The band Cake.

[mfgl]

To get the tone their bass player had in the late 90s (links below) i would need flats? If so can someone recommend a good set for a Ibanez sr495/505 most sets at the local store are 4 string sets so i guess ill have to mail order. I dont know what newer stuff sounds like but these songs have the sound i mean Esp the first one, i think its the most famous song.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=__PU5...eature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=10C68...eature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NSypn...eature=related

[Doctor J]

Great band. P bass with rounds and the treble rolled off gets as close as you'll ever need. It's more a P bass tone than a string thing, I reckon.

[Caca de Kick]

I don't think Gabe Nelson used flats. But at that point in time, he said he used the same old P and J basses he had as a teen.
I've always loved his meaty tone.

[Funkdrawer4]

Yeah ,he plays a white p bass,I saw them at First Ave,in Minneapolis a few 10 years back

[mfgl]

i keep listening and something just doesnt seem like normal tone to me...its like there is no sustain just notes...i dont know the proper terminology but esp on "i will survive" it just sounds different to me.

[Valerus]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vd34vJohGXc

That bassline...I'd love that tone

[Jared Lash]

Love Cake. Love.

We opened for them when I was in high school. Well, technically we opened for Little Guilt Shrine who opened for Cake, but same difference.

IMO, bass playing doesn't get too much better than this. Fantastic tone, great groove, and deceptively difficult lines that propel the song along without ever being obtrusive. I like Nelson's style for the same reason I like JMJ's work.

Two of my favorite lines: Meanwhile Rick James and Love Her Madly. Hell, I think it's a Moog (or at least doubled by one), but I dig the groove from Palm of Your Hand too. I could go on and on.

As far as the tone, it's a P-Bass with flats the tone rolled off through a an old GK. He uses a fair amount of muting, whether fingerstyle or with a pick.

Personally, I don't think the brand of strings matters nearly as much as the P-Bass and the right hand technique. In fact, I've gotten reasonably close with rounds.

[pickles]

+1 P bass and technique. You have to control your note lengths to get the groove going.

[mfgl]

Thanks for the responses, I think my bass (ibanez sr485) is capable of a lot more tones then i can get out of my 8" practice amp. Being laid off sucks, I hate living on a budget and not being able to buy toys. There is no doubt my technique is week, i been playing on and off for only 6 months yet. Playing with these songs is my first try with a pic.

[Butterbass]

Big O, U are Right on! Love your song choices! My faves have to be Let Me Go and She'll Come Back To Me but there are a plethora myriad bevy of choices,agreeded? Let's turn this into an orgiastic bassologistical list o Cake Runs, dig? Share your ultimates mates, Yah! Alright! OK!

[Philbiker]

My band GUM! played "Never There" and "The Distance". I personally like "No Phone".