The Ugly Truth: Electro Harmonix Lester G

Today we found out that EHX has been at it again. This time they've developed a Rotary Speaker Emulator. That is a fancy way of saying it is a Leslie pedal. There are many pedal out there that help you sound more like a spinning horn, so why have EXH now released their own? Electro Hamonix is regularly adding to its already extensive line of effects, and becoming more and more well rounded with each addition. Let's take a look at what we know about this pedal.

ehx.com

It's Massive

It looks like the Lester G is a big boy. Compact in some respects, it sports eight knobs and two footswitches, it has a lot going on. I looks to take up about as much space as the Memory Man or any of their "multi-effect" pedals. Which aren't nearly as bloated as the Boss twin-type pedals. What it does have going for it is its looks. This is a good looking pedal. It seems that EHX are stepping away from there bare-metal ascetics and giving their pedals a more "premium" look. The white/cream painted boxes and matching knobs are  nicely contrasted with the graphics. Everything looks top notch, which is nice because there is a lot of 'it' to look at.

It's Pricey 

The Lester G is reported to debut at $298. That's higher than their other emulators, the "9" series. That's POG money. The Lester K is more affordable, but you are still looking at $237. There are other pedals that do similar jobs, but not with the flexibility that we see in these pedals. I not saying that this pedal is or isn't worth the price, but if you want the most flexible Leslie emulator with expression control, then you're going to pony up the cash.

It's Not Alone

Yes, this pedal is fantastically flexible, but I already own a rotary. It has a slow and fast function like the EXH. What the Lester G has going for it is its depth. Well, depth and a compressor. It looks to be an MXR or ROSS type comp with Attack and Sustain. With an added bonus: squash. The Lester K is free of all those features. Making it stand out less than it's big bother. 

Conclusion

The final word is not a word. It's the sound. Close your eyes, and listen to the sounds of this pedal. If you can't convince your self that there is an actual spinning horn in the room then move along...