dmccombe7

I'm using 40-100 nickel rounds

I bought a pack from Amazon few weeks back that are not too thick. Have a bit of flex in them but also rubber grips on each side so they dont slip when holding. I have a range of different picks from when i first started back in 70's including my very firsy that came with my columbas Jazz and its a very heavy solid tortosie shell one.

Ran thru the songs earlier today and used a pick on a lot of them so i'm gonna keep at it. The trick of locking my arm and just move from the wrist works really well and i was able to improve on the speed quite a bit. Some songs i'm just far happier using fingerstyle so i'll just swap styles when one gets a bit achy. Dave

Mine is a Deluxe P bass MIM active version. Always wondered how the passive ones would sound. Dave

I have one but i find the PJ basses just dont cut it to be honest. With full P position they just never sound like a proper P bass. I had a fretless P bass back in early 80's and really liked it. Dave

Is that what you are using @StickyDBRmf In the 80's i had a Fender Jazz into a Roland Pre-amp and then bi-amped into 2off Matamp all tube power amps and into 2 off custom flightcased cabs. A 210 and a 15 reflex. Was an almighty tone but one of the Matamps caught fire one night while i was playing and the roadie went to switch it off and got a belt from it. He was ok and yanked the mains cable out. Luckily i was DI'd from the Roland to FOH. Not sure whether the Roland saved my bacon that night or not. Dave

Every clip i've watched live he's used a P or in one clip it was a P shape but pickguard was an odd shape and i couldn't see the pick up config. Looked like a Gibson Victory bass i think it was called. Was looking at 70's and 80's clips. Here's the 80's one. The 70's one was a white P bass. Also seen him with a white Guild and a violin bass on the clips i've watched. After a wee google search these might not be Paul Gray ????

I've always assumed it was The Ramones altho they are a US band. 74 they started but i'm new to this punk thing so stand to be corrected. Dave

Great example. We do TOTP's and Cant Stand My Baby from Rezillos. Great bass lines.

Been looking for a good P bass and was looking at Vintera P bass but couldn't get the one i wanted and came across these basses on BD site and i'm very interested. The reviews on them come across as excellent basses. How are you finding yours now that you've had them a few months. Dave

That's a really good point Paul. I started off really wanting the Ric mainly because i just love the look of them and i'm a Geddy fan but the more i delve into this the more i'm leaning towards the P bass. Even Geddy moved back to his Fenders. So many great responses to this question and its all been taken on board. One thing i have picked up on was that some of those early punk bands had some really great musicians in them. Guy from Eddie and Hot Rods was pretty good and i challenge any bass player to play Ramones songs almost all done on the downstroke with a pick. I really struggle with that down stroke style. I've found The Clash to be a really interesting band and watching their large stadium gigs they did an amazing job verging on the U2 sound at times. The thing that sticks out most for me is the levels of energy that comes across. Its like playing Deep Purple Burn on steroids. Anyways i'm leaning more towards the P bass and looking at a Vintera mainly because i preferred the neck on them but i have come across Modern Vintage basses in Bass Direct and checked reviews on them they come across as quite good value for the money. Made in Korea to 60's spec Fenders with roasted necks etc Anyone got any experience with them. ? Maybe best start a new thread on that one. LOL Dave

I could use this. My Custom Overwater fretless 6er.

When i joined this punk band about 4 wks back i started learning the songs with a pick but i kept getting cramp and i was holding the pick lightly. My fingers literally seized up. I might try and get back to it even if its just some songs and slowly change over to pick for them all. Dave

Just had a listen and that nails the tone spot on. Dave

Been looking at them too. Going imnto Glasgow next week to try some basses out. Dave

With hair down to my waist the look is gonna be off anyway. 😂

No choice for me regards the pick. I'm just not fast enough with a pick. Altho its rare i've come across a few punk bands from that era using finger style. Agree the pick does look better and gives more hard attack but i'm using the edges of my nails to get that pick sound. Band have been going for circa 40 yrs apparently and at rehearsals are more than happy with the sound and playing. The guitarist formed the band in late 70's so there's been a lot of changes over the years. Think he was surprised i agreed to do it as he knows me from the Glam Rock band but its a lot more enjoyable than i ever imagined. Band are all pretty good guys too. I've even used some of your Bass Tabs Paul. Think it was Babylon's Burning. Dave

Tried a pick but just can't get used to it. I'm using my fingernails to catch the strings and the band are very pleased with what i'm doing. I generally have an aggressive attack using my fingers much like Geddy, probably due to the fact he has been a huge influence on my sound over the years. Dave

Think i need to work on some of this. I hadn't given the cab horns much of a thought and maybe turning off would present a more suited tone. Some good stuff there. Dave

That's exactly what i did at rehearsals to find something close. The Mpulse def has a warmer tone than a solid state amp but it has a para EQ section that i had never really used. Once i brought that into the mix it sharpened the tone a bit more. Dave

And a nice wee BMW bike in the shot too. Bikes and bands..............a great combination IMO of course. Dave

Just curious what others think. I've recently joined a 2nd band which is a 70's Punk covers band. I've tried few of my basses but haven't quite managed to get the sound i was looking for. I'm trying to cover tone from mainly from a P sound thru to the biting Ric tone used by Eddie and Hot Rods So far i've tried :- Fender PJ - not enough clarity but i find that with a lot of PJ style basses. Even on full P it never sounds like a proper P bass Sandberg VM4 - could get away with it but not quite what i was looking for Fender Geddy CIJ -was the most comfortable to play but took me ages to get the tone close to what i was looking for. Using the Mesa Mpulse head into Subway 210/115 cabs. The 2 basses I'm now thinking about are Ric 4003 which might work for both bands but are expensive and a Fender Vintera P bass which i tried a few yrs ago before covid and it did feel very comfortable. Just curious what others think might be most suitable for mainly the punk covers band (yes i'm that shallow) I'm a complete newbie when it comes to 70's punk as i've always been a rock / prog bassist. Any advice would be welcome. Dave

All the best with it Dave and hopefully this week. Dave

Have you got a date for getting your eye fixed. ? Hopefully soon. Dave