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 Vandal (guitar) and Storm (bass) from the band INFEST.
Zoran „Vandal“ Sokolovic (Git. & Voc.)
When did you start playing guitar, and do you remember your first one?
I started playing guitar at the age of 13, a bit later than most of my friends, but I believe it was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made. My first guitar was a Fender copy called Apollo. I still have it at home, and from time to time I really enjoy playing it. Unfortunately, the sound quality isn’t great, so I can’t really use it for recording. 😊
What are your influences, and who are your favorite guitar players?
I’ve always been a huge fan of Jackson and Ran guitars, especially V-shaped models, I fell in love with that shape at an early age. As for guitarists, my main influences are definitely Pat O’Brien, Robert Vigna, Andy LaRocque, and Andreas Kisser. There are many more, but these four truly shaped my playing style and musical direction.
How many guitars do you own, and what are your favorite models?
I currently own six guitars, and let’s be honest, it’s never enough. 😊 My favorite ones are Ran-style V shapes, they look incredibly powerful, and the tone is absolutely brutal. I have a custom V-shaped guitar, similar to a Ran, made of ebony and mahogany, with Bare Knuckle Painkiller pickups. I also own an old Japanese Jackson RR3 with a Seymour Duncan Black Winter pickup, that thing still shreds. Another favorite is a custom-made Jackson-style V, natural wood finish, made from ebony and mahogany as well, equipped with an EMG 81. Man, I love that sound!
What do you think makes the perfect guitar and amp?
Honestly, sometimes you don’t even need the best guitar or amp to sound incredible. There are musicians out there who can make the simplest gear sound like a powerhouse, and those are the people I truly admire. On the other hand, you can have the most expensive setup and still not come close to that level of expression. That’s why I always say, it’s not just the gear, it’s the hands and the heart behind it. As I am not the mentioned ones, for me personally, it’s all about the wood and the pickups. That’s why I prefer custom-built guitars, I want to know exactly what’s inside. It might seem more expensive at first, but in the long run, it saves you headaches when it’s time to record. As for amps, I’m all about tube amps. No tubes, no amp. 😊 They’re a must-have. I love the Peavey 5150 and the ENGL Powerball. I know we live in the modern age where many use Kempers or digital effects through a mixer, but I still love bringing my amp and cabinet on stage. Peavey amp + Messa cabinet, in my opinion, there’s no better combination.
How do you feel about the modeler vs. tube amp debate?
I respect modern technology, and I fully acknowledge the quality and convenience it brings. There’s no doubt it can produce amazing sounds. However, I would never trade in tube amps. Even when recording DI and then re-amping through processors, I prefer to capture the real amp and cabinet sound. There’s just something about tubes that digital can’t replicate.
Which guitars and amps were used on the new album?
We used three of my custom guitars, all built from the same wood (ebony and mahogany), but each with different pickups: Bare Knuckle, Seymour Duncan Signature V, and EMG 81. I think that combination really delivers a heavy punch. For the amp setup, we used a Peavey 5150 paired with a Mesa Boogie cabinet loaded with Celestion V30s. That setup gave us the tone we were aiming for, and I’m pretty sure we’ll use the same rig for the next album as well.
If you could only choose one guitar, which one would it be?
Oof, tough question to end on. I’d have to go with my Vandal Signature model equipped with Bare Knuckle pickups. That guitar took the longest to build, but the moment I first played it, the tone just blew me away. Honestly, I can’t imagine playing a live show without it.
Rodoljub „Storm“ Raickovic (Bass)
When you start bass playing and do you remember your first bass?
I started playing bass when I was around 16 or 17 years old. My first bass was a Yamaha RBX 170. It was one of the cheapest options at the time, but it still took me a long time to save up enough money for it. Looking back, I’m honestly sorry that I had to sell it – it was my first instrument and had a lot of sentimental value.
What are your influences and which bass players are your favs?
My influences are the usual suspects for any metal bass player – guys like Steve Di Giorgio and Alex Webster. But I also really dig some of the „less metal“ players like Geddy Lee and Duff McKagan. They’ve all shaped how I approach bass in different ways.
How many basses do you own and what are your favorite models?
Currently, I only own two basses: my trusty Schecter Stiletto Studio 5, which I use for most of my studio work, and a copy of a Fender Jazz Bass that I use for live shows. As for my favorite models, I’d say the American Fender Jazz Bass, pretty much any Spector bass, and the Warwick Corvette.
What do you think makes the perfect bass and amp?
For me, the perfect bass and amp combo would be a Fender Jazz Bass paired with an Ampeg SVT-VR amp – that classic punch and aggression, especially when you emphasize fret noise and finger or pick attack, is hard to beat. If I’m going the DI route, the SansAmp Bass Driver DI is a killer option too – simple, powerful, and super reliable.
Which basses and amps were used on the new album or for recordings?
I just recorded the Schecter Stiletto Studio 5 bass direct (DI) for the sake of simplicity, and then messed with it later in the mix using different amp and pedal simulations – like Darkglass, SansAmp, and others. One thing I think is pretty unique to my sound and productions in general is the use of additional ‚Bass Room‘ tracks. It’s kind of one of my mixing secrets for gluing the bass and drums together and making everything feel wider and bigger at the same time. That technique gives me the feeling of the bass and drums being in the same physical space – like in a rehearsal room or at a live gig. It creates a more ‚live‘ vibe, almost like you’re standing on stage with the band. I honestly haven’t heard that approach used in any other productions.
When you only can choose one bass, which one will you take?
This is a hard one because every bass is unique and has its own place – just because I like how a bass sounds doesn’t mean it’ll work in the full context of a band. But if I had to choose just one, it would be a Fender Jazz Bass. I think it’s the most versatile option out there, and it would probably work for most styles of music.
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