Biggest bit of news I have is a newly acquired effect pedal: a Neo Instruments Ventilator pedal. By its name not even I could tell what it does. Only by its description in a Sweetwater catalog. It is a Leslie speaker simulator for keyboards and guitar.
Note: Those may look like jacks on the front of the unit, but they are actually the switches. The jacks are located on the side of the unit.
My very first Leslie speaker simulator was a Hughes & Kettner Rotosphere MK II unit that actually had a real tube inside. I was mainly looking for that Leslie sound with a keyboard/organ. I had no interest in plugging a guitar into it. I don't remember using that thing much nor can I verify that I have any recordings featuring it. I do remember it being noisy though. It never gave me that Leslie sound I heard on many favorite tunes. That could've been because I was trying to use it through a $99 Casio keyboard from K-Mart. But that keyboard has some nice pure organ sounds. Yes, I still have it. I purchased it sometime in the late 90's. But that pedal I sold in May 2006. For all I know it may have sounded great with guitar.
I've tried other guitar pedals over the years that might give me that Leslie sound on organ. But they never really worked well. All that was resolved once I bought a Nord Electro 73. That wonderful keyboard featured fully authentic sounding Hammond organ with and without the Leslie effect. Not to mention amazing Wurlitzer and Fender Rhodes electric piano sounds and a fabulous clavinet sound.
So that solved my longing for Leslie-organ. Some years later I developed a desire for Leslie-guitar after listening to countless songs from the 1969-1974 period. The last Leslie simulator pedal I owned before my current one was a Line 6 Roto Machine pedal which never really satisfied. It too had a missing element in the sound and that element was unique growl that came from the original Leslie cabinet. Needless to say I sold that pedal as well, and as far as I know Line 6 no longer makes this pedal.
Then I found the Ventilator. I ordered one and it sounds absolutely amazing! This is a German-made pedal and it's absolutely wonderful. I was totally ready to send this thing back if it didn't give me that classic sound including growl that I've been seeking. But it came through and I'm completely satisfied. I even made a short video playing some lines from songs featuring this classic sound:
This pedal is very pricey as are all Leslie simulators. But when it comes to that classic rotating speaker sound, there isn't much of a choice. You can seek out an actual vintage Leslie which will surely cost plenty especially if it is in fully working order and in very good cosmetic condition. Or you can purchase a newly made Motion Sound brand rotating speaker cabinet which will also dig deep into your wallet. Or you can purchase one of these pedals, which among all the other brands available are pretty much similarly priced. Well worth it though if you gotta have that sound.
