
Real Leslie speakers had two speeds-Chorale (slow) and Tremolo (fast)-and would ramp up and down between these speeds when you switch between them, rather than jump from one speed to the other. More expensive Leslie emulations include EQ circuits that simulate the speakers and cabinet tones of popular Leslie models, like the 122, the 147 and the 16/18, and their character. An authentic Leslie simulator will be stereo and possess a depth of realism you’re unlikely to find in a cheaper, mono pedal. The difference between the pedals covered in this article comes down to a few things: The real question here is: what kind of “leslie realism” do you want, and for what price? What Rotary Pedal Do You Need?Īs usual, different musicians have different needs, and builders provide plenty of rotary pedal options. This article takes a look at what options are available in the current market. Today, however, convincing rotary speaker emulations are offered in stompbox format by a number of manufacturers. (The Leslie 16 was identical to the model 18, except that it had a facility for connecting the cabinet to a standard combo amp’s auxiliary speaker output.) Morley’s 1971 RWV Rotating Wah Volume oil-can pedal and Dunlop’s Rotovibe Chorus/Vibrato pedal were later variations that became favorites of many guitarists.īut until recently, if you wanted to bathe your guitar tone in the exhilarating rush of rotary tone, you had to haul the real thing-most likely the “portable” Leslie 16 cabinet, rebranded as the Fender Vibratone after CBS Musical Instruments, Fender’s parent, purchased Leslie in the 1960s. The 1968 Shin-ei /Univox Uni-Vibe was the first unit trying to create a similar effect without mechanical parts and was favored by Jimi Hendrix and Robin Trower.
Effect pedals that electronically mimic the pitch and volume modulations produced by physically rotating speakers date back to the 1960s – and now fetch a small fortune on the used market.