Leslie's

finboy · Post by **finboy** » Thu Apr 04, 2013 2:44 am

I found a couple on kijiji, but I know little about them. I do kind of want 2 speeds, but not sure if either of these would have them. Do you plug a head into them?

The home made dealie looks interesting, if not a little ghetto

luciguci · Post by **luciguci** » Thu Apr 04, 2013 4:50 am

Well, since vintage Leslie speakers were made for Hammond organs, you'll need a "Combo Preamp" to connect to other instruments, like guitar. The vintage Leslie in that listing comes with "an external amp & speed pedal", so I think you're fine.

Avoid that second one though, it looks terrible, plus it's the product of gutting an old Hammond. And it only works when you lay your amp on its back

finboy · Post by **finboy** » Thu Apr 04, 2013 12:14 pm

In regards to the preamp, what would plug into that? Guitar direct? I am just trying to picture how this would be run in a traditional guitar setup.

stewart · Post by **stewart** » Thu Apr 04, 2013 4:29 pm

it used to be that you had to make something that would 'break into' the leslie circuitry, but a few amps in the 70s had the facility to connect to them (some H/H heads had the connector on the back, for example).

you can probably buy something off the shelf nowadays, but if you want my honest advice- buy a simulator. you can get really good ones. real leslies are noisy, have lots of moving (i.e. breakable) parts, are difficult to mic, the bigger ones make the room shake in a really nauseating way (it's like sitting next to a washing machine at full pelt), and that first one you posted is by no means one of the 'classic' cabs.

this is from someone who actually owns one. unless you have a hammond organ, i wouldn't bother.

taylornutt · Post by **taylornutt** » Thu Apr 04, 2013 4:36 pm

I have an EHX Wiggler that has a HAMM(Leslie) setting. I am not sure how authentic it is, but it sounds great and uses vacuum tubes. They can be had for about $100-$150 range

There is probably something closer to actual Leslie out there.

Gabriel · Post by **Gabriel** » Thu Apr 04, 2013 4:39 pm

Hughes & Kettner Rotosphere is meant to be the best simulation you can get.

stewart · Post by **stewart** » Fri Apr 05, 2013 10:49 pm

I remember reading an interview with Adrian Utley around the time of the 2nd Portishead album, and the only digital effect they used live was one of those ^ on Beth Gibbons' voice on a couple of tracks. They had Leslies for guitar and organ. Now read this one (scroll to the bottom), they've obviously got totally fucked off with having to repair the damn things all the time:
http://www.soundonsound.com/sos/nov08/a ... ishead.htm

I used to be (rightly at the time, I'd say) a total snob with regard to analogue keyboards etc, but digital simulations have come so far in the past decade it really doesn't make sense to go for old, crackly, smelly gear that breaks down a lot unless you're some sort of purist.

finboy · Post by **finboy** » Sun Sep 08, 2013 3:40 pm

Gabriel wrote:Hughes & Kettner Rotosphere is meant to be the best simulation you can get.

I nabbed a mk1 version of these locally on the cheap, you guys were right, it nails the sound perfectly. Will try it out in stereo when I find another chord around here.

Benmurray85 · Post by **Benmurray85** » Sun Sep 08, 2013 4:19 pm

I love my MK1 rotosphere. There's no reason to buy a genuine Leslie these days.

Progrockabuse · Post by **Progrockabuse** » Sun Sep 08, 2013 8:14 pm

i love the leslie sound. i've played guitar through a real one a couple of times and it was heaven. these days i get as close as i can with a phase 45 for the faster sounds. one day i will run a leslie live mixed with my current rig. maybe a birthday present to myself if i ever reach 50

Sloan · Post by **Sloan** » Sun Sep 08, 2013 8:16 pm

A real, physical Leslie is a pain in the ass to move and you will probably scratch it up more if you don't have a road case and two people to move it.

paul_ · Post by **paul_** » Sun Sep 08, 2013 9:32 pm

They make Leslies for guitar with built in preamps (with one model giving you the option to bypass it and plug your own amp straight in) and road-rugged casing, but they're fuck-off expensive

stewart · Post by **stewart** » Sun Sep 08, 2013 10:40 pm

^ for a studio, fine, but for us lot a sim pedal or rack is perfectly suitable. you'd use it on what, the odd solo? it's hardly going to be an essential part of your live sound, let's face it.

Progrockabuse · Post by **Progrockabuse** » Mon Sep 09, 2013 8:39 am

There's probably a couple of solos that'll I'll use a leslie sound on on a fast setting (wanted dead or alive or are you gonna go my way).
Slower Leslie/slower sounds I use on things like Dakota or breathe.

The phase 45 isn't too bad at copping it, wouldn't mind one in a wah enclosure so I could ramp the speeds.