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 Mark Bogert (Knight Area, Magoria)
When you start guitar playing and do you remember your first guitar?
I start playing guitar at the age of 11. First at the age of 7 I start playing trumpet, but I didn’t really like that very much. I prefer to play chords and melody at the same time. So at the age of 11 I get inspired by playing guitar. My first guitar was a Hondo. Very heavy guitar, but a pretty good neck and sound. Still have it, but doesn’t sound very well anymore. I played so many hours that a lot is broken at the moment and never fixed it. But I will always keep this guitar in my collection.
What are your influences and which guitar are your favs?
I grow up with the music of Steve Vai, Joe Satriani, Yngwie Malmsteen and a lot of other guitar heroes. They really make me play the guitar. Their music was so inspiring. I couldn’t play fast and need to learn so much, but I start to play the simple melodies by ear. I did this a lot, and I learned more and more. These guitar players inspired me to become a guitar player myself. This is why I played Ibanez for a very longtime. Still really like the guitars of Ibanez a lot, but since my endorsement at BO-EL guitars, mostly I used these guitars. They remind me a lot to Ibanez guitars, but have their own features.
How many guitars do you own and what are your favorite models?
I think I have about 23 guitars. At this moment my BO-EL MC6 are my favorites. I am not a guitar player that switch very often on guitars. I get used to the instrument and that feels always familiar. That is important for me. Of course if I need a specific sound I will switch on guitars to look for some different sounds. But I also like the RG series of Ibanez very much.
What do you think makes the perfect guitar and amp?
I am not I very well technic expert on guitars and amps. To me the most important thing is that it plays very well and that it sounds nice. I am also not a guitar player that uses a lot of FX. So the amp is important to me. I play on a ENGL powerball 2. What I really like is that it has 4 channels. So I can use it for clean, rhythm guitar and leads without using a lot of pedals. Most of the time I use reverb and delay or a chorus, and that’s about it.
How do you feel about the question of modeler or tube amp?
These days you have great modelers. I am also a Kemper user. I profiled all my amps and it sounds really great. Live or in the studio. I also like to play sometimes at a real amp, but most of the time I use my Kemper. I have the powered version, so live on stage I can also use a cab.
Which guitars and amps were used on the new album or for recordings?
I use my Kemper and most of the time my own profiles, and that is the ENGL powerball 2, and the ENGLE Ironball. Both sounds great to me.
When you only can choose one guitar, which one will you take?
I will take my Ibanez prestige. I did the most gigs with it, and I used it for a very long time. Really love this instrument.
Photos: Eddy Jolen
