I do fine with the MicroPOG, but the POG2 has a DETUNE setting that's supposed to enhance the organ effect.
Of course, to really do it right you also need a second device after the POG to give you a rotary speaker sound. The DLS RotoSim is excellent. The RetroSonic Chorus set on vibrato also works very well. The RotoSim is more of a true Leslie effect and the RetroSonic is more of a rotovibe effect. But both pedals are very harmonica friendly and produce the desired effect when used in tandem with a POG type pedal.
FWIW, I've listened to on line recordings of Mr. Hunter's rotary sound patches and they sound a little weak to me.
Another consideration is that the POG2 is true bypass. The MicroPOG is not. But, Analogman does a TB mod on the MP for $40.
I have an unmodded MP on the pedalboard i use with my SWR bass amp. The SWR is solid state with a tube preamp. i also use a RotoSim on that pedalboard. Sounds GREAT.
I also have a couple of Fender tube amps. To control feedback, I use a TB MP with those amps. The TB mod lowers the gain. I also think the Retrosonic pedal sounds better with the tube amps than the RotoSim, so that's what i use with my tube amps.
I haven't actually tried the POG2. The MicroPOG is less expensive and personally, I would apply the difference towards getting a decent rotary sound pedal instead of using the Digitech.
The Rotosphere is quite awesome. But depending on your rig and final sound goal, there is a lot that can be played with.
A huge part of the organ sound is the intervals from the organ. Meaning, you are giving the pedals more than one note. The MP will give you three notes (the note you're playing, one octave up and another down). You can't totally replicate that just tongue blocking, but you can get close. Obviously tb'ing into a MP will give you more than three notes, although some will overlap, etc.
What is always missing with using harp are the intervals that aren't the octave! A quick fix is doing faux-organ sounds while NOT playing the root, so at least you aren't walking all over the bass and at least you are providing something new to listen to.
The larger EHX, at least one of them, let's you add intervals. Anyways, what I like about the POG2 is the detune, which will create a warble effect whether you use a rotary pedal or not.
If it were me and I had to chose between EHX pedals and/or a rotary pedal and my primary goal was to sound like an ORGAN (which is not my reality), I would get the POG2 first and foremost. It would be the most crucial piece of the puzzle. Would a rotary pedal make it better? Yes. But I think the pedal would be the most bang for the buck.
That being said, I like the rotary sound and am not super worried about sounding like an organ. However, if the opportunity comes, I will get a POG2 as I would use it for other things as well. ---------- Mike Quicksilver Custom Harmonicas Updated 2/24/11
I have the Hog which has is killer for one and two octaves down. Coupled with a BBE Mindbender set to 'vibrato' (knobs at ten and two o'clock,respectively) provides a version of a leslie sound thats over the the top top fun.. Keen to try the Neo Ventilator with the Hog (or Pog 2)for this. From the clips I've veiwed, the ventilator sounds more authentically 'leslie'... No youtube demos with harp as yet though... ---------- KiwiRick
The Ventilator sounds amazing (online anyways) for organ and guitar. If I was gigging enough, I think I could rationalize the price tag ($500) as I'd use it a ton and it is sort of like using a second amp in a way.
Seriously, I need two separate pedal boards and three sets of harps. I never will, but that'd be the dream.
Hvyj: Can you post some recordings clean and with your devices at some point. I'm presuming with your rig that you're quite technologically advanced and must have access or own a recording device. It would just be so much more "real" to hear examples. Thanks. d p.s. i have a POG but I prefer to just use it for a little color and also find that my old Premiers and my big Magnatone are not the best marriage with the POG. ---------- myspacefacebook
@bigd: I'm pedal savvy but computer semi-illiterate. I don't have the gear or expertise to record on computer.
Generally speaking, i don't like using effects pedals with tube amps (I consider reverb and delay part of the sound reinforcement and not effects). The effects mess with the sound of the tube amps and the tube amps mess with the sound of the effects. that's why i have a separate and less elaborate pedalboard I use with my tube amps with a couple of effects that are more tube amp friendly than those on my other pedalboard.
I know the post was in jest, well at least a little, but few bands want to include harmonica all the time. You have to diversify and effects is one way to do that. If you can fill-in for a B3 or other instrument here and there, you add to your value.
If I had the money, I'd buy a Ventilator and POG2 without hesitation. I think having something like the M13, which has a lot of popular synth sounds also used often by keyboard players, also adds to your versatility.
Harmonica is often a very tough sell to others.
Some day, when I have time, I want to create a demo of all the unique sounds I can come up with. In that way, when a band has an opening, I can send them a link showing them the wide soundscape one can cover with harmonica. ---------- Mike Quicksilver Custom Harmonicas Updated 2/24/11
Last Edited by on Mar 09, 2011 7:27 AM
@chromatic-determination and serious stretching exercises! A pissed-off B3 player could also lend a helping hand.
I posted this a while back...not great audio, but a demo of my Dunlop RotoVibe. I seldom use anything beyond a little delay anymore, but this is fun to trot out. I got it probably 12-13 years ago. The pedal is built on a Crybaby chassis, and the pedal motion controls the oscillation speed. There's a knob on the side to control the depth of the sweeps, too. I'm pretty sure I had it maxed out for this vid. You can also switch from tremelo to the leslie sound(leslie was on for this recording).
