THE WATKINS / WEM COPICAT TAPE ECHO

 

c1961 Watkins Copicat

The most famous Tape-Echo Unit in Britain, and possibly in the World, the Copicat also happens to be the first repeat-echo machine manufactured as one compact unit. It was first introduced into the UK in 1960, apparently after Charlie Watkins had heard a similar sound effect generated by two linked studio quality tape recorders for the Italian singer Marino Marini. Following its introduction, the tape-echo sound revolutionized pop music during the early 1960's, being behind the guitar sound of the top British bands such as The Shadows (although the Copicat was not the model actually used by the Shads). It also served a secondary purpose after being adopted for providing echo on vocals - the two volume controls acted as a rudimentary microphone mixer. These little machines sold by the thousand!!

What is perhaps most incredible about the Copicat is that it is still in production after 50 years! Visit the WEM Copicat Website to see the latest incarnation. 

The path that the Copicat and its derivatives have taken since 1960 is illustrated by reference to the model variants listed below:

 

WATKINS COPICAT Mk I (1960)

WATKINS COPICAT Mk II (1961 to 1965)

WEM STEREO-CAT (1964 to 1965)

WEM ("CUSTOM") COPICAT Mk III (1965 to 1969)

WEM SHADOW ECHO (1967-68)

WEM COPICAT Mk IV (1970 to 1976)

WEM HALLE CAT (1974 to 1978)

WEM COPICAT I.C. MODEL VARIANTS (1976 into 1980s)

WEM COPICAT GOLD VARISPEED MODEL (1990s)

WEM COPICAT SUPER SHADOW MODELS

 

THE PRESENT DAY WATKINS COPICAT

 

WEM Advertisement from May 1964.

 

WEM Advertisement from January 1968.

 


Need Spare Parts for your Watkins/WEM Echo Unit? Don't mess about......go to the best!

John Beer of Amp-Fix, Wellington, Somerset has considerable experience with these types of machines, as well as all types of valve amps. Visit John's AMP-FIX WEBSITE where you will also find very detailed descriptions of many of the Copicats listed above.

 

Thanks, Michael Zimmerling !

 

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