THE NEXT STEP FORWARD:

We are proud to usher in a new stage of our signature artist development: The J3 Series.

In the modern age, it isn’t easy to stand out. However, for Pierre Danel and Quentin Godet, that has never seemed to be an issue. With both musicians rising to the forefront of the ever-evolving heavy music scene, they have caught fire with distinct approaches and undying tenacity. Furthermore, their involvement with the Vola brand has led to brand growth as a direct result of their endeavors. We are honored to continue along with them in their musical quests, and to inspire the next chapter of that story, we thought it necessary to craft newly inspired instruments to meet them in their current state. Enter The J3 Series. These two unmistakable designs are meant to be extensions of their handlers, catalysts for creative expression.

THE VASTI 7 PDM J3

For those that are unfamiliar, Pierre Danel comes from an extensive background of guitar involvement. After 27 years behind the helm of the instrument, it is safe to say he has developed a special connection with it. Best known for his involvement with bands Kadinja and Novelists, the young phenom has amassed a considerable following as a result of his unique playing style. From Neo Soul to Progressive Metal, Danel’s fluidity across the fretboard is only amplified by his tasteful note choice and soloing capabilities. So what instrument would stand to complement such a style? Why not build one specifically for that purpose? So we did exactly that.

The Vasti 7 PDM J3 is the third iteration of Pierre’s signature artist series. Its extended range personality is rooted in simplicity and elegance on the surface with underlying currents of sophistication. From top to bottom, it is built for consistency. The 3x4 headstock layout provides a balanced approach to tuning stability, while the addition of a Floyd bar offers a sufficient string break angle from the nut. The neck, headstock, and fingerboard are comprised of roasted maple. 24 medium jumbo frets are present on the neck’s 27” scale length, an expansion on previous renditions. The Vola Modern C shaping of the neck represents its compounding thickness from the headstock to the neck joint, and the 16” radius meets a middle ground of comfortability. The 12th fret is laden with the timeless Kadinja logo, the foundational genesis of this duo’s involvement with the brand. The body of the guitar is built with a sandwich style composition, with a bottom layer of ash, a middle of walnut, and another top layer of ash. A Thin Ice Blue gloss finish is truly the cherry on top.

From a tonal perspective, the J3 series is equipped with Bareknuckle Boot Camp Brute Force pickups. The HSS configuration allows for a customizable blend of cutting, high clarity humbucker and spanky, well-rounded single coil tones. Innovative wiring allows for tonal versatility. The volume knob, which also functions as a push/pull pot, ties in the neck pickup regardless of position. The tone knob offers further sound sculpting, while a mini-switch toggles the humbucker between series, coil-split, and parallel configurations. Every detail of the PDM J3 is well-decided, and its counterpart is a mirrored reflection of craftsmanship.

THE OZ 7 QGM J3

In the realm of musical development, Quentin Godet is a clearly defined force to be reckoned with. Also rising to recognition through his work in Kadinja, he has since set deep roots in the incessantly heavy project ten56. Their touring presence across the globe has been remarkable to witness. Known for his maddeningly tight musical execution and expressive writing style, Quentin thrives in both a rhythmic and lead setting. There are few things that are out of his grasp, and for that, he needed a guitar to keep up with his insistent efforts towards continued greatness. Thus, the OZ 7 QGM J3 was born.

Many of the features of the QGM are congruent with those of the PDM. For instance, the 3x4 headstock layout, Floyd bar, roasted maple neck, Gotoh hardware, Kadinja logo inlay, and Bareknuckle Bootcamp Brute Force pickups are all present. Yet, there are some specifications that Godet leaned towards that set his model apart. Quentin’s signature rendition also features the sandwich style body. However, this body is comprised of a foundational layer of alder, a middle of walnut, and another top layer of alder. The finish, known as “Penny”, is a luminescent copper paint job with metallic flakes permeating the expanse of the surface. Its aged appearance gives a rich quality to overall look of the instrument, and serves to set off the various high quality components.

The double cutaway OZ style body has become synonymous with Quentin’s signature artist series, and it suits him well. With an extensive list of new additions to this latest build, the QGM J3 has already proved itself out on the road. Upon receiving the guitar, Godet immediately took to the road, testing it in a variety of notable venues across Europe. Needless to say, it seems to have stood the test, as his feedback was positive and well-received. All in all, the two of these new models are meant to inspire the next wave of creativity for the modern guitarist, and we hope they do exactly that.

Congratulations to Pierre and Quentin in their latest signature guitars! You can hear them in action HERE!