WATKINS JOKER (1961/2)

Original description below – photos need updating to show service work on the amp and echo section – some capacitors were out of spec and have been replaced. The results speak for themselves.

Selling on commission for a good customer. This is the second time we have had this amp – it was originally part of the superb collection of early British valve amps we’ve been selling for a collector with over 30 years experience – his description of the amp is below. Click on the photos to zoom in and see many more detailed and internal shots – these were taken a year or so ago so may need some updating. The amp is with us now and will be serviced prior to shipping.

Every time I write an amp description it seems to include the word ‘rare’. Well this this is the RAREST and most SOUGHT AFTER amp of them all. This stunning piece is one of the best sounding British amps ever made, and some think it ranks even higher than the Marshall Bluesbreaker 2 x 12 combo of which I have had several.

This is a late 1961/early 1962 Watkins Joker with an incredibly early serial number of 80* and a speaker date code the appears to be 1961. The Joker is Watkin’s most rare amp, and is widely considered the best amp they ever made. According to Charlie Watkins, only 400 of these amazing amps were made somewhere between 1960-63. The Joker came in a two-tone red and grey covering, and featured a pearlised red control panel with ‘winking  eye’ tremolo speed indicator which distinguished it from the ordinary Watkins amp range. Inside it featured a 25 watt power amp and preamp containing tremolo, copycat tape-echo and reverb. The early models also included a built in microphone stand and Goodman’s hi-fi speaker and horn set up.

This example appears to be complete with microphone stand, Goodman’s Axiom 301/ Trebax Horn and an original footswitch for the tape echo unit. The amplifier construction is very sophisticated with 12 valves and was reckoned to be way ahead of it’s time when first sold. The Mullard valve line up includes the winking eye, an EZ81 valve rectifier, 4 x El 84’s, 4 ECC83’s and an EM87 and 6BR8 tube.

To read more about the amp’s history go to Charlie Watkins own site.

Or the Vintage Hofner site.

Note that this amp is 240 volt and will require a step up transformer for US use.

*These serial numbers covered all products, not just the Joker. The 1962 Joker sold in 2014 had a serial number of 200315