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Watkins Dominator Project

Seeing and hearing is believing

Moderators: zaphod_phil, Daviedawg, Graydon, CurtissRobin, colossal

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Spongebob
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Post by Spongebob »

Ned_B wrote:Any plans to accept orders soon?
Sorry for the delay in answering your message - just back from a vacation.

We aren't taking orders for these yet as we don't even know what they cost to build. Also as this is a non commercial site it would be inappropriate to solicit for orders. However perhaps I won't get into too much trouble if I mention you can contact me on info@britamps.co.uk to talk about any interest in the project.

I have today added some pictures to my gallery showing the control panel transfer process. I know some members have been interested in that subject.

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WaZaK
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Post by WaZaK »

Spongebob wrote:as this is a non commercial site ....
Uh? Well, it's maybe not Walmart, but a significant number of community members are definitely commercial!
You could surely post in classifieds when you have something members may be interested in. Mind you, admin might ask for a discount: I sense that Paphod Zhil (mentioning no names) may have a fondness for the old Dom! Lolol.
Thanks for the new pictures, btw.
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Post by Spongebob »

Oh! OK then, I'll clarify the state of play regarding marketing the Dom.

We are not ready to take orders yet, but anybody interested in owning one can write to me on info@britamps.co.uk to register their interest -without commitment.

As soon as they are added a serial number is assigned to that person, so the sooner registered, the lower the serial number. As we all know, low serial numbers are of greater future value and with a maximum of just 100 being produced, all hand signed by Charlie Watkins, they are set to be collectors items.

Potential buyers on the register will also be informed of progress on a regular basis.

We aim to set the price of the re-issue to be the same relative price as the original Dominator 50 years ago. Based on an unskilled wage we calculated how many weeks it would take to buy one in 1959 at 39 GBPounds. Given a worker on a minimum wage today and the same amount of weeks , the price would be around 1200 GBP inc UK tax. So that's the target price we're trying to acheive - and with so many custom made parts, it ain't easy.

Premium upgrades such as alnico speakers and maybe colour choices are also planned.

Any comments on price or specification will be appreciated.
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WaZaK
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Post by WaZaK »

Spongebob wrote: the price would be around 1200 GBP inc UK tax.
I can see why it's a tricky target: at that price ($1933) it's $400 less than the discount price for a RI 1974 combo in N America .........

It would make the Dom an interesting proposition even if one was not an ampophile!

PS. Would it be VAT exempt for a non-EEC export? Just a thought.
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Post by Spongebob »

WaZaK wrote:
Spongebob wrote: the price would be around 1200 GBP inc UK tax.
I can see why it's a tricky target: at that price ($1933) it's $400 less than the discount price for a RI 1974 combo in N America .........

It would make the Dom an interesting proposition even if one was not an ampophile!

PS. Would it be VAT exempt for a non-EEC export? Just a thought.
Sales outside Europe would be tax free making it 1044 GBP or 1678.44 USD at todays exchange rate. You may have to pay a local tax or duty to the carrier.

This would be for the standard model with Celestion G10's. For the Tayden/ELAC clones with alnico motors it would have to be a higher price.

A few weeks ago I took the test Dom to John Beer, a UK specialist tech/guitarist for WEM products. He's worked on very many original Dom's and knows how they should sound. You can read he's independant report on this link http://www.amp-fix.com/Watkins%20Domina ... eissue.htm
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zaphod_phil
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Post by zaphod_phil »

WaZaK wrote:Well, it's maybe not Walmart, but a significant number of community members are definitely commercial! You could surely post in classifieds when you have something members may be interested in.
FYI if it's commercial, then the rules state that you need to have made at least 100 posts before posting. Maybe an allowance could be made by a consensus of the moderators on this historic occasion, perhaps to include pictures posted in the gallery. Also personal items for sale need a prior history of 20 posts. In any case, I think this particular initiative is already being well publicised on 18watt.com :D
WaZaK wrote:Mind you, admin might ask for a discount: I sense that Paphod Zhil (mentioning no names) may have a fondness for the old Dom!
Now why would I have any interest in a piece of junk like that? :lol:
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paulschnettler
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Post by paulschnettler »

Note: does the post meter increment for each new topic or subject?
I noticed WEM's post counter seems to be stuck on 37 posts?
Not sure why...
:?:
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zaphod_phil
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Post by zaphod_phil »

The post number is dynamically updated with the latest number, so that all posts by any member, going back to their very first one, will all show the same number of posts. This is a feature and not a bug. :lol:
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WaZaK
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Post by WaZaK »

zaphod_phil wrote:Now why would I have any interest in a piece of junk like that?
Too true: trashy repro. I wouldn't give one house space.
(But I might build a shrine for one!)
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Post by Spongebob »

The Watkins Dominator build photo log in the Spongebob gallery is now complete. I've added a little video clip so you can see and hear how it sounds.

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Post by Spongebob »

Production of the limited edition Golden Anniversary Dominator has now commenced (taken a year to get this far).

I've attached a photo of the man himself - Charlie Watkins - as he signs each individual chassis with a gold pen.
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cGil
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Post by cGil »

Build a shrine for it is right! And a Taj Mah-temple for the shrine! Wow! 8)

Gil...
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Post by Spongebob »

cGil wrote:Build a shrine for it is right! And a Taj Mah-temple for the shrine! Wow! 8)

Gil...
I think my house could be considered a shrine to the Dominator, I've got bit's of them all over the place. 96 Celestion G10 speakers in the kitchen, 100 chassis in the bedroom, 10 finished cabinets in a spare room, 4 prototypes in various stages of disarray, 100 control panels in my office, dozens of transformers, valves, nuts & bolts in the garage...

It's amazing I don't get grief from "head office", she's very tolerant.

Pictures of the very first production cabinets and chassis. The red/cream one is for a VIP customer, it's not standard, but as he ordered 2 Dominators, what could I say?
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cGil
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Post by cGil »

Is it too late to get Dominator Number 9?

Gil...
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Spongebob
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Post by Spongebob »

cGil wrote:Is it too late to get Dominator Number 9?

Gil...
Gil

Can you send me a private message on info@britamps.co.uk

Cheers
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cGil
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Post by cGil »

You've got mail! :wink:

Gil...
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