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Post by John on Jul 18, 2006 9:13:09 GMT -7
I just received a Line 6 Rotomachine. Got a really good deal on Ebay, so I thought I'd give it a shot.
I had been reading many reviews on Harmony-Central....taking them all with a grain of salt, knowing you get 'all types' giving reviews. But it seemed to have some really nice features about it.
But after plugging it in, I don't think I'm going to keep it.
Reason: It colors the tone WAY too much.
This is not necessarily a slam on Line 6. Many reviewers in HC HATED the fact that it severely changed the tone, others said that change in tone is necessary to get a real leslie/rotary speaker tone.
However, My Tele combined with my MAZ Jr 2x12 is pretty special, and as such, I wouldn't allow for such a deviation from that sound, so the Rotomachine may have to go.
Then again, I may keep it, but my initial reaction was not good. There are a LOT of variables in tone, so I'll keep searching.
I hooked up my vintage Boss CE-2 (late 70's) and maxed out both rate and depth, and it's in the ball park, but the tone of the Tele/Maz is still there.
Also, the Line 6 seems to increase volume at an irritatingly noticeable level
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Post by johnnyl on Jul 18, 2006 9:30:26 GMT -7
Off topic but I bought a Verbzilla last night and it sounds great. Sorry to hear you had bad luck with the Rotomachine gtrman. I guess it's hit or miss w/ these tone core pedals...
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Post by billyguitar on Jul 18, 2006 10:40:42 GMT -7
Tell about the Verbzilla, please.
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Post by johnnyl on Jul 18, 2006 10:52:50 GMT -7
Really nice.. no tone sucking or volume loss. No loop on the ghia so I'm using it last in the chain. It's go some nice spring settings... plate sounds good too. My favorite is the "ducking" setting. It really quiet too... much quieter than the Holy Grail I tried which sounded good but for $40 more you get a ton more features. Oh and it's built like a brick sh!thouse.. Tried some subtle "spring" settings for blues and then cranked it up for some U2 Joshua Tree type verb w/ my Maxon delay and it sounds darn good...
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Post by John on Jul 18, 2006 10:56:07 GMT -7
Verbzilla is next.
I don't think I'll have a problem with the Verbzilla.
From what I can gather, the EH Holy Grail is just too noisy to put in front of the amp.
In favor of the Rotomachine, the two in one switching is pretty cool. Step HARD to turn it on, then step lightly to turn the leslie fast or slow. Plus, you get to set the fast and slow speeds independently...very cool! (all others in this price range do not) Plus you get to mix between the horn and woofer (all others in this price range do not) and you get to choose from three different rotary speaker types (all others in this price range give you one) And you get to choose from three different speeds when switching from fast to slow rotation (all others in this price range do not) You get to set the 'drive'...an overdrive tube simulator. (none in this price range have it)
But dang....that drastic change in tone....I just don't know if I can handle it. It's like a completely different amp and guitar are being used.
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Post by billyguitar on Jul 18, 2006 10:57:14 GMT -7
Verbzilla: I really like the ducking idea. I'd have to try one in the loop of my amp to know If it'd be good with the Ray. Does it have a volume control or just a mix control. In other words, will it boost any? Pedals in the Ray's cut volume.
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Post by johnnyl on Jul 18, 2006 11:21:26 GMT -7
just has a mix control. Doesn't seem to boost or cut any volume from what I caxn tell. I bet it would sound just as good or better in a loop.
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Post by frank4001 on Jul 18, 2006 11:51:29 GMT -7
Do you use a power supply or batteries?...I really like mine but it is the first and only Leslie effect I've ever used...I was told to use the power supply whenever posssible. It may make no difference at all but thought I would throw it out there.
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Post by John on Jul 18, 2006 12:25:41 GMT -7
I am using a brand new battery. But if I keep it, it will be used with a power supply.
I just gave the Rotomachine another 1/2 hour or so. Not as bad this time, as I was able to tweek the mix between horn and drum. (basically, this is a 'tone' knob, mixing between treble and bass)
But it didn't do enough to make me want to keep it. I was hoping to use a rotary speaker effect because a chorus seems rather dated, but after this, I may keep the chorus.
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Post by frank4001 on Jul 18, 2006 13:34:50 GMT -7
I got a manual with it, with pre-sets, ...maybe look on the web-site. There are 3 different Leslie model settings and and so-forth. I'm really not an effects guy so I'm sure there are other units you may like better, ....good luck.
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Post by southpawtone on Jul 18, 2006 14:38:14 GMT -7
gtrman3......... I too tried the Rotomachine a while back and was very much disappointed. The sound clips Line6 has on their website sound a lot better, but i wasnt able to get those sounds. I played it through a VoxAC30 Custom Classic at a music store and thought it sounded a little shrill, and just too phony. I recently tried the new Boss RT20 Rotary Ensemble and thought it was pretty authentic sounding. It's more money($225), but it certainly has a Leslie vibe going on. I think your going to get some tone coloring with any Leslie simulation effect because well, it's meant to simulate another sound. Also check out the Option5 Destination Rotation pedal.........i havent played it, but i've heard good things, and the mp3's on the website sound pretty good and thorough. www.option5-online.com/
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Post by skydog958 on Jul 21, 2006 8:22:11 GMT -7
I also have an old CE-2 and I love it. Either way I would keep the Boss, it's a cool little box.
Dont have any experience with Line 6 though.
I don't know what your price range is or your ideal Leslie sound or how versitile you want it to be. If you like the CE-2, Retro-Sonic makes a good CE-1 clone. Only issue is that the speed and depth knob are all in one. Other option is the Analogman Choruses. If you get a BiChorus you can set one for slow and one for fast (and maybe the Boss for something in the middle) and each side has both rate and depth knobs. Just my 2 cents.
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arthur
Junior Member
Posts: 85
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Post by arthur on Aug 2, 2006 21:53:39 GMT -7
What about the H&K Rotosphere? I love mine. It does color the sound, but how couldn't it? A great choice if you want something very much like a Leslie....
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Post by steveinnashville on Aug 3, 2006 21:02:55 GMT -7
The Red Witch Moon Phaser would be pretty decent for swirly sounds with a TIP 3rd hand on the speed control. You can hear it roughly approximating a Leslie on the organ sounds (with a POG and Discumbobulator, don't recall the order) on the first song that comes up here: www.myspace.com/stephenpolcz ... I didn't bring the Leslie cabinet into the living room for that night of playing, sorrrrreeeeeeee....
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Post by James on Aug 4, 2006 6:54:33 GMT -7
On another note: I bought an echo park that became unuseably noisy all of a sudden. Called Line 6, all they asked me was how long I had it and what my address was. Now they are sending me a whole new one.
Just thought I owed 'em a positive plug!
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