What model(s) to use on my HX Stomp for a Punk sound?

[Rex_Rocker]

I'm playing a gig with some friends that are playing mostly Punk-ish covers. I had band practice yesterday. What I did at first is I took my usual Metal sound (boosted Rectifier with an IR of a Mesa cab) and just lowered the gain a little, but realized it was too... um... Metal-sounding, LOL.

So I tried dialing in more mids and less gain, and no. Still sounded Metal, just with more mids and less gain. So I tried turning off the boost, and no. Rectos models sound like shit unboosted, LOL. Well, not really, just very alien to me.

So... what models should I be looking at? The Marshall models, maybe? Friedman?

I kinda still want it to have my personality (a big but tight bottom-end, searing chainsaw highs, and chunky palm-mutes), just be more Punk-friendly. More crunchy, stringy, and a bit less wide-sounding, but still have some palm-mutes that hit you in the chest.

Thoughts? Clips? Presets you can maybe share?

Thank you!

 

[Chistopher]

There's not really a "punk" sound as such. Where I would start would be a 212/210 british combo mids boosted with a DS1 type distortion into it played very loose. I wouldn't go for a large sounding bass response, because in my opinion punk is more about an instant, in-your-face sound, but you may be able to make it work. Also everything punk is extremely compressed, especially the vocals and lead guitar.

If you play anything fast and sloppy and loud enough it will sound like punk.

 

[jeremy]

this is the most unpunk thing ive heard in a while. guitar->amp->wail away

 

[Chistopher]

I think we need a punk revival. Too many guitar players are worried about getting a perfect sound that we forget the imperfect ones are more interesting.

 

[Securb]

Like others havve said just play. Don't worry about sounding too metal, punk guitar is in the wrist, elbow and sholder. Vinnie Stigma from Agnostic Front has a very metal tone as do many punk players. I am pretty sure he plays through a 5150.

 

[Mincer]

Look through the models on your HX Stomp, and pick the model that is the cheapest in real life. Do the same for the distortion pedal models. Just use the bridge pickup. And more importantly, do not care what anyone else thinks.

 

[chadd]

Any dirty amp should work fine. JCM 800 is always a great starting point, DSL probably even more popular now. As for Rectos, I loved the Raw setting for those kind of tones.

 

[Securb]

JCM 800 is always a great starting point

Totally agree. And it really depends on what style of punk. Steve Jones used Twins and a stomp. Once he got some money he bought twin JCM800 stacks that were lent out to a bunch of other bands like The Cult when he wasn't touring. Mick Jones took the same path starting with a banged up used Ampeg head and landing with Marshall. I would say a Les Paul or Tele with a Marshall will get any punk gig done. Looking at the punk grreats Brian Baker, East Bay Ray, Johnny Ramone...Marshall, Marshall, Marshall.

 

[Hsb]

Plexi 1959 Superlead, JMP2204 or JCM800 would be a great start, the JMP basically became the JCM800.

 

[Rex_Rocker]

this is the most unpunk thing ive heard in a while. guitar->amp->wail away

Well, I guess that's my problem, LOL. I'm pretty unpunk.

But I was tweaking yesterday, and I settled on using the Friedman with an SD-1 into an IR of a 1960V cab. Sounds cool, but I still sound like myself. I guess I'll see next band practice if it fits the music better. Hopefully, it does.

I'm going to try another stab at the several 800 models they have there. I'm always super uncomfortable with 800's. The BMT knobs don't really control the frequencies I'm used to (I've always played Rectos or 5150 real life amps or models). But we'll see.

 

[Securb]

Sounds cool, but I still sound like myself. .

My band has some punk and hardcore elements in our music. When I am switching lanes from metal to punk I am not changing anything on the guitar or amp. What I am doing when playing punk is throwing most traditional techniques out the window.

• No alternate picking - mostly down strokes
• Very heavy palm muting at times
• Very large pistonlike strumming patterns that are coming from the elbow or shoulder

Think of everything guitar teachers told us not to do and do it. Punk is more of an attitude, not an amp setting. One of my friends has been playing in a signed hardcore band since the 80s touring the world. He recently asked me if he put a Strat pickup in his Tele bridge would he get more power? These guys are not gearheads but are 100% attitude and leave it all on the stage. For the record, I pointed him towards a Hotrails and he was very happy.

 

[Chistopher]

Take shortcuts and cut corners when it comes to form.

 

[Securb]

Learn a bunch of stuff off Never Mind the Bullocks, you could learn the entire album in an afternoon. And just play to the album over and over it will come to you.

 

[Securb]

Take shortcuts and cut corners when it comes to form.

Exactlly! Johnny Ramone always kept his index finger on the E string even when playing A shaped power chords so he could move faster around the neck. So if he was playing a C power chord on the 3rd fret it was spelled GCGC. That form or lack of is what makes the Ramones sound like the Ramones.

 

[El Dunco]

But I was tweaking yesterday, and I settled on using the Friedman with an SD-1 into an IR of a 1960V cab. Sounds cool, but I still sound like myself.

Sounds like you just invented luxurycore!

 

[Securb]

Sounds like you just invented luxurycore!

.

 

[Rex_Rocker]

Oh, the kind of punk that I'm playing is certainly not -core, LOL. It's easier going. That's why I'm having so much trouble.

 

[Rex_Rocker]

Also, FWIW, I hope it gives me more punk cred that I'm plugging into an MG100 head's FX return and a really beat up JCM900 cab, LOL.

 

[Securb]

I would skip the HX Stomp and just use that rig

​

 

[Rex_Rocker]

I would skip the HX Stomp and just use that rig

​

I tried. It sounds too much like shit even for Punk, or so I thought, LOL. I mean, at the end of the day, I can't stop being me.

It's still the "pretty" kind of Punk, I think, that we're playing. I'm no Punk conossieur, but it's certainly more towards the Pop Punky kind of deal than Crust or Grindcore or whatever.