Piano Tuners callout...

[CincyDem]

17. Yep. That's the model number of the classic Leslie mahogany or cherry speaker.

Here's a good video of it. One of the key feature of the speaker is that the lower rotor baffle took longer to start and stop vs. the horns up top. As a result you could get that growling sound when you turned up the speed with bass cords and at that same time get the highs to scream through like fingernails on the a chalkboard if you had it miked right. You can see it about halfway through this short video.

Damn it was a lovely combination.

And there was nothing as fast and easy on the hands as a Hammond keyboard. Spring up under the front of the keyboard so the tension was softer, return was faster, and consistency between white and black keys was great. Learned the hard way one night...cracked a key and the front part fell off, leaving the back part of the key exposed and above the board level...with a jagged plastic edge. Didn't see it but found it during a hand glide. Damn luck I didn't rip up my fingers. Still have the scar on my palm when ya know where to look.

Still - would kill to have it back and remember every day with it fondly.

Now - anyone want to chat about an Arp 2600 or a Rhodes 88 ?