WEM/Watkins HR 30 Head

This amplifier head has four inputs into two channels. Each channel has controls for Volume, Treble and Bass. The inputs are labeled "Microphone", "Bass" (ch1), "Rhythm" and "Lead" (ch2), however I must admit I really couldn't hear much of a difference. Furthermore channel 2 has controls for "Rate" and "Beat" of the Vibrato/Tremolo which affects the vibrato channel only. There's a row of push buttons, allowing to select "Presence", "Vibrato" - "Hi LO" - "Tremolo" and "off". The Tremolo/Vibrato footswitch jack is also on the front panel. On the back is a voltage selector, a Bulgin pluck socket, the mains switch, a pilot light (why is it on the back?) and the speaker out jack (there's only one).

The amp uses four EL84's and a one ECC83 in its output stage, as well as six (!) ECC83's in the pre- amps.

This head is certainly not very versatile, however I don't believe in versatility anyway.

Sound, sound sound. That's what it's all about, right? Thirty watts doesn't sound like a lot, but with a Vox AC30 thirty watts are f***ing loud. Somehow the WEM HR30 seems to have less output power, even when it's connected to my rather efficient 2x12 Alnico cab. Is that good or bad? It certainly depends, but with this amp clean headroom is something you just don't consider. Rather one enjoys the smoooooth distortion the amp produces at non ear splitting volume levels. Whoever has played or heard it so far -especially with my Hofner Verithin connected- went "why, that's the sound of Britain!" The EQ's are both shelving filters, so there's no radical tone shaping tools on board with this amplifier. The presence button adds a bit of welcome treble bite when engaged.
Even though there's so many pre-amp tubes in there the HR30 doesn't have overly much Gain. So if you are using a clean booster or an overdrive there's a lot more dirt to be wrung from this head. The vibrato channel has a bit more gain. The reason being that most of these ECC83 are working in what must be a rather complex all valve tremolo/vibrato circuit. If we discount "OFF", there are three different modes. "Tremolo" should be clear, and it sounds really excellent. "Vibrato" sounds like a VOX AC30 vibrato (phase shift fake vibrato). The mysterical "Hi-Lo" alternates high and low frequencies (I suppose that's similar to the Fender "Harmonic Vibrato" of the proffesional series of 1960). Strangely the gain changes whith different settings. Seems like maximum preamp gain can be achieved by activating tremolo and switching the oscillator off with the foot switch (simply ground out the tip). The Tremolo/Vibrato sounds are very, very beautiful and quite unique.

The whole construction isn't exactly what I'd call the defintion of ruggedness. In fact this amp head is extremely light weight. On the other hand it's not outright crappy, either. In contrast to its predecessor (the ER15) it is not point to point wired. Once set up properly I don't see why anyone shouldn't fully rely on this pieces performance.

What I really appreciate about old WEM amps (I also own a ER15) is their incredribly smooth distortion. It's not a "modern" distortion sound. So if you're looking for a Marshall with less volume, forget about it. If you're playing power chords this amp is only cool if you do want to sound like England 1964 (Kinks, rather than WHO). I usually play pickings and open chord stuff. No amp sounds better in this field than the HR30, except maybe its little brother: the ER15. But that one's lacking the cool Vibrato option (then again it has more gain...).