From benjamin.kuris@compaq.com Tue Dec 31 08:52:17 2002
Subject:V5 / Speakeasy / Leslie 145

I wanted to post a more technical post about my clonerig which has
served me well since Sept. I'm going for a sound thats somewhere
between rock and jazz...

Many thanks to the clonewheel members who have offered assistance.

The rig:
V5 w/either MIDI volume (Yamaha Pedal) or Ernie Ball volume pedal
(depends on controller)
Speakeasy Classic w/145 connector
Leslie "145" (47 amp mod'd to 147)

First the settings:
V5 at 12:00-3:00 depending on registration and stage volume...
Speakeasy in "high gain (leslie) mode" volume @ 3:00, Treble at
3:00, Bass at 11:00.
Leslie volume at 3:00.

Note: Leslie can be overdriven w/these settings! I wouldn't run
w/the stock horn.

I use a separate (homebrew) SS-relay for leslie speed control via a
double footpedal. The speakeasy sits at the foot of my leslie and
is plugged in via the "pigtail" otherwise I find that there is AC
hum from the unbalanced leslie connection. A 15' patchcord is much
quieter then a leslie cable in this configuration.

Leslie is in good shape w/a new Can Cap, new EH6550s, etc.
Leslie drivers are: 15" Jensen Mod series on bottom, Ruby HF4660
driver on top. Leslie Crossover was rebuilt w/new components
w/upper horn component values scaled for the 12ohm Ruby driver. If
you don't change that crossover the driver sounds like crap!
Deflectors are on. Finally, I used a strange lower motor stack on my
leslie so the lower rotor spins in tandem w/the upper rotor in slow
speed (and then reverses for fast). This makes for some dramatic
leslie effects (you can actually make the lower rotor "dance" w/rapid
speed changes) but would probably drive a purist mad due to a very
long lower rotor accel. times.

Finally, here are some things that didn't work out for me. Of
course this information is highly subjective:

1) Anatek pocket pedal (midi) for volume control
Problem: Sometimes it powers up w/volume pedal reversed... not good
onstage where I often didn't notice till the start of the set!

2) 6Pin leslie cables w/a '47 amp.
Problem: See note above. Tried w/30' and 15' cables

3) Relay speed control in a leslie.
Problem: Some components have gotten safer and more reliable in the
last 50yrs... Who wants 120VAC lines anywhere near their limbs on
stage!

4) BT productions alnico driver.
Problem: I really wanted to like this driver as it sounded great (in
my apt)-- very close to the stock Jensen, but the Ruby driver seems
twice as loud and really makes my leslie scream on stage.

Future directions:
I'm playing around w/running a second tone source in parallel w/the
V5 to juice the percusion (which seems a little dull on the V5). I
had Steve add a 2nd input to the speakeasy and have started
experimenting w/Linplug's DaOrgan (Cheap VST softorgan). Its just
icing on the cake though...

I hope this post was informative,
Ben