WATKINS (WEM) SCOUT

This is a very rare amp, and one of very few made between 1963-4 (possibly also some in 65 with WEM badging). It is essentially the same circuit as the famous mk1 V-front Dominator.

Theoretically (or optimistically) rated at around 14 watts, it sounds like a good deal less, but this makes it a perfect amp for recording and home use – it delivers sweet creamy valve tones at living room levels. It has been compared to a Vox AC15 (but is surely quieter) and some say that this circuit was an inspiration to Jennings when designing the AC15.

It sports no less than four inputs – one input with microphone type rotary pot (which sounds like another tone control) that doesn’t go through the tremolo circuit – gain and master volume controls, and tone control.

The tremolo sounds great, with controls for speed and depth (the footswitch socket is an RCA phono – included is the shorted out plug we’ve been using: plug in for tremolo on, plug out for off, but a suitably-wired footswitch can be used if required).