The Watkins Copicat is an
audio effects unit that produces
delay and
reverb
Reverberation (also known as reverb), in acoustics, is a persistence of sound, after a sound is produced. Reverberation is created when a sound or signal is reflected causing numerous reflections to build up and then decay as the sound is abs ...
effects. One of the first commercially available tape delay units, the original Copicat model was produced by
Watkins Electric Music
Watkins Electric Music (WEM) is a British company known for manufacturing PA systems, the Copicat tape echo unit, guitar amplifiers, and electric guitars.
History
The company was co-founded by musician Charlie Watkins and his brother Reg Watki ...
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 used on
Marino Marini Quartet's song "
Come prima
"Come prima" (English: "As Before") is an Italian song, with lyrics by Mario Panzeri and music by Vincenzo Di Paola and Sandro Taccani. First made popular by Tony Dallara in Italy in 1957, a version by the Marino Marini Quartet was a hit in the ...
",
Charlie Watkins, co-founder of London music shop Watkins Electric Music, had the idea for a simple, affordable, portable
tape echo 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.
Watkins' shop sold the entire first production run of 100 Copicats on the first day, including the very first Copicat sold to
Johnny Kidd of
Johnny Kidd & the Pirates, whose guitarist used it on the group's UK hit song "
Shakin' All Over
"Shakin' All Over" is a song originally performed by Johnny Kidd & the Pirates. It was written by leader Johnny Kidd, and his original recording reached No. 1 on the UK Singles Chart in August 1960. The song is sometimes credited to Frederick ...
".
[
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 (later branded as WEM) releasing various different Copicat models over more than 50 years.
The Copicat became one of Watkins' most successful products, and the company produced various Copicat models and versions over the following decades.
]
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, 2 inputs, 2 gain controls. Also marketed under Kent by Hagstrom
*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 Space Echo units.
Software emulations
Wavesfactory makes an analogue-modelling delay plug-in emulation of the Copicat called the Echo Cat.
References
{{reflist
Effects units