Pricing and availability
* Product prices and availability are updated by Equipboard every 24hrs and are subject to change. Equipboard may receive compensation for purchases made at participating retailers linked on this site. This compensation does not affect what products or prices are displayed, or the order of prices listed. For more information, please refer to our affiliate disclosure.
Description
The Yamaha FX500 is a versatile effects processor that brings studio-grade effects to your fingertips, perfect for musicians and producers looking to enhance their soundscape. Originally released in the late '80s, the FX500 combines classic digital effects with a user-friendly interface, making it an enduring favorite in the world of audio processing. Whether you're crafting intricate guitar tones or adding depth to your vocal recordings, this unit offers a diverse palette of sound options.
At the heart of the FX500 is its 16-bit digital signal processor, delivering pristine audio quality across a range of effects. It features 32 programmable memory locations, allowing you to easily store and recall your custom settings for seamless transitions during performances or recording sessions. The FX500 is packed with a variety of effects, including reverb, chorus, delay, and more, providing a comprehensive toolkit for creative experimentation.
Navigating the FX500 is straightforward, thanks to its intuitive control panel. The unit includes an easy-to-read LCD screen and a set of tactile buttons, making it simple to adjust parameters on the fly. With its robust build and reliable performance, the Yamaha FX500 is a trusted companion for both studio and live applications.
Key Features:
- 16-bit digital signal processor for high-quality audio
- 32 programmable memory locations for storing custom settings
- Built-in effects: reverb, chorus, delay, and more
- Intuitive user interface with LCD display
- Suitable for both studio and live performances
- Durable design for long-lasting use
Videos
Jack Isidore
Yamaha FX500 - Factory Presets
Yamaha FX500 - Factory Presets
Jack Isidore
Yamaha FX500
George Franchon Marques
Yamaha FX 500 'Soft Focus' patch
niiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiick
I Play A Legendary 1980s Multi-Effects Processor.. Does It Still Rock? || Yamaha FX500
JayLeonardJ
Yamaha FX500 preset demo - Soft Focus and others
Soundbelch
Yamaha FX500 STEREO DEMO
Clifton Wright
A Deep Dive into one of Shoegaze's most recognizable Effects | Studies Ep. 6
dots.sounds
Yamaha FX500 A Look At The Beautiful Circuit and Shoegaze Demo
Ryan's Custom Shop and Gear Outlet
Reviews
PROS
-
Offers lush modulation and long-lasting reverb effects
-
Provides unique, crazy reverse sounds and nice compression
-
Ideal for fans of Slowdive's sound, with specific presets mentioned
-
Affordable, providing value for under $100
-
Versatile with great reverbs, delays, and chorus effects
CONS
-
Distortion settings are considered poor quality
-
Equipped with flimsy plastic jacks, affecting durability
-
Steep learning curve for programming
-
Cumbersome navigation without a midi footswitch
-
Limited in comparison to higher-end models like the SPX90
Owner Insights
We analyzed real musician discussions from forums and Reddit to find what players love, question, and tweak about Yamaha FX500.
Features and functionality
-
Yamaha FX500 includes MIDI input for receiving controllers and patch changes, as well as a tap tempo function, which was novel at the time of its release.
Source -
The FX500B has five EQ bands offering more control compared to the FX500, which only allows setting the mid-frequency cutoff among three bands.
Source -
Users find the FX500 difficult to integrate into pedalboards due to its size and lack of a bypass switch, suggesting a footswitch may be necessary.
Source
Build quality
-
The FX500 is prone to physical damage; users report units breaking when dropped, highlighting its fragility.
Source
User experience
-
Several owners have experienced issues with clipping, indicating potential limitations in handling higher input levels.
Source -
Some users report a preference for the FX500 over the Catalinbread FX-40 Soft Focus pedal due to its unique sound and tweakability.
Source -
The FX500 is noted for being noisier and bulkier, leading some users to keep it on top of amplifiers rather than on pedalboards.
Source
Use cases and applications
-
The FX500's delay is considered superior by some users, particularly for diverse musical styles such as pop, rock, country, and disco.
Source -
The FX500's "soft focus" patch effectively replicates the reverb sound from Slowdive's "Just For A Day" album, especially when paired with a clean amp setup.
Source -
The FX500 is praised for its versatility, offering sounds similar to tracks from Smashing Pumpkins' "Gish" album, making it ideal for home and studio use.
Source
Setup and maintenance
-
Users have noted issues with input/output connections, requiring adjustments to maintain proper functionality, especially when using effects loops.
Source -
For a shoegaze sound, some users recommend feeding the FX500 into emulations of Vox AC30 or Marshall 800 amps, rather than using a clean sound alone.
Source
Comparisons
-
The Alesis Quadraverb is often preferred by users over the FX500 due to its lower noise levels and more favorable reverb and reverse reverb sounds.
Source -
The FX500B model, while marketed for bass, is almost identical to the FX500 and can be used for guitar; it features different EQ and distortion settings.
Source -
Owners describe the Catalinbread Soft Focus as more user-friendly with an airy, ambient sound, while the FX500 offers a lush, retro tone suitable for 80s-style music.
Source
Critic Reviews
4.5 out of 5
Based on 6 Reviews and 11 Ratings
218
Great shoegaze era reverb, delay, compression, and modulation effects
The possibilities with this effects unit are endless. The distortion settings are frankly terrible, it's equipped with flimsy plastic jacks, and there is a definite learning curve when programming it. It's also cumbersome to navigate even after you have programed presets without a midi footswitch, however this thing is worth it. They can be found for under $100 and offer some of the most lush modulation, reverb that dwells for 40 seconds, or crazy reverse sounds, and nice compression.
Very Good
The Yamaha FX500 is a good multi-effects unit for use in genres such as: Shoegaze, Dream pop, Alternative Rock.
This review has been translated automatically into English. See original
1822
Really great unit for several things!
The yamaha FX500 is full of great reverbs, delays, chorus effects. It even has a compressor! But the overdrive and distortions are absolutely the pits (IMO). I think this was used a lot on the band SLowdive's Souvlaki Space Station. If you're a tweakster you'll love it!
40997
oh yeah, these guys are crazy guitar versions of the SPX series, fun
Presets 39 and 40
I admit that I don't want to program this stuff. I just bought it because I love Slowdive's sound and guess what, they used the preset 39 and 40. So plug a strat add some reverb, then to add some reverb and at the end of the signal don't forget to add some reverb and you have the Primal sound.
30
Not too Shabby for what it is .
40997
I know. Even though I seldom use it I can't get rid of it.
Artist usage
Add artist
"Used to switch presets on his Yamaha FX500 in 1993."
On a detailed gear diagram of Rachel Goswell’s 1993 Slowdive stage setup, the Yamaha FX500 is placed between her OD-2 pedal and JC-77 amplifier.
“Eventually, I got a Yamaha FX500, and I think I hit the Lush Strings setting pretty hard. […] Of course, we did use the original Soft Focus patch on the Yamaha FX500 a bit, mainly for shows. But as I mentioned, we used the Lush Strings patch often, maybe more than the Soft Focus patch. But I could be imagining that. ”
In this article about the 10 best pieces of gear used on ‘Memoria’, Trentmoller spokes about the Yamaha FX500: "This has been used on many of the synths and guitars on my last 4 albums".
As listed in this 1991 interview on the Music Magazine Archive
In an interview with QRD, Ashkelon says :
"On the first few Trance To The Sun records in the early 90s I was running my guitar through one of those Roland GP16 rackmount units. You could do all sorts of interesting things with that, like auto-wah for example. Around ‘96 I switched to the Yamaha FX500 because I became addicted to the chorus effect it has. In both of those cases I was recording my guitars direct (no amplifier), with digital delay in the recorded signal (I use a lot of synchronized echoes). I added reverb in post process back then & my favorite device was the Alesis MidiVerb II. I still own three of them."
Genre Usage
Based on how artists on Equipboard use this gear, it is most commonly found in the following genres.
Used With
Based on how musicians on Equipboard use Yamaha FX500, it is most commonly used with the following gear.
Community setups
Show yours
Similar
Add recommendation7 alternative and related items for Yamaha FX500, curated by the Equipboard community.
$174.99 - $179.00
A pedal version of the FX500's famous 'Soft Focus' patch, minus the preamp, mix control, and tone suck issues the original suffers from.
$302.00 - $385.00
A fully featured reverb based on the FX500 Soft Focus patch, with onboard delay and distortion.
$99.00
A simple, two knob reverb pedal, with a Soft Focus inspired setting, along with more traditional spring and plate reverbs.
$129.00 - $165.00
A combination of a FX500 style 'Soft Focus', reverse, and hall reverb, designed for shoegaze guitarists.
$206.62 - $219.00
A dual delay plus reverb pedal, featuring Keeley's take on the Soft Focus as a reverb setting.
$289.00
Efectos similares de reverb para usar en shoegaze.
More Yamaha Effects Processors
$289.00
in Effects Processors Rank
-m.webp?v=1780326041)
.jpg?v=1780512106)
$1,500.00
in Effects Processors Rank
.jpeg?v=1780886676)
Most Popular Effects Processors
Most Popular Brands
-
Added to Equipboard on by
tim_boldGear IQ 79
-
