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A Leslie Speaker in a clear plastic cabinet
A Leslie Speaker in a clear plastic cabinet

The Leslie speaker is a specially constructed amplifier/loudspeaker used to create special audio effects utilizing the Doppler effect. For the Marty Friedman album see Loudspeaker (album A loudspeaker, speaker, or speaker system is an electroacoustical The Doppler effect (or Doppler shift) named after Christian Doppler, is the change in Frequency and Wavelength of a Wave for Named after its inventor, Donald Leslie, it is particularly associated with the Hammond organ. Donald James Leslie, ( April 13[[ 911]] Danville Illinois - September 2[[ 004]] Altadena California) created and manufactured the Leslie The Hammond organ is an electric organ which was invented by Laurens Hammond in 1934 and manufactured by the Hammond Organ Company Separate Leslie speakers were a "must have" accessory for all Hammond owners, particularly after its characteristic sound was popularised by such acts as Procol Harum on "A Whiter Shade of Pale," by Lee Michaels on "Do You Know What I Mean", or the Spencer Davis Group on "Gimme Some Lovin'," or on much of the '60s output of Steppenwolf. Procol Harum are a British rock band formed in the 1960s which built an important foundation for what would become Progressive rock, or perhaps more " A Whiter Shade of Pale " is a song by the British band Procol Harum. Lee Michaels (born 24 November 1945, in Los Angeles, California) plays the Hammond organ, Piano, and Guitar The Spencer Davis Group was a mid 1960s British Beat group from Birmingham, England, founded by Spencer Davis (born 17 July 1939 " Gimme Some Lovin' " is a Song written by Steve Winwood, Spencer Davis and Muff Winwood, and originally performed by the Spencer Steppenwolf is a rock band that helped establish Heavy metal music in the late 1960s along with bands like Blue Cheer and Iron Butterfly

Although the Leslie speaker and the Hammond organ are often spoken of as one organized musical system, Hammond never owned or manufactured any speakers or parts for the Leslie Corporation, much less advertised for it. Hammond refused to package any Leslie speakers with its organ sales, instead using its own speakers which produced virtually no "Leslie-like" special effects. There are reports of the Hammond Organ Company strong-arming piano and organ stores into not selling Leslie products. Threats would go as far as telling the dealerships that the Hammond Organ line would be pulled if they sold Leslie products. Hammond did repair Leslie units as a customer service, but only when asked to. Most techs now will fix both Hammond organs and Leslie speakers.

Contents

History

Don Leslie, at the outset, was refused hire by the Hammond Organ Company, but did work for the local electric company, in a contract with Hammond, to replace the old fifty cycle rotor tone generators with the new sixty cycle units, in customers' homes. The Hammond organ is an electric organ which was invented by Laurens Hammond in 1934 and manufactured by the Hammond Organ Company A tonewheel is a relatively primitive apparatus for generating electronic musical Notes The tonewheel assembly consists of a synchronous AC motor and an associated The speaker's first name, in 1941, was the "Vibratone. " (The name was used later by Fender Guitar Company for a speaker system and effects unit containing a Leslie rotating speaker. Fender Musical Instruments Corporation of Quincy Illinois is a manufacturer of stringed instruments such as solid-body Electric guitars including the Fender also used the name "Leslie" after Leslie sold his company, in 1965, to CBS, which had also acquired Fender. CBS Broadcasting Inc ( CBS) is an American radio and Television network. ) From 1941, when the first units were produced, the speaker went by several names including "Brittain Speakers", "Hollywood Speakers" and "Crawford Speakers", before returning to the name "Leslie Vibratone" in 1946. Seventeen years after it had rejected him, Leslie offered to sell the company to Hammond. After thirty days he had heard no word from Hammond. Don Leslie said: "After seventeen years, the thirty day period is up. Too late".

Leslie never advertised his speakers. After demonstrating a prototype (a rotating baffle in a hole in a small closet with a big speaker in the closet near Leslie's home organ) with Bob Mitchell, an organist with radio station KFI near Los Angeles, a contract was made to install another prototype in the station's studios, where Mitchell would be the only organist authorized to use it. Los Angeles (lɑˈsændʒələs los ˈaŋxeles in Spanish) is the largest City in the state of California and the American West Mitchell was so impressed that he even tried to patent the speaker, but discovered that he couldn't. Soon afterwards, Mitchell became an organist with the Mutual Broadcasting System, and played a Hammond with the Leslie on its shows. The Mutual Broadcasting System ( MBS) was an American Radio network, in operation from 1934 to 1999 The national exposure was swift and sure. Organists, professional and amateur alike, wanted to have "that sound". The Leslie of that time was over sixty inches tall (about the size of a modern refrigerator), and was named the 30A. Don Leslie made a whole series based on the 30A, called "Tall Boys" (31 series). In the 1950s, Leslie introduced the 21H for use in homes, concert hall venues and smaller radio sound stages.

Today, Leslie parts are available from a number of sources. There are also websites with plans (and photographic examples) for constructing a Leslie speaker, with much improved electronics and speakers. On the web, one can see a 500 W high performance Leslie.

The classic Leslie is still made and sold to this day, though similar effects can now be obtained via analogue electronic devices and digital emulation. Chorus and phase shifter devices can mimic the sounds produced by a Leslie speaker; in fact, early phase shifters like the Uni-Vibe were specifically marketed as low-cost Leslie substitutes for guitarists, and used a foot-operated fast/slow switch. The phase of an oscillation or wave is the fraction of a complete cycle corresponding to an offset in the displacement from a specified reference point at time t = 0 Many agree that nothing can reproduce the sound of a Leslie speaker heard in person, but some digital emulations of the Leslie Doppler effect have become virtually indistinguishable from the sound of a recorded Leslie speaker.

Design

Although there have been many variations over the years, the classic Leslie speaker consists of two driver units - a treble unit with horns, and a bass unit. The key feature is that the horns of the treble unit (actually only one working horn, but a dummy horn is used to counter-balance it) and a sound baffle for the bass unit are rotated using electric motors to create 'Doppler effect based' vibrato, tremolo and chorus effects. An electric motor uses Electrical energy to produce Mechanical energy. The Doppler effect (or Doppler shift) named after Christian Doppler, is the change in Frequency and Wavelength of a Wave for The rotating elements can be switched between two speeds (or stopped completely by means of optional "brakes"), and the transition between the two speeds produces the most characteristic effects.

The resulting sound is instantly identifiable as that of the Hammond organ, frequently heard on psychedelic and rock music of the 1960s and 1970s. Psychedelic music is a term that refers to a broad set of popular music styles genres and scenes that may include Psychedelic rock, psychedelic folk, Psychedelic Rock music is a genre of Popular music often though not necessarily employing Electric guitar, Bass guitar, and Drums. The 1960s decade refers to the years from the beginning of 1960 to the end of 1969 This article is about the Decade 1970-1979 For the Year 1970 see 1970. Unlike a high fidelity loudspeaker, the Leslie is specifically designed, via reproduction of the Doppler effect, to alter or modify sound; faithful reproduction has never been part of its appeal. High fidelity or hi-fi reproduction is a term used by home stereo listeners and home audio enthusiasts ( Audiophiles to refer to high-quality reproduction Much of the unique tone is owed to the fact that the system is at least partially enclosed, but with linear louvres along the sides and front so that the unit can vent the sound from within the box after the sound has bounced around inside, mellowing it. While many organists prefer the fast "vibrato" setting, the Leslie's slow speed produces a lush "chorus" effect which suggests the sound of a pipe organ in a large hall or church much more effectively than static speakers can. The Leslie might be considered an electro-mechanical sonic effects machine. Many rock and roll organists have turned the box around to expose the horn's rotation for a visual effect, and in the hope of projecting a more powerful sound from both speakers. Rock and roll (also known as rock 'n' roll) is a form of Music that evolved in the United States in the late 1940s and early 1950s with roots in mostly African One can see such a reversed placement in The Band's movie, The Last Waltz, the film Woodstock, and Phish's DVD, It. The Band was a rock group active from 1967 to 1976 and again from 1983 to 1999 The Last Waltz was a concert by the Canadian-American rock group The Band, held on Thanksgiving Day, November 25 1976 at Winterland Ballroom ---- Woodstock (subtitled "3 Days of Peace & Music" is a 1970 documentary on the Woodstock Festival that took place in August 1969 Phish is an American Jam band noted for their Musical improvisation, extended Jam sessions and cult following DVD (also known as " Digital Versatile Disc " or " Digital Video Disc " - see Etymology)is

Uses

While normally used with an organ, Leslie speakers can be used with other instruments, allowing for a wide range of surprising and dramatic effects. However, this method usually requires a preamplifier/power unit accessory, since most Leslie models by themselves are incompatible with microphones or outside instruments, being interfaced with an organ via a multipin cable connector which also carries AC power. This article deals with power in AC systems See Mains electricity for information on utility supplied AC power

Some instances of such non-standard use are given here:

Electric guitar

Piano and other keyboard instruments

Pink Floyd used the Leslie speaker on a piano in "Echoes," as well as in the Atom Heart Mother suite. " While My Guitar Gently Weeps " is a rock Ballad written by George Harrison for The Beatles on their Double album The Beatles were a pop and rock band from Liverpool, England formed in 1960 Eric Patrick Clapton, CBE (born 30 March 1945 is an English Blues-rock Guitarist, singer Songwriter and Composer Let It Be is the twelfth and final original album released by The Beatles. The Beatles were a pop and rock band from Liverpool, England formed in 1960 " Badge " is a rock song by Cream, penned by Eric Clapton and George Harrison during a collaborative effort between Clapton Harrison and Ringo Cream were a 1960s British rock band " Any Colour You Like " is the eighth track (or seventh depending on the release date of the album from English Progressive rock band Pink Floyd Pink Floyd are " Black Hole Sun " is a song by the American rock band Soundgarden, released in 1994 as the third single from the band's fourth studio album Superunknown Goodbye Yellow Brick Road is the seventh Studio album by British Singer/songwriter Elton John, released in 1973 Sir Elton Hercules John CBE (born Reginald Kenneth Dwight on 25 March 1947 is an English pop / rock Singer, Composer Disambiguation Lucy in the Sky redirects here For the heroine of this name see Karolina Dean. The Beatles were a pop and rock band from Liverpool, England formed in 1960 Dishwalla is an Alternative rock band The roster includes Jim Wood (keyboards Rodney Browning Cravens (lead guitar J " Good Times Bad Times " is a song by English rock band Led Zeppelin, featured as the opening track on their 1969 debut album Led Zeppelin Led Zeppelin were Van Halen is a Hard rock band formed in in 1972 They enjoyed success from the release of their self titled debut album in 1978 What It Takes is a documentary that follows four elite Ironman triathletes through a year of training and preparation in advance of the 2005 Ironman Aerosmith is an American Hard rock band sometimes referred to as "The Bad Boys from Boston " and "America's Greatest Rock and Roll Band" Pink is a pale Red Color that was first recorded in the 17th century to describe the pale red Flowers of pinks, Flowering plants Aerosmith is an American Hard rock band sometimes referred to as "The Bad Boys from Boston " and "America's Greatest Rock and Roll Band" Stadium Arcadium is the ninth studio album by the Rock band Red Hot Chili Peppers, released on May 5, 2006 via Warner Bros Red Hot Chili Peppers are REO Speedwagon is an American rock band which grew in popularity in the Midwestern United States during the 1970s and peaked in the early " Little Wing " is a song written by Jimi Hendrix. He first recorded the song on the 1967 album Axis Bold as Love. James Marshall Hendrix (born Johnny Allen Hendrix) (November 27 1942 – September 18 1970 was an American Guitarist, Singer and Songwriter " The Wanton Song " is a song by English rock band Led Zeppelin from their 1975 album Physical Graffiti. Led Zeppelin were " You Never Give Me Your Money " is a song by The Beatles that opens the climactic medley on side two of the album Abbey Road. The Beatles were a pop and rock band from Liverpool, England formed in 1960 Stephen "Stevie" Ray Vaughan ( October 3, 1954 August 27, 1990) was an American Blues-rock Guitarist Aimee Mann (born September 8, 1960) is an American, rock Guitarist, bassist, Singer, and noted Songwriter Trey Anastasio (born Ernest Joseph Anastasio III on Jam bands (or jambands) are musical groups whose albums and live performances relate to a fan culture which originated with the 1960s group Grateful Dead and continued Phish is an American Jam band noted for their Musical improvisation, extended Jam sessions and cult following Bon Jovi is an American Hard rock band from Sayreville New Jersey. Stone Temple Pilots (commonly referred to as " STP " is a Grammy Award -winning American rock band consisting of Scott Weiland Seether is a Post-grunge band from South Africa. They are currently signed to Wind-up Records. Disambiguation Lucy in the Sky redirects here For the heroine of this name see Karolina Dean. Sir Elton Hercules John CBE (born Reginald Kenneth Dwight on 25 March 1947 is an English pop / rock Singer, Composer Asthenia ( Greek: ασθένεια, lit lack of strength but also disease) is a medical term denoting symptoms of physical weakness Blink-182 was an American Pop Pink Floyd are " Echoes " is a song by Pink Floyd, including lengthy instrumental passages sound effects and Musical improvisation. " Atom Heart Mother " is a six-part Suite by Progressive rock band Pink Floyd, composed by all members of the band and Ron Geesin.

Cat Stevens used a Leslied piano on his song "Sad Lisa". Yusuf Islam (born Steven Demetre Georgiou on 21 July 1948 best known by his former Stage name Cat Stevens, is a British Musician

Tori Amos also makes much use of a Leslie speaker on Boys For Pele, a highly experimental album with piano, harpsichord, harmonium, and clavichord. Tori Amos (born Myra Ellen Amos on August 22, 1963) is a Pianist and Singer-songwriter of dual British and American Boys for Pele is the third studio album by American Singer and Song-writer Tori Amos. The piano is a Musical instrument played by means of a keyboard that produces sound by striking steel strings with Felt covered hammers A harpsichord is a Musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. A harmonium is a free-standing musical keyboard instrument similar to a Reed Organ or Pipe Organ The clavichord is a European stringed Keyboard instrument known from the late Medieval, through the Renaissance, Baroque and Classical On such songs as "Horses", the Leslie effect is made obvious as it is switched on and off for different parts of the song, itself a continuous piano piece, allowing for a strong comparison in the piano's sound.

Brian Eno utilised the rotating speaker effect on piano throughout "Becalmed" (from Another Green World). Another Green World is the third album by British musician Brian Eno, released in November 1975

Tony Banks from Genesis earlier live keyboard setups from between 1970 to 1976 featured all of his keyboards (which included a Hammond L-100 (later a T-100), a Mellotron Mk2, a Hohner Pianet, and later an RMI 368 Electra-Piano and Harpsichord, and an ARP Pro-Soloist), being run through Leslie speakers. Genesis are an English rock band formed in 1967 With approximately 150 million albums sold worldwide Genesis are among the top 30 highest-selling recording artists The Hammond organ is an electric organ which was invented by Laurens Hammond in 1934 and manufactured by the Hammond Organ Company The Mellotron is an electro-mechanical polyphonic keyboard originally developed and built in Birmingham, England in the early 1960s For the music band from Cologne see Höhner. Hohner Musikinstrumente GmbH & Co The Pianet was a series of Electric pianos built by the Hohner company of Trossingen West Germany from the 1950s to the 1970s The RMI 368 Electra-Piano and Harpsichord was an Electronic piano and the most popular instrument created by RMI. The best examples of the use of the speakers are the Mellotron introduction of "Watcher of The Skies", and the electric piano solo of "The Musical Box". Banks later dropped the Leslie speakers, instead using chorus and phaser pedals instead.

Vocals

As innovated by Beatles engineer Geoff Emerick, John Lennon's voice was processed through a Leslie speaker for the highly experimental song "Tomorrow Never Knows" on The Beatles' 1966 album Revolver. The Beatles were a pop and rock band from Liverpool, England formed in 1960 Geoffrey Emerick (born 1946 in London) is a recording studio Audio engineer, who is best known for his work with the Beatles ' albums Revolver John Winston Ono Lennon, MBE (born " Tomorrow Never Knows " is the final track of The Beatles ' 1966 studio album Revolver. The Beatles were a pop and rock band from Liverpool, England formed in 1960 Revolver is the seventh album by English rock band The Beatles, released on 5 August 1966. The Beatles also used George Harrison's Leslie-processed vocals on the song "Blue Jay Way" on their 1967 album Magical Mystery Tour. George Harrison, MBE (25 February 1943 – 29 November 2001 was an English rock Guitarist Singer - Songwriter, Author " Blue Jay Way " is a song written by George Harrison; it was first recorded and released by The Beatles on their Magical Mystery Tour Magical Mystery Tour is the name of the 11-song Album and six-song Double EP by the English rock band The Beatles, first

In the 1970s, David Gilmour of Pink Floyd passed both his vocal mic and his guitar through a Leslie on early live versions of "Any Colour You Like" and sung along to the solo as he played it, and Ozzy Osbourne sang through a Leslie speaker on the song "Planet Caravan" on Black Sabbath's 1970 breakthrough album Paranoid. David Jon Gilmour CBE (born 6 March 1946 is an English Musician, best known as the Lead guitarist one of the lead Singers " Any Colour You Like " is the eighth track (or seventh depending on the release date of the album from English Progressive rock band Pink Floyd John Michael "Ozzy" Osbourne (born December 3 1948) is a British singer " Planet Caravan " is a psychedelic song by Black Sabbath and appears on their 1970 album Paranoid. Black Sabbath are an Paranoid is the second album by the British heavy metal band Black Sabbath.

Jon Anderson of Yes sang vocals through a Leslie on "Astral Traveller" from the band's second album, Time and a Word.

Jerry Garcia's voice was processed through a Leslie Speaker on the song "Rosemary" from the Grateful Dead album Aoxomoxoa. Jerome John "Jerry" Garcia (August 1 1942 &ndash August 9 1995 was a Musician, Songwriter, Artist, and Lead guitarist and The Grateful Dead was an American rock band formed in 1965 in the San Francisco Bay Area.

Led Zeppelin used Leslie processing on Robert Plant's vocals in the song "What Is and What Should Never Be" from their 1969 album Led Zeppelin II. Led Zeppelin were Robert Anthony Plant (born 20 August 1948 West Bromwich, England) is an English rock singer and songwriter famous for his membership in the " What Is and What Should Never Be " is a song by English rock band Led Zeppelin on their 1969 album Led Zeppelin II Led Zeppelin II is the second album released by English rock band Led Zeppelin in 1969

Neil Young sings through what appears to be a heavily distorted Leslie speaker on several tracks on his album Greendale

Matt Bellamy uses a Leslie speaker for Muse's song "Yes Please"

Bass guitar

Pete "Overend" Watts of the band Mott the Hoople linked his bass through a Leslie on the track "Alice" from the album "The Hoople". Neil Percival Young OM (born November 12, 1945, Toronto Ontario) is a Canadian Singer-songwriter, Musician Greendale is the name of an album and a movie both released in 2003 by Neil Young. Matthew James Bellamy (born 9 June, 1978) is the main Songwriter and Lead vocalist, Guitarist and Pianist in Muse are Peter "Overend" Watts (born Peter Watts 13 May 1947 Yardley, Birmingham, England) is a Bass guitar player and founding member of Mott the Hoople were a 1970s English rock band with strong R&B roots and known for being part of the popular Glam rock scene of the early The Hoople is a 1974 album by British band Mott the Hoople. Its highest chart rating in the US was #28

Drums

Ringo Starr's drum fills in Blue Jay Way seem to have been passed through a Leslie Speaker. Ringo Starr, MBE (born Richard Starkey on 7 July 1940 is an English Musician, Singer, Songwriter and Actor " Blue Jay Way " is a song written by George Harrison; it was first recorded and released by The Beatles on their Magical Mystery Tour

Ron Bushy, drummer for the 60's acid rock group Iron Butterfly, utilized a Leslie Speaker during the drum solo of the 17-minute epic In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida, giving the solo a distinct phasing effect. Ron Bushy (b December 23, 1945) is a co-founder and Drummer of the rock band Iron Butterfly. For "acid rock" as a geologic term see Igneous rock. Acid rock is a form of Psychedelic rock, which is characterized Iron Butterfly is an American Psychedelic rock and early Heavy metal band well known for their 1968 hit " In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida A drum solo is an instrumental solo played on a Drum kit. A drum solo may be set or improvised and of any length up to being the main performance

Harmonica

John Popper uses a Leslie speaker simulator effect on his song Trina Magna, recorded with Blues Traveler, and on his solo work with the John Popper Project feat. John Popper (born March 29 1967) is an American Musician and Songwriter. Blues Traveler is an American rock band formed in Princeton New Jersey in 1987 DJ Logic.

Notable models

Model 122

The Model 122 is the classic two speed 40 Watt tone cabinet most commonly used with Hammond console organs, such as the B3, C3 and A100 models. The Hammond organ is an electric organ which was invented by Laurens Hammond in 1934 and manufactured by the Hammond Organ Company Some organists connect two or more of these to their organ for a louder and more widely-spaced "surround" effect. A modern reproduction is the model 122A. This is the Leslie of choice for recording studios or other sonically demanding applications due to the quiet operation of the Model 122's differential signal input design. Leslie Model 142 is identical to Model 122, except that it is housed in a 33" tall cabinet, and thus slightly easier to transport than the 41" tall Model 122.

Model 147

The Model 147 has the same cabinet, speaker and mechanical components as the Model 122; however, the amplifier input and motor speed control circuits are different. This is primarily because this series was designed to be "universal", which means it could be connected to other organ brands. The signal input is "single-ended", allowing a more simple connection to organs that have a built-in speaker system, as the Hammond A100 or a Wurlitzer. The Model 122 input is a differential, "double-ended" or "balanced line" design that is provides for cancellation of any spurious noise that may be present. Also, the motor speed switching uses a separate 120 VAC signal, rather than the DC voltage control of the Model 122. In operation, the noticeable differences between the Model 122 and the Model 147 are the Model 122's lower susceptibility to induced noise, and a delay between operation of the speed control and the actual change in speed. Just like with the 122 and 142, the Leslie Model 145 is identical to Model 147, except that it is housed in a 33" tall cabinet, and thus slightly easier to transport than the 41" tall Model 147.

Model 125

The first model to have two speeds, the model 125 was introduced in 1963. Leslie produced two editions of each model, one for Hammonds (H) and one for Wurlitzer (W). Many organists still use combinations of these editions. The Model 125 has only a single rotor and 12" full-range speaker.

Model 16

The smallest Leslie is the Leslie Model 16, made in 1970. It has a Fender-like speaker body and a rotating foam dispersion block. Fender Musical Instruments Corporation of Quincy Illinois is a manufacturer of stringed instruments such as solid-body Electric guitars including the It was built for rough club touring, was portable, and had "Leslie" written on the front. It was also released later as Fender/CBS's "Vibratone". Stevie Ray Vaughan used this model on the song "Cold Shot" from the album Couldn't Stand The Weather. Stephen "Stevie" Ray Vaughan ( October 3, 1954 August 27, 1990) was an American Blues-rock Guitarist Couldn't Stand the Weather is the second studio album by Stevie Ray Vaughan and Double Trouble, released in 1984 It can also be heard on Cream's "Badge" and Jimi Hendrix' "Little Wing". Cream were a 1960s British rock band " Badge " is a rock song by Cream, penned by Eric Clapton and George Harrison during a collaborative effort between Clapton Harrison and Ringo James Marshall Hendrix (born Johnny Allen Hendrix) (November 27 1942 – September 18 1970 was an American Guitarist, Singer and Songwriter " Little Wing " is a song written by Jimi Hendrix. He first recorded the song on the 1967 album Axis Bold as Love. With supplies decreasing, its availability is becoming limited.

Model 760

One of the favourite models for gigging Hammond X5 owners, the Model 760 with 90 watts of power is still a popular choice for organs with 9-pin connectors, despite being a "solid-state" model.

Model 825

A smaller, more portable version of the 760 is the 825. It is a solid-state cabinet like the 760, and it connects to the organ with a 9-pin connector as well. However, it only has a 70-watt amplifier and only has a single rotor with a full-range 12" speaker.

See also

External links

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