Roland U.S.

Michael Hodge: On the RT-20 Rotary Speaker Simulator

Spin Your Sound with a Rotary Pedal

by Michael Hodge

I’m a pedal nut. I’ve surely spent thousands on pedals in my day. I’m always watching the magazines and asking my tone mentors for anything worth getting. I think I have found the coolest rotary speaker simulator pedal out there. The Boss RT-20 has found permanent favor on my main pedalboard. This is no mean feat, especially when real estate is hard to come by on my pedalboard–so many pedals, so little space!

One of my favorite sounds has always been an electric guitar through a rotary speaker cabinet. I used to have a Leslie TM in high school but it was always such a hassle to move and it was difficult to balance the level with my guitar amp. I’ve tried a number of “Rotary type pedals”, but they never really gave me that “authentic” sound…until now.

The RT-20 pedal is really well thought-out and does some very cool stuff. I’m really into textures and bringing excitement into different sections of a worship song. The RT-20 has a slow and fast setting with independent rate control for each speed. I love being able to switch between them to add a little drama to a bridge or “selah” moment in a live setting.

It also has an external pedal input, so using an expression pedal like the EV-5, you can adjust the speed more gradually–giving you even more control. I also like to use the RT-20 with an EBow (see picture). This creates a unique effect with almost infinite sustain–like an electronic bow.

The RT-20 also works well when added to other Boss pedals like the BF-3 Flanger and PW-10 V-Wah. If you have a Univibe TM pedal, this also works really well with the RT-20’s rotary effect. However, the RT-20 has its own Uni-V mode, which creates a very realistic Univibe TM sound. This is another bonus of the RT-20.

To me, the RT-20 is really versatile. It can be effective in mellow worship songs–creating a gentle motion to your sound, or really drive it in high-energy songs with its built-in Overdrive effect. I can’t say enough about this pedal and I really recommend it. Compared to some of my “boutique” pedals, it’s an amazing value and gives me lots of creative possibilities.

For more information on the BOSS RT-20, click here.

Michael Hodge is a guitar player, producer, and worship leader. He currently serves as music director for Lakewood Church in Houston, TX.