punk rock distortion pedal.

It's $40, bright orange, and indestructible. Used it into a vintage Fender amp and a Strat for years getting great ska-punk tone.

That said, for $80 you can get the 78 Custom Badass Distortion which is a very similar flavor but much better tone. Frickin love that pedal.

These days, for that style of tone, using the same amp, the same strat, and sometimes a Les Paul or an SG, I use my ZVex Box of Rock...sometimes i boost that with a Route 808.

and it might sound odd but, I really like the Metal Muff for modern punky rock tones. It's that super-turbo-gainy-buzzy distortion sound.
 
Re: The perfect Ska Punk Distortion

Hi guys,

thank you very much for your help. I'm checking out the stomp boxes and amps we discussed here asap! Now one more thing, we did not talk about seymour duncan pick ups! What do you think about my gibson pick ups?

Should I consider to exchange them with SH-5 or TB-5's in the bridge and a warmer jazzy pick up in the neck?
 
Re: The perfect Ska Punk Distortion

Empty Pockets said:
Boss DS-1 is THE punk rock distortion pedal.

It's $40, bright orange, and indestructible. Used it into a vintage Fender amp and a Strat for years getting great ska-punk
Click to expand...


If ur playing punk on the cheap, go with ds1. If you want to spend a little more the OCD is nice. Put it on HP mode, gain at 2ish and almost dime the tone and you get a nice open distortion that responds great to palm-mutes. Plus you can do chords and do the op iv type dirty skanks well
 
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