Leslie 2101

After having carried around a 1964 C3 organ with bench, pedals and a Leslie speaker for about a year, it has been somewhat of a relief to be playing the new more portable XK3. It's a wonderful instrument and unlike other Hammond clones is programmable to sound like practically every Hammond ever made.

The onboard Leslie simulation is also the best I've heard short of the real thing. Remember, we're talking about a digital representation of an actual rotating speaker, so there are going to be some shortfalls. But it's pretty darn close.

Some companies have made attempts at more portable solutions, but only to varying degrees of success. Certainly it is a difficult task.

The Leslie 2101 finally answers the question that has been aching at us for a long time-why doesn't Leslie make a portable speaker themselves.

The first time I heard the 2101 I was not too impressed. I felt the onboard sound was better.

Josiah Hoskins, who has reviewed this speaker in greater detail over at b3player.com encouraged me to give it a second chance.

I was fortunate enough to take the 2101 over to my Hammond studio, an 80 year old house with wood floors. This is where I used to practice my aforementioned C3, and where I have another very nice vintage C3.

The 2101 was designed to be used with a larger Leslie cabinet to handle the mid range and low end. It is a very interesting set up, and has wheels on the bottom for easy cartage.

I don't have that, instead I'm using a powered wedge monitor, and fortunately Leslie provided outs for either type of application.

I sat the entire rig in a chair to get the head level effect, and not only did I find that it sounds good, but it's also very LOUD!!

Of course I'm comparing it with a Leslie 710. We used it at a rehearsal and gig recently, and the band members were really impressed with what was happening.