One Of The RAREST & Most SOUGHT AFTER Amps | Watkins Joker

While we’ve had a Watkins Dominator amp in our showroom before, this is the first time we’ve had not one, but two Watkins Joker amps! Previously owned by Richard Fortus and Josh Klinghoffer, respectively, these Watkin Jokers were the first-ever amps to feature a Master Volume control and come equipped with a tube-driven tremolo circuit, plus a tube-driven tape-echo. As far as we know, this is the first time two Watkins jokers have been recorded in stereo!

Josh Klinghoffer's - https://www.chicagomusicexchange.com/products/watkins-the-joker-30-watt-1x12-guitar-combo-amp-w-1979580

Richard Fortus' - https://www.chicagomusicexchange.com/products/watkins-joker-1960s-1989511

Shop All Vintage Amps here! - https://www.chicagomusicexchange.com/collections/amps-vintage

DID YOU KNOW?
The company was co-founded by musician Charlie Watkins and his brother Reg Watkins in 1949, initially as a record shop in Tooting Market, London. Two years later the brothers moved to a small shop in Balham and began selling accordions and guitars. Watkins Electric Music was one of the first to manufacture and sell guitar amplifiers in England, introducing the Watkins Westminster in 1954, followed up by the V-fronted Dominator.

In 1958, Watkins Electric Music introduced the Copicat, one of the first-ever portable tape echo units. The shop sold the entire first production run of 100 Copicats on the first day, including the very first Copicat sold to Johnny Kidd of Johnny Kidd & the Pirates, whose guitarist used it on the group's UK hit song "Shakin' All Over".[2] The Copicat would become one of the company's most successful products, with various different Copicat models released over more than 50 years. By the end of the 1950s, selling amps, echo units, and a line of solid-body electric guitars designed by Reg, Watkins Electric Music was one of the top 3 companies of the U.K. music trade.

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More Guitar Demos!
What if Gretsch made the TELECASTER!?? - https://youtu.be/7bdw3fA_H_U
Guns N' Roses' Richard Fortus Plays Stadiums with WHAT?? - https://youtu.be/qsfX5CeUnZc
Gretsch Limited Edition Streamliner Rally II | CME Gear Demo - https://youtu.be/f9uUyvSbWV8

Additional Gear Used:
Thorpy FX Camoflange Flanger Pedal - https://www.chicagomusicexchange.com/products/thorpy-fx-camoflange-flanger-pedal-1214022

Orangewood Juniper Sunburst Live Rubber Bridge Parlor Acoustic Guitar - https://www.chicagomusicexchange.com/products/orangewood-juniper-sunburst-live-rubber-bridge-parlor-1985092

Fender Jaguar Sonic Blue 1963 - https://www.chicagomusicexchange.com/products/fender-jaguar-sonic-blue-1963-1989510

Epiphone Riviera Royal Tan w/Frequensator Tailpiece - https://www.chicagomusicexchange.com/products/epiphone-riviera-royal-tan-wfrequensator-tailpiece-1042305

Fender Stratocaster Sunburst 1970 - https://www.chicagomusicexchange.com/products/fender-stratocaster-sunburst-1970-1988604

1960 Fender Esquire Blonde - Not For Sale

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#chicagomusicexchange #cme #guitardemo #nathanielmurphy #chicago #fender #fenderjaguar
#vintageguitars #watkins #watkinsamp #wem #watkinscopycat #rare #vintageamps #beatles #rollingstones #pinkfloyd #tapeecho

Chapters:
00:00-01:15 Watkins Jokers In Stereo (Wicked Game) | 1963 Fender Jaguar
01:16-02:55 History of Watkins(Watkins Electronic Music)
02:56-03:35 Crunchy Tones | Epiphone Riviera
03:36-05:19 These Amps Were Owned by Rock Stars!
05:20-06:07 "Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds" | Epiphone Riviera
06:08-07:20 Built in Tape Echo
07:21-07:55 "Run Like Hell" Pink Floyd | 1960 Fender Esquire
07:56-08:41 Watkins becomes WEM
08:42-09:51 Rolling Stones | 1960 Fender Esquire
09:52-10:57 The More You Knowledge
10:58-11:29 "Breathe" Pink Floyd | 1960 Fender Esquire
11:30-11:53 Outro
11:54-13:33 Watkins Jokers in Stereo Some More | Fender Stratocaster 1970
13:39-15:19 More Stereo Goodness! Orangewood Rubber Bridge Acoustic

TRANSCRIPTION HIGHLIGHTS:
So these are both extremely rare as you were saying now this one actually used to belong to Richard Fortus pretty cool and this one actually used to belong to Josh Klinghoffer and the case as well so it seems like you know top players really like these amps yeah exactly it speaks a lot to the Quality these things that the two we have both belong to verified Mega Stars.