View Full Version : Rotating Speaker effects, whats the best? DLS, H&K, Boss etc???
Hey I'm looking for a rotating speaker effects pedal and want to know which one is the best. Is it the DLS, the H&K Rotosphere, Boss pedal? Any others? What's the best out there on the market today? Thanks for your replys. :)
david henman
07-06-2006, 07:46 AM
...just have the audience spin around when you take a solo!
:rotflmao
Should I be searching for a thread on this subject? I just figured I’d start anew because there might be some new things on the market that I haven’t seen yet...
clothwiring
07-06-2006, 09:55 AM
In my experience the Korg G4 is the best. Many people are saying the Boss RT-20 is very good. I don't suggest the DLS or Option5. The DLS is watery, alot of controls but many of them are inside the unit. You can get by with it, but if you're a hound for a leslie sim then that's not the best choice. I also tried out the Option5 last winter. It died on me the 2nd time I used it and it's slow sound was horrible. It didn't have many options and the only thing good was the fast sound.
I personally love the Korg G4 and have sold all others since I realized I really didn't need to have it on my board for the time being.
Alot of people have been raving about the Boss and I'd like to give it a try sometime. It gets good reviews.
hipfan
07-06-2006, 10:04 AM
I have the H&K Rotosphere, and it does a great job. Very chewy and authentic sounding. However, you can only get the most out of it in a hot effects loop. It does not fare as well between the guitar and amp. The effect is not as deep or genuine sounding, and it can be noisy there.
Some of the other options (DLS, Boss, Line6 maybe?) could be better options for that situation.
Clothwiring, the G4 looks very interesting. http://www.superpage.com/riffs/desc_korg.html
Has anyone tried one of these?
http://www.musictoyz.com/images/gif/spinii.gif
pickaguitar
07-06-2006, 10:15 AM
Option 5 Destination Rotation (http://www.pedalgeek.com/cgi-bin/new_shop.cgi?config=&uid=qiPgQQAA1152202366&command=link--ofdr)
drolling
07-06-2006, 10:31 AM
It's a funny thing, but the H&K's not the first choice of the keyboard players I know - either because they're too picky, having often worked w/real Leslies, or perhaps because the Rotosphere has been 'voiced' for guitar.
In any case, that's the one I'd have if my amp had an effects loop - really is way too noisy in front..
Both the units I use are long discontinued; the above-mentioned Korg G4 and a DigiTech RPM-1.
The DigiTechs were made by IVL technologies (they also did the original Whammy pedal) up here in Canada and I could not, for the life of me, get my hands on one at the time - But just a couple of years ago, when I was picking up my irrepairable DL-4, I found a stack of them sitting in the keys section of the music store.. N.O.S. fresh in unopened boxes and priced to go at $299 CDN.. I should have bought them all.. 12AX7A tube-driven, with a THIRD channel for the rotor (stereo horn spread) unbelievable sounding. Really helped take the sting out of the $50 'bench fee' I paid to find out my Line6 pedal could not be fixed..
clothwiring
07-06-2006, 10:34 AM
Clothwiring, the G4 looks very interesting. http://www.superpage.com/riffs/desc_korg.html
It's a great pedal, only thing is they are a tad hard to find. Ebay is where I got mine a few years ago when someone posted it with BIN cheap. I got lucky.
Phil M
07-06-2006, 10:34 AM
It's a funny thing, but the H&K's not the first choice of the keyboard players I know - either because they're too picky, having often worked w/real Leslies, or perhaps because the Rotosphere has been 'voiced' for guitar.
In any case, that's the one I'd have if my amp had an effects loop - really is way too noisy in front..
Both the units I use are long discontinued; the above-mentioned Korg G4 and a DigiTech RPM-1.
The DigiTechs were made by IVL technologies (they also did the original Whammy pedal) up here in Canada and I could not, for the life of me, get my hands on one at the time - But just a couple of years ago, when I was picking up my irrepairable DL-4, I found a stack of them sitting in the keys section of the music store.. N.O.S. fresh in unopened boxes and priced to go at $299 CDN.. I should have bought them all.. 12AX7A tube-driven, with a THIRD channel for the rotor (stereo horn spread) unbelievable sounding. Really helped take the sting out of the $50 'bench fee' I paid to find out my Line6 pedal could not be fixed..
Can the Digitechs be run through the front of a vintage style amp (with less noise that the H&K)? That really was my only sound related issue with that pedal, I thought it sounded incredible.
drmathprog
07-06-2006, 10:43 AM
Leslie Model 122. :roll
This has caught my eye too:
http://www.classahighperformance.com/images/songworks%20roto%2010.jpg
The Little Lanilei 10" Rotary Wave Speaker.
TieDyedDevil
07-06-2006, 11:06 AM
My top picks would be:
1) The Leslie mode of the Digitech EX-7.
2) DLS RotoSIM
3) Voce Spin II
None of them come close to playing a Leslie 147 up-close and personal, but they're closer than most.
Other pedals I've tried and haven't liked include the Korg G4, Boss RT-20, H&K Rotosphere, and a long list of other "swirly" effects that aren't specifically touted as Leslie sims.
I've also passed on the Motion Sound SR-112 speaker. It's better than most pedals, but doesn't really stack up to a Leslie.
Yeah I've considered getting the EX-7 just for the Flanger sounds alone but it just hasn't got the GAS rising in a while.
pfflam
07-06-2006, 11:32 AM
This has caught my eye too:
http://www.classahighperformance.com/images/songworks%20roto%2010.jpg
The Little Lanilei 10" Rotary Wave Speaker.They sell kits for making these.
I imagine if kits are out there then the schematics for making even rougher versions are probably also out there . . . . and what could beat the real thing, and, you're own real thing?!
Any others out there that maybe aren't necessarily Leslie simulators but do great impressions? I'm thinking along the lines of vibe pedals.
clothwiring
07-06-2006, 11:46 AM
The H2O can get in the range of Leslie tones, but you don't have control over slow/fast, you can set it with one setting. It's not great, but it does work.
valen
07-06-2006, 11:51 AM
I heard one guy in another thread raving about the Line6 Roto-Machine. Any comments on those ? Other than the fact that they are not TB, any other probs with them ?
drolling
07-06-2006, 11:57 AM
Can the Digitechs be run through the front of a vintage style amp (with less noise that the H&K)? That really was my only sound related issue with that pedal, I thought it sounded incredible.It's the same idea as the Rotosphere - a marriage of digital simulation & pre-amp tube grunge, so unfortunately, it's not the quietest effect out there - but the noise levels are much less objectionable to me than the H&K's.
In fact, there's something about the RPM-1's noise floor that reminds me of the wheezing & grinding of my brother's genuine Leslie cab. I only use vintage style amps, and the RPM-1 sounds just astonishing w/the horns split thru' my '63 Vibroverb & AC-15TBX, and the rotor running up the middle to an Ampeg V-4 (bass head) w/home-made 2 15 cabinet.
Forgot to mention that it's a rackmount unit - that's probably a deal-breaker for some, but mine's sandwiched between the only two other pieces left of the old refridgerator-sized rig; an Electrix Repeater (another IVL product!) and a Lexicon JamMan..
Yeah too bad it's a rack mount... : (
granite
07-06-2006, 12:30 PM
I have a Calypso Whirligig on order. Fatback's video clips did me in. It sounds like a pretty good Leslie pedal.
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-9166401200945127755
Ha ha, I bet you fatback is directly responsible for thousands and thousands of dollars worth of pedal purchases around the world. :roll
Denyle_Guitars
07-06-2006, 12:51 PM
I had a Digitech RPM-1 and wanted so much to like it. I couldn't find a single sound that I'd want to recreate. I sold it to a keyboard player who thought it was the greatest thing ever. The only similar effect I had at the time for comparison was a Rolls rp147, which I still have. It's perhaps less realistic [it's more of a univibe sound] but it just works for guitars.
Re: the Digitech, I though the leslie simulation was fine, very versatile. I just thought the overall tone of the box sucked.
jbird327
07-06-2006, 02:46 PM
I prefer the H&K. I also have the DLS, Option5 and the Little Lanilei. I like the slow on the Option 5, and I am not too happy with the DLS. The distortion controls on the O5 and DLS are pretty useless, the H&K distortion is nice and responsive. The noise of the H&K does not present any problems for me. The Little Lanilei is a neat speaker but presents some setup problems - ie: how to turn it on and off as needed. I power it with a separate amp and use an ABY. The 10 inch speaker also sounds thin next to a 12.
Phil M
07-07-2006, 06:17 AM
I prefer the H&K ... The noise of the H&K does not present any problems for me ...
Though the H&K tends to be be noisy in front of an amp, it never really presented a problem for me live as long as I was playing. If I played it into the clean channel the noise was not a problem and if I switched it on into a dirty amp, I only had it on when I was playing.
I really miss mine. That was a really dumb trade on my part. The feature set of the DLS was awesome (true bypass, quieter, much smaller footprint, 9v power tap, OD circuit, nice slow mode), but the sound of the H&K was killer.
jbird327
07-07-2006, 07:18 AM
I keep the H&K in a loop so it is totally out of the signal path when off. In my 4 years of using this pedal live, it is the only effect that consistantly gets remarks - even my drummer wakes up when it is on.
TheGrooveking
07-07-2006, 09:35 AM
I have two of the RPM-1's and a Korg G-4, Also two od the BOSS RT-20, for portablility and tone, the RT-20 is the go to. Run it in stereo and use an expression pedal for te speed control and you will be very happy. Personally I like the RT-20 better than the G-4. The RPM-1 can run into the front end of amps.
TheGrooveking
pacomc79
07-07-2006, 12:30 PM
Any others out there that maybe aren't necessarily Leslie simulators but do great impressions? I'm thinking along the lines of vibe pedals.
The E-H Wiggler is a cool pedal. I don't know exactly how accurate it is, but it does that kind of thing.
I believe there are clips at www.ehx.com (http://www.ehx.com)
http://www.ehx.com/ehx2/Default.asp?q=f&f=%2FCatalog%2F14%5FModulation%2F24%5FThe%5FWiggle r%2F09%5FJerry%5FFriedman
TieDyedDevil
07-07-2006, 02:53 PM
Yeah I've considered getting the EX-7 just for the Flanger sounds alone but it just hasn't got the GAS rising in a while.
Really? For the flanger? I thought that was the weakest sound in the EX-7. Hmmm... That said, I'm not big on flangers, but I certainly preferred the Ross Flanger I used to have over the EX-7 flanger mode.
Really? For the flanger? I thought that was the weakest sound in the EX-7. Hmmm... That said, I'm not big on flangers, but I certainly preferred the Ross Flanger I used to have over the EX-7 flanger mode.
I thought the sound clips sounded fine but I haven't tried one in person...:jo
iualum
01-03-2007, 10:50 PM
Have played the RotoSphere, RT-20, RotoSim, & RotoMachine. My favorite is the DLS RotoSim. In addition to the controls on the outside, there are additional inside tweaks that make it unbelieveably versatile.
I also have a Line6 RotoMachine. Although it isn't up to the DLS, it's a super value considering the price.
So, if price is an issue, Line6 is an excellent choice. If you can afford it, get the DLS.
KRosser
01-03-2007, 11:19 PM
This has caught my eye too:
http://www.classahighperformance.com/images/songworks%20roto%2010.jpg
The Little Lanilei 10" Rotary Wave Speaker.
I have one of these. I was thinking of selling it because I never really use it. It's one of the 'kit' ones, I'm pretty sure (I'm not the original owner).
PM me if you're interested.
tonefordays
01-03-2007, 11:44 PM
Didn't read through everything, but on the cheap tip, the Arion SCH-1 is an amazing little pedal. It sounds like a more dry univibe than a chorus, but it's one of my favorite pedals on my board. Also, the Danelectro Chicken Salad Vibrato has a leslie type sound. It's pretty wet, but does the "Breathe" from Pink Floyd thing to a T. I used the Chicken Salad through an old synth for quite awhile for leslie tones. Also, the Dano rocky Road is pretty cool, and even has a ramping function. Unheard of for anything else in that price range. They're not the most solidly built pedals, but for the money you could just buy another at $15 or $20 and be good.
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