Leslie Effects - Spin-o-rama machines

[Shoes]

Okay.. I've got it in my head that I want a Leslie effect pedal as yet another thing to trip over.

 

I've yet to plug into one but have read the blurbs on Rotospheres, Rotovibes, Uni-Vibes, Vertigo's and I'm starting to spin myself.

 

What is the most effective model given this is all I need it to do (I'm a Luddite - 1 box 1 function guy)

 

&.. My TLS isn't stereo obviously and I'm assuming that a stereo amp or remote power cab on yonder side of stage will have dramatic results. Am I knuts here?

[Werewolf by Night]

Do you mean, are you nuts for thinking that going stereo (given that the particular rotary sim-device has stereo outputs) would yield the best faux-roto eperience? No, not at all! When such effects get to do their thing in stereo, it's startling how dramatically going the bi-way improves that sense of spin!

 

Korg made a killer roto pedal, the Toneworks G4.

 

If you could live with a rackmount affair, the Lexicon Vortex does a real nice rotory effect, and it speeds up to or slows down to the selected speed when going from one to another, just like a real live motorized Leslie. And one of the best stereo spacial rotory sims that I've yet heard is the Alesis Midiverb and Quadraverb; they're stunning!

 

For a high-speed rotory warble, the Electro Harmonix Small Stone phaser actually sounds pretty good!

 

Or are you really looking for a Univibe stylee? Not so much a fake rotory, but a fake of a fake rotory? That's a whole realm in itself! Whichever Univibe clone or cousin that Teahead's running, sounds pretty Hendrixy-Univibey to me!

 

Uhmn... does it have to be a pedal, though? If you're going to the trouble of an additional cab or amp anyways, maybe a real live rotory cab of some kind would work for you. A real deal roto (in mono) sounds more stereo than stereo!

 

I know one guy who uses just the top, the rotory horn enclosure, sitting atop his bf Fender Super Reverb; usually he just lets it do its thing by throwing itself around the room; sometimes, I think he mics it. It always sounds great!

 

Motion Sound makes a variety of rotory devices, Mesa Boogie also has their Revolver. I know there are others currently out there, but I'm not certain of all of their brand-names.

[Shoes]

I guess the central point you raise Caevan is whether I want fake or fake-fake simulation given that I'm not going to drag a Leslie behind me. I was hoping there was something near perfect but much much lighter.

 

The sweeping sound that Hendrix had seemed have a frequency based rotation algorithm (although it had not been invented yet) and that is the particular element I'm after. (perhaps that was a combination of a Leslie effect and a Copycat, I don't actually know... I'll admit this would likely be a good starting point!)

 

I don't want a fixed function that is unresponsive to the sound characteristics. The phaser type fixed warble I have and I've been working it in unison with a crybaby to attempt a simulation but it still not what I'm after.

 

I'll check out Teahead's sound and thanx for confirming that I'm not nuts... or at least on the stereo benefits of this application.

[Werewolf by Night]

Yeah, if you want it to sound like a Leslie, I'd say that for a pedal, try to find a Korg/Tone Works G4, probably thre very best footswitced/floor-pedal device for rotory emulation; or, if you can live with a rack-mount device, the Alesis Midiverb or Quadraverb sound stellar, and the Lexicon Vortex sounds pretty damn good. (All of the above observations are based on my own use and/or ownership or possession of said devices.)

 

I understand that the Digitech (RPM?) rack-unit sounded real good, and I believe it even used tubes in its preamp-section.

 

If you want a Hendrix/Univibe sound, then a Univibe or clone is what you require. There're a number of 'em out there, though I've played precious few of 'em myself!