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

 













 

HISTORIC list of Combos produced by Watkins/WEM AMPLIFIER HEADS and MIXER AMPS
THE CLUBMAN THE PICK-A-BACK
THE WESTMINSTER THE PICK-A-BASS
THE DOMINATOR MK I,II & III THE ER15
THE WARRIOR BASS THE ER30 & BR30
THE (POWER) MUSETTE THE ER40
THE CUSTOM 15 THE ER100
THE MERSEY SUPER 15 THE MONITOR REVERB
THE MONITOR THE GX40
THE JOKER WEM200 MIXER AMP
THE SAPPHIRE 100 THE BANDMIXER
THE POWER CAT THE FR30
THE DEEP BLUE THE AGGRESSOR
THE SCOUT THE HR30
THE DOMINATOR BASS MK I THE CONTRACT
THE DOMINATOR 25 THE REVERBMASTER
THE DOMINATOR 35 THE SOUNDMAN
THE DOMINATOR 45 WEM 40 & PA40
THE DOMINATOR 50 WEM PA100
  THE AUDIOMASTER
  THE AX40
  THE SL100 SLAVE
  THE ULTIMUS BASS HEAD
PLEASE SEE BROCHURE PAGES FOR OTHER IMAGES OF AMPS THE GX100

 

DOMINATOR

MK1

 

This was the revolutionary wedge-shaped cabinet designed and marketed by Charlie Watkins. The idea was to obtain a wide sound dispersion from a relatively modest power input and this was certainly achieved because all Watkins/WEM amps have a reputation for being 'louder' than their rated power outputs may suggest.

The Dominator may be the best known of the range but the Westminster was the first proper production model

There have been several incarnations of the Dominator and Westminster over the years.

 

 

WESTMINSTER

MK1

 
There were certainly few refinements visible on the early Westminsters but they hit the market at just the right time in the mid 1950's when the explosion in pop music had begun and everyone wanted a piece of the action. By 1956 three models, the Westminster, Dominator and Clubman were in full production. By the early 60's, Charlie's factory had about 40 workers.
CLUBMAN MK1
The styling of the Clubman was based on the Westminster but with reduced power output. It made an ideal practice amp.
SCOUT
SCOUT
WEM 40
 

WEM 200

PA MIXER

WEM

BAND MIXER

WEM

BANDMIXER

100 Watt solid state mixer/amp

eight inputs on four channels

WEM

GX40 BI-TONE

WEM MONITOR

REVERB 50

WEM PA100
 

WEM

PICK-A-BASS

(POWER BASS)

Usually sold as a combo of Pick-a-Bass cab and Control ER15 head. Introduced 1963 and a year later was re-branded as Power Bass

WEM FR30

STUDIO AMP

WEM

POWER MUSETTE MK2

 

 

This combo was intended for organ and accordian use rather than guitar and used a twin cone speaker. It still sounds fine when used as a guitar amp and overdrives nicely for blues playing.

The name Musette comes from a type of accordian tuning which produces beat notes. Charlie Watkins is a great accordian enthusiast

WESTMINSTER

&

DOMINATOR

BOTH Mk1

courtesy www.ampaholics.org.uk

courtesy www.ampaholics.org.uk

JOKER

courtesy www.ampaholics.org.uk

 

 

courtesy www.ampaholics.org.uk

CUSTOM 15

courtesy www.ampaholics.org.uk

WATKINS

MONITOR

 

 

This is a very rare Watkins Monitor.

Cliff and the Shadows had one of these models.

Thanks to P.Goodhand-Tait of www.ampaholics.org for this and the Scout pictures on this webpage.

WESTMINSTER

V-Front

2 x 10

courtesy www.ampaholics.org.uk

ER15 with

PICK-A-BACK

courtesy www.ampaholics.org.uk

 

 

WESTMINSTER

2 COLOURS

+ NAME THAT

BAND !

courtesy www.ampaholics.org.uk

WESTMINSTER

MKII

 
SAPPHIRE 100
 

AUDIOMASTER

MIXER

WARRIOR

BASS

 
HR30

SOME WEM PA

GEAR

Thanks to Mark Waldispuhl for this image of his Audiomasters, Slaves and Copicat
AX40 & AX100
WEM SLAVE
 

CLUBMAN

c 1974

 

DOMINATOR

BASS MK1

DOMINATOR

MKIII

WEM

CONTRACT

This is quite a rare piece of kit. 250w into 4 ohms with five mixed channels - solid state

Thanks to Jim Celata for the pic and info

WEM

SOUNDMAN

Solid state 150 watt Mixer Amp

WEM

CLUBMAN

SOLID STATE

Thanks to Tony for the two Clubman pics

 

MERSEY

SUPER 15

Many thanks to Richard Mallows for these two photos

BR30

Photos courtesy of Rolf Startin

This is a rare bass amp manufactured in 1966

REVERBMASTER  
DOMINATOR 25

There was a Mk 1 and Mk 2 version of the Dominator 25

 

DOMINATOR 35

Photos courtesy of Drew McFadyen

 

 

 

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