How do you get a good punk sound?

Try an open distortion, analog.
There are some bands that demand their effect. But in punk rock they use just distortion. sorry about the english... it isn't very good...
hope it helps..

What effect or effects should I use to get a good punk sound like blink 182 or fenix tx? I've been trying different things but they always turn out to heavy. Someone please help me out.

That's pop rock, not punk.

Anyways, the guy from Blink-182 uses a Mesa Triple Rectifier and a Strat with a Seymour Duncan Invader.
I don't know how to set up your gear to sound the way you want it, though. I personally can't stand punk, much less pop punk, so I don't even know what it should sound like, but if it sounds too heavy, turn up the mids and turn the bass, highs, and gain down some (but don't scoop anything).

i've found a single coil seymour duncan that sounds like humbucker. probably if you turn the tone button to 4 or 5 you may reach the sound you want...
sorry if i'm not answering you the way you wanted, but my english is really bad... and i don't understand much of punk.. i prefer the classic rock'n'roll, like deep purple, led zeppelin, rolling stones & cia....

The Clash and Elvis costello to be premier examples of punk music....If this is the sound you desire, then you only need to plug in a Strat (or a Jag) through a Fender amp and turn the bastard up....Now, tell me something: "Should I stay or should I go ?" :D

i play alot of punk for my friends cuz they all listen to it and its very easy to play
i play a washburn wr150
out of a crate gx120 with the reverb on 3, gain all the way up and the shape on 5
that should give ya a thrashy sound, jus alot of distortion
oh ya- make sure its LOUD!

im also very sory to hear that the lead singer(joey) of the ramones died- may he rest in peace

I've found that some of the cheaper distortion work very well for playing punk. Distortion like Danelectro, Grilled Cheese (I don't really like Danelectro, but for the sake being, Oh well). This should give a real trashy sound depending on guitar, pickups, etc... and the Danelectro Overdrive will give the steady distortion you hear a lot in bands like Bad Religion and AFI. The best thing to do is go to your nearest Guitar Center and try these distortions and find out which suits your guitar model.