Never Failed To Get the Toes Tappin'-Leslie Speakers

SCOTT WORKMAN (3814)

Bass Open Forum · 12/13/2006 7:51 PM

Ya learn something every day. Being a big fan of keys (as with bass), I never knew what that unit was called that housed the little rotating twin horn...that most always accompanied Hammond B3 players back in the '60's/'70's...

Called "Leslie Speakers", they utilize (as you remember or can imagine) a rotating speaker housed in an upright, squarish/retangular cab, producing THEE unmistakable warble sound at varing speeds.

Some unforgetable artist/songs using them in their recordings:
Sanata- Oye Como Va
Spencer Davis Group-Gimme Some Lovin'
Tommy James and the Shondells-Crystal Blue Persuation

Keyword search: "leslie speakers," and like me I read FAQ's all afternoon on this amazing effect unit, still sold today along with vintage market units that can be had at a price, of course-Ha!. A key player must have.

Allow me to add one more thing: I never heard a Leslie Speaker operated at any volume less than LOUD! It brought out the best it had. (Hmmm hat remeinds me of another band instrument I know :-)

...workin'man

Responses [ Pages: 1 · 2 ]

Respond to this

Re: Never Failed To Get the Toes Tappin'-Leslie Speakers

12/13/2006 8:11 PM

Dave Magaro (21062) wrote:

I was going to use a leslie to record one of the songs on our disc. The studio we recorded in had one. But, the song I was going to use it on I ended up recording it myself. It was cool! We were playing around with it a little bit, but at $60 an hour play time ended pretty quickly.

Dave

Respond to this

Re: Never Failed To Get the Toes Tappin'-Leslie Speakers

12/13/2006 8:40 PM

Curt Underwood (2071) wrote:

Jimmy Page and Eddie Van Halen kept one in there arsenal of amps and speakers. I'm not sure I know of any bassists that use them. It will be interesting to find out. It is a really cool sound.

Respond to this

Re: Never Failed To Get the Toes Tappin'-Leslie Speakers

12/13/2006 9:35 PM

Adam Copelin (12723) wrote:

I think Adam Jones of Tool has one in his arsenal as well...

=P

Respond to this

Re: Never Failed To Get the Toes Tappin'-Leslie Speakers

12/14/2006 1:14 AM

Jay Schond (1854) wrote:

I've had the pleasure of recording one at the real studio in which i work. It was really cool, and the outcome was fantastic.

Respond to this

Re: Never Failed To Get the Toes Tappin'-Leslie Speakers

12/14/2006 5:14 PM

Jay Renard (28295) wrote:

Dont forget Deep Purple and Uriah Heep.

Good God I love them!

robo :)

Respond to this

Re: Never Failed To Get the Toes Tappin'-Leslie Speakers

12/14/2006 5:27 PM

Paul Warren (15298) wrote:

Uriah Heep I totally love Uriah Heep. You don't see them mentioned too often. What's your favorite Heep song. Mine's a toss up between 'July Morning' and 'The Wizard'.

Respond to this

Re: Never Failed To Get the Toes Tappin'-Leslie Speakers

12/14/2006 5:35 PM

Jay Renard (28295) wrote:

Dang Paul........If I had to make a decision it would be a toss up between "The Wizard" and "Sweet Lorraine"

Man I really dig these guys, grew up listening to them.

It great to see someone else here that likes them.

robo :)

Respond to this

Re: Never Failed To Get the Toes Tappin'-Leslie Speakers

12/14/2006 6:05 PM

Paul Warren (15298) wrote:

hehehe That's a tough question for me too since I love almost all their material.

Uriah Heep played a smallish club in Victoria BC years ago, while I was in University. I wanted to go desperately but like many other students I was flat broke and couldn't afford the cover charge.

Respond to this

Re: Never Failed To Get the Toes Tappin'-Leslie Speakers

12/15/2006 8:20 AM

Jay Renard (28295) wrote:

I wish I saw them in there hay day. Especially when Gary Thain was driving the bottom.

robo :)

Respond to this

Re: Never Failed To Get the Toes Tappin'-Leslie Speakers

12/14/2006 5:27 PM

Terry Kovacevich (2208) wrote:

Here are some pictures of the Hammond B3 and Leslie Rotating Speaker that we used while recording our new album in Nashville. If you want to hear what it sounds like or at least how we used it. Check the sample clips on our Myspace page. The organ sound is particularly present in the intro and choruses of "Fall".

Shot of the inner workings. Our engineer recored the Leslie by placing stereo condenser mics on either side of the rotating horn and a single mic on the rotating drum. This thing spins those horns fast! It's pretty to cool to watch it operate.

The business end of the B3

TK
www.13on.com
www.myspace.com/13on

Respond to this

Re: Never Failed To Get the Toes Tappin'-Leslie Speakers

12/14/2006 5:32 PM

Paul Warren (15298) wrote:

Fantastic piece of kit. I'll bet moving it isn't fun though : (

Respond to this

Re: Never Failed To Get the Toes Tappin'-Leslie Speakers

12/16/2006 1:15 AM

SCOTT WORKMAN (3814) wrote:

Yo, Terry it was your home page that really jogged my memory, seeing the Leslie in your studio. (Nice Stingray 5-string in black u have there, too incidentally). It's all I've done the last 3 days is live and breath Leslie effects. I'm now going back through my mp3's and indentifing artists that used it. Three Dog Night used it extensively. On their hit, "One Man Band" they fed about everything through it.

Thanx a lot for your contribution.

...workin'man

More Responses [ Pages: 1 · 2 ]