Friday, October 21, 2016

Oddball British Hi-Fi: Sound City & Simms-Watts Amps

During the musical explosion of the 1960s in London, it was common for music stores to design and build their own equipment for sale at the shop;  each neighborhood retailer would try to outdo the other, along with a good bit of copy-catting, of course. This is essentially how Marshall, Orange, and Vox all came to be, and as happens in most free-market industries, competition would arise. Two of the rarest, loudest, and best-sounding competitors were Sound City and Simms-Watts, and both are profiled here.



Sound City

  
An early Sound City SC105 "One Hundred" head
  


To begin discussion of Sound City amps, we must go back to one of several London music shops owned by Arbiter Electronics, half of the Dallas-Arbiter, Ltd. musical conglomerate. The original music superstore chain, they sought to cover the bases of all the equipment a band might need, from guitars and amps to drums and PA systems. In 1966, Arbiter began producing the Fuzz Face Germanium fuzz pedals that Jimi Hendrix made extremely popular, as well as Dallas with the Rangemaster Treble Booster a year prior, used by Eric Clapton, Ritchie Blackmore, and Brian May, among others (both of these products were answers to similar Vox units, as well). Depending on where and when it was purchased, it could be an Arbiter-labeled product, or Dallas Music Industries, or that of whichever shop sold it. In the back of one of these West End shops, appropriately named Sound City, Dave Reeves would design and build the SC105 "One Hundred" model amplifier, a high-headroom 100-watt EL34 answer to the Marshall Super Lead "Plexi" head.



A very early Arbiter-branded Power One Hundred head atop an original SC105 (left),
and Jimmy Page playing thru possibly that very same Arbiter head (right).

Reeves, who started his own company, Hylight Electronics, in 1966, needed capital to start manufacturing his own amplifiers, and agreed to a contract as Sound City's chief design engineer for a period of time. When the One Hundred design went into production as the Sound City L100 in 1967, Pete Townshend and John Entwistle of The Who began using them immediately, as they preferred the loud, cleaner tone of the L100 to the Marshalls they had been using prior. Jimi Hendrix was turned on to them by The Who, and used some Sound City stacks along with his Marshalls for a brief period, along with Jimmy Page, who used a very rare Arbiter-branded "Power One Hundred" head in '68-69. At one point, Townshend had his amps modified privately by Reeves, which began a working relationship between the two that would last quite some time.



Pete Townshend of The Who, with a pair of SC105/L100 heads and matching cabinets


Jimi Hendrix, with a Fender Jazzmaster (!!!), and SC105/L100 stack next to his Marshall Plexi


Reeves, a perfectionist, wanted his designs to utilize the highest-quality military-spec components possible, but Dallas-Arbiter wanted sales, and cost-cutting was often pushed by his employers at the sake of quality. They were interested in competing with Marshall by offering a more affordable product to the working musician, rather than higher quality. Reeves wanted to use high-quality Fane speakers and hardwood cabinets, Arbiter wanted to go with cheaper drivers and particleboard (some of the early Sound City cabinets are incredible, look for the Fanes!); This created a friction that would not be resolved, and at the end of his contract, Reeves left Sound City and began building his own amplifiers, starting the Hiwatt amplifier brand of Hylight Electronics. His first model, the DR103 amp, shared many similarities with the original SC105/L100, but spared no production expense or attention to detail. 

The next wave of Sound City products were based on Reeves' original designs and mirrored his Hiwatt models, as his former assistant, Denis Cornell, would go on to build the Mk2 and Mk3 versions of the L100, as well as the Lead/Bass 200 and 50 heads, using the ideas and techniques he learned from Reeves (The L/B200 was a monster 4xKT88 200-watt beast designed to compete with Marshall Majors and Hiwatt DR201 models; the 50 was a 50-watt competitor of the Hiwatt DR504). Cornell is currently a very well respected boutique amp builder, and has built tweed Twin-style combo amps for Eric Clapton, amongst others.




An early 1969 Hiwatt DR103 (top), and a Sound City L100mk3 (bottom);
the similarities go far beyond cosmetics.

A very clean L/B200mk3 head



The Who stuck with Reeves, having their customized Sound City amps rebadged with Hiwatt logos, and the DR103 would evolve into a custom CP103 "Super Who" model that Townshend used for over a decade. Jimmy Page endorsed Hiwatt from their beginnings thru 1971, with a custom DR118 100-watt "Jimmy Page" model, and David Gilmour of Pink Floyd has also been a Hiwatt devotee from 1969 until present day, briefly seen using a Sound City L100 just prior to the company's start.



Pete Townshend's custom Hiwatt CP103s, with a rebadged Sound City L100 on top

Back cover of Pink Floyd's Ummagumma LP, featuring two L100 stacks behind the band's roadies



While Hiwatt went on to legendary status thanks to their no-compromise quality and high-profile endorsers, the very similar early Sound City amps can be found for a fraction of their cost, and sound fantastic, particularly the Mk1 (original), Mk2 and Mk3 models. Most later models labeled "Mk4" or "Plus" used an active EQ circuit, and begin to diverge considerably from the original Reeves design, as do the 120 and 150 models (not to say they aren't solid amps, just different). Pre-'72 seems to be the range to seek for the best of Sound City, or at least closest to Dave Reeves' original vision.



Simms-Watts
An original AP100 model


David Simms ran a shop called the Musical Bargain Centre on Ealing Road in London, near both Jim Marshall's original store and where Monty Python would film many classic scenes. In 1968, Richards Watts was named technical director of the shop, and the Simms-Watts brand was born. It's notable that Rick Wakeman worked at the shop while studying at the Royal College of Music, and John Entwistle would drop in to rehearse with him (Entwistle would later endorse Simms-Watts, amidst stints with Hiwatt and Sunn amps, as well). It's additionally notable that Terry Marshall, son of the late Jim Marshall and the "T" in the JTM line of Marshall amps, also joined Simms-Watts in 1968 after a falling out with his father. Like most competing retailers, Simms-Watts sought to outfit the entire band with amplification, from guitar and bass to keyboards and vocals, and they began offering some extremely high-quality products in 1969. They designed two instrument amps, the AP (All-Purpose) 100 and 200 Super models, as well as multi-input tube-powered PA mixers, using only extremely high-quality Fane or RCF speakers in their cabinets. 



A Simms-Watts AP100 halfstack



A Fane speaker, rebranded with the very cool Simms-Watts logo

An AP200 Super head, complete with Monty Python-inspired "POW!" graphic


An AP100 advertisement featuring John Entwistle


A very clean '72 AP100mk2 (Red panels were indicative of EMI Mk2 models)


These amps used massive Partridge transformers, just as Hiwatt and early Sound City, and ran their tubes at an incredible plate voltage of over 600 volts in Ultra-Linear mode, gaining as much clean headroom before distortion as possible. The AP100 used EL34s, while the AP200 used a quad of KT88s, just like the Marshall Major, Hiwatt DR201, and Sound City L/B200 amps, and by utilizing this ultra-linear circuitry, created an even louder, cleaner amp at higher volume levels. While I've never played an AP200, I can say that after my brief experience with the AP100, it might just be the PERFECT amplifier for fuzz pedals, not only due to the clean headroom, but it's warmth... these are ultra-clean amps, but far from sterile. Their tube warmth and optimal input circuitry can take the edge off a Fuzz Face or Tone Bender while allowing the fuzz to breathe, and guitar & pedal to interact without interference. Mick Ronson of David Bowie's Ziggy Stardust band may have agreed with me, as an AP100 can be seen onstage alongside of his Marshall Major, circa '72/73 (Bowie was rumored to have used it for his 12-string acoustic/electric, also).








A 200-watt, 6-input tube "Super" PA head


Matching pair of vertical 4x10" PA cabinets, likely loaded with RCF speakers



A stage backline made up entirely of Simms-Watts, featuring 8 4x15" PA columns and two full 4x12" stacks.
This might have been the loudest concert ever.


PA100 4-channel unit with matching speakers



Simms-Watts made some incredibly unique equipment, with great cosmetic design as well as sonics. In 1972, they were purchased by EMI Sound and Vision, and although staying in production for several more years, a period of decline began, including the cost-cutting move to transistor circuits. Simms held on to his original shop until at least 1978, when a new Dave Simms Music Products store opened up, dealing mostly in PA and DJ equipment. Richard Watts went on to work for several organ and keyboard manufacturers over the years, as well as Electro-Harmonix, but the early Simms-Watts models would be the only tube amps known of his design.


A more modern Simms-Watts user, Jamie Cook of Arctic Monkeys
with an AP100mk2 & matching 4x12"


And perhaps the most appropriate picture of all, three full stacks of Sound City L100 heads atop Simms-Watts cabinets... the perfect conclusion to this oddball thesis.


                              


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33 comments:

  1. A very interesting and well-researched article. Thought I'd mention that Terry Marshall, Jim's son (and the T in the JTM series) worked for Simms-Watt after leaving his dad's company.

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    Replies
    1. Thanks! That's pretty interesting, prob right around the change from JTM to JMP I would guess?

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  2. Never seen Partridge iron in a Simms. Lots being sold as having it, but never are.

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  3. This gadget tries to catch the very best of both globes. They consist of both tubes and transistors that work in tandem. bestpracticeamps.com website

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  4. Sound City Mk2s were built by Dave Reeves not Denis Cornell (he did the Mk3s)

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  5. In most cases surround speakers that are well linked and connected with woofers play a major role in ensuring that quality sound is produced. amplifier experts

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  6. To begin with, one has to consider the size of his room or rather the room where the system will be placed.sound production

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  7. Denis Cornell designed and built the SC 120's also.

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  8. Affordability is a must, especially if you want the option of taking two or more portable generators to run an AC on an RV and charge y my response

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  9. Just to confirm that we did not use Partridge transformers in our amps. They were made by a firm near Rickmansworth and the guy who owned it knew one heck of a lot about transformers. They continued to make all our transformers until at least after the EMI takeover.
    Otherwise a fascinating and accurate write up of Simms-Watts.
    Rick Watts aka Richard aka etc etc

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    Replies
    1. Hi Rick
      I'm sure you are asked many times but would you mind sending me a schematic for the AP100 there is one available not very clear, kind regards Dave

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    2. Dave, asking for the schematic. 50 years later. Yeah.. just dig into my wardrobe and find one...

      Delete
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  12. Wow, it was a really interesting post about the development of music since the 1960s in London. Simms-Watts made good music equipment. The pictures you showed are very cool and look like they have experienced much.

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  14. Hi, I'd like to know if someone have shem's of Simms-Watts AP 100 TS? It' a solid state Guitar/Bass/PA (Tri Sound) amp.
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  23. Fascinating, great to read this as there is not even a mention on Wiki about Simms-Watts equipment.
    Many thanks for taking the time to write this.

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  24. Hi! I used one of the early solid state "Ike Isaacs" Combo's bought at the ealing shop for many years. I took it with me on the last world voyage of the Shaw Savile Liner "Southern Cross" in 1971 and the interest it generated in South Africa and Australia was amazing. My friend Johnny Grumbridge (an incredibly gifted electronics engineer) went to work for them as production manager whilst I was away. The Factory was in Bletchley, just down the road from Marshall's. On my return he modded the amp to cure the "motorboating" sound it would sometimes make when started up on a cold or damp day. As a thank you for the interest I generated around the world Dave Simms & Johnny presented me with a GE100 graphic equaliser head. (8 vertical sliders instead of simple bass mid and treble) together with a 200watt 4 x 12 cabinet. They also supplied a PA mixer amp and 2, 4 x 10 columns. It was great gear, very solid and reliable and I continued to use it until I changed from guitar to keyboards in 1967. I still used the PA system and the 4 x 12 cabinet became my bass cab for my Elka 405 portable organ. I sold it all off when I retired from full time music in 1969 and returned to engineering. I wonder where it is now? If anyone knows where Johnny is I'd love him to get in touch. We lost contact many years ago.

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  25. Sorry I thought My name would appear automatically: It's George Parsons.

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  26. Hi. I should correct my error with the later dates. I changed to keyboards in 1977 and retired in 1979. I'm getting old I guess.

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  27. Very interesting article!
    I love the Sound City studio and the masterpieces were created there!
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  28. Great stuff, load of thin's I didn't know about these early amps. online mixing and mastering services

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  29. I'll be looking out for one those Sound City amps at the car boot sales for sure ;-). best kontakt libraries

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