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Description

The Leslie 170 Keyboard Amplifier is a sonic powerhouse designed to amplify your keyboard's sound with exceptional clarity and depth. Known for its distinctive rotating speaker system, this amplifier delivers a rich, immersive audio experience that musicians have cherished for decades. Whether you're performing in a small venue or a large concert hall, the Leslie 170 provides the versatility and reliability needed to ensure your performance sounds its best.

Crafted with the needs of keyboardists in mind, the Leslie 170 features a single-channel amplifier with an impressive power output, ensuring your sound is both powerful and precise. Its classic design includes a robust wooden cabinet, maintaining the iconic Leslie aesthetic while offering durability and timeless style. The control panel is straightforward, allowing you to easily adjust volume and tone to perfectly match your playing environment.

With its ability to produce a wide range of tonal textures, from smooth and mellow to bright and dynamic, the Leslie 170 is a favorite among professional and amateur musicians alike. Its signature rotary effect adds a unique dimension to your sound, giving your music a lively, swirling quality that is truly captivating.

Key Features:

  • Single-channel amplifier designed for keyboards
  • Classic rotary speaker system for a unique audio experience
  • Powerful and precise sound output
  • Durable wooden cabinet with a timeless design
  • Simple control panel for easy adjustments
  • Ideal for both small venues and large concert settings

Reviews

Owner Insights

We analyzed real musician discussions from forums and Reddit to find what players love, question, and tweak about Leslie 170.

Setup and maintenance

  • Using a Sterling ST170 ribbon as a "side" mic in a mid-side setup for the top rotor can yield excellent results, but may cancel out in mono.

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  • It's recommended to avoid micing the vents to reduce random stage volume bleed, instead positioning mics equidistant from the horn.

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User experience

  • The SM57a can sound shrill and metallic when micing the Leslie, contrasting with the typical praise for SM57s.

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  • Users report that dynamic mics like SM57s can sometimes cause significant hum or buzz due to proximity to Leslie's electronics, unlike condensers.

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  • In live settings, using windscreens is advised to mitigate wind noise from the spinning rotor, especially with close mic placements.

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Use cases and applications

  • An unconventional micing approach involves using two Roswell K47s in an X/Y configuration on the side of the cabinet, resulting in a well-sitting mix.

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  • Some users have successfully employed SDC microphones inside the Leslie cabinet for isolation, achieving a brighter, more present sound compared to SM58s.

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  • For organ trios without a bass player, a kick drum mic on the low rotor helps when bass pedals are used, enhancing low-end presence.

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Mods and upgrades

  • Employing EV RE20S for the top and an ND/868 for the bottom rotor provides a strong tonal presence, with ribbons being a favorable alternative.

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Features and functionality

  • The Leslie 170 only has one functional horn, with the other acting as a counterweight, affecting mic placement and stereo imaging.

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  • The crossover point between the high and low rotors is at 800 Hz, influencing mic placement and EQ during recording or live setups.

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  • Panning top mics at 90 degrees is suggested to effectively capture the Leslie's warble effect, enhancing the stereo feel.

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Artist usage

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See how Benmont Tench uses Leslie 170

Benmont Tench

Keyboardist

Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers

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Genre Usage

Based on how artists on Equipboard use this gear, it is most commonly found in the following genres.

Used With

Based on how musicians on Equipboard use Leslie 170, it is most commonly used with the following gear.

Roland RS-5
Roland RS-5 Synthesizers
1

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