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)

• c1960 WATKINS COPICAT (Mk I)
  The very early Copicats had a rotary selector switch for the playback heads instead of the push buttons. There is a picture of Charlie holding Serial No 0001, on his website. Both this (Serial # 110) and the one that Charlie is holding in the picture have gold control panels. 
  
  
• c1960 WATKINS COPICAT (Mk I)
  Perhaps a slightly later one than than the one above, as this one has a blue control panel but still the all-rotary controls.
  
  

WATKINS COPICAT Mk II (1961 to 1965)

• c1961/62 WATKINS COPICAT Mk II (TURQUOISE/CREAM)
  A record head, three replay heads with individual push-buttons, and a permanent magnet mounted on the tape tension arm to wipe the tape clean on every cycle. Echo signal record volume control (ECHO), plus the facility for returning the playback signal back to the record head (REPEAT), and two inputs with individual volume gain control. Oh....also a switch for turning the tape-loop motor on/off and a footswitch for killing the record head. All this powered by two ECC83's and one 6BR8 valves. Price: £38-10-00 in 1962.
  
  
• c1962/63 WATKINS COPICAT Mk II (TURQUOISE/CREAM)
  
  
  
• Early/Mid 1960's WATKINS COPICAT MANUFACTURED FOR GUILD, USA
  As well as manufacturing Copicats primarily for the UK market, Watkins also supplied Guild Guitars Inc in the USA. The "Guild" logo was prominently displayed, with "Watkins", on the machine's control panel, and an all-turquoise livery for the case was adopted instead of the usual turquoise/cream. 
  
  
• c1963/64 WATKINS COPICAT (BLACK/CREAM)
  New black and cream case covering, plus a black control panel. Otherwise, things look very similar to the turquoise/cream unit above.
  
  
• c1964/65 WATKINS/WEM COPICAT (BLACK/CREAM)
   Very similar to the one above but with the logo on the case changed from Watkins to WEM. 
  
  

WEM STEREO-CAT (1964 to 1965)

• 1964 WEM STEREO-CAT ADVERISEMENTS
  Introduced at the 1964 Trade Fair in London and described as "a much improved version of the famous Copicat", .....but never seen since. Are their any examples of this mythical beast still out there?
  
  

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

• c1966 WEM CUSTOM COPICAT MODEL/b>
  A new style case, with detachable lid. Still with its three valves inside !
  
  
• WEM COPICAT "POWERCAT" MODEL (1965-1967)
  It would appear that this particular version of the Copicat formed part of a 15 watt (advertised as 30watt peak output) guitar combo/echo unit combination which was marketed by Wem as the "Powercat". An advert for this combination, featuring Bo Diddley as an endorsee, is included on the linked picture page.