By Mike Murphy © 2021 All Rights Reserved.
"What the hell is that?" was the first words out of our lead singer's mouth as he heard for the first time the most gorgeous and righteous tone from a guitar amp any of us on that stage had ever heard. I replied "that my friend is my new amp!" with a grin like a Cheshire cat at a fresh plate of warm milk! My mind was made up on it before the first tune of the night was done. It was the easiest gear decision I ever made.
One Saturday afternoon I was in a local music store buying strings and I saw out of the corner of my eye this beautiful salt and pepper guitar amp sitting by itself on the floor in their amp room. It looked like a Marshall 1974X. It had an emblem on it. "ROKDOG." It had a single 12" Jensen Neo speaker in it which I had never heard of before. I walked over to take a look. To my surprise the first thing I saw on the control panel was that it had a vibrato channel and reverb. My first thought was maybe it was based on a Fender AB 763 circuit and not a Marshall circuit. The manager, Les Fabian, came over and said "do you want to try it?" I replied I didn't have much time and that I was travelling to an out of town gig and had to leave right away. He said "well then take it for the weekend and try it out. It's built by a local guy named Doug Cole." I replied I hadn't heard of him but it sure was peaking my curiosity. He asked me what amp I was using at the time and I replied "a reissue Fender Deluxe Reverb with a Greenback in it" and Les said "if you like the amp we can work out a trade. We're just trying to promote Doug. He builds great amps and we're trying to get his name out there. It's a long weekend so take it and if you like it get a hold of me on Tuesday and we'll figure out a deal." I replied "sure, if that's ok with you, I really appreciate the offer." So I put it in the trunk of my car and drove straight to my gig.
When I got there I brought it in to the venue and put it right in front of the Deluxe and moved the mic in front of it. I never said a word to the guys I played with at the time. I did a quick soundcheck with it and was immediately struck by the warm mid frequencies that it had and its unbelievable chime and harmonics. At the time I thought "well let's see what it's like when I get playing with a band and then I'll be able to judge how good it really is." I went to my room, showered up, and went back for showtime.
Our drummer counted the first tune in and as I've stated above, the first words out of our singer's mouth was "what the hell is that?" That was September Labour Day weekend in 2006. Needless to say, I went back on the next Tuesday and bought it. Les made the deal work for me and I have him to thank as I would have missed out on owning an amp that has helped define me as a player. And I would have perhaps missed out on something far greater. My friendship with Doug.
Since then, after meeting Doug, our first visit blossomed into a friendship that I will always cherish and carry with me. Not a casual friendship. A deep understanding and respect for each other developed and with that, the sharing of many musical ideas and personal events. He explained the inner workings of the amp to me although he was light years ahead of me in his knowledge and God-given talent, but I awkwardly tried to follow along. Doug was as true and honest as they come. Tough as nails on the outside and as gentle as a pup on the inside. But his aptly named Rokdog amp has all the bite and tenacity of a trained guard dog.
Doug was never 100% satisfied with his work. He was always thinking about how to make the amp better. Improve it. Dial in the sweet spot. More tighter and focused. Like he was competing with himself. And to be honest, every time he did something different with his genius mind and curious tweaking I would be petrified and scared of losing the magic the amp already had. But you know, it always got better. Unbelievably. Doug's amp has gone on to travel and be played at every gig I've done since I first flicked the standby switch to "on" back in 2006. Sure, I could use other amps, but none measure up to its 3-dimensional sound. It's become a part of me. Like my hands. A part of my sound. And so did Doug.
Our friendship developed through the years with visits to his shop to change out tubes as they wore out, etc. He and his lovely wife Cheryl would come see me play many times when in town for gigs and we would chat about settings and tone. All credit is due to Cheryl for her unending patience while listening to a mad scientist and his disciple talking shop. The odd time when the amp started to lose its usual magic I would call him and he always took it in right away and figured out what was happening. It always came back better than when it went in. He knew I didn't want to gig with any other amp and always made sure it was ready to go. So I could be me, be confident and comfortable to play my best.
Since getting Doug's amp I honestly feel like a part of me would missing if it wasn't beside me on every gig I do. I would feel incomplete without it. It's that kind of amp. A one of a kind. Just like its creator. It has never mattered what I plug into it. Anything electric with strings sounds stellar.
One day I went over to pick up the amp after getting a few preamp tubes replaced and he had made and installed a new placard for the front of the amp with my name on it and had renamed it on the back placard "Rokdog Memphis Pro Mike Murphy." I was so proud he thought that much of me to do that. But that was Doug. Not promoting his name but putting mine on there.
Doug's amp has played on certified gold singles. I've had Nashville engineers and producers that have told me they were blown away with its killer tone and vibe. Wherever I've gigged with it I get curious players asking me about it. Doug could also fix anything with a signal or solder in it and I sent many players to his shop to fix their gremlins. I believe that Doug had solder and flux in his veins. He ate, slept and breathed amplification! When Kenny Greer from Tom Cochrane and Red Rider first heard me play it was through Doug's Rokdog amp. Kenny loved that amp and the tone I was getting out of it. All thanks to Doug, and I believe he should have been famous in the amplifier building world. He's certainly famous to those that have heard this amp. I know he built a few other amps during his time with us but this is the only one like it.
I remember in 2019 after just having some work he had done on it with new tubes, I played a local gig with it right after picking it up from him. He was already failing in health and sadly wasn't able to go. I was so high from the tone that I texted him after the show to say it was unbelievable! I mean I couldn't and still can't come to grips with what I heard coming out of that amp! He was still up. But this was 3 a.m.! He simply replied "glad to hear Miker, now get to bed" to which I replied "same to you." But I had a hard time falling asleep that night as all I could hear was that chiming amp in my head. It's the kind of amp that once you hear it you just can't forget it. Just like Doug. I will never forget him, our friendship, and the amp that I have been blessed with. Each gig forward I'll play one for you. Truth is, I've been playing one for you since I got your amp!
I love you Brother RokDougger and I'll really miss you, but I'm thankful you're not in pain any more. Your amp is #1 and so were you. Always were. Always will be!
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