Phase/Chorus/Leslie and blues

[Larry F]

I loved the sound of phase shifting on Hendrix-type records. But when I bought an MXR Phase 90 in the 70s, I used it so much that I eventually couldn't stand the sound of them.

A while ago, I found a YouTube video of Albert King playing through a phase pedal, and it sucked. It was a very late recording. I also came across a video of Roy Buchanan using one onstage with Lonnie Mack and others. It sucked, too, I thought. I suppose I could mention Buddy Guy's use of a Leslie speaker on Junior Wells' Hoo Doo Man record. Guy expected an amp to be there in the studio at Chess, the day of the recording. An engineer wired up a Leslie for him to use. One of my least favorite blues guitar sounds. Clapton and Harrison used the Leslie much more musically, but I imagine it took a lot of time to get a good sound out of it.

For my studios at school, I bought a Leslie pedal, which I thought the students would find interesting. But, as it happens, I'm still trying it out at home. I generally don't use pedals much at all, except for reverb and/or delay. When I plugged this sucker in, I got a pretty nice sound, after a lot of experimentation. I liked the way certain notes spoke in a quasi-human way. I kept liking it, so did an experiment. I decided to keep it on at home until I got tired of it. Surprisingly, this hasn't happened yet, and I am going on two months. If I have a good amp, I find that I can enjoy playing with almost any kind of knob settings. These give me new ways to explore sound via guitar. That's exactly the same kind of mode that I am in right now.

I doubt that I would even take this to a gig, for fear that a less generous listener would find it cheesy. But at home, I am the boss of cheese.

Similar experiences, anyone?

 

[Mr. Lumbergh]

I recently got a Neo Ventilator, which I love... It's got that "something" that other Leslie sims seem to lack. Some songs just need it to sound right, "Riders on the Storm" or "Creep" for example. When I'm working on chords, I love turning it on on "fast" mode, it makes them sound like they're coming from a nice churchy Hammond. Makes me smile every time.

I would definitely take it to a gig. As with any effect, I think it needs to be used tastefully. Any effect will sound cheesy when overused; part of the musical use of any effect is to use it well.

Just my $0.02.

 

[mudbelly]

I have thè Boss Leslie/Univibe on loan from a friend. I like using the leslie sounds. Seems to just beef things up. Not so found of Univibe but it seems to sound good with my baritone guitar.

 

[PumpJockey]

Two words: Jimmy Vaughn.

He still trots out a Leslie sound every once and a while, but he used it a lot back with the Fab T's.

It is the only modulation effect I could see using to any great extent, seeing as how I mostly stick to blues and r&b. Alas, the Leslie effect on my Vox Tonelab ST is pretty poor. (Almost every other modulation on that board sounds fairly good, including delay and reverb.) I "gave up" other pedals for the ST, except for a tuner, since it is easy to transport and set up.

Of course, then I got a deal on a used EHX Soul Food, etc etc...

 

[jipp]

i love the sound my self. i do not have a pedal yet. but its on my list to get. i am considering that kit. but its not a true leslie. as it has no horn to turn. it has a C shape insert that turns instead to give you that Doppler effect with a 10" speaker. i guess its a based off some fender unit. everyone seems to think the neo is the best leslie sim pedal.
chris.

chris.

 

[bigben55]

I needed a modulation pedal, just for something different, wound up buying an Option 5 Destination Phase used for cheap. I dialed in a good "fake" Leslie sound with it, speed 100%, depth 50%, regeneration 0%. Its not dead on, but I can play Cold Shot now;-).

 

[3waytie4last]

I recently got a Neo Ventilator, which I love... It's got that "something" that other Leslie sims seem to lack. Some songs just need it to sound right, "Riders on the Storm" or "Creep" for example. When I'm working on chords, I love turning it on on "fast" mode, it makes them sound like they're coming from a nice churchy Hammond. Makes me smile every time.

I would definitely take it to a gig. As with any effect, I think it needs to be used tastefully. Any effect will sound cheesy when overused; part of the musical use of any effect is to use it well.

Totally agree with this comment.

I first got the Neo Mini Vent and I liked it so much that I bought the more expensive Ventillator II a week later so I could have more control over the settings.

Not only does the fast speed sound most Leslie-like of any pedal, but the slow setting can produce the nicest, fullest chorus tone that you've ever heard.

I originally got the Neo to complement the EH B9 pedal, but I've been playing it solely between guitar and amp and absolutely love it as an enhancement to clean tone.

For phase, I will always love my Bud Box Phase 90, but I don't use it too frequently. It sounds like your tone is wrapped in a warm and comfy blanket.

 

[WaylonFan76]

Been wanting a Leslie sim for a long time now. Of all the demos I heard online, the Neo is the best sounding. I still can't get myself to spend $350 on a pedal I will only use on a few songs.

 

[3waytie4last]

P.S., check out Charlie Hunter for not only his insane ability to play both bass and guitar lines at the same time, but his liberal use of Leslie in his style.

 

[bigben55]

Been wanting a Leslie sim for a long time now. Of all the demos I heard online, the Neo is the best sounding. I still can't get myself to spend $350 on a pedal I will only use on a few songs.

My thought exactly. With the phaser, I figured I can close enough for bar work "fake" a Leslie, "fake" a univibe and still get phaser tones. And I have a Tremolo. Im primarily playing amp and a flavor of OD, maybe with light compressor and delay augmentation. If I need a modulation tone, its only on a handful of songs, not all of them. And 8-9 pedals is as big of a board as ill go, so versatility is key.

 

[BigDaddyLH]

Totally agree with this comment.

I first got the Neo Mini Vent and I liked it so much that I bought the more expensive Ventillator II a week later so I could have more control over the settings.

Not only does the fast speed sound most Leslie-like of any pedal, but the slow setting can produce the nicest, fullest chorus tone that you've ever heard.

I originally got the Neo to complement the EH B9 pedal, but I've been playing it solely between guitar and amp and absolutely love it as an enhancement to clean tone.

The Neo Mini Vent is $350, and all it has is a fast/slow button, and the Ventilator II is $500 -- that's more than my amp! What's up with the crazy prices? What would you buy for this sound under $150?

 

[jipp]

did not realize the neo was so expensive.. i could never spend that much on a pedal.
just could not afford it.
chris.

 

[3waytie4last]

What would you buy for this sound under $150?

I wouldn't. To me, something that sounds authentic is worth the price. Something that doesn't is a waste of money. But I'm weird that way.

 

[getbent]

love to use my phaser,
I have the 'real' fender leslie cabinet, way crazy fun at outdoor things

a little gatemouth brown using pedals makes me think that it can be super musical and super fun...

 

[Mike SS]

In recent years I have been trying to get back to very little effects in my signal chain. Right now I am running a Morley wah, Blues Driver II, and a GFS delay. Mostly I just am returning to the sounds of my youth, which was guitar, chord, and tube amp. That was pretty much my sound, and it served me well in a band situation as the rhythm guitar/lead vocals. I have always been fascinated by that slow, low, phaser sound that Waylon Jennings put on his Tele. I want to get a good phaser, but for right now I have been trying to replicate it with a Digitech multi-effects. I can only get close, but no cigar.

 

[Del Pickup]

I got a Mini Vent a few months ago and, although it is expensive, to me it was worth every cent as it truly is an awesome pedal.

It has minimal controls but, for me, it has everything it needs to have. The slow speed gives a lovely warm chorusy feel to your tone and the fast speed (even without the EH B9 pedal) gives a pretty authentic organ tone.

The two drive functions give it the versatility of sounding either like a Leslie or on the cleaner setting, like a Vibratone cabinet.

Matched up with the new EH B9 pedal, once you've worked out how to play guitar in a more 'keyboard-like' manner, if you shut your eyes you would be hard pushed to tell that it wasn't a real Hammond/Leslie combination playing.

Now, on the price issue, in the past, in my search for a convincing rotary simulator, I've spent NZ$400 on a Red Witch Moonphaser and $200 on a Dunlop Rotovibe. So, $350 for a pedal which is so much better than either of these (to give me the sound I was looking for) isn't too bad.

I've used the Mini Vent at a few gigs and almost everyone in the band (and many in the audience) have commented on how authentic an organ tone I got from it. So, no need for a keyboard player anymore - one less hand to take a proportion of the gig money - and one less ego to feed!

What's not to like............??

 

[WaylonFan76]

In recent years I have been trying to get back to very little effects in my signal chain. Right now I am running a Morley wah, Blues Driver II, and a GFS delay. Mostly I just am returning to the sounds of my youth, which was guitar, chord, and tube amp. That was pretty much my sound, and it served me well in a band situation as the rhythm guitar/lead vocals. I have always been fascinated by that slow, low, phaser sound that Waylon Jennings put on his Tele. I want to get a good phaser, but for right now I have been trying to replicate it with a Digitech multi-effects. I can only get close, but no cigar.

I got a vintage Small Stone that does what you described. However, it darkens your tone rather significantly. But that's one of the pedals Waylon back in the day.

 

[Mike SS]

I got a vintage Small Stone that does what you described. However, it darkens your tone rather significantly. But that's one of the pedals Waylon back in the day.

Maybe that's what my problem is! In all the videos I have seen of Waylon, he is using the bridge pick-up and strumming all most right over it, but his guitar tone sounds "warmer" than it should. Perhaps he was compensating for the phaser's tendency to darken his tone?

 

[waparker4]

The Neo Mini Vent is $350, and all it has is a fast/slow button, and the Ventilator II is $500 -- that's more than my amp! What's up with the crazy prices? What would you buy for this sound under $150?

I don't know, I don't own one but want to. The Mini Vent sounds awesome. Strymon lex sounds awesome too.

DLS RotoSim and Boss RT-20 are cheaper.


In a live setting, would it sound any different to the audience from my TC Electronics Gravy, or Phase 45 clone? IDK

 

[jipp]

I don't know, I don't own one but want to. The Mini Vent sounds awesome. Strymon lex sounds awesome too.

DLS RotoSim and Boss RT-20 are cheaper.


In a live setting, would it sound any different to the audience from my TC Electronics Gravy, or Phase 45 clone? IDK

the rotosim sounds great.
chris.