Hammond Organ

No Hammond organ is complete without its companion, the Leslie speaker cabinet. This is what gives it its unique and instantly identifiable swooshing sound. Inside, the Leslie contains several moving parts - a spinning tweeter (treble speaker) and a rotating baffle below the woofer (bass speaker). Together, moving in opposite directions at different speeds, these act to "throw" sound, creating a combination of sonic effects, including a doppler, phaser, and tremolo. I've recreated the motion in the model using a crank, although the real thing would have an electric motor.

A propeller housing from an old Aquanaut submarine kit was the perfect thing to recreate the downward pointing bass speaker. Technic gears provided everything necessary to get it moving.

Typically a Leslie takes a while to ramp up and slow down, which creates a cool and sometimes dramatic effect while playing. See it in action!