Hughes & Kettner Rotosphere and Replex? Anyone own?

[Gearjoneser]

On Sunday, I was asked to join a cool band, which has some members from the best band I was in. The weird part is that I'm replacing both a guitarist and a Hammond B-3 player, who was like the Hendrix of Hammond!

The Leslie Organ tone in my Line 6 Modulator ain't gonna cut it!
I've been sitting down trying to figure out how to emulate a grindy Hammond swirl, and have come to the conclusion that I'm going to try my T. Rex Fuzz into a H&K Rotosphere to try and cop a sound that's real close.

Has anyone owned or own a Rotosphere? Wanna sell it? Any comments on the Rotosphere or Replex would be appreciated. I'm gonna move some pedals around to get a setup that works with this band.

 

[zak]

Re: Hughes & Kettner Rotosphere and Replex? Anyone own?

I own an H and K replex, and i can tell you it is an absolutely superb pedal. Im a bit of a delay freak (i've had about 9 or 10 different delays in the past couple of years) and nothing i have owned touches it. The 12ax7 makes a massive difference - you get a gorgeous warm, fat valve tone. The reverb isnt that good, but by turning it to zero you can you can use the valve in the replex in your basic tone. It has two delays, a single and double head. The double is great for adding atmosphere in a kind of mars volta way and the single is just wonderful. The pedal has one knob that makes it sound increasingly like a proper echolplex-like tape delay. I have never owned an echoplex, but all i can say is i like what i hear when i turn up the tape emulation knob. I currently also own a boss dd-20, boss dd-3, guyatone md-3 and eh deluxe memory man. Although i definitely have uses for the dd-20, the tape setting on that is just a con - it is a delay with a bit less treble, that is all. You get none of the warmth, flutter and pure tone you get with the replex. The memory man is OK, but to be honest i have hardly touched it since i got the replex.
I dont use the replex for gigs though, as i appreciate the presets on the dd-20 and so use that instead. But for home use/recording i think it is perfection.

 

[kevlar3000]

Re: Hughes & Kettner Rotosphere and Replex? Anyone own?

I like the replex but I feel it adds too much color to the amps natural tone. Not really bad, but it warms it in a way that I would rather not have. The delay itself is very nice and the warble and such feels very old school. I just wish it was a bit more transparent.

 

[MikeRocker]

Re: Hughes & Kettner Rotosphere and Replex? Anyone own?

What's up buddy! I have an Option 5 Destination Rotation. I've never tried it against a Rotosphere, but it does sound great, and is much, much more portable. But A/B'ing them, the Rotosphere may stomp the DR (no pun intended). Have you been to TrueTone Music in Santa Monica? They have a bunch of great pedals, including lots of boutique stuff. I believe they carry the H&K and the Op5.
Again, it's wast great meeting and talking with you, and hearing you play!

 

[Gearjoneser]

Re: Hughes & Kettner Rotosphere and Replex? Anyone own?

Thanks guys. That's one thing I notice about a lot of tube pedals (adding a color or compression). I guess it's why so many pedals are SS analog.

I'm happy with the Delays in my L6, so I'll probably keep that on the board, but I'm really looking at a Rotosphere. I actually want a real tubey sound out of that.

Kevlar, have you ever checked out the EH Q-Tron? I have a feeling you'd love that pedal! I wish I'd never sold mine.

 

[sonnyblu]

Re: Hughes & Kettner Rotosphere and Replex? Anyone own?

I love my Rotosphere II, I replaced a Motion Sound Pro3T (plus kbrd amp) and a MS SR112 with it. So I don't have to haul all that stuff around anymore. I run it stereo, the ramp and stop buttons are great, you can use it as a boost for that matter when it's not spinning. The only thing is... and that is why I'm here looking in the first place... It takes up a lot of room on your pedalboard that's for sure. So I guess I've got to build up ^ or something! And yes I think it sounds more realistic than the Option 5.

 

[Vasshu the humanoid typhoon]

Re: Hughes & Kettner Rotosphere and Replex? Anyone own?

The Roto is awesome, but after I tried an old Korg leslie from the eighties...uh
Had the same trouble with the replex as Kev, it was almost like dragging that damm old Echoplex around
Just too much colour, but it really does sound good.

 

[Gearjoneser]

Re: Hughes & Kettner Rotosphere and Replex? Anyone own?

Wow, this old thread got dug up! What ended up happening is that the Hammond player decided to rehearse once a week and agree to gigs, so I'm off the hook, regarding copping his sound. I still want a rotosphere, but my dire need has gone away.

 

[Vasshu the humanoid typhoon]

Re: Hughes & Kettner Rotosphere and Replex? Anyone own?

Hehe Hammond players
I always flee away from their friggin' huge leslies
It can drown out any guitar if they want to...swosh swosh lol

 

[Gearjoneser]

Re: Hughes & Kettner Rotosphere and Replex? Anyone own?

Especially THIS Hammond player. He's the best in LA. I don't even know if this band is gonna get off the ground, because he's so busy doing sessions we can't even get him to show up. He has a monsterous sound, because he's got his Hammond modded with an FX loop, and uses a guitar style pedalboard, including a Budda Wah! I've got a loud amp, but his frequency could blow your eardrums out. I curse the guy who invented the Leslie! What a pain to move it!