This article series is about the tools of popular guitarists or bassists.. What are their favorite guitars or basses and how is it related to them? This time with Kalle Taivainen (Xysma).
Pictures by Kimmo Nurminen
- When you start bass playing and do you remember your first bass?
I started playing bass 1991. My first electric bass was fretless Aria pro. I bought it same day I bought my first upright bass. I started with guitar 1987. That was Fendar. Terrible copy of Fender.
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What are your influences and which bass players are your favs?
When I was kid I thought Sammy Yaffa from Hanoi Rocks was the coolest bass player ever. He had a white Thunderbird in Up around the bend video. Jukkis Kiviniemi is also one of my all time bass heroes.
- How many basses do you own and what are your favorite models?
I only have two Epiphone thunderbird basses. Black and white. We lived in Mozambique few years back and I left all my equipments there. My upright bass was burned in studio fire there some time ago. I also miss my half acoustic Egmond guitar from 60’s.
- What do you think makes the perfect bass and amp?
Perfect bass has four strings, it feels and sounds good to you and looks good on you.
- Which basses and amps were used on the new album or for recordings?
I used my Epiphones in some tracks and Lammaskallion Audio studios Rickenbacker in some tracks. Music Man amp and Marshall speaker.
- When you only can choose one bass, which one will you take?
My white Thunderbird. Goes great with white socks.
