From dubravko.stuhne@fsb.hr Wed Apr 12 03:19:02 2006
Subject:Re: Solton's Mini-Twin Leslie


Soloton's Leslie is made in Germany in 1980. and it is using mechanical
speed variation (with electromagnets) and IMHO motors are like those on
Leslie cabinets (AC brushless, like those in the laundry-machines). Or
am I wrong about Leslie's motors? How strong are they?

I think that it is matter of an electrical motor friction, torque (it is
to strong) but I know very little about changing that parameter of an
electromotors. :(

Take look of a lower motor assembly:

http://www.inet.hr/~dstuhne/Solton/lower_emotor.jpg


Or upper motor assembly:

http://www.inet.hr/~dstuhne/Solton/upper_emotorassembly.jpg


Cabinet (front):

http://www.inet.hr/~dstuhne/Solton/Solton_Mini-Twin.jpg


You can see that my Solton has two rotary horns (upper like on real
Leslie and it has real rotating 8" speaker) and there is also a woofer,
bas speaker without rotor. Solton's lower Rotor carries frequencies
lower then 800Hz ( like on the real Leslie speaker).

If you take a look again at this picture
(http://www.inet.hr/~dstuhne/Solton/solton_back.jpg
) you can notice
that there are two amps in this cabinet. And if you can see there is a
little tweeter also near 15" speaker. One amp is for upper horns and
lower 8" speaker and the other is for the 15" speaker and little
tweeter. So, there are also two types of inputs (one for organ and the
other for other instruments like piano, synth... But sound from input
for organs goes through both amps (organ's sound goes to 15" speaker,
tweeter, 8" speaker and horns ). Piano (synth, etc.) sound goes only
through 15" speaker and tweeter.

Kind a different approach then on real Leslie speakers. It is great amp
for "not only Hammond players".

You are right, size of the pulleys is little larger but I think that the
assembly is in the same ratio. Bigger on the motor, bigger on the treble
rotor... But, anyway if I change pulleys and if I change assembly ratio
(for more inertia), rotation speed will be wrong, it would be faster or
even to fast. :(

Changing or regulating the torque on my motors would be IMHO better
solution.

I have to say that I was impressed with the sound of this amp, horns are
great. I am only missing deep bas rotor effect when playing alone, but
for the band it is great. It is 25 years old and it still sounds great.
But it is different than real tube Leslie.

I shall record my Solton in few days and I can send MP3s to you if you
want?

Thank you very much for your help!

--- In CloneWheel@yahoogroups.com ,
goff747@... wrote:
> interesting pictures.. if you're looking for the classic leslie sound,
the
> physical nature of the design and the OEM (original equipment) parts
have much
> to do with it. The size of the pulleys, the torque of the motors, the
length of
> the belts. From what can be seen of the pictures, the bass speaker has
no
> rotor. It would be interesting to hear an MP3 of your Solton. The mid
range of
> your setup has a rotor. That is unusual in itself.
>
> The weight of the bass rotor, its size and construction whether wood
or foam
> will have different rise and fall times. The classic bass rotor is
thin
> plywood. The pulley on your treble rotor looks rather large, so does
the pulley on
> the motor. These would have an effect on the ramp speeds just like
changing a
> gear on a bike would. If you're experiencing instant take offs, you'd
have to
> consider the pulleys, being larger in diameter are partly to blame for
that.
> The torque on your motor is another factor.
>
> If you're looking for the tried and true leslie sound, you'll need the
> original leslie parts, in the right dimensions on the install, if even
just the
> parts and figure a way to stuff that in your Solton cabinet.
>

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