Lester G over Lester K for keys?

[To B3]

Anyone uses the Lester G for keys over the Lester K? Surprisingly, I found one cheaper than the K in my area and would like to know the pros, cons and overall view about it. One thing I know is that it has only a mono IN and a compressor onboard. The Mono IN does not bother me, but would like to know better if the compressor is useful for organ sounds. What about the footswitch in, can it be used with a normal sustain pedal?

[Delaware Dave]

Lester G (for guitar) vs. Lester K (for keys).  They made different models for a reason.  explanations below....

 

https://www.ehx.com/products/lester-g/

 

https://www.ehx.com/products/lester-k/

 

 

[KuruPrionz]

I checked out both links and I see 3 differences. 

 

One, the input impedance on the G will be different since keyboard outputs are active and in a general sense - line level. Most electric guitars are passive high Z and quite a few of them are fairly low level outputs. 

So you'll have an adjustment to make on the output of your keyboard, especially if you prefer a cleaner tone. Just turn the volume off and slowly bring it up until you find your happy place.

 

Two, the G has one input and the K has 2. Both can create "stereo" effects. If you were to run your second output on your keyboard clean and the first one through the Lester, that can provide a "3d" sound, it is the secret of the Roland Jazz Chorus amps, they only run the chorus to one of two speakers and that creates the illusion that air is moving. It's a nice sound but not likely to translate to the audience except for listeners in the middle of the room. Or, just run your mono output to the G.

 

Three, last but not least I see no mention in the details on the K regarding being able to use an expression pedal to change the speed of the rotary effect. That's a cool feature that the G offers. 

 

If you tweak things to avoid overloading the input, it should work fine. 

 

 

[Delaware Dave]

13 minutes ago, KuruPrionz said:

Three, last but not least I see no mention in the details on the K regarding being able to use an expression pedal to change the speed of the rotary effect. That's a cool feature that the G offers. 

For the Lester K I've read at least one instance of a user that pulled the speed/brake switch and replaced/wired it with a female coupler that he then plugged in a sustain pedal in order to change speeds via a pedal.  I would imagine that wiring correctly you could also do the same thing and get a leslie hand switch plugged in.

[KuruPrionz]

Just now, Delaware Dave said:

I've read at least one instance of a user that pulled the speed/brake switch and replaced/wired it with a female coupler that he then plugged in a sustain pedal in order to change speeds via a pedal.  I would imagine that wiring correctly you could also do the same thing and get a leslie hand switch plugged in plugged in.  

Worth a shot anyway. 

The G comes with that installed. 
I forgot the compressor, that's a 4th difference. Probably not a real game changer but carefully set it could be used as a limiter. Not a bad thing to have either way. 

[D. Gauss]

i use the K for both keys and geetar. no issues. i like that the K is smaller.

[Stokely]

I have a K that I have barely used--it sounds good but I'm not gigging the keyboard I bought it for currently.   I'll probably be selling shortly, or keep it just in case I get a keyboard that could use a better leslie (looking a few like that now).  Like I say, it has a nice tone, works well in stereo or mono too.   Having a foot switch would be great, since I'd prefer to have the pedal up near me so I could adjust things, mainly overdrive.

[DaveMcM]

I have the Lester K and the Ventilator II and prefer the Lester K except for one thing, the placement of the input/output jacks. Whether placed on the floor or in my case on the left of my top keyboard, the cables coming out the left and right side of the pedal get in the way. I use right angle jacks but the left in and out jacks have to be angled up to clear the right in and out jacks (I run in stereo). Very messy looking. Does anyone have a solution for this? I've though about mounting the circuit board in another case to be able to mount the jacks at the back of the unit and also add a footswitch input but don't really have the time to get it done.

[Delaware Dave]

1 hour ago, DaveMcM said:

I have the Lester K and the Ventilator II and prefer the Lester K except for one thing, the placement of the input/output jacks. Whether placed on the floor or in my case on the left of my top keyboard, the cables coming out the left and right side of the pedal get in the way. I use right angle jacks but the left in and out jacks have to be angled up to clear the right in and out jacks (I run in stereo). Very messy looking. Does anyone have a solution for this? I've though about mounting the circuit board in another case to be able to mount the jacks at the back of the unit and also add a footswitch input but don't really have the time to get it done.

perhaps because it was designed to be a foot pedal (i.e. on the floor) the layout might make more sense than when being layed out on a keyboard.  But honestly, who knows why.

[DaveMcM]

1 hour ago, Delaware Dave said:

perhaps because it was designed to be a foot pedal (i.e. on the floor) the layout might make more sense than when being layed out on a keyboard.  But honestly, who knows why.

Even on the floor, it's an issue because the cables get in the way of sustain and CV pedals.

[pjd]

Got a Lester K, here.

 

Have to hit the church PA in mono and don't really miss the stereo. 

 

As to the differences, I wish I could control the acceleration. That I miss. I like a long ramp up and down -- kinda like somebody pulled the old belts out of their VW bug in order to fix their Leslie for the gig. 😃

 

My other bug-aboo is the speed/brake button switch (already mentioned). It is so close to the bypass switch that I sometimes tromp on both. Replacing the switch with a jack and external pedal sounds like a good idea/mod.

 

Hope this info helps -- pj