From jake92028@yahoo.com Fri Aug 18 08:51:03 2006
Subject:Re: Roadbox III - Is it too expensive....?
> >
> > what do you guys think?
> >
> > $2495.00 USD or £1345 GBP for me.....and thats before import
duties and shipping....
----
After a lifetime of B3's and Leslies, my advice would be not to
spend this much money since you already have a Leslie 145 - that's
great - you've already got 'the' classic Hammond speaker sound. Keep
it unless/until the new Roadbox becomes more widely available. If
you hear one in person and decide you'd rather have one than your
Leslie 145.
----
> > Pricey, yes, but with Speakeasy products, you always get what
you pay for-amd
> > more.
> > I'd love to buy one but its twice the price of a second hand Pro-
145
> > I can buy in the UK.
----
The Pro-145 is a great rotary 'clone leslie' and I've owned two for
the last three years, since they first came out. I'm extremely
pleased with the sound quality, somewhat smaller stage footprint,
relative ease of trasport. I get nothing but compliments from fellow
organists who hear it, not to mention bandmates and audience who
love the organ sound and go out of their way to tell me this.
However in your situation I'd keep the Leslie 145. The other two
speakers are two different ways of going about getting the desired
rotary sound, and you've already got a classic. The Pro-145 may
sound a little different versus any given Leslie and needs some time
spent setting it up right so it sounds its best - which is fantastic
then. And it's true, there's no comparison.
----
> >
> > The Pro-145 is no comparison in sound quality and build quality.
> >
> > Four times the price of a good condition Leslie 145 (which I
have)...
> >
> > I sold my 145 to get funds together for my Road Box III. The
145 is a classic
> > Leslie. However, it weighs about 25kg more, is much bulkier to
tote around
> > and with a 40 instead of a 60 watt amp, it simply does not have
the volume of
> > a RB III.
> >
> > A used Leslie 2101 can be had at good prices too....
> >
> > I A/Bıd the 2101 against the RBIII and when you start to push
the 2101, the
> > distortion you get is not the desirable kind you get with the
Speakeasy.
> >
> > Surely for you guys in the US $2495 is a huge sum for an average
> > muso?
> > ahhhhhhhh...... I want one..... but in total almost £2k for a
Leslie
> > seems crazy.... it's almost 3 months average salary for someone
in
It is a lot of money. In your situation, I don't think there's
enough reason not to be very happy with your Leslie 145. You should
keep it. The new Roadbox is still kind of in "wait and see if it
catches on" mode with a relatively small group of owners. Maybe you
don't want to be one of the first to try it out compared to how much
it'd cost you?
Per gear prices, just from observing online stores' prices for the
most in-demand keyboards and related amplifiers the past few years,
$1700 USD to $2100 USD *has been* a general 'break point' for how
much US keyboard players are willing to pay for a piece of top-rated
gear. More than that amount, some can and will still pay whether
they can afford it or not - for something that's almost a once in a
lifetime amazing item. And maybe 10-15 years later, there could be a
twice in a lifetime amazing item worth its extra cost :)
The new Roadbox is a unique approach to rotary amplification that
will have appeal for some organists, but not all, and IMO not a
majority. Personally, I want my woofer into a rotating drum. The
group of new owners who've bought the new Roadbox love it, so
there's definitely a market for the concept and sound. It's original
enough a concept you could almost say, "How could anybody know they
wanted it until it was invented?" But it's not a Leslie although
very, very interesting.
My personal preference (after decades of Leslies) remains the Pro-
145, a lightweight clone of a Leslie 147 - that's what it is. I love
Motion Sound gear. I've also been playing through one of their AR-
112 Sidewinders, similar to a Fender Vibratone, really cool.
(keep the Leslie 145!)
Regards ~ Walter j