The Leslie speaker is a fascinating piece of equipment designed to elevate electric studio organs, such as our Hammond RT3, to sound more like larger pipe organs of the past such as the Compton organ.

Within this wooden shell lies an amplifier and two types of speaker: one high-frequency rotating horn at the top, and one low-frequency speaker facing down towards a revolving drum at the base. The top and bottom of the Leslie are usually miked separately and then combined to produce a very particular chorus effect. This effect is controlled by the rotation speed of both the horn, and the drum.

In the ‘60s it was repurposed by bands like The Beatles and The Beach Boys to be used with other instruments like guitar (George Harrison on Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds) or vocals (John Lennon on Tomorrow Never Knows).