GearDump

Hughes And Kettner Tube Rotosphere Mk. II

Hughes & Kettner has manufactured the Rotosphere for a few years. The MkII is a minor revision of the original design. The Rotosphere has been discontinued though new ones are available for around $500-$600. This is a steep price but for true Leslie fans who cannot haul their cabinet this could be a God-send.

The pedal features a 12AX7. Like most other tube powered pedals requires a wall-wart AC plug. Tube based pedals can often introduce more noise in the signal but with the right provisions (like a voodoo labs pedal power 2) there should be no problems. The unit features controls for Drive, Level, Rotor Balance, Bypass, Breaker, and speed. In addition to the top-mount controls there is also an impedence switch for matching signal levels to keyboards or guitar. The effect is intended to be used in a stereo rig but has a switch for monorual operation.

The Rotosphere’s breaker control is unique to this pedal. The breaker control effectively simulates stopping the rotary motor, and so slows the rotating speaker effect down until it finally stops. The balance control is something like a tone control controling (if it were real) how much of the signal goes to the driver or the tweeter.

The effect really does a great job of emulating the sound of a Leslie with a stereo guitar rig. There has been discussion regarding the proper placement of stereo amps when utilizing the rotosphere but ultimately the sound is very close to that of a leslie. The pedal even ramps up and slows down when the speed switch is engaged. The addition of the breaker control is a nice addition as well. The AC power is really the only tonal drawback to this pedal. The casing is built very well and the tube is visible from a glass panel. Some users have reported that the tube is hard to get to for replacement but most 12AX7 tubes have a long life. For anyone who truly relies on the rotating speaker sound for their work the Rotosphere might just be the go-to effect pedal.

If you can stomach the cost of admission the Tube Rotosphere gets leslie-like bliss without back-breaking labor!

The Leslie Rotating speaker cabinet is the device that started the doppler effect craze. At first it was delegated to making Hammond B3 (tonewheel) organs sound more authentic. As you may or may not know the Leslie Rotating Speaker cabinet has a foot operated speed control for the speed of rotation. Guitar players started latching on to this sound fairly early after it’s invention though modification or a special preamp were required to make the B3 work properly.

If you, or anyone you know has ever owned a Leslie I’m sure they have complained about the monstrous size and weight of one of these cabinets. Some other companies have tried to produce Leslie-like solutions that are more portable but for many players the Leslie Cabinet is the ONLY thing that captures the sound. Most players prefer to use the Leslie cabinet alongside a regular guitar amp so that the sound can be mixed to taste.

Leslie Cabinets are still produced today albeit with different electronics and looks. In fact, Leslie even produces a line of rotating speakers aimed at guitar players. Leslie has attempted to mitigate the cost and weight of these Cabinets as well, though the lightest weighs in at a staggering 101 pounds and retails for $1,500.00.

Fender produced a rotary speaker cabinet called the Vibratone between 1967 and 1972. The Vibratone was powered by a guitar amp and projected the midrange of the sound through the system. One of the major drawbacks to the Vibratone was it’s alleged unreliability and the fact that the speaker rotated up and down rather then side to side. This meant that the majority of the Vibratone sound was directed towards the ceiling. These units are fairly rare, but some guitar players have latched onto them, the most famous being SRV. I have never actually seen a Vibratone in person so all of what I say about these units is largely based on conversations with various individuals. If you know any information on these feel free to share!

Motion Sound SRV is a rotating speaker rig aimed at guitarists as well. It is a bit different than a Leslie in the housing and also because it uses Guitar Loudspeakers to actually put out sound. When the unit is in the stopped position it correctly places the Loudspeakers in the forward position so the cabinet can be used as a regular Guitar speaker setup. Cool stuff! The SRV is available as a 1×12 or 2×12 and costs under $1,000.00. Additionally, it is less then half the weight of a Leslie.

Whatever cabinet you are considering make sure you understand what it will take to use one of these in a gigging environment and plan accordingly.