Watkins WEM / Custom Copicat / 1960's / Effect
Watkins WEM Custom Copicat tape echo dating from the mid-late sixties in superb cosmetic condition and excellent working order for a 45 year-old valve Copicat. The case has only minor scuffs and scratches and there's some damage to the black plastic grille. The faceplate is in excellent condition - one extra socket has been discretely-added and the voltage selector switch is broken - a common 'modification' to avoid accidentally switching it mid-performance. It has the original footswitch.
Compared to the later IC Copicats the valve units don't usually produce such clear echoes, even when in good order. Custom Copicats sound lovely both as a pre-amp and as an echo unit with good strong repeats that break up in an evocative fashion, and run into self-oscillation when the 'reverb' knob is turned up for authentic dub effects - great valve saturation. The echoes have a good tone for an old valve Copicat and degrade with a dark crunchy quality; they cannot be described as accurate repeats - this is not a digital delay - but they have a sound and vibe that is most pleasing and create a unique effect that sounds 'right'.
It's fitted with a new tape - these are easy to bulk buy online, but if the winning bidder wants some spares, please message us for prices/quantities. For best performance tape loops should be changed regularly.
As business sellers, we've sold many tape echoes in the past ten years; we understand how they should sound and function.Valve Copicats make great preamps, and are increasingly sought-after to add character and warmth to modern digital recordings (the Arctic Monkeys used a Custom Copicat when recording their 'Suck It And See' album - see Sound On Sound magazine July 2011), as a result they are becoming harder to find, especially in good working order.
We're tape and disc echo specialists and always have a good selection of vintage echo machines. Check out our other listings for fully-serviced Binsons, Copicats, Echoplexes and Roland Space/Chorus Echoes.
Soundgas Ltd, UK
Soundgas grew out of one man's love of interesting and vintage instruments and recording gear. Initially, it was just satisfying gearlust for old and unusual sonic gear to fill the studio. This has grown over the past 12 years of trading on Ebay, most notably as Ainternational (100% positive feedback on over 700 transactions worldwide), into Soundgas Ltd. Based in the UK, on the edge of the beautiful Derbyshire Peak District, we've a wealth of experience of sourcing and sending delicate and precious gear worldwide.
We find good examples of interesting, rare and classic gear and ensure that our customers receive them in as perfect working order as possible. We appreciate fine, unusual, quirky and well-engineered recording equipment and instruments: that appreciation shines through in everything we do. First and foremost we ourselves are musicians, engineers, collectors and customers.
What started out as a passion and sideline has evolved into a business with a client list that reflects our commitment to good old-fashioned customer care and attention to detail (and a love of cool, strange and oddball vintage gear).
We mail out a monthly stocklist to our customers which contains many items that never make it to Vintage & Rare or Ebay (head over to the website to register).
Contact
We are passionate about supplying high quality vintage gear to our customers and go the extra mile to ensure complete satisfaction. To speak to us about payment, shipping or any aspect of anything we sell please email tony@soundgas.com or call Tony on +44 7543 855788
Visit our website soundgas.com for more information on who we are and how we do business, as well as to see a full archive of our past stock of rare and unusual items.
You can also sign up there to receive our regular stock list emails. These contain over 300 listings including many items that are not yet listed and which can be reserved. Increasingly we find some kinds of item are sold before we get them listed
Payment
- Please pay immediately when you use Buy It Now. To discuss other shipping and payment options, please contact us first. We discount prices for payment by bank transfer in £GBP - contact us if you would like to use this method.
- We can also take credit cards by phone. To do this please email tony@soundgas.com or call Tony on +44 7543 855788
Returns
Our aim is complete customer satisfaction and we accept returns within 14 days if the item has not been opened or tampered with in any way. We cover the cost of return if the item is faulty (EU only); if the buyer wishes to return for any other reason then the cost of return is his/her responsibility. Please contact us before returning the item: if the item is faulty, we may arrange for our courier to collect. Please ensure item is returned in the original shipping container and securely packed/fastened. If we find there is a fault with the item, we will cover the cost of repair or accept a return. If returning by your own method, please ensure a tracked and insured service is used and that we have confirmed the return address. We accept no responsibility for loss or damage where the above conditions are not observed.
Our policy lasts 14 days. If 14 days have gone by since your purchase, please contact us. To be eligible for a return, your item must be in the same condition that you received it. It must also be in the original packaging.
There are certain situations where only partial refunds are granted: (if applicable)Any item not in its original condition, is damaged or missing parts for reasons not due to our error.Any item that is returned more than 14 days after delivery
Refunds (if applicable)Once your return is received and inspected, we will send you an email to notify you that we have received your returned item. We will also notify you of the approval or rejection of your refund.If you are approved, then your refund will be processed, and a credit will automatically be applied to your credit card or original method of payment, within seven working days.
Late or missing refunds (if applicable)If you haven’t received a refund yet, first check your bank account again. Then contact your credit card company, it may take some time before your refund is officially posted.Next contact your bank. There is often some processing time before a refund is posted.If you’ve done all of this and you still have not received your refund yet, please contact us at soundgas@gmail.com.
Exchanges or returns for repairWe will endeavour to repair items if they are defective or damaged on receipt. Please send us an email at soundgas@gmail.com and send your item to: Returns Dept Soundgas Ltd, 39 Manor Road, South Wingfield, Alfreton, Derbyshire, DE55 7NH.
Gifts
If the item was marked as a gift when purchased and shipped directly to you, you’ll receive a gift credit for the value of your return. Once the returned item is received, a gift certificate will be mailed to you.If the item wasn’t marked as a gift when purchased, or the gift giver had the order shipped to themselves to give to you later, we will send a refund to the gift giver and he will find out about your return. ShippingTo return your product, you should mail your product to: Returns Dept Soundgas Ltd, 39 Manor Road, South Wingfield, Alfreton, Derbyshire, DE55 7NH
You will be responsible for paying for your own shipping costs for returning your item. Shipping costs are non-refundable unless the item was found to be defective on receipt. If you receive a refund, the cost of return shipping will be deducted from your refund.
Depending on where you live, the time it may take for your exchanged product to reach you, may vary.
You should use a trackable shipping service with full shipping insurance for the value of the item. We don’t guarantee that we will receive your returned item.