DON AUDIO AMPS are hand built in the Isle of Man by - unsurprisingly - Don Audio. The best way to find out about these incredible creations is to learn about them from the man himself...

Don - "All my amplifiers are kept as basic & simple as possible with the emphasis being on a 'vintage' of quality product rather than modern multi -channel, multi-effect, multi-functionality. You won't find any digitally processed effects in a Don Audio amplifier. The most 'new fangled' item used so far in the amplifiers is a good old fashioned spring line reverb effect & I may go crazy soon & add a valve tremolo to the next model to be prototyped.

"I like to collaborate with musicians when in the design & development stages of a new amplifier, other-wise every amp I built would be the same 'old bloke's blues amp' & that would be really boring. After initial design, & refinements in the prototype stage, a lot of live gig testing & recording studio work is by far the best way to find out if the amp is going to reliably perform the way it was designed to.

"Davy Knowles of Back Door Slam was quite involved in specifying his requirements for the Buggane Mk3 15 watt amplifier which is the amp he has been touring the USA this year with.

(from top) Adam Jones, Ross Doyle and Davy Knowles - BACK DOOR SLAM - with Davy's signature Buggane Amp. Pic: Adrian Cowin

To watch the Slam in action - and to hear the incredible tone of Davy's Buggane amp - check them out playing 'Red House' at SXSW 2007

"I don't believe I've ever met  any other musician who devotes so many hours of every day of every week to playing & gigging. He must have given his amp at least 3 years worth of playing in the last year (if compared to the average working band guitarist).

"There are plans (subject to Davy re-confirming agreement) to make this amp available (to order) as a "Davy Knowles" signature model, so that the most ardent guitar playing B.D.S. fan can use the same gear that Davy does.

"Want to hear a Buggane being put through it's paces? Get yourself to a Back Door Slam gig, or buy the C.D. 'Roll Away'. Great music from (in my opinion) probably the best new band to come on the scene for many years."