The Leslie Speaker. This is a special speaker system designed for use with electronic organs, and the particular model that you see in this picture, (either a 22 or a 122) is made specifically for Hammond organs. The main feature of a Leslie speaker is that The cabinets contain rotating baffles or horns which spin at typically 360 to 400 RPM. This rotary motion of the sound distributors in these speakers makes use of the Doppler effect which produces very complex phase and slight pitch changes in the sound of the Hammond that plays through such a speaker. This results in a very complex, full, and rich sounding vibrato effect and by virtue of the rotating motion, it also produces a very big stereo effect as well.

The earliest Hammond organs had no way of producing vibrato, which is very important to many musical sounds, including singing voices. Inventor Donald Leslie realized that by rotating the sound source at the same rate range as typical vibrato has in music would produce a very good and complex vibrato effect on the sound of these early Hammonds.

In 1948, Hammond developed a very good electronic vibrato which added a similar effect to the music, but did so entirely electronically to the electrical signals in the instrument itself, which resulted in the production of a true vibrato in all Hammond organs from 1948 onward. This then made it possible for Hammond organs to use conventional stationary speakers and still get a similar effect.

However, the enhancement that the Leslie Speaker provides is still so good that many Hammond performers use the Leslie speakers with modern Hammonds and thus have the ability to combine the two effects, thus taking advantage of both types of vibrato.

At Main Street Music, we have original Leslie Speakers in excellent condition, available for immediate purchase while they last. We invite you to call us and visit our showroom to see, hear and play a Hammond organ through one of our fine Leslie Speakers for yourself.

MAIN STREET MUSIC, LLC
719 Main Street
Waltham, MA 02451
(781) 893 6644, or find us on line at:

www.MainStreetMusicUSA.com