Rob Karloff

Here's the rest of November's gigs at your favourite venue..... MON 17TH...SONIC DETH MONKEY...8PM...2 well its SDM's first birthday today! woo hoo! and to mark this momentous ocassion they will be bringing you the mighty Sidca and the Abysmalist Noise Collective and only charge you 2 entry! TUES 18TH...ACOUSTIC OPEN MIC hosted by STEVE CRAWFORD, 8PM, FREE WED 19TH...7 STONE LIGHTER/ALLERGO/LOST....7.30PM....3 DDG Night #6 - Glasgow's 7 Stone Lighter have just finshed touring with Funeral For A Friend, support coming from amazing hardcore act Allergo from Perth and local newcomers Lost www.7stonelighter.com THURS 20TH..stbc FRI 21ST.....BLACK ATOM/KROMIUM/PURE LEAD...8PM...3 Psychotic Kandy this month presents an old skool metal night with live action from the above bands and tunes till 3am provided by Del Franklin & Dan Loaded. SAT 22ND...MONICA QUEEN/KATHRYN SAWERS/JO McCAFFERTY....8PM.....5 Interesting Music presents the very best of Scottish female singer songwriters for a very RARE gathering in Aberdeen. check out http://www.aberdeen-music.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=4569 for more details. SUN 23RD....THE DEOMONS/THE DANGERFIELDS/THE DIURETICS.....8PM.....4 tonight you have the chance to hear the aptly named Demons, purveyors of distorted punk rock 'n' roll from Stokholm. With songs about visiting the undertaker, hot rods, the Demons are a beautiful mix of Gluecifer and the Hellacopters on a pound of speed, mescaline and any other substance your body should rightfully refuse. support from Belfasts' punk n rollers The Dangerfields and local grunge n roll fireballs The Diuretics. www.rockagainstmusic.com www.thedangerfields.com MON 24TH...BOOMHAUR/TURNING 13/EXIT PHILOSOPHY....8PM....3 alt rock from dundee's talented Boomhaur and Exit philosophy, plus post-hardcore/emo from Turning 13 TUES 25TH...ACOUSTIC OPEN MIC hosted by ZIGGY FANTASTIC....8PM...FREE WED 26TH...THE RELATIVES/TIJUANA SWITCHBLADES/WITHIN THESE WALLS....8PM...4 hardcore stylings with an underlying pop dynamic, The Relatives look set to brew up a storm on their first visit to The Docs. ably supported by the mighty Tijuana Switchblades and metal/rock act With in These Walls www.rellies.com THURS 27TH...THE TYRANT LIZARD KINGS/STOMA/TO KEEP IT SAFE/OPEN AIR....8PM....3.50 Edinburgh's excellent 3 piece metal act TTLK return to drakes, this time with support from Stirling metal act Stoma, local metallers To Keep it Safe and new rock/grunge outfit Open Air. check out the bands at www.ttlk.com www.stomaclinic.com FRI 28TH...LAETO/SPYAMP/ORWELL/THE VANDELAYS....8PM....4 Audio Dropouts present a night of offbeat rock with the 'mogwai'esque stylings of noise-mongers Laeto who have supported Fugazi/Cave-in/Idlewild/Oxes, Dundee melodic hardcore rock act Spyamp and local acts Orwell and The Vandelays www.laeto.co.uk www.spyamp.co.uk SAT 29TH....PSYDOLL/THE KITCHEN/HOLISTIC SYSTEMS....8PM...5 Elizium present, straight from Japan, female fronted manga-action robots Psydoll who are totally unique and entirely synthetic, a Bladerunner-esque clash of Manga action and dark electronic rock - Three renagade robots - Ucchi, Uenoyama and the feline-fused front grrl, Nekoi. with support from The Kitchen featuring Amanda from Bis, plus Holistic Systems. see http://www.aberdeen-music.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=4492 for more info SUN 30TH...MY MINDS WEAPON/WE BECOME LESS/ALYSSAS WISH/SLAPHAPPY/THE REBEL JELLYBEANS....7.30...3 a top local band bill and one that hasn't been done a million times before, imagine that! anyway whether its rock/punk/emo or hardcore you're into make sure you get down to this and support your local scene. Regards, The Doctor.

howdi!.. and sorry for the delay in delivering to you this first instalment of November's listings...oops...bad doctor!! anyway its a packed month, with a LOT of good live action happening - where else would you get the best scottish metal and hardcore, Scandanavian rock n roll, and Japanese electronic manga-action all in one month?! right here of course...! TONIGHT - ACOUSTIC OPEN MIC hosted by STEVE CRAWFORD, 8PM, FREE WED 5TH - INDAFUSION/BENCH & CLEARTONE, 8PM, 3 dunfermline based Indafusion bring their self proclaimed 'uber-melodic sci-fi brain-and-rocket pop music' to drakes, with support from Bench and ClearTone www.indafusion.co.uk THURS 6TH - no live music on tonight unfortunately but we will be open as usual for beverages, tunes and insane chit chat with the insane barstaff....! FRI 7TH - QUIK/PMX/SIRIUS & MY MINDS WEAPON, 8PM, 3 all shades of punk, from the harder melodic sound of Quik & PMX to the insanely in-your-face style of Sirius, and with the hardcore stylings of MMW thrown in for good measure! www.pmxtv.com SAT 8TH - MADMAN IS ABSOLUTE/BROKEN OATH/DIVIDE, 8PM, 4 unfortuantely the original bill of The Darkest Hour & The Great Deceiver will not be going ahead but in their place the cream of scottish metal and hardcore will be blasting the roof off instead! check out www.madmanisabsolute and www.goatfucker.co.uk for info on other bands SUN 9TH - CAT ON FORM/TURNING 13 & POLITIK, 8PM, 3.50 Praise the lord!!! Cat On Form finally reschedule their postponed tour, to promote their inspirational and inciteful new album `Structure and Fear'. COF are a rare breed of outspoken raw energy who advocate discordance, freeform expression, shouting and dynamic loss of control! not to be missed! with support from Politik & Turning 13 www.catonform.co.uk MON 10TH - MONKEY BOY/KING LIAR & THE BRUTES & BROKEN SUNSHINE, 8PM, Lockjaw Records' (home to ThisGirl, Tribute to Nothing) Monkey Boy consist of 2 bass players and a singing drummer! a bizarre, unique stop-start concoction of punk, blues and something else entirely, this loony trio aim to rock and bewilder and tonight will be amply aided by rock n roll supremos King Liar & the Brutes, also debut gig for all girl punk band Broken Sunshine www.lockjawrecords.co.uk TUES 11TH - ACOUSTIC OPEN MIC hosted by ZIGGY FANTASTIC, 8PM, FREE WED 12TH - THE VANDELAYS, MY CYPHER & NEW FAITH, 8PM, 3 local band showcase - debut gig for The Vandelays featuring a member of Nero, plus metal and rock stylings from New Faith & Mr Cypher THURS 13TH - stbc - check our forum on www.aberdeen-music.com for updates FRI 14TH - ACONITE THRILL/THE FALL OF BOSS KOALA & LAST TIME PERFECT, 7PM, 4.50 Underground Transmission presents hardcore stylings (and a greatly welcomed return) from Aconite Thrill who have just been signed to Mighty Atom Records - home to Funeral For A Friend, Hondo Mclean, 3 Colours Red to name a few. support comes from Dundee's Fall of Boss Koala and local emo punks Last Time Perfect. www.aconitethrill.com www.thefallofbosskoala.co.uk www.rossmorrison.proboards22.com SAT 15TH - 4 PAST MIDNIGHT/THE REBEL JELLYBEANS & more tbc, 8PM, for 13 years scotlands longest running political punk band 4 Past Midnight have delivered some of the best punk rock to come out of scotland and even though the band have been plagued with countless line up changes, and various other hassles, they've always carried on regardless. support from all girl punk band TRJ and more tbc... www.http://www.geocities.com/four_pm_2003/ SUN 16TH - DAEDALIAN/THREE DAYS BORN/USEFUL IDIOT & FUNKTASTIC 4, 7.30PM, 3.50 Daedalian return, this time bring angsty rock outfit Three Days Born with them. local support from Tool tribute Useful Idiot (always a pleasure to thear them!) and Funktastic 4 featuring members of The X-Certs and Useful Idiot well thats the first 2 weeks covered, watch out for The Relatives, 7 Stone Lighter, The Demons, Laeto, The Tyrant Lizard Kings in the next instalment...... Regards, The Doctor.

I'd have thought it would be pretty likely that Moshulu will be the new home. Do the Math.

GIG LISTINGS SAT 1ST A NIGHT BY THE FIRE feat IAN SIMPSON, MARIE THAIN BAND, TIM RAFFERTY & GUSTAV BERTHA, 7.30, 3 SUN 2ND FUDGE QUIZ, 8PM, FREE MON 3RD MOHAIR, POPULOUS & THE BEARD, 8PM, 3.50 TUES 4TH OPEN MIC HOSTED BY STEVE CRAWFORD, 8PM, FREE WED 5TH INDAFUSION & BENCH, 8PM, 3 THURS 6TH FRI 7TH QUIK, PMX & SIRIUS, 8PM, 3.50 SAT 8TH THE GREAT DECEIVER, BROKEN OATH & MADMAN IS ABSOLUTE, 7PM, TICKETS 6 SUN 9TH CAT ON FORM, TURNING 13 & POLITIK, 8PM, 3.50 MON 10TH MONKEY BOY, PHEMA, KING LIAR & THE BRUTES & BROKEN SUNSHINE, 8PM, TUES 11TH OPEN MIC HOSTED BY ZIGGY FANTASTIC, 8PM, FREE WED 12TH THE VANDELAYS, NEW FAITH & MR CYPHER, 8PM, 3 THURS 13TH FRI 14TH UNDERGROUND TRANSMISSION PRESENTS ACONITE THRILL, THE FALL OF BOSS KOALA & LAST TIME PERFECT, 7PM, TICKETS 4.50 SAT 15TH 4 PAST MIDNIGHT, TEARJERK & THE REBEL JELLYBEANS SUN 16TH DAEDALIAN & SUPPORT MON 17TH SONIC DETH MONKEY, 8PM, 3 TUES 18TH OPEN MIC HOSTED BY STEVE CRAWFORD, 8PM, FREE WED 19TH 7 STONE LIGHTER, ALLERGO & LOST, 8PM, 3 THURS 20TH TURTLEHEAD & SUPPORT, 8PM, 3.50 FRI 21ST PSYCHOTIC KANDY feat BLACK ATOM, KROMIUM, & PURE LEAD, 8PM, 3 SAT 22ND INTERESTING MUSIC presents MONICA QUEEN & CATHERYN SAWYERS SUNDAY 23RD THE DEMONS & THE DIURETICS 8PM, 4 MON 24TH BOOMHAUR, TURNING 13, TUES 25TH OPEN MIC HOSTED BY ZIGGY FANTASTIC, 8PM, FREE WED 26TH THE RELATIVES, TIJUANA SWITCHBLADES & WITHIN THESE WALLS, 8PM, 4 THURS 27TH THE TYRANT LIZARD KINGS & SUPPORT FRI 28TH AUDIO DROPOUTS presents LAETO, SPYAMP, ORWELL & THE VANDELAYS, 8PM, 4 SAT 29TH ELIZIUM presents PSYDOLL, THE KITCHEN & SUPPORT, 8PM, 5 SUN 30TH MY MINDS WEAPON, WE BECOME LESS, LAST TIME PERFECT & THE REBEL JELLYBEANS, 8PM, 3 CLUB LISTINGS SAT 1st ELIZIUM - a dancefloor-orientated dark alternative night, DARKBEAT/EBM/INDUSTRIAL/GOTH, 11-3am, 3 FRI 7TH stbc SAT 8TH VALHELLA Dave & Rory of One Up playing from sludge to post rock and everything inbetween, 11-3am, free entry FRI 14TH - stbc Sat 15th ELIZIUM - a dancefloor-orientated dark alternative night, DARKBEAT/EBM/INDUSTRIAL/GOTH, 11-3am, 3 FRI 21ST PSYCHOTIC KANDY Del Franklin and guests playing electronica, alternative rock and indie, 11-3am, free entry SAT 22ND - VALHELLA Dave & Rory of One Up playing from sludge to post rock and everything inbetween, 11-3am, free entry FRI 28TH AUDIO DROPOUT DJS late night alternative underground grooves & sounds - free entry 11-3am SAT 29TH - ELIZIUM - a dancefloor-orientated dark alternative night, DARKBEAT/EBM/INDUSTRIAL/GOTH TONIGHT FEATURING PSYDOLL & THE KITCHEN, 8-3am, 5 Regards, The Doc.

We're about as "live" and "act" as you get

Only me!! now come on, you can relax now, as i know you've been waiting with baited breath for the rest of this months listings haven't you?! on tenderhooks as to what you're gonna do for the rest of the month...but its ok now...i'm here to solve all your problems..... THURS 16TH....NEW FAITH, RISACTONIA & ????? 8PM...3 due to selkirk metal band Kreeper having to pull out of gig tomorrow due to illness another band is stbc at this point - check www.aberdeen-music.com for updates though FRI 17TH...TURNING 13, FRED, KING LIAR & THE BRUTES, WONDERBOY & DAVID R BLACK...8PM...3 Del Franklin and guest djs present the off-beat Psychotic Kandy night, this month there's everything from emo/post rock to life changing rock n roll! Manchester 3 piece David R Black have just been added to the bill also www.davidrblack.net SAT 18TH...THE ALPCAINOS, LOST AND SUPPORT...8PM...3 fast, filthy, melodic punk rock from the legendary Alpacinos and debut gig from Lost featuring ex member of Point of Origin - and others obviously - expect emo - i think. one other stbc www.thealpacinos.com SUN 19TH...SIGN RED, THE LEADS & EXIT PHILOSOPHY....8PM...3 Sign Red from the West Coast of Scotland are supporting The Cosmic Rough Riders on a few of their tour dates. described as a cross between Biffy Clyro & early Led Zepplin, pay their first visit to Aberdeen MON 20TH...FIGHTING RED ADAIR, RED ADMIRAL & POLITIK....8PM...4 Sonic Deth Monkey presents another night of of the beaten track live acts, this month we are joined by our favourites Fighting Red Adair and tour buddies Red Admiral. local support from the lovely Politik - who are lovely - and a damm good band! www.fightingredadair.com TUES 21ST...ACOUSTIC OPEN MIC HOSTED BY STEVE CRAWFORD....8PM...FREE WED 22ND...STBC THURS 23RD...MYSTERY LOUNGE festuring DRAT & ERIC EUAN....8PM....4 Belfasts Drat fuse lo-fi guitar pop with electronica to create one brilliantly mesmerising unit. they create soulful rhythms that no other band can match, and manage to sound experimental without being self indulgent. if you've not caught them already this is a must. with support from a more 'mellower then usual' Eric Euan and dj'ing from Alun Elizium and The Stacatto Set. www.doubledrat.net FRI 24TH...ERRATA, MULTIPLE INJURIES, DUMPVALVE, LOADED & REAP....8PM...3 extreme edinburgh mettalers Errata www.errata.co.uk blast into drakes along with Dumpvalve - like Machine Head with a twist www.dumpvalveworld.com brutal thrash metallers Multiple Injuries www.multipleinjuries.co.uk and local bands Loaded and Reap. METAAAAAL!!! SAT 25TH...CLUB LOCO...8pm...3 team fudge's second helping of musical madness this month (there was music at the last one?! hehe!) tonight featuring the excellent Tool tribute act Useful Idiot, Ken Hutchin, Goldblum and one other tbc i believe SUN 26TH...STBC MON 27TH...RAZORBLADE TO SAY GOODBYE, FALLEN INTO ASHES & VOICE OF AGRESSION....8PM....3.50 metal and hardcore from around the world with RTSG featuring ex members of Labrat and Beecher, also FIA - european hardcore from Budapest. local support from Voice of Agression. www.fallenintoashes.com TUES 28TH...ACOUSTIC OPEN MIC HOSTED BY ZIGGY FANTASTIC...8PM...FREE WED 29TH....SIMON GALL AND BAND....8PM a funky blend of jazz and soul will be served up on both the Doc's stage tonight and decks courtesy of Simon Gall and friends THURS 30TH....STBC FRI 31ST....AUDIO DROPOUTS MAD CRAZY HALLOWEEN PARTY!! spooky goings on with hopefully more treats than tricks! line up tbc. keep yer eyes peeled! now get up off yer a*** and support the scene! Regards, The Doctor.

He's the blonde kid who fell asleep in the men's toilet while drunk recently, forcing Jim to kick the door in. I gather he just smiled and went back to sleep...

KARLOFF, motherfucker. We even have a bass player who has the mohawk to end all mohawks. AND it used to be BIGGER... 8o

Tsk tsk. We were looking forward to using you and the ever vocal Mr Harper for target practise mid-performance.... Back of the class, m'lad! Never knew you were Neil's bro either. Scary.

I concurr.

I can only think of one local band who throw blood and gore at the audience, rock like a bastard on speed, etc...

Tsk tsk. Or does Wee James not know about this Moshulu heist yet? He was positively gushing about seeing Zeke when I spoke to him on Friday night in Shulu.... Cunts in a van.... Haha

DR DRAKES OCT GIG & CLUB LISTINGS WED 1ST FUDGE FRENZY featuring GOLDBLUM ..8PM, 3 THURS 2ND TENNESSEE KAIT & EXIT PHILOSOPHY & KURNLE EIGHTBALL .8PM, 3 FRI 3RD SILVER PILL & THE DIFTS & MAPLE8PM, 4 SAT 4TH PRODUCT OF THE FALL, SHAPED BY FATE, JOHNNY MENTAL & BONESAW, 7PM, 4 SUN 5TH BALLBOY & THE 55S & NERO, 8PM, 5 MON 6TH SOULO, AMMONITE & DRN, 8PM TUES 7TH OPEN MIC WITH STEVE CRAWFORD, 8PM, FREE ENTRY WED 8TH STARFALL EP LAUNCH & LOADED, 8PM, 2 THURS 9TH CLOSER, MERCURY TILT SWITCH, ERIC EUAN & ORWELL, 8PM, 4 FRI 10TH stbc SAT 11TH REMAINS OF THE DAY, KIETZER, IN DECADES DECLINE, ANTI CLOCKWISE, SWELLBELLYS, AFTERBIRTH, ELEMENT 106, TO KEEP IT CLOSE & HAERSE CRASH, 6PM, 5 SUN 12TH BANDWITH BENEFIT GIG MON 13TH DUCK DUCK GOOSE NIGHT #5 feat SOLINUS, WITHIN THESE WALLS & DAEDALIAN, 7.30PM, 3 TUES 14TH OPEN MIC FEATURING ZIGGY FANTASTIC, 8PM, FREE WED 15TH DEADENSTEREO, DEADLOSS SUPERSTAR & SEVEN STONE UNDER, 8PM, 3 THURS 16TH KREEPER & NEW FAITH 8PM 3 FRI 17TH PSYCHOTIC KANDY featuring TURNING 13, FRED & KING LIAR & THE BRUTES & WONDERBOY, 8PM, 3 SAT 18TH stbc SUN 19TH THE NEXT IN LINE & SUPPORT, 8PM, 4 MON 20TH SONIC DETH MONKEY featuring FIGHTING RED ADAIR, 8PM, 3 TUES 21ST OPEN MIC HOSTED BY STEVE CRAWFORD, 8PM, FREE WED 22ND stbc THURS 23RD MYSTERY LOUNGE FEATURING DRAT & ERIC EUAN, 8PM, 4 FRI 24TH MULTIPLE INJURIES, DUMPVALVE & SUPPORT SAT 25TH CLUB LOCO SUN 26TH stbc MON 27TH RAZORBLADE TO SAY GOODBYE, FALLEN INTO ASHES & VOICE OF AGRESSION, 8pm, 3 TUES 28TH OPEN MIC HOSTED BY ZIGGY FANTASTIC, 8PM, FREE WED 29TH SIMON GALL & FRIENDS THURS 30TH FRI 31ST AUDIO DROPOUTS MAD CRAZY HALOWEEN PARTY CLUB LISTINGS FRI 3rd WAIL Andy Stephen playing indie/punk/soul/funk/beat/rock/blues 11-3am free entry SAT 4TH ELIZIUM - a dancefloor-orientated dark alternative night, DARKBEAT/EBM/INDUSTRIAL/GOTH, 11-3am, 3 FRI 10TH CLUB SESSIO a chilled soundtrack to late night drinking, free entry 11-3am Sat 11th Dave Rowlands & Thurisaz playing punk/metal/hardcore/crust till 3am FRI 17TH PSYCHOTIC KANDY Del Franklin and guests playing electronica, alternative rock and indie, 11-3am, free entry SAT 18TH - ELIZIUM - a dancefloor-orientated dark alternative night, DARKBEAT/EBM/INDUSTRIAL/GOTH, 11-3am, 3 FRI 24TH - WAIL andy Stephen playing indie/punk/soul/funk/beat/rock/blues 11-3am free entry SAT 25TH CLUB LOCO Fudge play rock/alt tunes free entry 11 3am FRI 31st AUDIO DROPOUT DJS late night alternative underground grooves & sounds - free entry 11-3am

Younger than you, Mz Young HA!

If you called it a "Deathlist", I might have been interested in finding a way to add myself to it's folds. As it is, I have no interest.

Me....?

WED 24TH SEPT MISLED YOUTH/MY OWN RELIGION/NO ESCAPE/CONTRA MISLED YOUTH are a ska/punk band who also blend in influences from reggae and even some heavy metal. The band are mainly influenced by bands such as Less Than Jake, Sublime, The Specials, Capdown, NOFX, etc. In 2001 they played their biggest gig to date with UK ska-core favourites Capdown and Five Knuckle and have gone on to support bands such as Lighyear, Jesse James, Caffiene, The Busdrivers and Shootin Goon MY OWN RELIGION are a three piece death ska band from maryhill glasgow. crusty vocals skankin verses and killer choruses with lyrics about killin cops, killin nazis, breaking free of mediocracy, standing up for yourself and standing up for others worse off than you. making parents and cops cry since summer 2001. NO ESCAPE emo/punkers from the West Coast, kinda Get Up Kids style, but faster and heavier, and they have a singing drummer! Local support from CONTRA DOORS 7.30..3 *************************** SAT 27TH SEPT MACROCOSMICA, BLACK ATOM, DEAD OR AMERICAN, MARCY'S MONSTER PARADE Glasgow's mighty mighty MACROCOSMICA return to The Doc's this Saturday! Woo hoo! Consisting of ex members of Teenage Fanclub, Mogwai, Bangtwister, macrocosmica's music is lavalike and hardgrooving monster riffs with a lot of slow downtuned trancelike parts...its damn heavy,! If you like Tool, Sonic Youth, Drowningman.then you should definitely go check them out! www.macrocosmica.org.uk DEAD OR AMERICAN www.deadoramerican.com fuse together influences from The Pixies, Fugazi & early Nirvana, and play with more anger and venom than a bucket full of hungry, acid-eyed cobras. It is an urgent sound, not so much a song as a minor gas explosion. Imagine listening to someone's nightmare! also appearing will be the first Aberdeen performance for Elgin's newest post rockers MARCY'S MONSTER PARADE and not forgetting the metal machine that is BLACK ATOM. be there. DOORS 8PM...4 ******************************* SUN 28TH SEPT METAL MANIA PRESENTS JESUS ELEPHANT GOD, FALL OF BOSS KOALA, BLACK SUN, ELEMENT 106, USEFULL IDIOT JESUS ELEPHANT GOD began in 2001, after the break up of little known hardcore noise band Crash Victim. The band's tastes are extremely varied, but common ground is met with bands such as Shellac, Hovercraft as well as more obvious favourites like BlackFlag and Jesus Lizard. From a musical sense the band trys to incorporate influences such as Killing Joke (darker tribal elements), The Cure (guitar and atmosphere Shellac (rawness) and Refused (vocal style) www.jesuselephantgod.co.uk THE FALL OF BOSS KOALA - melodic, floaty, emo-hardcore from dundee in the vein of Tool and At The Drive In www.thefallofbosskoala.vze.com Glasgow's BLACK SUN is the brainchild of Russell McEwan whose CV boasts playing drums for Macrocosmica, being part of Los Angeles based performance artist Ron Athey & Co, remixing tracks for Mogwai and DeSalvo and producing videos for Arab Strap. They have just releases their debut Album 'Fleshmarket' on Over Records which features 13 tracks that span a wide landscape of genres including ambient, experimental, noise and industrial and has, in parts been compared to Swans, Boards of Canada and Sunno. Check out www.over-records.com and click on 'black sun' image for downloads and more info. Local support from ELEMENT 106 AND USEFULL IDIOT DOORS 7PM...4 enjoy. Regards, The Doctor.

That was the Fudge boys. They're a bit off their trollies...

Jolly. PS : Remember you can sign up for the monthly and bi-weekly updates from the good Doctor. Just email info@drdrakesbar.co.uk and ask to be added to the email list

Look at the Sticky threads above, Shaz

After R&B repaired a blown output transformer in the head, it lasted 8 gigs before checking out again. Annoyed, and pissed at R&B's attitude and lack of helpfulness, I had them send it to Marshall, and wrote Marshall a nasty letter about the whole business. They ended up calling me about the amp direct, and repaired the transformer again. Not only that, but they also replaced ALL the valves in the thing, and put it on soak test for a week with the radio as an input signal. AND, they did it for FREE, because they sympathised with the problems I'd had, and were genuinely concerned that I had lost faith in their amps. I now have a reliable amp, which sounds louder and much more raw than it used to, and I'm a happy bunny. So, my advice is, if you have a Marshall that needs looking at, phone them up and ask for their service department. They'll happily speak to you and hazard a guess at the cost of the repair or service, plus they will arrange a courier to pick up the amp from your work or home direct, and then put it back to you.

I have a Fender 50th anniversary 300W 4x12. The cab is light as a feather and the cab has a more middle/treble tone than a Marshall, and I can get a bitchin sound out of it without the thuddy bottom end of most Marshall cabs. I plan on adding a Marshall base cab at some point, but keeping the Fender for it's qualities.

A good electrical engineer who knows their valves should know what you're talking about and be able to do it. However : You need to know what current flow the amp should have through the valves. Most manufacturers won't tell you this, and neither will the guitar shop techs. You need to know how to alter the resistors or trim pot to achieve the right setting. Marshall et al will also not tell you which trim pot to use, or where it is. On an amp that costs circ. 800 upwards and a set of new valves that set you back 50+, is 30 or 40 for doing the job worth risking on doing it yourself....?

The Chinese valves should be avoided at all costs. Watford won't even supply them. They reputedly have a less than perfect vacuum in the valves, and are thus more likely to fail. If you're thinking of replacing your valves, make sure you know what you need and how to do it. As well as buying a matched set for your amp, you'll also need to make sure that the valves are then properly biased once installed in the amp. This basically means that the current through the valves is correct for the amp and is the same for each valve. Marshalls have a trim pot for achieving this, while Mesa Boogies usually require the changing of a few resistors to do the same. If you have a Mesa, it's worthwhile replacing the resistors with a trim pot, a la Marshall.

The case of a potentiometer is it's ground (or Earth) connection. That is why the wires run to them and onto the ground connection of your jack plug. If you're re-wiring or re-fitting a guitar out, the best way to do it is to run black earth wire from each individual component direct to the earth on the jackplug. E.g. a wire from the bridge to the jack, a wire from Pot #1 to the jack, a wire from Pot #2 to the jack, etc. That way, each component has it's own ground connection and should earth better overall. Also worth doing is lining the inside of your control cutout with tinfoil and connecting this to the ground terminal too. It helps trap RF and electrical hum and channel it to earth. Also worth doing is swapping out your mono jack-plug on your amp and guitar for a much more sturdy, reliable XLR setup. The advantage is that you then have shielded guitar cabling, you can daisy-chain as many mic leads together as you need for total length, and the plug will be less likely to come out your guitar mid-performance. It's simple to then make a short bridge lead so you can hook up to a regular guitar lead, and another bridge lead to allow players with a regular lead to still plug into your XLR input amp.