“On tour, the soundman is always on me to turn down. So I wanted to make sure the amp stays full and articulate, even at lower volumes”: The making of the Blackstar Doug Aldrich Signature DA100 Ruby

Doug Aldrich poses with his Goldtop Les Paul in front of his signature Blackstar Ruby amp.

Doug Aldrich has spent most of his life standing in front of loud valve amplifiers. From learning how to coax tone out of vintage Marshalls to filling theatres and arenas with Whitesnake, Dio and The Dead Daisies, his sound has always been about feel and authority.

But taking vintage guitar amps on the road comes with some compromises: ageing components, inconsistent behaviour night to night, and the constant worry that something irreplaceable might fail mid-show or even get stolen.