WEM/Watkins Custom 15

Same spec as the previous reviewer, although mine didn't come with detachable legs(?!) or a foot-switch. The amp itself looks like something off 'Thunderbirds' with its glorious aluminium grille.

It can be set to run on 240V, 220V or 110V just by swapping a screw on the back.

Incidentally, the tremolo circuit doesn't do anything until you actually connect a foot switch (any with an RCA connector will do). It does sound fabulous, creeping in slowly over a second or two until it's in full swing. Likewise, when you switch the tremolo off it peters out gently... Just beautiful.

Sounds wonderful with every guitar I've put through it. Single coils and hum-buckers. I sometimes play old 50's stuff - rockabilly, swing and everything in between. It's just got the right sound. Some of the best guitar sounds that have ever been created just *have* to come out of a small box and a 10" speaker.

Pretty quiet amp, although like most amps it'll hum like hell if you sit right next to it. Move away and turn it up! Mmmmm...

Great range of tones to be had. Love the clean sound. Starts to breaks up great when you get it around half way up. It's so responsive, expressive and musical. Turned up to around 7 you can play clean, dirty and everything in between without changing the dials. Not tried pedals, really cos it sounds so good on its own!

Came with its original Mullard valves, and they've all tested fine ;)

No reverb. If it did I would never put my guitar down again. I'm finding it hard enough as it is...

I did manage to fry the original transformer, although I wasn't pushing it too hard. I've now had some capacitors replaced (par for the course for equipment this old) and the transformer re-wound. (all by John Chambers, Nottingham. Go to www.chambonino.com - highly recommended). There were a couple of half cooked resistors, too. Should be fine now. There's really not that much to go wrong if it's treated right.

No idea, although I've heard that Charlie Watkins himself is still taking calls. I wouldn't dream of bothering him though...

I also use a Fender Bassman '59. Of course, the Custom 15 isn't going to keep up with that, but that's not what it's for. Horses for courses. The right tool for the job, etc.

If you're lucky you might get one under ??300 in the UK. In my view you'd be hard pushed to get a better amp at that money.

I'd be absolutely gutted if it walked out the door. I'd just have to find another. Pronto.

circa 1965. Good old fashioned valve combo, with 1 ten inch alnico speaker driven by 2 x el84s. Four inputs, 2 of which are labelled "microphone". Valve rectified. Tremelo on the normal channel, a golden coloured footswitch is included to switch on the tremelo. The amp has 4 detachable black wooden legs with metal feet, which I reckon may be original as I've seen these on a dominator before. they look like the legs you used to see on little coffee tables or foot rests back in the sixties.....

The tremelo sounds really lovely.

So the amp does nice clean, nice tremelo, and nice crunch. I've heard people say the clean sound is rubbish on these combos but I strongly disagree, it's fabulous, a similar transistor 1x10 sounds flat and inspiring in comparison.

The speaker Grill is perforated metal which looks fantastic but must impede the sound a little, who cares? I don't...it still sounds sweet even though a metal speaker grill seems a little bonkers.

I've considered replacing the caps and because the amp sounds fine I decided not to. The amp is beautiful on clean sounds and nice and crunchy on distorted sounds. It's a quiet amp, so it's good for recording.

It gives you a very nice blues tone. If you boost the sound with a tube screamer etc you get into almost rocky tones.

The tone has depth and warmth...obviously it doesn't have the bass of a 12 inch combo etc.....

I have a transistor 1x10 combo which overheated and almost blew the output transistors when it was pushed volume wise...I also had a Marshall that did the same...but these valve amps seem to handle being cranked effortlessly in comparison, as long as all the components are OK.

It doesn't hum, it doesn't falter in any way. As it is about 43 years old now I can't expect it to work perfectly, yet it does work faultlessly.

I rang Charlie Watkins once and he was absolutely friendly and helpful.

I would repair this amp myself if it went down.

These are still ridiculously cheap...similar WEMs with different names but the same basic circuit and speaker have gone for hundreds more on ebay......

The old world charm is why I bought this amp. It has that vibe but happens to sound nice as well. Lovely amp.