Electro-Harmonix Lester K User Manual

LESTER K

Stereo Rotary Simulator

Congratulations on your purchase of the LESTER K stereo rotary speaker cabinet
simulator! The LESTER K uses the finest rotary speaker simulation available
today, in a compact and easy-to-use package. Stereo outputs provide a lush,
realistic effect with either stereo or mono inputs. Tube-emulated overdrive is
available with the DRIVE knob, and speaker mix can be fine-tuned with the
BALANCE knob. Switch between adjustable FAST and SLOW modes for an
accurate reproduction of a classic rotary speaker’s speed adjustment.

– CONTROLS –

FAST Knob – Varies the speed of the rotating speaker effect when the LESTER

K is in FAST mode. Turn the FAST knob up to increase the rotation speed in
FAST mode. When in the center position, the rotation speed in FAST mode is an
accurate reproduction of a real rotary speaker cabinet’s fast speed.

SLOW Knob – Varies the speed of the rotating speaker effect when the LESTER
K is in SLOW mode. Turn the SLOW knob up to increase the rotation speed in
SLOW mode. When in the center position, the rotation speed in SLOW mode is
an accurate reproduction of a real rotary speaker cabinet’s slow speed.

BALANCE Knob – Controls the mix between the simulator’s low-frequency rotor
and high-frequency horn. Turn the BALANCE knob clockwise to increase the
volume of the horn and decrease the volume of the rotor, yielding a brighter
sound. Turn the BALANCE knob counter-clockwise for a darker sound. Set the
BALANCE knob to the center position to reproduce the natural acoustic balance
of a rotary speaker cabinet.

DRIVE Knob – Controls the amount of overdrive, simulating the tone of an
overdriven rotary speaker cabinet’s tube amplifier. When the DRIVE knob is set
fully counterclockwise, the overdrive effect is bypassed. As the DRIVE knob is
turned clockwise, the amount of overdrive increases.

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VOL Knob – Controls the output volume of the LESTER K. As the VOL knob is
turned clockwise, the output volume increases.

BYPASS Footswitch – This silent footswitch selects whether the LESTER K is in
buffered bypass mode or effect mode.

SPEED/BRAKE footswitch – This silent footswitch selects the speed mode of
the LESTER K. Tap the SPEED/BRAKE footswitch to switch between FAST and
SLOW modes. Press and hold the SPEED/BRAKE footswitch for at least half a
second to enter BRAKE mode. See “Operation and Description of Modes” on the
next page for more information on the speed modes of the LESTER K.

LED –When the LESTER K is in effect mode, this LED is lit. The LED pulses
between green and orange at the speed of the low frequency rotor oscillation.

MONO/L and R INPUT Jacks – The LESTER K can be used with either mono
or stereo inputs. The input jacks are labeled MONO/L and R. When using the
LESTER K with only one input, we suggest you use the MONO/L input. The input

impedance presented at each input jack is 2MΩ.

MONO/L and R OUTPUT Jacks – The LESTER K has true stereo output. The
output jacks are labeled MONO/L and R. If using the LESTER K as a mono effect,
we suggest you use the MONO/L input and output. The LESTER K can also be
used with mono input and stereo output: plug your input into the MONO/L jack
and then connect the MONO/L and R Outputs to two separate amps or inputs on

a mixing board. The output impedance of each output jack is 680Ω.

9V Power Jack – Plug the output of the LESTER K’s supplied EHX9.6DC 200mA
AC Adapter into the 9V power jack located at the top of the LESTER K. The
LESTER K requires 135mA with a center negative plug.

– OPERATION AND DESCRIPTION OF MODES –

The LESTER K has three modes of operation: FAST, SLOW, and BRAKE, which
simulate the three rotation speeds of a classic rotary speaker cabinet. In normal
operation, tap the SPEED/BRAKE footswitch to switch between FAST and SLOW
modes. Set the FAST and SLOW mode oscillation speeds with the FAST and
SLOW knobs. The oscillation will accelerate or decelerate to the new mode, and
the LED will pulse to indicate the oscillation speed of the low-frequency rotor.

FAST mode – FAST mode oscillates at the fast speed of a rotary speaker unit
for a tremolo-like effect. With the FAST knob at the center position, the high­frequency horn oscillates at 6.2Hz, and the low-frequency rotor oscillates at

5.9Hz. Using the FAST knob, the horn’s rotation can be adjusted between 1.55Hz
and 24.8Hz and the rotor can be adjusted between 1.475Hz and 23.6Hz.

SLOW mode – SLOW mode oscillates at the slow speed of a rotary speaker unit
for a chorale-type effect. With the SLOW knob at the center position, the high-

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frequency horn oscillates at 0.8Hz, and the low-frequency rotor oscillates at

0.7Hz. Using the SLOW knob, the horn’s rotation can be adjusted between 0.1Hz
and 3.2Hz, and the rotor can be adjusted between 0.0875and 2.8Hz.

BRAKE mode – To enter BRAKE mode, press and hold the SPEED/BRAKE
footswitch for half a second. The LESTER K will gradually decelerate to a stop,
and the LED will hold steady at one color. Once in BRAKE mode, tap the
SPEED/BRAKE footswitch to return to either FAST or SLOW mode. The LESTER K
will return to whichever mode you were in before entering BRAKE mode.

- WARRANTY INFORMATION -

Please register online at http://www.ehx.com/product-registration or complete
and return the enclosed warranty card within 10 days of purchase. Electro­Harmonix will repair or replace, at its discretion, a product that fails to operate
due to defects in materials or workmanship for a period of one year from date of
purchase. This applies only to original purchasers who have bought their product
from an authorized Electro-Harmonix retailer. Repaired or replaced units will then
be warranted for the unexpired portion of the original warranty term.

If you should need to return your unit for service within the warranty period,
please contact the appropriate office listed below. Customers outside the regions
listed below, please contact EHX Customer Service for information on warranty
repairs at [e-mail] or [phone]. USA and Canadian customers:
please obtain a Return Authorization Number (RA#) from EHX Customer
Service before returning your product. Include with your returned unit: a written
description of the problem as well as your name, address, telephone number, e­mail address, and RA#; and a copy of your receipt clearly showing the purchase
date.

United States & Canada

EHX CUSTOMER SERVICE
ELECTRO-HARMONIX
c/o NEW SENSOR CORP.
55-01 2ND STREET
LONG ISLAND CITY, NY 11101
Tel: [phone]
Email: [e-mail]

Europe

JOHN WILLIAMS
ELECTRO-HARMONIX UK
13 CWMDONKIN TERRACE
SWANSEA SA2 0RQ
UNITED KINGDOM
Tel: [phone]

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Email: [e-mail]

This warranty gives a purchaser specific legal rights. A purchaser may have even
greater rights depending upon the laws of the jurisdiction within which the
product was purchased.

To hear demos on all EHX pedals visit us on the web at www.ehx.com
Email us at [e-mail]

FCC COMPLIANCE

Note:

This equipment has been tested and found to comply with the limits for a
Class B digital device, pursuant to part 15 of the FCC Rules. These limits are
designed to provide reasonable protection against harmful interference in a
residential installation. This equipment generates, uses and can radiate radio
frequency energy and, if not installed and used in accordance with the
instructions, may cause harmful interference to radio communications. However,
there is no guarantee that interference will not occur in a particular installation.
If this equipment does cause harmful interference to radio or television
reception, which can be determined by turning the equipment off and on, the
user is encouraged to try to correct the interference by one or more of the
following measures:

•

Reorient or relocate the receiving antenna.

•

Increase the separation between the equipment and receiver.

•

Connect the equipment into an outlet on a circuit different from that to
which the receiver is connected.

•

Consult the dealer or an experienced radio/TV technician for help.

Modifications not expressly approved by the manufacturer could void the user's
authority to operate the equipment under FCC rules.

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