A new thing for the studio – WEM Copicat

If you’re not familiar with the WEM Copicat – it’s the tape echo machine invented by Charlie Watkins at the end of the 1950s. Watkins Electric Music still make them – but they seem to be without the tape bit these days. Here’s loads of info.

I used to have one – and sold it – and have regretted it ever since, so I bought another on eBay described as ‘recently serviced’. Yeah right. I probably should’ve sent it back but I decided to keep it anyway as a restoration project.

I think it’s a Mark IV. So far I’ve replaced the broken mains cable with a 3 core one with an earth so at least the thing is now considerably safer. Given it a good clean too. Might see if I can demagnetise the heads and get some new tape loops. That just leaves the mysterious burning smell that comes out of it when it’s been on a while. Don’t recall my old one doing that, I guess the motor might need some looking at. I think they’re Garrard turntable motors but need to investigate more. If anyone happens to know – leave a comment!

But why would you want one? It’s a good way to inject an interesting and random bit of analogue goodness into things. I like the feedback you get when you turn everything up to eleven.  Plus it looks nice going around and it’s a piece of audio history.