WEM WATKINS CUSTOM COPICAT old 1
This great Custom Copicat is sounding superb for a 45 year old machine. We're tape & disc echo specialists - all units supplied serviced, tested & guaranteed....Read more
Description
Watkins WEM Custom Copicat
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.
As business sellers, we've sold many tape echoes in the past ten years; we understand how they should sound and function.
We guarantee that this machine will not disappoint.
Offered for sale here is a WEM Custom Copicat dating from the mid-late sixties in fair cosmetic condition and excellent working order for a 45 year-old valve Copicat. Cosmetically, it's a bit scruffy and one of the black plastic grilles has sustained some damage (please see detailed photos below). This has undergone a thorough mechanical and electrical overhaul/service and has been fitted with a three-core earthed mains cable for safety - there are no known issues with this unit.
Compared to the later IC Copicats the valve units don't usually produce such clear echoes, even when in good order. This sounds lovely both as a pre-amp and as an echo unit. All three heads work well and sound excellent - 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'.
Unusually, this one is over-keen to self-oscillate - starting to get fruity at anything at settings from about 9-10 o'clock onwards: this isn't a problem as you can still back off to very low single repeats, but it needs to be treated with care if you're not into crazy psychedelic noise-mongering. I just lost myself for quite some time testing this - Customs are my favourite Copicats by far - they just have a great sound that to me is spot-on: sixties pop valve warmth, but with some flower power thrown in for good measure. Very groovy indeed, man.
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.
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
It is a UK 240v model so will require a step-up transformer for use in countries with 100-110v mains supplies; the UK plug will be removed for overseas deliveries unless otherwise requested (will be left on for USA/Canada/Japan).
Many Copicats on Ebay are not in great shape and (at best) need a service - this one is working fine, apart from the faults detailed, but please be aware that it is a vintage unit and may not take kindly to being shipped. It will be well-packed, but if it's not behaving as it should on receipt, please get in touch.
Tax (VAT)
Some of our gear will have VAT at 20% added in the UK/EU, but a lot of it won't. This should hopefully clarify the situation but if you have any questions then please get in touch.
ITEMS WITH VAT:
- These items will have two prices visible: with and without the tax.
- If you are buying in the UK/EU you will receive an invoice showing the tax component.
- If you are buying these items outside the EU when you get to the check out and enter your shipping location you will be charged the ex-VAT price.
- VAT-free sales are also possible to businesses within the EU with a valid VAT number. You will need to contact us in order to buy via this means.
ITEMS WITHOUT VAT:
- Much of what we sell is classified as "Second Hand Goods" and so while we still pay some tax, there is no recoverable/deductible component for sales to any part of the world.
- So, the price you see is the price you pay wherever you are.
ALSO NOTE:
- Shipping charges are also subject to VAT at 20% within the UK/EU - this is included within the prices you see for shipping to those areas - it is not shown separately in the cart but will be shown on the VAT invoice you receive with your goods.
SHIPPING
We are very experienced at packing and shipping valuable and sensitive gear worldwide. Binson Echorecs, large valve amps, vintage synths, rare racks, and even a CS-80 or two - you name it, we've sent it and it has arrived in one piece and ready to play.
SHIPPING DISCOUNT ON MULTIPLE ITEMS:
We keep it simple: if you buy more than one item you only pay the shipping on the item that has the highest shipping cost. This is the same no matter how many items you buy together (so the more you buy together, the bigger your shipping discount). If you check all the items out all together this will be calculated automatically at checkout. However, if you make an order and then wish to add to it before it ships please get in touch and we will refund the shipping on the item(s) that are cheaper to ship.
Note that this also allows you to purchase add on items such as transformers and other accessories, and also t-shirts and other merch, without paying any extra shipping on them.
=====
CAN I COLLECT MY GEAR (and save on shipping?)
Yes! If you want to use this option either get in touch before you purchase, or contact us afterwards and we will just refund you the shipping. Note that collection is by appointment only and only during weekday office hours.
====
MORE SHIPPING INFO:
The shipping prices for our gear vary considerably depending on the type of gear, value and destination. To see shipping costs put the item you are interested in the cart and then either use the shipping estimator or go into the check out process. Or just contact us and we'll tell you what you need to know.
It is a fact that, with vintage items, there are going to be times when gear arrives in need of some adjustment or calibration, and some times a piece of gear that was working 100% just chooses the day after arriving for a new fault to develop. However, having been working with sensitive vintage gear for many years, we are very experienced at dealing with these occurrences and will always work with you and get the problem solved as quickly and painlessly as possible.
Note that we have have not entered automatic shipping for every country. The countries we ship to most often will have shipping rates and we are in the process of adding more shipping fees to the check out process. But if you are looking at an item that doesn't have the fee information you need then please use the contact page or call on +44 1773 856475.
Which carriers do we use?
We usually use Royal Mail, UPS and DPD/Interlink - it depends on the item and destination as to which is the most economical. If you have a preference then we should be able to accommodate it (but we may need to pass on any additional costs) - just let us know what you need.
