Trading my 31H for a 21H? (Or something else?)

[Steven Anderson]

Hi Friends,

I am looking to downsize to 2 leslies. No gigging in the near future, all for my basement (jazz and a little gospel)

I have a 122 in good working condition, that I am for sure keeping, and I have a 31H that needs a rebuild.

I love the sound of the 31H, and I hear its great for jazz. But I hate the size/weight issue, even just for basement use, and we will likely moving in a couple years.

I am thinking about trading my 31H for a 21H. I hear the 21H is also great for jazz (big bass). Am I correct in thinking the 21H is the "little brother" to the 31H, and they have a lot of similarities?

Is there another leslie I should target for my 2nd? I already have a 122, so I don't want to go looking for another 145/147 type, but I don't know a lot about the single speed models.

Thanks!

[skydawg]

I`d be looking for another 122.

[Steven Anderson]

Lol, why do you say that?

I actually have 2, I was planning to keep one and sell the other to rebuild my 31H. What's the case for dual 122's?

I don't plan to daisy chain, I will be using only one at a time. I'm in my basement so no need to blow the roof off anything lol.

[David Anderson]

The 21H Leslie with the 32H (30W) amp has the same basic components as the 31H in a different cabinet.

[Steven Anderson]

Great info, thanks!

[Steven Anderson]

Is it fair to say that the 31H/21H is a different “family” of Leslie than the 122/147 world?

[muckelroy]

A lot of the things I like about the 21H versus 122 have to do with the F15LL. You won't regret buying a 21H if it is in good condition, recently serviced, and still has the F15LL.

That said, as much as I want to find myself a 31H for personal use, I have not yet heard a working one in the flesh. Those who have swear by them and that they are worth every extra inch of height, and pound of weight.

Options abound if you need 2 speed operation. I would just as soon leave it stock and learn to play / appreciate single speed, particularly for jazz playing.

[Steven Anderson]

Gotcha, thanks for the specifics, thats very helpful! I will have to think about this, as I have read other places that there is just no other like the 31H.

Definitely agree about the single speed issue as well, its my understanding most of the "early" (Jimmy Smith) recordings were done on single speed leslies.

[Baldwin51]

i have a 31 h , it is the best sounding most mellow sounding speaker i have ever used, the problem with them is they all seem to sound different, the amp is the same as the my 21 h with a 30 watt except for one capacitor plate to plate on 6SN7 , that makes it more mellow, i think even the wood makes a difference, also the earlier models used a different amp. i run 4 speakers on my c-3 two are hr -40 s and a 21 h leslie with 30 watt amp and the 31-h if i had to go with one i would keep my 31-h. i will probably downsize soon, i used these in night clubs yrs ago now at home with a piano, solovox and the cabinets+ 2 ampex recorders for echo all takes a bunch of room.