This site is dedicated to Watkins / WEM / Wilson Guitars and WEM amps

but is not connected commercially to Watkins Electric Music

Watkins guitars and WEM amplifiers launched the careers of many British guitarists in the 60's and 70's. They were regarded as 'the British Strat' but were available at a price which most teenagers could afford. The company was started in London by the legendary Charlie Watkins and his brothers Reg and Sid. Charlie was really the 'amp man'. Sid and Reg Watkins made the guitars in their factory in Chertsey Surrey. In the late 60's the decision was made to split the guitars away from the amps as a separate company and the name Wilson was adopted. Wilson was the maiden name of the brothers' mother.

Sid joined the company after completing a contract in Hong Kong where he had been employed in the communications industry. He adapted well to his new role of luthier and became a well respected guitar craftsman.

As a teenager my first guitar was a Rapier bass and I still have it after forty years. Later I acquired a Wilson Ranger 2. The guitar brand names changed from Watkins to WEM in 1964 then after 1968 to Wilson until the factory closed in 1982. Over the years the basic designs remained the same and the most popular models were the Rapier 22, 33 and 44 which had 2, 3 or 4 pickups respectively. Early models had no adjustable truss rod in the neck but of all the old Watkins guitars which have passed through my hands, very few have had neck warps due to the use of metallic internal bracing.

In these pages I hope to share some information with you about the guitars, amps and the famous Copicat. Other sites have information on the amps and copicats (see credits page)but I think you will find this the most comprehensive reference site for the guitars. I hope that readers of this site will add any information they may have and pictures of their equipment so that we can build up a good database for owners and lovers of the marque.

NEW for 2008 - Watkins Rapier from the collection of Guy Mackenzie on the BBC Antiques Roadshow

Video Clip here

Link to Guy's Guitar Collection website

Rapier 33 on Dexy's Midnight Runners "Geno" (after 1:45)

Video Clip here

Valve Copicat Video Demo

Video Clip here

Copicat Demo Shadows Sound

Video Clip here

Many more pictures added to the Guitar and History pages

Webmaster Reg Godwin (right) meets Charlie Watkins August 2004 Charlie and his wife graciously entertained me in their home and allowed me access to a treasure trove of Watkins archives to help with this site. In typically generous Charlie style, he also gave me a Wilson 6 guitar as a momento of the visit. Legendary bass player Mo Foster describes Charlie as a 'national treasure' and no one would argue with that! "Beatle" Reg in 1971 with the first Rapier Bass which started everything off Part of the Collection 2008 Featured in Guitar and Bass Magazine Oct 2007 ************************************************** SOME OF THE BANDS AND PERFORMERS HISTORICALLY SUPPLIED BY WEM ROLLING STONES, PINK FLOYD, LED ZEPPELIN, E.L.O, ELTON JOHN, DAVID BOWIE, THE WHO, THE KINKS, THE ANIMALS, CREAM, T.REX, BOB DYLAN, FLEETWOOD MAC, SANTANA, MANFRED MANN, DONOVAN, WISHBONE ASH, STATUS QUO, THE SMALL FACES, EMERSON LAKE AND PALMER, BLIND FAITH, THIN LIZZIE, SOFT MACHINE, CAT STEVENS, THE BAND, AMERICA, MATTHEW'S SOUTHERN COMFORT, JONI MITCHELL, BILL HALEY AND THE COMETS, KING CRIMSON, STEELEYE SPAN, SAVOY BROWN, MAMAS AND THE PAPAS, EDGAR BROUGHTON, EAST OF EDEN, BADFINGER, STONE THE CROWS, GERRY AND THE PACEMAKERS, DAVE CLARK FIVE, THE FORTUNES, THE FOUNDATIONS, HOT CHOCOLATE, HERMAN's HERMITS, SWEET, THE SEARCHERS, THE CRAZY WORLD OF ARTHUR BROWN, NICE, TEN YEARS AFTER, AUDIENCE, ARRIVAL, THE SETTLERS, QUINTESSENCE, ATOMIC ROOSTER, HARD MEAT, CURVED AIR, ROY HARPER, SATISFACTION, TRAPEZE, BRONCO, VAN DER GRAFF GENERATOR, DADDY LONGLEGS, ALAN BROWN, SKID ROW, CHICKEN SHACK, DANTA, INCREDIBLE STRING BAND, FAMILY, CLOUDS, THE WORLD WAR,