Leslie 50c questions

[ibarlow]

So I just bought a 50C with a 46W amp in it for 300 bucks that I plan on using with my XK-1. The guy I bought it from hooked it up to his combo preamp and it was spinning on fast, but wouldnt switch between fast and off...just stayed on. He said it was the relay. Being that I'm new to working on Leslies, and electronics in general, would I be best to let a professional replace the relay or would it be pretty simple to do myself? Another thing is I wanted to do was to convert it to a two speed. I've heard you can just replace the top motor as a cheap way of converting it...but my question is, being that I play with a full rock band and I'm by no means a die hard afficionado that has been playing Leslies for years, would I notice a huge difference in sound or would it work fine until I could come up with the cash to completely convert it? And my final question: would the Leslie Combo Preamp 020875 be the right one for a 46W amp? Thanks for all your help guys!

[Wes]

I don't much about the CPAs so I won't comment.

The Leslie 50C is a field-coil speaker Leslie, I think that's also true of the 46W. Not that it is matters.

Let's see. Relay. Relay. The relay is an "open frame" type relay, you can actually test the relay functionality by moving the actuator with some kind of insulator while it's on, and see the motor switch speeds. BE CAREFUL THERE ARE LETHAL VOLTAGES IN THERE. Google 'working on tube amps" or something. You can also test the relay by measuring the resistance across its coil from the connector pins on the amp. Normally a defective relay will read "open" (infinite resistance).

A new relay is available from tonewheelgeneral.com for about $35. It is a simple replacement job if you can solder well and obey safety basics. I did one in a model 25 not long ago.

Another option is to blow $300 or so at Benton Electronics. You get a little computer that replaces the relay with a completely silent part (better for recording) AND upgrades your single-speed Leslie to a two-speed (actually, three, it's possible to wire up brake with George's kit).

Two speeds are nice, but not necessary, and sometimes you want "stop". I often flick the tremolo switch on my Model 51C to the tempo of the music to simulate chorale in a musically interesting way. Plus it makes me look busy, so people aren't saying, "hey, why aren't you competing with the bass player with your left hand?"

Wes

[ibarlow]

Thanks for the info, I did see that computer chip thing online and I was thinking it would be a nice way to kill two birds with one stone. I was also toying with the idea of just keeping it single speed and having the leslie emulator on my keyboard on slow and just switch the leslie on when I want fast...not sure how that would sound and I can imagine it would look pretty silly on stage to have a stopped leslie producing a chorale sound...

Another thing I was wondering...I have a M102 as well...would I be able to pull the amp from that, hook up a leslie connector, and just plug the XK-1 into the RCA jack on the swell pedal? I tried to find info on turning the AO-29 (I believe thats the amp put in the M series...I could be wrong though) into an external unit, but found nothing. Any suggestions for that so I could save a few bucks would be much appreciated.

[Wes]

It won't look silly to anyone but you... but Leslie sims really need a stereo field to be convincing.

You could certainly modify the amp in the M102 to do what you want, but I don't think that's your best option in the long run, the value of the organ is greater than the value of a cheap amp, if you're going to skip the CPA and build your own kit. A pawn-shop guitar amp will do the job nicely, you can even get some effects out of out it. An old hi-fi amp could be pressed into service, too.

Wes