Erv, you're a hoot. I remember reading about these things back in the 90's, I believe. I seem to recall they had an actual rotating horn.
I don't think they make this thing anymore, but Motion still makes some cool rotating speaker gear. Real rotating speakers, some sims and some combos with a panel that rotates around a stationary speaker. Full size units and a bit pricey for a guitar rig.
Jerry,
Yes, I try!
I have another unit that was made overseas and then discontinued.It's the Dynacord CLS222.
This is supposed to be the Cadillac of Leslie sims.
One more vote for the POG>Sim combo.I tried the Rotomachine,RotoChoir and the Lex without the Pog and was not all that thrilled.I ended up using a Micro Pog>Rotomachine and am pretty happy with it.The Micro Pog allows a more manageable footprint and I have them in a loop bypass to kick them in and out in tandem.The Rotomachine has a nice ramp up&down and are available in the $100 range on ebay.
I would like to hear the Rotochoir and Lex with the POG but sent them back.They seemed more voiced for guitar to me.
Just my experience,of course.
I go for the Boss RT-20. I did have a Korg toneworks G3 for my Leslie effects, but after it went wrong (Although I did have it repaired)..I went for the reliability of Boss. All you guys with Boss pedals know they are built solid and pretty reliable. Those that havent seen a Boss RT-20 ...just Google it. Amazing construction.
Kevin Milner's combo of the Pog2 and Strymon Lex is killer, folks, I'm saving up for both units. Huge, credible Leslie sound.
E9 INSTRUCTION If you want to have an ongoing discussion, please email me, don't use the Forum messaging which I detest! steelguitarlessons@earthlink.net
The older Korg A2 has a pretty good stereo rotating speaker effect. Its probably very similar to the later G3. The speed is controlled by a foot pedal.
I have an old dynacord that I used for years. It needs work but the repairman says that he can't get the transistors anymore to fix it. I think that they are analog if I remember right. Anyway it is a great unit , just not repairable.
I use a Boss RT-20 and like it very much. I use it with one or two amps(NV-112)through the post patch, the by-pass is very true. I bought mine at Guitar Center on sale for $169 a few years ago. I like the fast/slow change. I have a real Leslie but have not used it since buying this pedal. I use the 122 setting with a little overdrive and turn the rotor volume down a bit. Up close it's not as good as the real Leslie, but in the mix it will fool you. Great thing about Guitar Center is you can play it at a gig and return it no questions asked if you don't like it. Boss makes great stuff.
I just couldn't stay on the side-lines of this conversation since it concerns two of my biggest tone obsessions, the Leslie 122 (or 147), the Mighty B3 and Pedal Steel. I'm also obsessed with regular "Stand Up" guitar as well for the record. As a Hammond player for the last 12 years, getting a good Leslie sound is not cheap. I've played with most of the range of Leslie sim's that have arrived in pedal form in the last decade and the Neo is the best thing going, even if it's 500 bucks. Now, the question arises, "How good does the Leslie sim have to be?' Since we're talking PSG here, and not a keyboard that's trying real hard to be a 450 pound organ, the Rotosphere (which I actually liked till I heard the Neo..) would be my best bet on getting into a good warm tubey 122 sound for under 350. Less used. I also think it's important to note that your stereotypical Leslie sound is NOT crystal clean, even if your not in Uriah Heap. The 122 is almost always throwing some dirt into the sound. All this being said, i've never tried to put my Sho-Bud though a Leslie Sim, yet.
'64 Sho-Bud Fingertip D-10 9+1, Goodrich VP, Sho-Bud/Evans Compactra 100 Custom, Sho-Bud/Evans Compactra 100 Head unit, '75 Tele, '77 Guild D25, '71 YBA-1, Marshall 4x10 and a Les Paul.
I have tried most all of the Leslie sims.
I have come to the conclusion that what we are looking for to use along with our pedal steel is different from what keyboard (organ) players are looking for. I think some times the the Leslie sim might sound TOO much like an authentic Leslie.
YMMV
The H&K Rotoshere is great in stereo but pretty bland sounding in mono mode. I use the H&K for stereo recording and the Roto-Machine for everything else in mono with one amp.
Hadn't seen the Motion Sound unit before which Erv posted but can offer another thought in that direction. Some years ago when they 1st came out I got a Motion Sound RS 112 speaker.
It's a little smaller than a Deluxe Reverb & weighs less. It actually rotates a drum around the 12 that fires into the drum. The sound of "actual moving air" in a small package. Has a dual footswitch to toggle fast/slow, other one toggles from RS 112 to one's "regular" cabinet or in-amp speaker. Speed & ramp controls & a built-in SM 57 capsule w/XLR out if you need it.
It's significantly bigger'n any stomp box but it NAILS the sound of a real Leslie for my uses. I adjust my tone setting a bit as there's no opposite-rotating" horn; am aware that many emulations make much of this factor. I find it "better" sounding than the stomp-boxes I've heard, but that's just my ears. It does add weight [I dbl on a few instr, usually carry as much as the drummer] but "worth it".
Last edited by Jim Behnke on 20 May 2012 7:15 am, edited 1 time in total.
Greg Cutshaw wrote:The H&K Rotoshere is great in stereo but pretty bland sounding in mono mode. I use the H&K for stereo recording and the Roto-Machine for everything else in mono with one amp.
I picked up two Acoustic Lead Guitar G-20 amps brand new for $69.95 each in March when they were at that price at the local GC stores. I have not yet hooked up my RotoSphere to them but I am looking forward to trying them out. Those amps have a really nice clean sound which gets loud when you crank it up- I don't know how well they would work with pedal steel but they are great for non-pedal steel or regular electric guitar. No FX but they work well with pedals.
I've been a sucker for all of the rotating speaker sims out there, starting with the Morley Rotating Wah pedal that I got in the mid 70's. I got a Rolls in the 90's that was pretty nice. Otherwise it has just been patches in the multiprocessors.
Steve Ahola
P.S. I lost the 12vac power adaptor for my H&K so I was unable to play it for several years. I found that the power supply for my Mesa Boogie V-Twin worked for it which was great because the replacements from H&K runs about $40. I learned of a 12vac power supply at Jameco (product No: 100167) for under $12 which works great. So now I can plug my RotoSphere into my V-Twin preamp pedal.
Kevin Milner wrote:Here's a picture of my custom built fast/slow switch (little box with a switch on the right of my steel):
Kevin, Where did you get the switch and how is it wired to the lex?
Hey Gary,
I built it myself with parts from newark.com. Send me an e-mail if you want a parts list, it was pretty cheap (~$15). You'll also need a TRS stereo 1/4 in cable, and the switching logic is pretty simple (just e-mailed strymon for it). Basically you need a switch that switches the "tip" from the "ring" to the "sleeve." Then you just set the lex to use the external speed switch via the expression input (easy - in the manual).
GFI S10-P Ultra -> Milkman 40w Pedal Steel Mini or 300w Half & Half (or Sarno SGBB/Nashville 112 or '94 Twin Amp or Homebuilt 5e3)
Effects: Cali76-CD Compressor -> EP booster -> Sarno Earth Drive -> Earthquaker Devices Zap Machine -> Earthquaker Devices Grand Orbiter Phaser -> Caitlinbread Dirty Little Secret Mk III -> Malekko Envelope Filter -> Hilton VP -> Pedal Projects Klone -> Tech 21 Blonde -> Strymon Timeline -> TC Electronics Spark Mini Boost -> Strymon Lex -> Strymon Flint
OK, so if I buy a POG-2 and a Boss RT-20, I should get a decent organ sound out of my steel? I've looked at a lot of the suggestions here, but sorta trying to get the most from what little budget I have. Does that make sense?
Well, I've done it again!
Still looking for the holy grail in Leslie simulators.
I just pulled the trigger on a Korg G-4 Rotary Speaker Simulator.
I am quite happy with the numerous Leslie sims I already own but just could pass up putting in a bid on the G-4.
From what I hear, this unit is very hard to beat and still much in demand even though it has been out of production for approx. 18 years.
Anyone have experience with the BBE Soul Vibe? I saw one at the local GC the other day, and the improved graphics got me at least a bit curious about how it sounds.
Erv, you're a hoot. I remember reading about these things back in the 90's, I believe. I seem to recall they had an actual rotating horn.
If you want to have an ongoing discussion, please email me, don't use the Forum messaging which I detest! steelguitarlessons@earthlink.net
I found that the power supply for my Mesa Boogie V-Twin worked for it which was great because the replacements from H&K runs about $40. I learned of a 12vac power supply at Jameco (product No: 100167) for under $12 which works great. So now I can plug my RotoSphere into my V-Twin preamp pedal. 
