Maker

Watkins Electric Music

Manufacturer of musical instruments

Watkins Electric Music (WEM) is a British maker of musical instruments and amplification founded by Charlie Watkins, known for the Copicat tape echo and its guitar and PA amplifiers.

Models

  • Watkins Dominator

    United Kingdom

    A British valve guitar combo amplifier made by Watkins Electric Music (WEM), introduced in 1956 and famous for its distinctive V-fronted cabinet. The roughly 17-watt design is cited as an influence on later small British amplifiers.

  • Watkins Westminster

    United Kingdom

    An early British valve guitar combo amplifier made by Watkins Electric Music, introduced in the mid-1950s as one of the first guitar amplifiers built and sold in England. The Clubman and Dominator models later evolved from the Westminster.

  • WEM Copicat

    United Kingdom

    A portable tape echo unit introduced by Watkins Electric Music in 1958, one of the first such effects units available in Britain. Multiple Copicat versions were produced over more than fifty years and it became a staple of British guitar and vocal sound.

Sources

Representative model

  • Watkins Dominator

    United Kingdom

    A British valve guitar combo amplifier made by Watkins Electric Music (WEM), introduced in 1956 and famous for its distinctive V-fronted cabinet. The roughly 17-watt design is cited as an influence on later small British amplifiers.