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"The Boss RT-2 Rotary Ensemble recreates the iconic vintage rotary speaker sound, much like the Leslie, in a compact pedal form. Its display is a notable feature, justifying its value."

Exploring the RT-2 pedalboard-friendly device, boasting three distinctive modes and a drive control, along with adjustable speeds, provides an enticing Leslie-inspired resonance

Redesigned vintage rotary speaker's iconic sound in a portable pedal format: The Boss RT-2 Rotary...
Redesigned vintage rotary speaker's iconic sound in a portable pedal format: The Boss RT-2 Rotary Ensemble faithfully recreates the classic Leslie sound, with its display making every penny spent worthwhile.

"The Boss RT-2 Rotary Ensemble recreates the iconic vintage rotary speaker sound, much like the Leslie, in a compact pedal form. Its display is a notable feature, justifying its value."

The Boss RT-2 Rotary Ensemble is a compact effects pedal designed to produce the retro psych electric guitar tones reminiscent of classic rotary speaker cabinets [1][4]. This pedal, priced at $239, offers a modern and pedalboard-friendly solution for musicians seeking authentic rotary speaker sounds [1].

Authentic Rotary Speaker Emulation

The RT-2 accurately recreates the complex interaction of low- and high-frequency drivers and the tonal shifts as rotor speeds change, capturing the classic Leslie speaker mojo [1][3]. This allows guitarists to achieve the swirling, vibrant sound that is characteristic of 60s and 70s psych rock [1][2].

Three Distinct Modes

The RT-2 comes with three modes offering different styles of rotary speaker [2][3]:

  1. A vintage rotary mode offering faithful reproduction of classic Leslie sounds ideal for retro psych tones.
  2. A modern tonal mode that broadens tonal range with enhanced spatial effects.
  3. A third mode voiced to add power and presence, especially suitable for arpeggios and solos.

Stereo I/O and Output Options

The RT-2 offers stereo input and output with a choice between standard left/right stereo or separate wet/dry stereo outputs, facilitating versatile rig setups [1][2][3]. This versatility allows guitarists to integrate the RT-2 into their existing gear with ease.

Extensive Speed Control

The RT-2 provides separate controls for slow and fast rotor speeds with a footswitch that supports multiple modes for real-time rotor speed control during performances. It also offers a two-speed Rise/Fall switch that controls how quickly the rotor speed transitions between fast and slow [1][2][3].

Drive and Tonal Shaping

A Drive knob introduces valve-inspired vintage saturation to add warmth and grit to your sound. Additionally, a Drive/Balance switch lets the Drive knob either control saturation amount or blend the balance between treble and bass rotors for tonal customization [1][3].

Advanced External Control

Expression pedal inputs allow continuous control over Level, Drive, Balance, and Speed parameters, including independent Rotor Speed control and a Brake setting. Two external footswitches can also be connected for independent speed control on the fly [1][2][3].

User Interface

The RT-2 includes a virtual rotor display with lights indicating treble and bass rotor speeds for visual feedback [3]. This feature ensures that guitarists can easily monitor and adjust their rotor speeds during performances.

Compact and Pedalboard-Friendly

Despite its powerful features, the RT-2 is designed to be compact and pedalboard-friendly, delivering rotary speaker sound and behavior in a small footprint [3][4]. This makes it an ideal choice for gigging musicians wanting vintage psych tones without bulky gear.

The Boss RT-2 Rotary Ensemble is available now for $239.99 and can be found for more details on the Boss website [1][2]. For those seeking rich, swirling rotary effects, the Boss RT-2 offers a powerful tool with authentic vintage rotary sound, three versatile modes for tonal variety, detailed speed and drive control, stereo wet/dry output options, and advanced external expression/footswitch control [1][2][3][4].

[1] Boss Corporation. (2025). RT-2 Rotary Ensemble. Retrieved from https://boss.info/us/products/effects/rt-2-rotary-ensemble/ [2] Guitar World. (2025). Boss RT-2 Rotary Ensemble Review. Retrieved from https://www.guitarworld.com/gear/boss-rt-2-rotary-ensemble-review [3] Music Radar. (2025). Boss RT-2 Rotary Ensemble: First Look. Retrieved from https://www.musicradar.com/news/boss-rt-2-rotary-ensemble-first-look [4] Premier Guitar. (2025). Boss RT-2 Rotary Ensemble Pedal Review. Retrieved from https://www.premierguitar.com/articles/29637-boss-rt-2-rotary-ensemble-pedal-review

  1. The Boss RT-2 Rotary Ensemble is a compact pedalboard-friendly electric guitar gadget, emulating the authentic rotary speaker sounds found in Leslie speaker cabinets and classic Gibson Les Paul electric guitars.
  2. This pedalboard solution, priced at $239, offers three distinct modes to recreate the vintage, modern, or power-enhanced sounds of a rotary speaker, ideal for various music genres and techniques.
  3. The RT-2 features stereo input and output, with options for standard stereo or separate wet/dry outputs, providing guitarists with versatile entertainment setups.
  4. With extensive speed control, the RT-2 boasts separate slow and fast rotor speed adjustments, a footswitch supporting multiple modes for real-time control, and a two-speed Rise/Fall switch for smooth speed transitions.
  5. Drive and tonal shaping options include a Drive knob to add warmth and grit to the sound, as well as a Drive/Balance switch capable of controlling saturation amount or treble and bass rotor balance for customization.
  6. Advanced external control is possible through expression pedal inputs for continuous control over Level, Drive, Balance, and Speed parameters, and two external footswitches for independent speed control on the fly.
  7. The RT-2 comes equipped with a virtual rotor display featuring lights that indicate treble and bass rotor speeds for easy monitoring during performances, making it an ideal choice for musicians wanting vintage psych tones without bulky gear.

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