Charlie Watkins (mr WEM) died today

Gassage

Shame So many innovations. And best grille cloth ever!!

Phil_aka_Pip

ICBM

A true British music industry legend.

RIP

impmann

Very sad - he was a really nice guy and a true innovator. 

RIP Charlie - your advice will always be remembered.

ThePrettyDamned

That is a shame. I've always wanted to see one of those wedge shaped dominators, which looks as great as they sound.

And that circuit is still popular today.

Voxman

Shame, WEM had such an important role in its day including the world famous WEM Copycat - a long long time ago in a galaxy far far away, my cousin had a red WEM Rapier 33 and a little (5w I think) all valve WEM practice amp that was really loud (if a bit noisy) that he lent me when I started out - had to restring the 33 as although it was RH he was LH.   

ESchap

How many of us started out with WEM amps in the '70s. Made decent tone (and volume) possible on a reasonable budget. I've still got 3 of his amps and they're great little tone boxes.  

Then we went to see our hero's live and they were using his delightfully deafening PA's!

As much a hero as the "stars" who used his gear.

steamabacus

Sad news.  

I have a mate who repairs amps who told me Charlie was always very helpful and approachable.

The first valve amp I gigged was a borrowed Dominator bass combo and my first delay unit was a borrowed Copicat. I'm off to watch those wonderfully fetishistic long slow tracking shots from Pink Floyd at Pompeii of their state-of-the-art Watkins/WEM PA stacks stencilled 'Pink Floyd London'.

ThePrettyDamned

steamabacus;408303" said:

Sad news.  



I have a mate who repairs amps who told me Charlie was always very helpful and approachable.



The first valve amp I gigged was a borrowed Dominator bass combo and my first delay unit was a borrowed Copicat. I'm off to watch those wonderfully fetishistic long slow tracking shots from Pink Floyd at Pompeii of their state-of-the-art Watkins/WEM PA stacks stencilled 'Pink Floyd London'.

Yes! Totally forgot about that, that epic performance of echoes! Wem everywhere.

JAYJO

Still got my Dominator mk111 great amps. Most recent one i saw was being used by Jake Bugg.. Ace amps.

steamabacus

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=My0txkJzwUw

richardhomer

My first decent amp was a WEM Dominator III. RIP to something of an unsung hero....

ESBlonde

Back in the day I had a WEM 40w solid state PA amp and also a copicat. Innovative and indeed cutting edge but poor old Charlie got overtaken as others pushed farther and harder as is the way of the world.
None the less he was a genuine leader in his field and not some corporate slut and my respect is duly given to a legend.

ecc83

I have half of a Mersey Super 15 in working but tatty order.

If it was still a complete combo it would be worth quite a bit I have been told. Seems they only made about ten!

Dave.

freakboy1610

Very sad news. My first proper amp was a late 70s WEM Westminster 15 that I bought second hand when I was 18 (29 years ago). I used it for several years before moving on to more expensive gear. When I got back into playing guitar a few years ago I got it out of the cupboard and it worked perfectly. Used it yesterday and I was thinking that it was such a lovely solid bit of kit. Rest in peace Mr Watkins.

Phil_aka_Pip

I've still got my Copicat

alalalkasar

So many good times with a WEM amp, all through my teenage years and early twenty's i played one. Got some money and though I could do better. Turns out I couldn't, still play through one now.

Dave_Mc

sorry to hear that

longjaw

Phil_aka_Pip said:

I've still got my Copicat

As have I!  RIP Charlie.

richardhomer

longjaw;408631" said:

Phil_aka_Pip said:

I've still got my Copicat



As have I!  RIP Charlie.

Very repetitive....

drwiddly

My first amp was a WEM Westminster and my best mate had a Dominator. I bought a Rapier 33 a couple of years later for about £20. Later I had a 30w head that bolted to it's matching 2x12 cab (can't remember the model). My first proper band had WEM 4x12 columns for the PA and a Copycat whirring away next to the sound man.

RIP Charlie, you gave so many of us a great start in our musical endeavours.