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rotating speakers [message #5377] Thu, 20 January 2005 17:40   voided3 Messages: 200 Registered: July 2004 Senior Member Hello. I know this a little off topic, but I figured someone may know about these. I recently acquired a '71 Cordovox (Farfisa) CL20 rotating speaker cabinet and I absolutely love how it sounds. I hear they are fairly similar to a Fender Vibratone. However, I was wondering if you could answer a few of my questions about it. Alright, first, why is the hardwired speaker cable wired with a stereo TRS cable with three leads? Is it for the "main" (i.e. bypass) mode to connect the amp output to a resistor to simulate a speaker load while it's off? Secondly, I know these were not designed for high wattage use, but I noticed when I play a little louder with it there is a rattling noise coming from inside the cabinet (at just slightly lower volumes it's perfectly smooth). I'm only using a 70 watt (peak) amp with it, and the 12" CTS speaker should easily be capable of handling that. I opened up the cab to check it out, and everything looks factory fresh on the inside, including the speaker, so I assume something is loose, or is this normal (it rattled before I opened the cab and sounded the same after I re-assembled it, so it wasn't anything I did)? The rattling only occurs at peaks of volume, it's kind of a metalic buzz, so I highly doubt it's the (near mint-this cab hasn't been used in at least five years) speaker and more of a loose pulley or something. Also, what is a rough maintinence schedule on these; should I lube the motor every now and then, and how? Thanks! Report message to a moderator

Re: rotating speakers [message #5379 is a reply to message #5377] Thu, 20 January 2005 19:42 rodak Messages: 511 Registered: October 2001 Location: Georgia Senior Member Yeah, lube it and rotate the speakers every 5,000 notes. Sorry, I couldn't resist. www.combo-organ.com Report message to a moderator

Re: rotating speakers [message #5380 is a reply to message #5377] Fri, 21 January 2005 02:59   voided3 Messages: 200 Registered: July 2004 Senior Member Hello. I've heard that once every other year is enough almost, but just wondering haha. I noticed your organ website, have you ever used a non-Hammond rotating speaker before, like a Fender Vibroverb, Leslie 18 or Cordovox CL20? If so, any tips on their operation? Thanks! Report message to a moderator

Re: rotating speakers [message #5382 is a reply to message #5380] Fri, 21 January 2005 10:31 rodak Messages: 511 Registered: October 2001 Location: Georgia Senior Member My personal experience with rotating speakers is very limited, but I do know enough that for use with an organ, you've just gotta have a horn - a speaker alone (as in a Vibratone) doesn't cut it. That's why some of the most popular Leslie replacements are in the vein of the Motion Sound Pro 3 - it's just a rotating horn (with amp, too, I think), and the bass rotor sound is done electronically, since that part of the sound is deemed less critical, and an electronic simulation suffices. Even in all-electronic simulators (like the H&K Rotosphere) they have separate circuits for horn and bass rotors, with differing speedup/slowdown times, because that aspect of the sound is so important to organists. I think guitar players are less demanding, which is why the single rotating speaker in the Vibratone-type cabinets is sufficient. If you want a REALLY cheap simulator, the little Danelectro Rocky Road pedal (about $30-$40 on eBay) does a passable job. www.combo-organ.com Report message to a moderator

Re: rotating speakers [message #5383 is a reply to message #5377] Fri, 21 January 2005 11:11   edforgothispassword Messages: 202 Registered: July 2004 Senior Member I've got a rotating Kustom speaker....its in an old 2x15 cab..1x15 on the bottom and the 1x15 siren horn up top for the highs...only real trouble is that after Ispin it about 30 times....my arms get tired....dude..sorry..just showing my ignorance..sounds like a cool little box ya got there and hope somebody truly can help..on my hammond B3 rigs...about ever 3 months they get some fresh oil...and really we don't play em that much and I think that's more of a problem for them to just sit and not have the oil circulating..... Report message to a moderator

Re: rotating speakers [message #5384 is a reply to message #5377] Fri, 21 January 2005 12:22   voided3 Messages: 200 Registered: July 2004 Senior Member Hello. I am using the Cordovox for guitar 99.99999999% of the time, though I plugged a little 48 key synth I have sitting around into the amp and it sounded great! The amp I use with it is an Ampeg SS140C (I use my Kustoms as my main amps, and the Ampeg is my backup, so guess what it's getting used for now). It has a built in stereo chorus on it, so I actually can have it sound like a Hammond setup when I ramp up the speed if I have the bright switch on and the chorus set to a speed different from the speaker. I also tried the rotating speaker out with my Kustom K200-B6, and I tell you, that was the loudest rotating speaker I have ever heard! On 4 on the amp it was rattling the pulleys in it! Great tone too, but that amp doesn't have a reverb since it's more for bass; a reverb with a rotating speaker is mandatory in my humble opinion, that way not only the notes and chords you play get swirled, the echo swirls too. It's a very cool effect. Thanks! Report message to a moderator

Re: rotating speakers [message #5385 is a reply to message #5377] Fri, 21 January 2005 12:35 chicagobill Messages: 2005 Registered: April 2003 Senior Member V3: As Rodak noted, the upper horn tone is what really makes that distinctive sound. All of the recorded sounds that make me think guitar thru a Leslie, like Clapton/Blind Faith, Page/Zep, etc. were done with "real" Leslies with the horn. I remember repairing one a few years ago that was really trashed. The rubber mounting blocks for the rotor bearings had worked loose from the styrofoam baffle. The owner continued to use it this way until the foam baffle finally began hitting the side supports! As for oiling, we used to clean and lube the church Leslies that we serviced once a year, and those units got used alot. I've seen Leslies literally go for years without any service at all and still work like new. They really were well made units. Check out this site for a whole lot of Vibratone stuff: mywebpages.comcast.net/vrbass/vibratone/ Maybe he can direct you to more info on you unit. Bill Report message to a moderator

Re: rotating speakers [message #5386 is a reply to message #5377] Fri, 21 January 2005 13:02   stevem Messages: 4733 Registered: June 2004 Location: NY Senior Member I just finshed working on a guys B3 and 122 leslie, all in great shape. They look great in a living room. Hey! all you keyboard players, how about I make you a combination leslie and room air purifier? but really its been so long since I heard one live in the same small room, its hard to belive they only had about 35 to 40 watts. This guy paid 500 bucks for 2 new old stock 6550 tung-sol output tubes off a web site, I said he would be fine with the 150 dollar GEs, but nope he went all out.I think the univox univibe has been put out again, and they sound pretty good too,The leslie effect in my GNX2 modling pedal sounds great to but must be run thru 2 amps for the real 2 rotor different speed up and down effect. Report message to a moderator

Re: rotating speakers [message #5394 is a reply to message #5386] Mon, 24 January 2005 17:06 C4ster Messages: 686 Registered: June 2001 Location: Mukwonago, WI (Milwaukee... Senior Member Tell me again about these $150 GE 6L6's and $500 6550's. I have a _hitload of them at home and I never thought to push them on eBay. NOS in the boxes and in the original sleeve no less. Conrad Report message to a moderator

Re: rotating speakers [message #5396 is a reply to message #5377] Wed, 26 January 2005 07:44   stevem Messages: 4733 Registered: June 2004 Location: NY Senior Member Just log on to the tube world site and view the insane dollars NOS tubes are going for! Report message to a moderator

Re: rotating speakers [message #5397 is a reply to message #5396] Wed, 26 January 2005 09:15 C4ster Messages: 686 Registered: June 2001 Location: Mukwonago, WI (Milwaukee... Senior Member Steve, do you have an address???? I have 6 brand new 6550 and numerous 12AX7A/ECC83/7025 GE tubes, in original boxes. I bought those 20 years age when I repaired amps for a music store in Milwaukee. I just through them in the basement and forgot about them. Conrad P.S. Does anyone know who Kustom99 is on eBay? Report message to a moderator

Re: rotating speakers [message #5398 is a reply to message #5397] Wed, 26 January 2005 09:16 C4ster Messages: 686 Registered: June 2001 Location: Mukwonago, WI (Milwaukee... Senior Member Geez!!! I THREW them in the basement. Report message to a moderator

Re: rotating speakers [message #5399 is a reply to message #5377] Wed, 26 January 2005 10:06   edforgothispassword Messages: 202 Registered: July 2004 Senior Member I can't spele neither...Kustom99 is I believe Dan who hosts this website..... I'm having a brain cloud at the moment and I can't believe it..but I'm pretty sure that's his ebay handle.. Dan has some nice pieces..and interesting ones at that..good person to do biz with. His 4x10 cab has some roughage on the front...but try to find one of those configs at all...much less in mint condition. I believe he also has a 3x12 cab that has the 2x12 and 2x10 config..that's one that I would enjoy owning..just no toy money in my piggy bank...he and wife Patti made the long run from PA down to Nashville for our first kustom meet several years back..and they are some of the sweetest souls you will ever encounter in this world. Report message to a moderator

Re: rotating speakers [message #5401 is a reply to message #5399] Wed, 26 January 2005 12:22 rodak Messages: 511 Registered: October 2001 Location: Georgia Senior Member I second that. I'm eternally grateful to Dan for being instrumental in turning my dream of owning a Kustom Kombo organ into a reality. A fine fellow to work with - you can't go wrong dealing with him (and yes, I believe he is kustom99) www.combo-organ.com Report message to a moderator

Re: rotating speakers [message #5402 is a reply to message #5377] Wed, 26 January 2005 13:02   stevem Messages: 4733 Registered: June 2004 Location: NY Senior Member Tubeworlds phone # 920 208 0353, located in wisconsin. Report message to a moderator

Re: rotating speakers [message #5404 is a reply to message #5402] Wed, 26 January 2005 14:19 C4ster Messages: 686 Registered: June 2001 Location: Mukwonago, WI (Milwaukee... Senior Member Steve, 920 is the area code for northeastern Wisconsin, from just north of Milwaukee past Green Bay. As far as Kustom99 is concerned, he has beautiful Silver K100 on ebay right now but at $1050 it is a little pricey for my blood. It would look good in my family room though. My wife knows I want a K100 in each color and it would look great next to the Cascade and Gold ones. Conrad Report message to a moderator

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