From john.fisher@m.cc.utah.edu Mon Apr 10 09:04:38 2006
Subject:Re: Speakeasy mini Leslie. PRICE ?
The horn is the same size as a 147.
John Fisher EE
Dept. of Physiology
University of Utah
420 Chipeta Way Rm 1785
Salt lake City, UT 84108
581-5985
john.fisher@utah.edu
----- Original Message -----
From: tonysounds
To: CloneWheel@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Monday, April 10, 2006 6:00 AM
Subject: Re: [CWSG] Re: Speakeasy mini Leslie. PRICE ?
Walter brings some interesting points about the Pro-145, yet some of the knowledge he has shared with us recently regarding wattage and realized volume is being ignored here. While there is no doubt the Pro145 is rated at 200 watts combined top and bottom, and a Leslie is only rated at 40, we are comparing apples and tangerines. The Pro 145 does have a very loud sound, no doubt about it. But in comparing it with 3 different leslies, its volume output, while higher in statistics, frankly fell short in real world applications. It has a very insufficient low end, which unfortunately becomes even more apparent the louder you play it, resulting in a harsher, sometimes, shrill overall tone. Amplifier and preamp tube aside, this is an expected and unfortunate result of the speaker/driver components, the main culprit being the smaller horn, and the Motion Sound preamp/power amp circuitry. The Leslie 40 watt amp is very conservatively rated when talking about listenable volume.
Hear it for yourself.
And I will agree that is very similar to a tube preamp powering a solid state leslie, and yet even that is an exaggeration in terms of tone output. It will compete sufficiently volumewise to that type of rig, but as far as overall tone, it will come up short (no pun intended) to an already compromised solution. The solid state Leslies still used bigger boxes and bigger horns. And while their sound is (I won't say preferable, as tone is very subjective) bigger than the Pro 145, it's still a less warm sound than that of a tube leslie.
Because they kept the integral components (tube amp, large horn driver), and engineered the cabinet to work (a major factor that cannot be underestimated when appraising speaker performance), SpeakeasyVintageMusic was able to retain that classic Leslie sound and tone, and improve on the classic Leslie power.
But it does weigh a little more than a Pro 145.
T
jake92028 wrote:
--- In CloneWheel@yahoogroups.com, allen renles
wrote:
One other thing. Given the cost/effect comparison with 2021,
top side, how does the Motionsound manage to compete? Or does it?
The Motion Sound Pro-145 sells at 'all the usual' online stores for
$1700. It sounds like variations of several "real Leslie" setups per
how the B3's output level can be adjusted and the Leslie amp's volume
level can be adjusted. The Pro-145's horn/drum configuration is the
same as a Leslie, but with 5 times the overall power output. It's bi-
amped at 800Hz with 70 watts to the horn rotor and 130 watts to the
bass rotor, with counter-rotating horn/drum = a 200 watt "Leslie."
Also and IMO most significant (why I wrote the sound can easily be
compared to 'variations of several "real Leslie" setups above') - the
Pro-145's tube preamp lets you 'get at' how the post-input line level
can be set to affect the tube versus typical older guitar tube amps
volume, bass, treble. Once the tube preamp sound has been set up the
way you like it, there's no reason not to amplify it with solid state
amps for the horn/drum which will reproduce the same sound. It's no
different from a tube preamp on the floor connected to a solid state
powered cabinet, except this tube preamp's "Contour," i.e., Inductive
through Resistive tube plate loads for sound variations can be
adjusted by you along with the other front controls and is inside the
Pro-145!
I copied the text below from the Pro-145 manual:
==========
Gain Control - "Gain" control affects both inputs and adjusts the
drive into the 12AX7EH tube preamplifier, lower settings provide
clean transparent sound while higher settings produce overdrive
distortion. The gain control works in conjunction with your keyboards
volume control and volume control pedal if used. Do not use analog
volume pedals made for guitars, the impedance of such pedals will
produce a large loss in volume and overdrive.
Pre-Amp Mode - Classic tube circuits typically have resistive or
inductive plate loads that provide different audio "color" to sound.
You can vary the type of load from resistive "R" through
inductive "I" to find the sound that's right for you. The sonic
difference between modes are more noticeable at higher overdrive
levels, but some tonal change ahd harmonics are present at all volume
levels, above and below tube overdrive point.
Resistive Mode - "R" has a sharper onset knee into distortion with
overdrive rising rapidly as gain is increased. The overdrive
harmonics sound harsher and brighter. The resistive mode provides the
cleanest sound when not overdriven.
Inductive Mode - "I" has a softer onset knee into distortion with a
more gradual rise into overdrive. The overdrive harmonics are mellow
and somewhat compressed with less volume and bass. You can add the
bass and volume back in with the EQ controls.
Volume Control - After the pre-amp mode and gain are adjusted, the
overall volume of the Pro-145 can be set..
==========
The above, controls which I've learned how to use, plus the Pro-145's
lighter weight (65lbs), counter-rotating horn/drum, AND 200 watts..
is why they're 'my' Leslie. Competitive??? I think just 'maybe' so.
And I do get asked "Where's your Leslie" often.
Thank you and good night/good morning :) Walter j
To unsubscribe, send email to: CloneWheel-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com
---------------------------------
YAHOO! GROUPS LINKS
Visit your group "CloneWheel" on the web.
To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
CloneWheel-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com
Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to the Yahoo! Terms of Service.
---------------------------------
---------------------------------
New Yahoo! Messenger with Voice. Call regular phones from your PC and save big.
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
To unsubscribe, send email to: CloneWheel-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com
Yahoo! Groups Links
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]