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Bass Tales: Gabriel Kabadais (Greece)

Meet Gabriel Kabadais, a bassist from Xanthi, Greece, who talks about his gear, playing style, and approach to supporting the music in any setting.

Gabriel Kabadais, a 42-year-old bassist from Xanthi, Greece, found his way to the bass guitar in a rather unusual fashion. In his childhood, when most of the kids in his town were learning the keyboard, Gabriel was drawn to the low frequencies emanating from an old keyboard with foot pedals at home. This led him to the bass, encouraged by his mother, who helped him find a bass guitar teacher.

Gabriel’s main bass is a Wood & Tronics EJ5, a model he has great admiration for. “This bass has one of the best fretboards out there,” he says, adding that the quality of Enrico Paccini’s basses is unmatched in his view. “This bass has the natural wood tone I love, and the combination of Haussel pickups and a retro preamp makes it incredibly versatile. It works well for various styles, which is essential for my job, where we play non-stop for 5 hours and cover a wide range of genres. It always fits perfectly in the mix.” While many bassists experiment with pedals, Gabriel keeps his setup simple, relying solely on his trusty EBS Gorm 4×10 combo amp to deliver his sound.

As a musician, Gabriel is no stranger to the stage or studio. He balances his personal discography with involvement in various bands, contributing his bass lines across different styles and settings. His philosophy as a bassist is clear: “The bass player is crucial to all kinds of styles. The most important skill for a bassist is to groove well and support the other musicians, making sure the music flows. The bassist shouldn’t be too flashy but should always be there to support everything.”

Outside of live performance, Gabriel works as a session musician, recording for studios and artists. His daily life revolves around the bass, whether it’s through playing, recording, or collaborating with fellow musicians. He believes that being a musician is about more than just technical ability—it’s also about being open to new experiences. “The most important thing for me is to take chances and play music with everyone, not being afraid to learn new styles or step out of your comfort zone,” he shares.

Wood & Tronics EJ5

Gabriel Kabadais keeps things simple—he’s a bassist who loves what he does, whether it’s performing live, recording in the studio, or just learning something new. For more, visit YouTube, Instagram, or his official site.

Joel Costa
Joel Costahttps://bassempi.re
With over two decades of experience in the music industry, I've worn many hats - from running a record label and a PR agency to contributing to esteemed publications like Metal Hammer and Terrorizer. I've also authored books on iconic subjects such as Kurt Cobain's guitars and The Beatles. My journey led me to the editor's chair of Guitarrista, a print magazine dedicated to the crafts of guitar playing and building. Despite this diverse background, my true passion has always leaned towards the bass guitar. I have a particular fondness for offset basses and play a Thunderbird.
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