This article series is about the tools of popular guitarists. What are their favorite guitars and how is it related to them? This time with Kostadin Kostadinov and Dan Stapinski from Misfire.
Kostadin Kostadinov, guitarist of Misfire!
When you start guitar playing and do you remember your first guitar?
I started playing guitar when I was 14 years old. I don’t remember the exact brand of my first guitar, but it was an acoustic.
What are your influences and which guitar players are your faves?
Everything started with Iron Maiden, my biggest influence and all-time favorite band. Dave Murray and Adrian Smith had a big influence on me in my early days. I also looked up to Dave Mustaine, Chuck Schuldiner, and Zakk Wylde. Some of my favorite guitar players are Marty Friedman, Gary Holt, Andy LaRocque, Jeff Loomis, Jeff Waters, and Dimebag Darrell. The list goes on…When I write, a lot of my influences come from bands like Testament, Kreator, Death, Exodus, Megadeth, Lamb of God, and many of the second-wave thrash metal bands.
How many guitars do you own and what are your favorite models?
I don’t own many guitars—I have only six. I know what I want, and I have what I need. I love Superstrats and Flying V’s, particularly from brands like LTD/ESP and Schecter. I don’t have a single favorite model.
What do you think makes the perfect guitar and amp?
For guitars, my favorites are LTD/ESP and Schecter. They’re technically the same, owned by the same person, and made in the same factory—just with different brand names. For amps, it depends on the musical direction I want to go. I own a couple of tube amps, like the EVH 5150, Marshall, Peavey, and I also really like the Mesa Boogie Mark IV and V. I love them all. As for guitar cabinets, the Mesa Boogie Rectifier Oversized V30 is the best.
How do you feel about the question of modelers or tube amp?
I use both. For studio recording and rehearsals, I use tube amps. I was skeptical when I first bought my Fractal, but it made my life so much easier. Now, it’s my main live rig. I don’t have to drag heavy amps, cabinets, and pedalboards on tours anymore. It’s just plug-and-play, and it sounds killer. That’s why so many musicians have switched to modelers nowadays.
Which guitars and amps were used on the new album or for recordings?
For all the rhythm tracks, I used a PRS with an EMG 81 pickup and an Evertune bridge, to avoid dealing with tuning issues between takes. For the solos, I used three different guitars: a Schecter, a Legator, and a PRS. I used my EVH 5150III 50W 6L6 tube amp with a Mesa Boogie Rectifier Oversized V30 cabinet, boosted with a Maxon OD808X and an Empress Effects ParaEQ MKII.
When you only can choose one guitar, which one will you take?
I’d take my main guitar, the Schecter Platinum C-1.
Dan Stapinski, bass player and part time vocalist of Misfire!
When you start bass playing and do you remember your first bass?
I started playing bass on and off in 2009 when I was still in high school. I didn’t go anywhere with it at first so I switched to just vocals for my first band. Years later for the same band I picked bass back up because our bass player went to drums and it was a better fit overall. Been playing ever since. My very first bass was a Starforce bass that used to be my dad’s that I flipped left handed, but my first lefty was a used Ibanez I picked up for maybe $80 at a Music-Go-Round
What are your influences and which bass players are your favs?
So my main influences for bass playing specifically are Cliff Burton, Steve Harris, and Geddy Lee, which are also my favorite bass players but in my early days I was more inspired to do bass/vocals in a band and my main influences for that are Tom Araya, Blackie Lawless, Chronos, and Glen Benton. When I write, a lot of my main influences are Slayer, Venom, Sodom, and a lot of the earlier darker thrash.
How many basses do you own and what are your favorite models?
I have 7! And my favorite models range for what their use is 84 Westone Dynasty w/ Bartolini Soapbar pickup – Favorite to play live, 86 Charvel w/ Geezer Butler EMGs, 86 Kramer Striker 5 string w/ Dual Rail pickups, 86 Kramer Ferrington Acoustic, LTD F-140 w/ ESP active pickups, Warwick Corvette Rockbass w/ active MEC pickups 5 string, Warwick Corvette German made w/ active MEC pickups – Favorite tone to record with
What do you think makes the perfect bass and amp?
Warwick makes my favorite basses and have the best tone in my opinion, Ampeg SVT with a 4×10 and a Sansamp is my favorite tone.
Which basses and amps were used on the new album or for recordings?
Warwick Corvette w/ active MEC pickups, DR Sunbeams strings, DI Sansamp, Ibanez Pentatone.
When you only can choose one bass, which one will you take?
My Westone Dynasty, all around best passive tone with that Bartolini, super smooth neck to play, and looks awesome!
