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I have a question for all of ya; is anybody interested in coming up with a DO-able DIY design for a

rotating speaker assembly? Recently, I saw the motor and speaker parts for sale from a Leslie oneBay, and it seems like the parts aren't that exotic. I think the most specialized part would have tobe some sort of armature/brush assembly to send the speaker signal to the rotating speaker, andthat could be adapted from any number of electrical devices that rotate (alternators, etc.).

You know; David Gilmour has his own custom-made "Doppolas" that he uses on the road instead ofLeslies.

I'm not asking anyone if they've made it or if they know how to make it; I'm asking if anyonewants to collaborate and come up with DIY-able design.

I've already got an idea of how easy it would be to take one of those styrofoam drums and motor

assemblies and make a bracket for it that you could just attach to the front of your regular speakercab to instantly convert it to a Leslie.

But I think it would sound so much cooler to make a real rotating speaker.

??

I'm totally interested in it - it's something I've thought about doing on a couple of occasions, it justhasn't reached the top of my (crowded) projects list yet.

You should read this article: UNEARTHING THE MYSTERIES OF THE LESLIE CABINET .

You don't need any kind of rotary electrical connection - the actual speaker driver doesn't rotate. Itsits in the bottom of the cabinet facing up, while various apparatus rotate above it.

The article above references 2 Leslie patents, which you can get from the USPTO patent search .Search for patents 2,622,693 and RE23,323.

What would be a lot easier to build though, is something like the Songworks Rotary Wave (here'sanother link with some actual construction details:http://www.sospubs.co.uk/sos/jan01/articles/sessentials.htm )

A basic simple design should be pretty easy - a simple cabinet, which a nice 8" or 10" speaker, anda rotating foam cone above it. You need a motor to spin the cone, a control circuit and footpedal tocontrol the speed (that might be tough to fabricate - perhaps re-using an old volume pedal? OrMIDI continuous control if you're feelin' fancy :)), and some kind of braking mechanism if you wantto be able to slow it down quickly.

From:

Skreddy ( [email protected] )

Date: 10/6/2001 11:04 PM

Subject: DIY Leslie Cabinet

From:

Adam Alpern ( [email protected] )

Date: 10/6/2001 11:51 PM

Subject: Re: DIY Leslie Cabinet

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A basic simple design should be pretty easy - a simple cabinet,which a nice 8" or 10" speaker, and

a rotating foam cone above it. You need a motor to spin the cone, a control circuit and footpedalto control the speed (that might be tough to fabricate - perhaps re-using an old volume pedal? OrMIDI continuous control if you're feelin' fancy ), and some kind of braking mechanism if you wantto be able to slow it down quickly.

How about a sewing machine motor with a footpedal speed control?

Also, Leslies slow down gradually as they also speed up gradually. That's part of their charm.

Winnie

But some have a speaker that is front facing and throws the sound out channels.. top and side.

But some have a speaker that is front facing and throws the sound out channels.. topand side.

That's how mine is made. It has a two speed motor for driving the styrofoam cone, and a footswitch with a slow/fast, echo/main, and ensemble switches. The echo/main switches between theleslie and a main speaker cab, and the ensemble switches both cabs into the circuit, they work likean A, B, AB foot switch.

I'd be glad to measure some of the parts if you need sizes. Here's a link:

http://geocities.com/teleman28056/leslie_cab.html

Chris B

I have built lower rotors before and still have the mould for making the scoop out of cardboard, the

From:

Winnie Thomas ( [email protected] )

Date: 10/7/2001 1:28 AM


From:

Richie {~}==:::Date: 10/7/2001 1:46 AM


From:

Chris B ( [email protected] )

Date: 10/7/2001 2:06 AM


From:

Jason Lollar ( [email protected] )

Date: 10/7/2001 3:12 AM






rest of the drum is 1/4" ply. Pretty easy to do that part.I used a 1/2" rod for the spindle and the bearings can be had at any bearing shop for around $25with the mounts.

A sewing machine motor will not have enough torque and will go up in smoke after a while!You can make a two speed motor like a leslie 122 or 147 has but it takes some fussing around! Ihave made 2 speed motors and currently run a leslie I converted to 2 speed that way with my B-3,you can find 2 speed leslies without the horn that came stock with just the lower rotor and 15"speaker. it would be much easier to just scab the 2 speed motor out of one of those. Look aroundin some old folks homes and churches. We just got a free 1950's B-3 out of a methodist church acouple of months back (only played on Sundays by a little old lady). Alot of times they took the oldorgan out but left the echo speaker up in the ceiling, look for a large grill or grate above the pulpitor in back of the assembly room.

A few cheapo Leslies actually did have the speaker rotate and they used a mercury contact whichworked flawlessly.I still have one of those contacts around somewhere.www.lollarguitars.com

A sewing machine motor will not have enough torque and will go up in smoke after awhile!

What if you're not intending to make a full-blown Leslis style rotating speaker, but rather a smallthing like the Songworks Rotary Wave? I'm particularly interested in building a compact rotaryspeaker -- something strictly for home recording use, which doesn't necessarily need to be road-worthy. I'd imagine one could probably get by in that case.

Of course, I have absolutely no clue where to obtain one.

A few cheapo Leslies actually did have the speaker rotate and they used a mercurycontact which worked flawlessly

Sounds dangerous - mercury isn't something I'd want to mess with in a DIY project! :)

If the rotor was made entirely out of styrofoam, like my Leslie's rotating cone is, the sewingmachine motor could probably handle it. For a speed control, an old wah-pedal enclosure wouldwork well.

You can probably find an old sewing machine at Good Will or the Salvation Army for not too muchmoney.

Chris B

From:

Adam Alpern ( [email protected] )

Date: 10/7/2001 6:08 AM


From:

Chris B ( [email protected] )

Date: 10/7/2001 1:49 PM




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