Marco Sfogli

Marco Sfogli (born April 4, 1980) is an Italian heavy metal and rock guitarist. He has played guitar with James LaBrie, PFM and Icefish.

Biography Born in 1980, Sfogli's first attempt with music came in 1984 when he played with his parents (both musicians) in Schwetzingen, Germany during an encore. In 1989, he received his first Washburn electric guitar as a gift. He started to play along with his heroes (Michael Jackson, Van Halen, Europe). In 1992, he left the guitar to study the drums: "Being a drummer first and a guitarist second, helped me a lot in terms of creativity and rhythmic knowledge." In 1996, he left the drums because of his growing interest in guitar, especially after an intense listening of Images and Words by Dream Theater.

In 2005, Sfogli flew to Canada to record James LaBrie's third solo progressive metal release titled Elements of Persuasion. Sfogli released his first solo record titled There's Hope in February 2008 through Lion Music. In 2010, he also worked on the fourth James LaBrie record Static Impulse as guitar player, co-writer and engineer. He released his second solo album in 2012, titled reMarcoble and edited by JTC Records. In 2013, he rejoined the James LaBrie band for the third time for the recording of the album Impermanent Resonance. In March 2015, he was announced as new guitar player for the Italian progressive band PFM, replacing former member Franco Mussida. In 2015, he played in the band Icefish with Virgil Donati on drums, Alex Argento on keyboards, and Andrea Casali on bass and vocals. Icefish released their debut album Human Hardware in 2017.

Discography As a player

NCCP (Nuova Compagnia Di Canto Popolare) – La voce del grano (2001) Marco Fasano – e già...! (2003) NCCP (Nuova Compagnia Di Canto Popolare) – Candelora (2005) James LaBrie – Elements of Persuasion (2005) Magni Animi Viri – Heroes Temporis (2006) Jordan Rudess – The Road Home (2007) (Guitar on "Dance On A Volcano") The Alchemist II – The Alchemist II (2007) Alex Argento – EGO (2007) John Macaluso & Union Radio – Radio Waves Goodbye (2007) Shadrane – Temporal (2009) Adam Nitti – Liminal (2009) (Guitar on "The Reinassance Man/Rebirth" and "Distraction") Project Damage Control – Mechanism (2010) Utopia – Ice and Knives (2010) Creation's End – A New Beginning (2010) James LaBrie – Static Impulse (2010) Soul Secret – Closer To Daylight (2011) (Guitar solo on "River's Edge") Dino Fiorenza – It's Important (2011) (Guitars on Mr. Vester) Guitar Addiction – A Tribute to Modern Guitar (2011) Various Artists – Jason Becker's Not Dead Yet! (Live in Haarlem) (2012) Virgil Donati – In This Life (2012) Neural FX – Abreaction (2012) (Second guitar solo on "Matter of Time") Ray Riendeau – Transcend (Song) (2012) James LaBrie – Impermanent Resonance (2013) LALU – Atomic Ark (2013) Nathan Frost – synecron (2013) Creation's End – Metaphysical (2014) Alberto Rigoni – Overloaded (2014) Widek – Hidden Dimensions (2017) (Guitar on "Deep & Shallow") Icefish – Human Hardware (2017) Premiata Forneria Marconi – Emotional Tattoos (2017) Ostura – The Room (2018) Richard Henshall – The Cocoon (2019) Virgil Donati – Ruination (2019) Intervals – Circadian (2020) Cody Carpenter – Memories And Dreams (2020) James LaBrie – Beautiful Shade of Grey (2022)

Solo albums Marco Sfogli – There's Hope (2008) Marco Sfogli – reMarcoble (2012) Marco Sfogli – Homeland (2019) Marco Sfogli – Welcome to Ooglyworld (2023)

Equipment Sfogli played on Rash Guitars, a small Italian company, then switched to Ibanez Guitars and has played them for 10 years exclusively. He's been seen using a prototype of what would become his signature model, based on a Premium line RG shape, this guitar was out in 2016 named the Ibanez Premium RG MSM1. In 2019, a new Japanese model based on the popular AZ series has been revealed, named the MSM100. He used Mesa Boogie Amps for various recordings, then switched to Dv Mark amplification using their Triple 6, then their Multiamp digital processor. During 2016 he played Victory amps for the first P.F.M. tours then switched to Mezzabarba amps as his main amp in 2018, he uses both the MZero Overdrive and the Skill; in 2019 he switched to a rack config using the new Mezzabarba Nivrana Preamp alongside a VHT 2:50:2 poweramp and a Fractal FX8 for his effects. In the studio he's been using both the Fractal Audio products and Kemper Profiling amplifier. In July 2020 he announced the switch to Charvel/Jackson Guitars

Guitars:

Rash Custom Guitars "Marco Sfogli models"

Ibanez RG Premium RG920QM

Ibanez RG Prestige RG752

Ibanez RGDIX7MPB-SBB Iron Label

Ibanez RG2750QV-TAB Prestige

Ibanez RG28020ZD LTD

Ibanez Prestige RG2027XL-DTB

Ibanez Prestige RG-MS1 Custom

Ibanez RG MSM L.A.C.S Custom build (Signature Prototype)

Ibanez Prestige AZ2402 TFF

Ibanez RG MSM1 (Marco Sfogli Signature Model) (Premium Line)

Ibanez AZ MSM100 (Marco Sfogli Signature Model) (Prestige Line)

Charvel Pro-Mod So-Cal Style 1 HSS FR M Satin Burgundy Mist (with EMG 85/SLV/SLV Pickups Set)

Charvel Pro-Mod So-Cal Style 1 HSS FR M Satin Shell Pink (with EMG 85/SA/SA Pickups Set)

Charvel Henrik Danhage Limited Edition Signature Pro-Mod So-Cal Style 1 (with EMG Crossroads/Super 77 Pickups Set)

Jackson Pro Series Dinky DK Modern Ash FR7 Baked Green (with EMG 81/60 Pickups Set)

Charvel Pro-Mod DK24 HSH 2PT CM Mystic Blue

Charvel Custom Shop So-Cal Style 1 HSS FR

Charvel Marco Sfogli Signature Pro-Mod So-Cal Style 1 HSS FR CM QM-Transparent Purple Burst

Amps:

Mesa Boogie Mark V

Mesa Boogie Triple Rectifier

Mesa Boogie Dual Rectifier

Mesa Boogie Lonestar

Mesa Boogie Rectifier Rack Preamp

Mesa Boogie Triaxis Preamp

Mesa Boogie Stereo 2:90 Poweramp

ENGL Fireball

DV Mark Triple 6

Victory V30 the Countess

Victory KX the Kraken

Mezzabarba MZero Overdrive Head

Mezzabarba Skill 30 Head

Mezzabarba Nirvana Preamp

Mezzabarba Trinity 100W

Effects/Processor:

Kemper profiler

Fractal FM3

Fractal FX8

Fractal FM9

TC Electronic TC2290-DT

F-AudioLabs TAF (Marco Sfogli Signature Chorus／Delay Plugin)

Neural DSP Mesa Boogie Mark IIC+ Suite

Universal Audio UAFX Knuckles '92 Dual Rec Amplifier

Other Equipment:

Mission Engineering Pedals

Dunlop DVP4

Line 6 G30 Wireless

BOSS WAZA Tube Amp Expander

Suhr Reactive Load IR

Live Play Rock: Marco Sfogli KEMPER PACK Signature

Boutique Tones: "BT Marco Sfogli" Official Tone Pack

Elixir Electric Nickel Plated Steel Optiweb Coating Super Light 09-46

On records

James LaBrie "Elements of Persuasion" - Mesa Boogie Dual Rectifier 2ch - Mesa Boogie Mark III blue stripes - Mesa Boogie Tremoverb Alex Argento "EGO" - Mesa Boogie Triaxis/2:90 - Boss GT-6 - Roland Microcube The Alchemist II - Mesa Boogie Triaxis Magni Animi Viri "Heroes Temporis" - Mesa Boogie Triaxis/2:90 - Mesa Boogie Studio Preamp/2:90 Jordan Rudess "The Road Home" - Native Instruments Guitar Rig - was also the last record which featured the Music Man JP guitar John Macaluso "The Radio Waves Goodbye" - Mesa Boogie Triaxis/2:90 - Lexicon MPXG2 Shadrane "Temporal" - Boss GT-6 Marco Sfogli "There's Hope" - Mesa Boogie Studio Preamp/Triaxis/2:90 - Mesa Boogie Lonestar - Native Instruments Guitar Rig - Boss GT-6 - IK Multimedia Amplitube - Roland Microcube - Behringer VAmp2 - Lexicon MPXG2 Project Damage Control "Mechanism" - Mesa Boogie Studio Preamp/2:90 - Digidesign Eleven - Zoom 9002 Pro - Fractal Audio Axe FX Ultra Adam Nitti "Liminal" - Mesa Boogie Lonestar - Zoom 9002 Pro Utopia "Ice and Knives" - Fractal Audio Axe FX Ultra James LaBrie "Static Impulse" - Mesa Boogie Dual Rectifier - Engl Fireball - Fractal Audio Axe FX Ultra