Watkins Copicat
{{Short description|Audio effects unit}}
The Watkins Copicat is an effects unit that produces tape delay effects. One of the first commercially available tape delay units,{{cite magazine|last=Hughes|first=Tom|title=Echoes of the Past and Future|url=https://www.premierguitar.com/gear/echoes-of-the-past-and-future|magazine=Premier Guitar|publisher=Gearhead Communications, LLC |date=27 August 2014|access-date=21 February 2022}} the original Copicat model was produced by Watkins Electric Music beginning in 1958. The Copicat became one of Watkins' most successful products, and the company produced various Copicat models and versions over the following decades.
History
In 1960, inspired by the tape echo unit on the Marino Marini Quartet's "Come prima", Charlie Watkins, co-founder of London music shop Watkins Electric Music, had the idea for a simple, affordable, portable tape delay unit. With the help of engineer Bill Purkis, Watkins designed the Watkins Copicat, a compact (12-inch by 8-inch) valve-based tape echo unit with three replay heads and selector switch, and a feedback loop for a variable echo-repeat effect.{{cite magazine|last=Hunter|first=Dave|title=Beat-Gen But: The Watkins Joker|url=http://staging.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/vintageguitar/201709_v2/stage.php?startid=36#/p/38|magazine=Vintage Guitar|publisher=Vintage Guitar Inc.|date=September 2017|access-date=21 February 2022}}
Watkins' shop sold the entire first production run of 100 Copicats on the first day; the very first Copicat was sold to Johnny Kidd of Johnny Kidd & the Pirates, and appeared on their hit "Shakin' All Over".{{cite web|last=Cooper|first=Gary|title=Charlie Watkins: Audio Pioneer 1923-2014|url=https://www.soundonsound.com/people/charlie-watkins|website= Sound On Sound|publisher=SOS Publications Group|date=February 2015|access-date=21 February 2022}}
The Copicat, which preceded other major European echo units like the Binson Echorec, Meazzi Echomatic, and Vox Echo Deluxe, would become one of the company's most successful products, with Watkins releasing various different Copicat models over more than 50 years.{{cite web|title=WEM Shadow Echo|url=https://catalinbread.com/blogs/kulas-cabinet/wem-shadow-echo|website=catalinbread.com|date=26 March 2021|access-date=31 January 2022}}
Models
- Watkins Copicat Mk1
- Watkins Copicat Mk2 (1961) (turquoise) or (1964) (black & cream) - rotary head replaced by push buttons
- WEM Custom Copicat (1966) - repeat, multi-repeat, reverberation-like multi-tap echo, 2 inputs, 2 gain controls. Also marketed as the "Kent Eko" by Hagström
- The Shadow Echo
- WEM Copicat MkIII (1970s) - Solid State
- WEM Copicat MkIV - highest volume model produced, also produced as a Guild-branded version to answer US demand
- WEM Copicat IC300 (late 70s)
- WEM Copicat IC300 Super (late 70s) - simplified electronics, lighter
- WEM Halle Cat (1975) - Copicat combined with 4-channel mixer
- WEM Copicat Varispeed
- WEM Copicat Varispeed IC400
- WEM Copicat IC500
- WEM Copicat Super Shadow Type 1 (1990s) - valve/tube with Varispeed
- WEM Copicat Super Shadow Type 2 (1990s)
- Watkins Copicat Gold (2009) - a programmable unit that emulates the characteristics of various Copicat models, as well as classic Binson, Meazzi, and Roland Space Echo units.{{cite web|last=Pickford|first=John|title=Vintage: Watkins Copicat|url=https://musictech.com/reviews/watkins-copicat/|website=MusicTech|date=28 May 2014|access-date=21 February 2022}}
Software emulations
Wavesfactory makes an analogue-modelling delay plug-in emulation of the Copicat called the Echo Cat.{{cite magazine|last=Inglis|first=Sam|title=Wavesfactory Echo Cat: Analogue-modelling Delay Plug-in|url=https://www.soundonsound.com/reviews/wavesfactory-echo-cat|magazine=Sound On Sound|publisher=SOS Publications Group|date=February 2021|access-date=21 February 2022}}
References
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