What do you like/prefer for rotary effect to get your swirl on?

[bluesholyman]

I recently heard an older analog rotary/leslie effect and thought it sounded spectacular but its a big pedal. Wonder what people have found works well and has that warmth of analog stuff in any of the newer pedals, presumably smaller form factor.

Thanks.

 

[Peegoo]

From a practical standpoint, the best one I've used is the Ventilator pedal. But it still does not completely create that somewhat disorienting 3-D room effect.

So I built a Leslie clone. It captures the magic. If I can do this (I'm all thumbs), so can you...it was really not difficult at all.

Build thread here: https://www.tdpri.com/threads/leslie-in-a-box-mission-complete.1031934/

I did make a vid of it to post to YooChoob, but even when recorded with XY stereo mics in the room, it sounds like a stereo Leslie pedal. You need to have your ears in the same room as the cab to fully appreciate the effect.

 

[schmee]

I'm just using a vibrato pedal with fast setting and not too strong. It cuts through the band mix well. I have tried various things:

-The best B3 organ sound by far is a Roland guitar and pedalboard. But that's complicated. It was killer, big bold and strong. best setting available on the Roland was the B3 .
-I had a NUX rotary pedal I should have kept. It was superb rotary sound. I bought it for the octaving, but should have kept it for the rotary. Very hard to find now.
-I found the Boss 2 pedal rotary pedal system to be too elaborate and confusing. Although it has a ton of options. Too big also.
-I recently acquired a B9 pedal after hearing all the great demos. I found it to not be like the demos at all. Had trouble getting it to cut through the mix in a live band setting. Sold it.
-Back to just a vibrato pedal.

 

[Boreas]

It is difficult to simulate a Leslie without a Leslie. You may be able to make a decent approximation of one through a pedal (I use a MXR Uni-Vibe), but a Leslie in a room is mind-blowing. To get the most from a pedal, it should be stereo and using at least two amps. That I know of, there is no other way to throw sound around a room like a Leslie. If you are just recording, it should be simpler - as long as you recognize the limitations of stereo playback!

 

[Bob Womack]

I'm a certified swirly head. Yep.

Bob

 

[bobk]

Keeley Tri stereo chorus is hard to beat…..

 

[mbapcpppmd]

I am thinking about a Strymon Lex. Any thoughts pro/con? Thanks!

 

[4pickupguy]

Nothing sounds like a Leslie in person, however, we mainly hear recordings of Leslies that sound nothing like one in person. Its missing the doppler thing. There are pedals that do an amazing job of sounding like the recorded Leslie sound we are used to hearing, (again, minus the doppler effect).
If you are looking for one with a small form factor, see if you can find a Digitech Ventura Vibe.

 

[Maguchi]

I recently heard an older analog rotary/leslie effect and thought it sounded spectacular but its a big pedal. Wonder what people have found works well and has that warmth of analog stuff in any of the newer pedals, presumably smaller form factor.

Thanks.

I'm a certified swirly head. Yep...

Nothing sounds like a Leslie in person...

^^^Tried lots of diffrent pedals for rotating speaker sounds but none of them really grabbed me. However a few years ago I saw a Leslie G27 cab in my Local Sam Ash. So I tried it and was blown away. Yeah I know, the weight. But it sounds so good compared to any a the pedals I tried that I carry it to gigs. Got one a those folding hand carts and it's no big thing.

 

[Chiogtr4x]

Once again, cheap but good.

I use a Boss CE-5 Chorus Ensemble- set to 'fake Leslie,' mainly for playing 'organ chords or solos on Blues & R&B, and some Dead stuff ( I rarely use a chorus for anything else, but can get whatever, from this pedal)

-I set Mix at 3/4 UP ( so effect is strong)

- set Depth ( intensity) at 1/3, so not too modulated

-set Rate at 90% ( so, it is fast- I can't 'ramp up/down', but I dig the speed here)

- there is 2-band EQ, and I favor strong Low, moderate Hi
* and I always have OD on, so things are 'chewy' with this effect

( there are Stereo outs on pedal, but I just go into 1 small amp- I'm pretty light on gig gear)

If you've ever heard Jimmie Vaughan, on say "Wrap it Up" or "Hillbillies from Outer Space" ( Family Style), my sound is similar
- 20 years using...

 

[Bucster752]

I am thinking about a Strymon Lex. Any thoughts pro/con?

Excellent rotary simulator. It's the only outboard effect I ever use.....and quite sparingly at that. It nails the Harrison riff on Badge. That said, there's really nothing like a real rotary speaker. In the late 80s I used a Mesa Revolver, a massive cabinet rotary that was just stunning live, a real head turner. A bit much to haul around these days though, me being roadie-less and all........

 

[stormsedge]

I have a Keeley DynoMyRoto, a Danelectro Money Laundry and a Boss ME-80...more than enough spin for my needs.

 

[Timbresmith1]

EH Wiggler. Super cool.

 

[Boreas]

^^^Tried lots of diffrent pedals for rotating speaker sounds but none of them really grabbed me. However a few years ago I saw a Leslie G27 cab in my Local Sam Ash. So I tried it and was blown away, Yeah I know, the weight. But it sounds so good that I carry it to gigs. Got one a those folding hand carts and it's no big thing.

View attachment 1050708 View attachment 1050711 View attachment 1050709 View attachment 1050710

How much DOES it weigh? Less than a Twin?

 

[Peegoo]

 

[mandoloony]

I had the Strymon briefly. A lot of the basic controls require pressing two buttons at the same time, so you either have to remember the combinations or keep the manual nearby. If it sounded good, it might be remotely justifiable.

I went back to the Boss RT-20. It sounds better and is a heck of a lot easier to operate.

 

[charlie chitlin]

There's a big giant Boss pedal with some kind of swirly light in the middle that's about the coolest Leslie sound I've ever heard from a pedal.
Never had the guts to part with the coin or the board space.
Especially since I'd only use it a couple times a night.
I'm digging an inexpensive NUX Monterey.
More of a Univibe sound.
Cool for rhythm parts.

 

[Chud]

I’m pretty happy with the Fender Pinwheel.

 

[dogmeat]

I also have built smaller versions of the Leslie that is simply the speaker system and using my amp to drive it. they still ended up being too big to want to lug around.

I was very impressed by the ElectroHarmonics Lester G (G for guitar, they make a key board version too). it sounds very much like the real thing. it can do the spool up and wind down sounds just like the real deal does when the speeds change. but as mentioned, it lacks the room dynamics that exist in person (but they all do). the best you can get with any of them will sound like a recording of a Leslie

and yeah, I bought one. like it too. it wants it's own power supply though. it came with one

 

[Peegoo]

There is a small kit by Mahaffay Amps called the Rotary Wave that is really good for what it is; I built one about 15 years ago. It contains a small speaker with a spinning baffle that is powered by a small 12v motor.

You can see/hear it in action here on top of the stack (two pencil condensers pointed at it) behind Jan Akkerman: