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 Kornel Popławski (Amarok).
When you start bass playing and do you remember your first bass?
I started bass career when I was 16. My first bass was Czech Jolana, model Proxima L, color graphite glitter. The first night after I bought it, I couldn’t sleep at all, I had just watched my new LOVE.
What are your influences and which bass players are your favs?
Yeah, I’ve got a few: the one and only Sir Paul McCartney! And the next to him: John Paul Jones. I’m not so much into bass players, I’d rather listen to music as whole. But I used to listen to some bass giants when I was younger (Jaco Pastorius, Marcus Miller etc.), and I think they influenced me as a bassist.
How many basses do you own and what are your favorite models?
Nowadays I have 3 basses: Fender Precision ’73, Gibson Ripper ’73, and Fender Precision Deluxe 5 String ’00. All these basses match/fit one another, and they can cover almost all the sound spectrum I need.
What do you think makes the perfect bass and amp?
I think the connection of bass and amp makes it perfect sounding combo. Also, a chain of effects makes the work. I prefer tube amps (Ampeg SVT VR is my first to go), and old passive basses (Fender, Gibson, Rickenbacker… anything but old)
Which basses and amps were used on the new album or for recordings?
On the last Amarok’s album HERO, I used mainly two basses: Gibson Ripper (playing with fingers) and Rickenbacker (playing with pick). But I also used a lot of synth bass Novation Bass Station and some bass samples made from scratch with my Elektron Octatrack samler. The amp I used was Ampeg SVT VR – the tube monster!
When you only can choose one bass, which one will you take?
My Fender Precision ’73 is my beloved. I bought it 22 years ago and it will stay with me forever!!!
