The Watkins Dominator
Celebrating fifty years of the legend.
This iconic recreation will soon be available from Watkins Electric Music, Amp-Fix and other retail outlets later this year.
Amp-Fix recently had the honour of carrying out a hands on appraisal, in the Amp-Fix workshop of this the very first prototype, UK built Watkins Dominator Reissue amplifier. A recreation fully approved by the legendary Charlie Watkins. Hand built in the traditional way, right here in the UK where it was first borne way back in middle of the last century. The new Dominator features a birch ply cabinet loaded with Celestion vintage 10 speakers. The amplifier is of course all valve and hand wired with the components mounted on a traditional style turret board. The Dominator, a two channel amp with two inputs each. Channel 1 is the normal channel with Volume and a single tone control. Chanel 2 the tremolo channel has Volume, Tone, plus Speed and Density controls for the tremolo. The valve complement is Rectifier EZ81 - Preamp and tremolo ECC83 / 12AX7 X 3 - Power amp EL84 X 2 Push-pull running close to class A in cathode bias, and no negative feedback loop.
Tested with both a Stratocaster and Telecaster, sorry I'm a Fender man! The first thing that struck me was the sheer volume of this baby. Ample for a small gig, retaining great tonal qualities at all volume levels. As expected the Dominator saturates nicely producing a pleasantly smooth distortion, reaching a point where it gets no louder, but compresses to stinging sustain qualities rich in harmonics. The single tone control ( one per channel) has good sweep from a bright treble to a not too boomy bass. A good tonal range from a nice bright clean Shadows sound to creamy bluesy overtones. I imagine a guitar fitted with humbucking pickups would really make the amplifier sing. There is something about EL84's that when pushed hard, for such a small valve they really do deliver.
The tremolo is among the best I have heard, good range and depth from a nice slow Duane Eddy Rebel Rouser sound to the faster Searchers sounds.
Shown here in a new livery enhancing the golden anniversary of this highly desirable Dominator, an amplifier from an era when 17 watts of power brought horror and fear to the faces of many a promoter.
The price just £1200
Click the button for an MP4 Video & sound clip by Joe Ortiz
All IE tests now approved. Available for sale early February 2010. It is likely that just 100 of these amplifiers will be produced, and may be offered with an option of Jensen Alnico speakers, at extra cost. All will be issued with a certificate of authenticity personally signed by none other than the legend himself, CHARLIE WATKINS. To avoid disappointment, interested parties are invited to register their details with amp-fix contact Amp-Fix You will be under no obligation to buy at this stage. About six weeks before your allocated amplifier is ready for delivery, to prove your commitment we will ask then for a 10% deposit. Up until that point you are free to change your mind
The New Dominator stock speakers will be Celestion Vintage 10's with Jensen alnico P10Q as an optional extra. Also in the pipeline is the possibility of an ELAC reissue speaker, and the further option of an all valve spring reverb, which would make this amplifier a really versatile investment.
Turret
board and components
Control
panel
Grill
cloth
Charlie Watkins enjoying a nice cup of tea (how British is that!) whilst signing the first of the New Dominator's storage boxes.
Shown below is the brochure for the original Mk1 Watkins Dominator, the reissue is a Mk11
Miracles have been worked to make the reissue as close a replica as possible, but I'm afraid we just can't match the price!
Or can we?
FACT. The average unskilled workers wage from Oct 1959 - Sept 1960 was £7-18s- 5d for a 46 hour week. Today the UK minimum wage for a person over the age of twenty two is £5.73 per hour. £263.58p for the same number of hours a the basic rate. Thirty four times more now than it was in 1959
On that basis the Dominator In 1959 at £38.50 X 34 (the difference in low paid wages) comes out at £1309.00.
Therefore the relative price today, before tax is less than it was way back in 1959.
It is likely that just 100 Reissue Watkins Dominator amplifiers will be made, do not miss your opportunity to purchase one of these highly respected and collectable amplifiers. Order yours now, or register your interest with Amp-Fix with no immediate obligation to buy.