Crayon Sky Music

What bass should i buy?!?

i am joining a punk rock band (we play music like blink 182) and i am the new bassist. i play 9 other instruments, but i am going to be the bassist. I am going to take lessons at a school and everything but first i need to know what bass to buy! i plan to buy one from Pawn America. Thats where my older brother bought his gibson les paul and its insanely high quality. so i need to know what bass to buy for the band that would suit it. i already have a fender amp for the les paul.
SO HERES MY QUESTIONS:
1.What bass should i buy for a punk rock band? im shooting for the 200 dollar region. It needs to be decent too…
2. should i use a pick or my fingers for strumming? i heard since the strings are so much thicker it tears up your fingers.
3.Am i going to get a decent one for 200 dollars?
4.do electric guitars and bass guitars take the same amps? or should i get a special one for the bass?

Yeah, bass is a tough position. If the bass is no good, the whole band just sucks – nothing else will save it. If it’s all good, people just overlook you.

1. Punk will be served well with a Fender (Squire) P-bass or an Ibanez.
2. For punk I would use a pick. You’re not usually going to strum a bass so it’s not too hard on the fingers, if you practice.
3. At a pawn shop, you might get one for $200. I would keep an eye craigslist first.
4. They use different amps, different power requirements, different EQ profiles. You can get away with a guitar amp for practicing, but for a gig you’ll want a real bass amp.

John Paul Joness Bass Amp The Acoustic 360