Early 60's Watkins Scout

T-bone Tone · March 26th, 2004, 09:39 AM

Anyone know anything about these? It's a little 12 watt valve combo. Looks real neat with a gold wire grille speaker front and contrasting tolex for the rest. It sounds fabulous, very Champ like, and has tremolo and mic input and a footswitch input.

My friend is wanting rid of it, and I was hoping someone could give me an idea for pricing? If I didn't have my Super Champ, I would be first in line!

Wally · March 26th, 2004, 12:56 PM

This looks like your description sounds.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...category=33039
The seller hasn't had very much luck. The starting bid is too high to get any action, IMHO. Looking at the construction of this ebay offering, I would have to hear it to believe that I would value it at more than something around $250 US for it, but the sound could change my mind.

Bill Ashton · March 26th, 2004, 10:10 PM

I've a friend...in Manchester...who is conversant in these little gems. Let me see what he has to say.

Bill Ashton · March 27th, 2004, 09:38 AM

T-Bone,

Here is what my good friend Tim has to say about the Watkins Scout:

"They're good little amps, rival the AC10 : my first amp was a used Watkins Scout. In the UK they seem to sell for as little as £120 up to £250 (that's the max I've seen one go for, I think Mike Guthrie at TopGear bought it on e-bay). They're quite rare and good value at that sort of price IMO, cheap because no famous users. Basically it's the same chassis as the legendary V-front Dominator in a 1 x 10 cab."

http://britamps.mysite.freeserve.com/watkins/scout.html

Here is some more info on the Westminster that Wally posted the link to:

"That's the 10W single-channel version of the Westminster, an early one in maroon/cream, mid-late 50s. There was also a larger twin-channel Westminster rated at 14W which had seemingly the same chassis as the 14W Scout and 17W V-front Dominator, I guess the power ratings were probably nominal."

We don't see much at all about Watkins/WEM amps here in the US, though I think they are as much part of early rock history in the UK as say the tweed Fenders (or maybe more appropriately old Gibsons or Ampegs).

Let us know how you like your new amp...LOL!

Wally · March 27th, 2004, 02:51 PM

thanks for the info, Bill. I have seen none of these Watkins amps out here in the High Plains of Texas, but I sure do like the look of them...beautiful lil amps.

Bill Ashton · April 2nd, 2004, 04:17 PM

T-bone, didja buy that little amp?

T-bone Tone · April 6th, 2004, 10:39 AM

Bill, we have a slight problem with it. The tremolo circuit does not appear to be working. It isn't clear whether this only works with a footswitch - unlikely, though.

At the mo, I have a nice little Fender Super Champ which is the love of my life. A pity, because this little WEM is a gem! It looks the part, too.

Bill Ashton · April 6th, 2004, 09:59 PM

My little Vox AC-4 has it wired in, no disconnect...does the WEM have a plug in socket for a footswitch?

Pierce · April 7th, 2004, 04:09 AM

not in great numbers but they sound great....

March 26th, 2004, 09:39 AM	#1 (permalink)
T-bone Tone Banned Tele-Meister Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Newcastle, England Posts: 321	Early 60's Watkins Scout Anyone know anything about these? It's a little 12 watt valve combo. Looks real neat with a gold wire grille speaker front and contrasting tolex for the rest. It sounds fabulous, very Champ like, and has tremolo and mic input and a footswitch input. My friend is wanting rid of it, and I was hoping someone could give me an idea for pricing? If I didn't have my Super Champ, I would be first in line!

March 26th, 2004, 12:56 PM	#2 (permalink)
Wally Friend of Leo's Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Lubbock, TX Posts: 4,212	Like this? This looks like your description sounds. http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...category=33039 The seller hasn't had very much luck. The starting bid is too high to get any action, IMHO. Looking at the construction of this ebay offering, I would have to hear it to believe that I would value it at more than something around $250 US for it, but the sound could change my mind.

March 26th, 2004, 10:10 PM	#3 (permalink)
Bill Ashton Tele-Holic Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Central Massachusetts Posts: 512	Give me a day or so... I've a friend...in Manchester...who is conversant in these little gems. Let me see what he has to say.

March 27th, 2004, 09:38 AM	#4 (permalink)
Bill Ashton Tele-Holic Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Central Massachusetts Posts: 512	Buy that thing! T-Bone, Here is what my good friend Tim has to say about the Watkins Scout: "They're good little amps, rival the AC10 : my first amp was a used Watkins Scout. In the UK they seem to sell for as little as £120 up to £250 (that's the max I've seen one go for, I think Mike Guthrie at TopGear bought it on e-bay). They're quite rare and good value at that sort of price IMO, cheap because no famous users. Basically it's the same chassis as the legendary V-front Dominator in a 1 x 10 cab." http://britamps.mysite.freeserve.com/watkins/scout.html Here is some more info on the Westminster that Wally posted the link to: "That's the 10W single-channel version of the Westminster, an early one in maroon/cream, mid-late 50s. There was also a larger twin-channel Westminster rated at 14W which had seemingly the same chassis as the 14W Scout and 17W V-front Dominator, I guess the power ratings were probably nominal." We don't see much at all about Watkins/WEM amps here in the US, though I think they are as much part of early rock history in the UK as say the tweed Fenders (or maybe more appropriately old Gibsons or Ampegs). Let us know how you like your new amp...LOL!

April 2nd, 2004, 04:17 PM	#6 (permalink)
Bill Ashton Tele-Holic Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Central Massachusetts Posts: 512	Well, what happened? T-bone, didja buy that little amp?

March 27th, 2004, 02:51 PM	#5 (permalink)
Wally Friend of Leo's Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Lubbock, TX Posts: 4,212	thanks for the info, Bill. I have seen none of these Watkins amps out here in the High Plains of Texas, but I sure do like the look of them...beautiful lil amps.

April 6th, 2004, 10:39 AM	#7 (permalink)
T-bone Tone Banned Tele-Meister Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Newcastle, England Posts: 321	Bill, we have a slight problem with it. The tremolo circuit does not appear to be working. It isn't clear whether this only works with a footswitch - unlikely, though. At the mo, I have a nice little Fender Super Champ which is the love of my life. A pity, because this little WEM is a gem! It looks the part, too.

April 6th, 2004, 09:59 PM	#8 (permalink)
Bill Ashton Tele-Holic Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Central Massachusetts Posts: 512	I must ask Tim... My little Vox AC-4 has it wired in, no disconnect...does the WEM have a plug in socket for a footswitch?

April 7th, 2004, 04:09 AM	#9 (permalink)
Pierce Tele-Meister Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: skull island Posts: 471	I see them on the east coast not in great numbers but they sound great....