The 20 Best Rotary Pedals You Can Get In 2024

Rotary pedals, also known as Leslie pedals, are effects pedals that simulate the sound of a rotating Leslie speaker, which is commonly used to create a tremolo effect for electric guitar. Rotary pedals are a relatively new addition to the world of guitar effects, but they have quickly gained popularity among guitarists.

These pedals typically feature a speed knob and an expression pedal, allowing the user to control both the speed and depth of the effect. While rotary pedals are most commonly used with electric guitars, they can also be used with other instruments, such as keyboards.

Rotary pedals are most commonly used to create a rotary speaker effect, which mimics the sound of a vintage tube amplifier. The rotary knob is used to control the speed of the rotary action, while the switch is used to toggle between different speeds. This allows players to create a range of sounds from classic Leslie-style rotation to swirly, sweeping sounds.

Rotary pedals are also great for creating unique textures and layers to add to a guitar part. When used with a delay pedal, for example, a rotary pedal can be used to create a vibrato effect. Similarly, a rotary pedal can be used with a reverb pedal to create a unique depth and movement to a guitar part.

So here are 20 of the best rotary pedals you can find today to add to your setup and create unique tones.

Fender The Pinwheel Rotary Pedal

• Analog rotary pedal
• Drive, Tone, Fast, Slow, Level, Ramp, and Sensitivity control knobs
• 3-way mode switch
• LED indicator
• True Bypass and Slow-Fast (Break) footswitches
• 2 x 1/4″ stereo input, 2 x 1/4″ stereo output
• 1 x 1/4″ expression port
• 9V DC power adapter (sold separately)

Fender The Pinwheel is an all-original Fender circuit rotary pedal. It features three different effect modes, including Fender’s own Vibratone effect. Plus, it has plenty of tone-shaping options to finetune your rotary effect with Drive, Tone, Fast, Slow, Level, Ramp, and Sensitivity control knobs.

Furthermore, it also has a fast-slow switch for finding the sweet spot and dialing it in. The addition of overdrive gives more versatility to add more texture to your tone. Sensitivity control is also great, as it provides you with different modulation rates for different playing dynamics. Finally, it has stereo input-output, LED indicator, and LED backlit knobs along with a True Bypass switch for more convenient use on the stage.

DigiTech Ventura Vibe Rotary-Vibrato Pedal

• Analog vibrato and rotary pedal
• Speed, Depth, Mix, Tone-Drive control knobs
• 3-way mode switch
• LED indicator
• True Bypass footswitch (can be used as a fast-slow switch)
• 2 x 1/4″ stereo input, 2 x 1/4″ stereo output
• 9V DC power adapter (sold separately)

DigiTech Ventura Vibe is a versatile rotary and vibrato pedal that comes with three different modes for different tastes. It features Vintage, Modern, and Rotary modes. The vintage mode is inspired by the vintage Uni-Vibe effects, while the Modern mode is for authentic, pure pitch-based vibrato effects. The Rotary mode is totally based on the authentic Leslie speakers to provide the classic rotary effect.

The pedal offers Speed, Depth, Mix, and Tone-Drive control knobs to shape your effects, which are all quite sensitive and responsive to small adjustments. Furthermore, there is the True Bypass footswitch, which you can also use as a fast-slow switch when you like. It is a stereo pedal with dual input-output ports and has a compact design for crowded pedalboards. It comes with a stomp lock knob guard to lock your tone and prevent any accidental changes. The pack also includes a custom-cut hook and loop pedalboard pad to lock your pedals into your pedalboard.

NUX Roctary Rotary and Octave Pedal

• Analog rotary and octave pedal
• Drive, Level, Octave -1, Octave +1, Slow, Fast, Bass-Horn, Balance control knobs
• Octave On-Off switch
• True Bypass and Fast-Slow footswitches
• 1 x 1/4″ stereo input, 2 x 1/4″ stereo output
• 1 x 1/4″ expression port, Mini-USB port
• 9V DC power adapter (sold separately)

NUX Roctary is another great choice for a rotary pedal, thanks to its amazing versatility. It offers many control options with Drive, Level, Octave -1, Octave +1, Slow, Fast, Bass-Horn, Balance control knobs, and different combinations you can create with the pedal to create unique effects.

The pedal provides adjustable speed, brake, horn and bass, overdrive, and almost all features you can expect from a rotary pedal combined with polyphonic octave effects. This is more than just a classic rotary pedal, as it can provide unique organ sounds with the polyphonic octave and overdrive addition. It also has a cab simulator and is compatible with keyboards, too. If you power on the pedal while holding the Fast switch, you can activate the Leslie cab simulator to have authentic rotary effects. A truly versatile pedal overall, with stereo output, a mini USB port for updates, and an expression pedal port.

Neo Instruments Ventilator II Rotary Speaker Simulator Pedal

• Rotary speaker simulator pedal
• Bass and treble rotor emulation
• Fast-Slow Speed, Balance-Acceleration, Drive-Mode, Mix/Dist Lo-Remote, Mix/Dist Hi-Level control knobs
• 122 Leslie rotary effects
• Speaker simulation
• True Bypass, Stop-Rotary Cab Simulator, and Slow-Fast footswitches
• 2 x 1/4″ stereo input, 2 x 1/4″ stereo output
• 1 x 1/4″ remote port
• 12V DC power adapter (included)

Neo Instruments Ventilator II Rotary Speaker Simulator Pedal is a high-end rotary effect simulator with amazing versatility and sound quality. It features 122 Leslie rotary effects with plenty of tone-shaping options with its Fast-Slow Speed, Balance-Acceleration, Drive-Mode, Mix/Dist Lo-Remote, and Mix/Dist Hi-Level control knobs. It replicates the Leslie effects with high precision and can be used both for guitars and keyboards.

The pedal features a drive section for tube saturation, just like you have in Lesli amps. Plus, it has a speaker simulation that you can turn on or off as you want. Separate mix-distance control for Hi and Lo rotors is also a great touch that increases the versatility when shaping your tone. The other features like stereo input-outputs, remote port for expression pedals, true bypass and slow-fast footswitches, and the included power adapter are all amazing, making this one of the best rotary pedals you can purchase.

NUX MOD Core Deluxe Rotary and Multi-Fx Pedal

• Digital rotary and multi-fx pedal
• 8 different modulation effects, including Chorus, Flanger, Phaser, Tremolo, Pan, Rotary, U-vibe, Vibrato
• Rate, Depth, Mode, and Tweak control knobs
• Tone Lock function
• True Bypass footswitch
• 2 x 1/4″ stereo input, 2 x 1/4″ stereo output
• USB port
• 9V DC power adapter (sold separately)

NUX MOD Core Deluxe is a versatile and cost-effective rotary and multi-fx pedal that comes with 8 distinct effects, including Chorus, Flanger, Phaser, Tremolo, Pan, Rotary, U-vibe, and Vibrato. While you have many effective options, the emphasis of the pedal is on the rotary effect, which is the best-sounding one among the 8 choices. It has Rate, Depth, and Tweak control knobs to fine-tune your sound.

The pedal comes with a true bypass footswitch and a USB port for updates as well as stereo and mono operation choices. The rotary effect is close to the Leslie units for the price, making the pedal a great investment for all guitarists who want to have some modulation effect options under their arms without breaking the bank.

Wampler Terraform Multi-Fx Pedal

• Digital Multi-Fx pedal
• 11 modulation effects including Phaser, Flanger, Chorus, Tremolo, Harmonic Tremolo, Rotary, Auto-Wah, Envelope Filter, Auto Swell, Vibe, Dimension effects
• Rate, Depth, Blend, Variable, and Volume control knobs
• 8 Preset Slots
• True Bypass and Tap Tempo footswitches
• 2 x 1/4″ stereo input, 2 x 1/4″ stereo output
• 2 x 1/8″ MIDI In-Out, 1 x 1/4″ Expression port
• 9-18V DC power adapter (sold separately)

Although Wampler Terraform is a multi-fx pedal, its rotary section is as good as a standalone rotary pedal. It comes with 11 different modulation effects, including Phaser, Flanger, Chorus, Tremolo, Harmonic Tremolo, Rotary, Auto-Wah, Envelope Filter, Auto Swell, Vibe, and Dimension, along with plenty of controls such as Rate, Depth, Blend, Variable, and Volume to fine-tune your sound.

It has 8 preset slots to save your pre-made tones, which you can control with the small button between the footswitches. Plus, it can act as a stereo or mono pedal and has MIDI and expression ports for extra versatility. The addition of the Tap Tempo footswitch next to the True Bypass footswitch is also great for adjusting your effects with ease. Overall, if you like modulation effects and looking for a high-quality Leslie-style rotary effect, Wampler Terraform is a perfect choice.

Strymon Lex V2 Rotary Speaker Pedal

• Digital rotary speaker pedal
• Speed, Volume, Mic Distance, Horn Level, Preamp Drive, and Dry control knobs
• MIC front-rear switch and Ramp slow-mid-fast switch
• True Bypass (switchable to Buffered) and Slow-Fast footswitches
• 1 x 1/4″ input, 2 x 1/4″ outputs
• 1 x USB-C,  1 x 1/4″ MIDI-Expression port
• Mono-Stereo input switch
• 9 DC power adapter (sold separately)

Strymon Lex V2 Rotary Speaker Pedal is a high-quality rotary speaker pedal with many control options and combinations to create your rotary effect as you like. The rotary effect from the pedal is deep and dynamic, just like the vintage rotary speakers. The addition of mic and ramp switches increases the versatility to the sky, while six control knobs give you big control over your sound.

Another great feature of the pedal is the switchable mono-stereo input. Also, the pedal is built with the JFET input circuit to enhance responsiveness, dynamics, and feel. There is the MIDI-expression port, which you can use to connect an extra footswitch to recall your presets or an expression pedal or a MIDI device. It is a great pedal if you want the utmost control and versatility from your rotary speaker pedal.

Danelectro Billionaire BK-1 Spinning Speaker Pedal

• Analog spinning speaker pedal
• Volume, Treble, and Speed control knobs
• Ramp and Effect footswitches
• 1 x 1/4″ input, 1 x 1/4″ output
• 9V DC power adapter (sold separately)

Danelectro Billionaire BK-1 is a simple pedal that imitates the sound of spinning speakers. It provides great, rich, lush, and sparkling spinning speaker tones, which you can control with three controls on the pedal, including volume, treble, and speed. It also comes with a ramp switch to start the next ramp move and decide its direction. 

The volume knob is there to add grit and drive to your tone, while the treble knob gives you the sparkling for the high-end frequencies when you crank it up, or you can get a dark warbly tone if you dial it back. The speed knob is for the speed of the spin. Overall, it is a simple yet effective pedal for those amazing spinning effects.

Electro-Harmonix Lester K Rotary Speaker Pedal

• Rotary speaker pedal
• Volume, Drive, Slow, Fast, and Balance
• Speed-Brake and Buffered Bypass footswitches
• 2 x 1/4″ input, 2 x 1/4″ outputs
• 9V DC power adapter (included)

Electro-Harmonix Lester K is a great rotary speaker pedal for guitarists and keyboardists to create a swirling and smooth stereo chorus. The pedal is based on the traditional Leslie sound and has plenty of controls like Volume, Drive, Slow, Fast, and Balance, along with a fast-brake switch for two adjustable speeds.

You can also pause the speaker with the buffered bypass footswitch whenever you want. The drive control is also a great addition to add some grit to your tone. The balance knob provides great tones between smooth leads and cutting rhythms. Plus, the stereo input-output options are great for ear-to-ear effects.

TC Electronic Vibraclone Rotary Pedal

• Analog rotary speaker pedal
• Tremolo and Chorale speed ranges with 2-way switch
• Speed and Drive control knobs
• True Bypass footswitch
• 1 x 1/4″ input, 1 x 1/4″ output
• 9V DC power adapter (sold separately)

TC Electronic Vibraclone Rotary Pedal is a cost-effective and simple choice for guitarists looking for a straightforward rotary pedal. The stompbox is quite compact and pedalboard-friendly. It comes with added Tremolo and Chorale speed ranges for some versatility and has the speed and drive control knobs to craft your effect a little.

It also has a true bypass switch to disengage the pedal. The rotary tone is based on the rotating speakers of the 60s, which were unique whirl-accented and highly musical overdrive tones. 

Neo Instruments Mini Vent II Rotary Pedal

• Rotary speaker simulator pedal
• Very simplistic design
• LED indicators
• Guitar and Keyboard modes
• True Bypass and Slow-Fast footswitches
• 1 x 1/4″ input, 2 x 1/4″ outputs
• 12V DC power adapter (included)

Neo Instruments Mini Vent II Rotary Pedal is a highly simplistic rotary speaker simulator pedal that comes only with 2 footswitches to control your sound. The first one is for a true bypass switch, and the second one is to switch between slow and fast rotary speed modes.

The pedal features a mono input and stereo outputs to adjust your tone. Plus, it comes with a power adapter. It is a very straightforward rotary pedal for those who do not want to struggle with many controls.

Electro-Harmonix Lester G Deluxe Rotary Pedal

• Rotary speaker pedal with compression
• Volume, Slow, Fast, Drive, Attack, Sustain, Balance, and Acceleration control knobs
• Squash button
• Speed-Brake and Buffered Bypass footswitches
• 1 x 1/4″ input, 2 x 1/4″ outputs
• 1 x 1/4″ expression pedal port
• 9V DC power adapter (included)

Electro-Harmonix Lester G Deluxe is another versatile rotary pedal with an attractive price. It features a compression effect added to the rotary effect and has Volume, Slow, Fast, Drive, Attack, Sustain, Balance, and Acceleration control knobs for tone-shaping options. It also has a unique Squash button for a squash boost to even out the dynamics.

The pedal adds a swirling and smooth chorus to your tone and has 2 different adjustable speeds. The footswitch for changing between the speed options is great, and it also has a buffered bypass onboard. Mono input and stereo output, along with the expression pedal port, increase the versatility. Overall, it is a great-sounding and highly versatile pedal for the price offered.

Keeley Monterey Rotary Fuzz Vibe Rotary Pedal

• Analog multi-fx pedal
• Wah, Fuzz, Rotary, Octave, and Vibe effects
• Level 1, Fuzz, Level 2, Octave, Depth, and Rate control knobs
• 3-way Rotary, Wah, Vibe switch
• Mod and Fuzz footswitches
• LED indicators
• 1 x 1/4″ input, 1 x 1/4″ output
• 1 x 1/4″ expression pedal port
• 9V DC power adapter (sold separately)

Keeley Monterey is a popular multi-fx pedal with Wah, Fuzz, Rotary, Octave, and Vibe effects. It is based on the legendary tones of Jimi Hendrix, which is great if you like the vintage 60’s modulation effects. It has Level 1, Fuzz, Level 2, Octave, Depth, and Rate control knobs for tone-shaping options, and especially the rotary and fuzz effects are impressive and full-sounding.

Plus, the pedal features an expression pedal input to use with other gears. From “Machine Gun” tone to “Voodoo Child,” wah you can reach many of the Jimi Hendrix tones with the pedal.

Keeley Dyno My Roto Tri-chorus, Rotary, and Flange Pedal

• Digital Tri-chorus, Rotoflange, and Rotary pedal
• Rate, Texture, Depth, and Blend control knobs
• 3-way Tri-chorus, Rotoflange, and Rotary switch
• True Bypass footswitch
• 1 x 1/4″ input, 1 x 1/4″ output
• 9V DC power adapter (sold separately)

Keeley Dyno My Roto is a compact pedal that is based on the sound of ’80s rackmount chorus units. It features Chorus, Flange, and Rotary effects. You can control the effects with Rate, Texture, Depth, and Blend control knobs and switch between Tri-chorus, Rotoflange, and Rotary effects with the 3-way switch.

Especially the rotary section is quite good, as it delivers a great tone close to the vintage circuits. The rest of the specs are quite standard, with mono input and output as well as a True bypass footswitch. 

Tomsline ARE-3 Roto Engine Rotary Speaker Pedal

• Analog rotary speaker pedal
• Level, Intense, and Speed control
• 3-way mode switch with Phaser, Vibe, and Chorus options
• True Bypass footswitch
• 1 x 1/4″ input, 1 x 1/4″ output
• 9V DC power adapter (sold separately)

Tomsline ARE-3 Roto Engine is a cost-effective rotary pedal that comes with bonus chorus and vibrato effects. It features Level, Intense, and Speed control knobs to craft your tone and has a true bypass footswitch to turn the pedal off and let your signal flow uncolored through the pedal.

The pedal is very tiny and compact, which is perfect for crowded pedalboards. If you are after an affordable, reliable, and simple rotary pedal, Tomsline ARE-3 Roto Engine is a good choice.

Kokko Vibe Rotary Pedal

• Analog rotary speaker pedal
• Rate, Depth, and Level control knobs
• True Bypass footswitch
• 1 x 1/4″ input, 1 x 1/4″ output
• 9V DC power adapter (sold separately)

Kokko Vibe is an affordable rotary speaker pedal with a decent rotary effect, a compact design, and an attractive price tag. It comes with Rate, Depth, and Level control knobs to give you a bit of control over your sound. 

It has a true bypass circuit, which you can control with the single footswitch on the pedal. The pedal is quite simplistic and features decent quality. It is not the best rotary pedal, but for the price, it is hard to beat.

Coolmusic A-ME01 Multi-FX Pedal

• Digital multi-fx pedal
• Eleven modulation effects including Dyna, Filter, Wah, Detune, Chrous, Vibrato, Tremolo, Flanger, Tremolo, Flanger, Phaser, Rotary, Ring effects
• Mix, Depth, and Speed control knobs
• LED indicators
• True Bypass footswitch
• 1 x 1/4″ input, 1 x 1/4″ output
• 9V DC power adapter (sold separately)

Coolmusic A-ME01 is a highly versatile multi-fx pedal that comes with 11 different modulation effects for guitarists who want everything in a single stompbox. It features  Dyna, Filter, Wah, Detune, Chrous, Vibrato, Tremolo, Flanger, Tremolo, Flanger, Phaser, Rotary, and Ring effects along with mix, depth, and speed control knobs for detailed tone customization.

The pedal features LED indicators to show the bypass and effects status. The True Bypass can be used with the single footswitch on the pedal. The rotary, flanger, and vibrato effects are especially the ones that stand out with their high-quality circuit. If you are after an all-in-one, great-sounding modulation pedal with an impressive rotary effect based on the Leslie speakers, the Coolmusic A-ME01 Multi-FX pedal is the ideal choice.

Flamma FC05 Mini Modulation Pedal

• Mini modulation pedal
• Eleven classic modulation effects: Chorus, Flanger, Tremolo, Phaser, Vibrato, Rotary, Liquid, Auto wah, Stutter, Ring, and Low bit
• Control, Speed, and Depth control knobs
• Compact size
• True Bypass footswitch
• 1 x 1/4″ input, 1 x 1/4″ output
• 9V DC power adapter (sold separately)

Flamma FC05 Mini Modulation Pedal is an affordable yet great multi-fx modulation with eleven classic modulation effects: Chorus, Flanger, Tremolo, Phaser, Vibrato, Rotary, Liquid, Auto wah, Stutter, Ring, and Low bit effects. On the control panel, you get the 11-way mode switcher along with Control, Speed, and Depth control knobs to customize your tone.

The effects quality is impressive, especially when you take the price into account. The rotary effect is traditionally based on the Leslie speakers and can be controlled with the sensitive control knobs to create the effect you like. Overall, it is a mini but powerful multi-fx modulation pedal for guitarists who want to go budget but do not want to sacrifice versatility.

Mooer Soul Shiver Modulation Effects Pedal

• Analog EQ and modulation effects pedal
• Classic 60’s effects with Chorus, Vibrato, and Rotary effects
• Volume, Intensity, and Speed control knobs
• Compact design 
• True Bypass footswitch
• 1 x 1/4″ input, 1 x 1/4″ output
• 9V DC power adapter (sold separately)

Mooer Soul Shiver Modulation Effects Pedal comes with great effect choices that are based on the vintage 60’s tones. It features Chorus, Vibrato, and Rotary effects, all of which sound quite amazing. On the control panel, you get a 3-way switch to change between the effects and Volume, Intensity, and Speed control knobs to fine-tune your tone.

Pigtronix Rototron Analog Rotary Speaker Simulator

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• Analog Rotary Speaker Simulator
• Ramp, Slow, Fast, and Depth control knobs
• True Bypass and Slow-Fast footswitches
• 2 x 1/4″ input, 2 x 1/4″ output
• 9V DC power adapter (sold separately)

Pigtronix Rototron is a high-end and professional rotary speaker simulator that offers amazing sound quality and quite good versatility. You have Ramp, Slow, Fast, and Depth control knobs to shape your sound, along with True Bypass and Slow-Fast footswitches for easier operation. 

Analog design is great for warm and realistic sounds, while the line-level headroom gives amazing signal width to play with. There are full stereo ins and outs, along with separate low and high rotor jacks for expression pedal use. There is also the internal input summing option along with a mid-range panning option to allow the users to define their sound as they like. It is a unique pedal for guitarists who want the utmost versatility and control over their rotary effects.

Conclusion

Overall, rotary pedals are a great way to add unique textures and movements to a guitar part. With the versatility they offer, they are quickly becoming a popular choice among guitarists of all styles. 

Rotary pedals are unique for guitarists because they allow the player to create a range of different sounds, from subtle to extreme. They are also useful for adding depth, texture, and complexity to the guitar’s sound. Rotary pedals can be used to create a variety of effects, from tremolo and chorus to vibrato and flange. They are often used to create a fuller, larger sound, as well as to add movement and texture to a song.

Depending on your budget and needs, you can go with any of the pedals listed in the article without hesitation.

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Last update on 2024-04-18 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API