Hughs & Kettner Roto Sphere

Len Amaral · Post by **Len Amaral** » 29 Jul 2001 7:04 pm

Any one use one of these units? They are suppose to give a realistic leslie effect. American Musical sells this device for $350.00 and they give you a month if you decide to send back if doesn't work out for you.
Thanks in advance...

Jim Smith · Post by **Jim Smith** » 30 Jul 2001 5:29 am

I've tried a bunch of simulators and this is by far the best!

If I could find a way to mount one in my rack rig, I'd get one in a heart beat. Sure wish they'd come out with a rack mount version.

------------------
Jim Smith jimsmith94@home.com
-=Dekley D-12 10&12=-
-=Fessenden Ext. E9/U-13 8&8=-

Bobby Lee · Post by **Bobby Lee** » 30 Jul 2001 6:59 am

And it uses a wall wart. Yuck!

All of the reviews from players at Harmony Central really rave about the sound. I use the Leslie effect in my Lexicon MPX-100 quite a bit, bit the acceleration / deceleration isn't all that great.

If this were available in a rackmount, with a remote footswitch, I'd go for it.

Bobby Lee · Post by **Bobby Lee** » 30 Jul 2001 7:13 am

Here's a good review of a wide variety of Leslie simulators: www.keyboardmag.com/features/leslie

Paul Graupp · Post by **Paul Graupp** » 30 Jul 2001 1:15 pm

This was what I was looking for when I went looking for Charlie Hunter, a jazz guitarist who uses the sphere and from what I heard on PBS, it had the most realistic Leslie sound I've ever come across. The price that I finally got down to was way out of practical use for me so I passed on it. He has a web site @ www. charliehunter.com and that was where I found out what gear he was using.

Regards, Paul

Len Amaral · Post by **Len Amaral** » 30 Jul 2001 5:16 pm

Hey bOb:
That's a cool website concerning the Leslie simulator shootout.

Tony Orth · Post by **Tony Orth** » 31 Jul 2001 9:11 am

Len,

My mentor turned me on to the Rotosphere and I bought one off of Ebay used. It's a little rough looking but the sound is great.
Fast speed is the old leslie organ sound and slow speed gives you a nice, light chorus sound.
If you can find a used one you'll save about a hundred bucks.

As with any special effect, don't overuse it.
But, there are some songs, especially Rock, that it's great for.

Michael Johnstone · Post by **Michael Johnstone** » 31 Jul 2001 11:15 pm

I've been using one for about 4 years now and like everyone says - they're the best unit of their type so far.I mounted the wall wart inside my amp,cut the wire short(6")and put a nice little switchcraft connector on it.Then I made a 10 foot,3 wire snake with audio in,out and DC power all bundled together w/tiny tie-wraps.The snake plugs into the EFX loop on my amp and the power cord plugs into the connector on the short end of the wallwart wire.I mounted a right hand palm switch(latching,momentary "on" doorbell type button)in a small 1"x1"x2" project box and secured it on the back apron of my steel w/two sided tape and wired it(using 1/4" jacks and a regular guitar cord)into my unit as an auxillary speed control switch.I usually turn the unit on for the entire tune and all I normally need to access is the speed control.Works for me.BTW,if you want to impress the chicks,use the stereo output thru TWO amps angled together and 4 or 5 feet apart w/a touch o'reverb - the doppler effect between the amps is very impressive! -MJ-

Chip Fossa · Post by **Chip Fossa** » 1 Aug 2001 3:14 am

Hey Fellas,
What the hay is a WALLWART? I've seen this term in the past, but never found out what it is, or isn't.
Please advise, anyone. Thanks in advance.
CF

Gene Jones · Post by **Gene Jones** » 1 Aug 2001 3:43 am

It's the "external" power supply located at the AC end of your power cord.