Korg 411fx Super Multi FX

I purchaced this unit brand new at Guitar Center. And with out a doubt, this is the most confusing and dificult to use effects device ever made and the manual that comes with it is nearly useless. I have used many effects devices during my time and I speak from personal experience.

Out of the many sounds this box can make, few are any good at all.
Out of a total of 11 banks, 6 are PERMANENTLY preset with some really spaced out and strange settings leaving you with only 5 useable banks. Each effect that it produces is "Just o.k." with some being downright awful. Of the 5 Modes, only the Modulation and Ambiance modes are passable. Everything else is really sub-standard.

I've heard that these are VERY unreliable, but this thing is so unuseable that I NEVER use it so reliability really does'nt matter on this unit. Also,if your batteries are even slightly low, the unit will not operate correctly. You must get an adapter.

Never dealt with them and since I dont like thier product, I probably never will.

I was very excited when I went to buy this unit and was expecting to have a lot of fun with it. But since day one, this thing has dissapointed me. I do'nt like this unit and I would not reccomend it to anyone for any application. It's really just a toy that can only make a few "neat" sounds. I really dont feel that I got what I paid for. This is a perfect example of putting too many things in too small a package, with too few controls and ending up with a near useless piece of equipment.

Ultra-easy, I bought this at a local pawn shop for 35$, so of course it didn't have the box or the manual or anything. But after sitting and playing with it for about 5 minutes I had it all figured out, except for how to save, All I can manage to do is make the program light blink to no result. Either my unit is broken or there's some different method to save, somebody please add a little footnote to their reveiw helping me out. Thanks...

All the stereo sounds on this box are amazing. They're deep and warm, bringing to mind late 60's acid blues. Beautiful crunchy blues tones with subtle echo could keep me occupied for hours. The tremelo function paired with overdrive sounds just like Jeff Beck's Flashing Lights. Personally I would never use this unit for anything other than some drive settings, tremelo and delay/reverb. All those are amazing in tonality, being individually equalized and contoured. Sadly the modulation effects (except for the tremelo) are adequate at best. Being a blues player I think the chorus settings lack a world of depth, they're too mechanical and tinny sounding. And as for the stupid phase and flange effects, they make me want to cry. They sound like something off a casio keyboard, there's truly nothing musical about them. Maybe you'd like them if you're one of those "sound effects" players who have banks of crap for every show, but if you actually care about your playing as a musician avoid those presets.

I haven't really owned it long enough to know, the metal constructio is reassuring however.

It's horrible, I don't have the manual, so I figured maybe I could see it online on the company website, Korg won't even admit they made the 411. So PLEASE HELP!!! someone add a footnote or something telling me how to save!

Running it into a GK stack (runs torroids, not tubes) with wah always on (for that vintage 60's EQ sound) I get sweet tones using this pedal. Even though I'm using a bottom of the line Washburn with worn strings right now, It may as well be a 70's Ibanez blues guitar. If the chorus was deeper this pedal would honestly be the only thing I needed (asides from wah of course, auto wah is what's causing society's decline, I refuse to give in to the machine when it comes to wah)

this thing is totally rock on man, i would recomend it to anyone

it is sweet with marshels, all the effects rule the planet

hell yeah

never dealt with them

i like lots of music like anything that is in the minor mode im down with, one thing i like about this pedal is its abliltity to transform itself from a pretty echoeing sound to hard rock with suych smoothness i would reckomnend this peice to everyone becasue it is so down to earch

If I haven't used it in a while, the functions come back to me pretty quick , but it can be a bit of a puzzle at first. With a unit like this (when you've got so much stuffed into a small package) you've got to know what all the flashes mean, etc.

My rating is based on the way I use this pedal, not on every single feature available (though I will comment on a few features I don't use).

I use this pedal ONLY for chorus and phase, and for this alone, this pedal is superb. From this perspective, it's nice to not only have a chorus/phase multi-pedal, but to also have an EQ section, noise reduction, etc. very cool. I use it with a custom Strat into a variety of amps, but primarily a Line6 Flextone or an off-name 120 watt tube head.

HOWEVER, (this is the part of the pedal I DON'T use) I would have to agree with most of the reviews here that state that the overdrives and distortions in this box are pretty weak/lacking/NOISY. I would only use them if every other source for these kinds of sounds all broke at once and I'm sitting at a gig where I NEED distortion... it's definitely tweakable, though, so decent sounds are there, just hiding.

One other comment... I only use this pedal with an adapter, because it has a different tonal character when using batteries (and who wants to go through a bunch of AA's, four to be exact? I always thought it was weird that this pedal uses those instead of 9-volts). It is more stable/better sounding with an adapter.

well, I had a shop check it out, because it pops when you switch it on/off, but not always with the same intensity. It's as if some sort of capacitor were sitting in there charging up randomly, ready to discharge when you turn it on or off. But, the shop said it's alright and the pedal's working as it should...kinf of a bummer. But it's pretty solid, well constructed and has a nice heavy feel.

only dealt with them second-hand when the shop I sent it to tried to fix it. When they asked if I wanted this pedal or a newer one back, I went with the newer one (AX1G), but ended up buying this pedal again (the 411fx). I thought it was pretty cool for Korg to send me a brand new multi-FX pedal that cost more than the one that broke.

At the time I purchased this pedal, I was specifically in the market for a multi-FX modulation pedal (has both chorus and phase/flange). I looked long and hard at the TC Electronics chorus pedal, but it simply cost way too much, and BOSS didn't have anything exaclty up my alley. I am very happy with this pedal (for how I use it) and would buy another if it were lost/stolen, but I don't think they're even available anymore. It's also nice to know that if I was even in a real bind and needed to tweak out some distortion/OD effects, it's available.

This pedal has good and bad qualities. One of the things I like about this pedal is that it is easy to get a Satriani sound out of it. On the distortion stage of it, hook it up to distortion 5 and mess around with the equalizer to get that bluesy, shred sound. Then, give it an echo of any kind that you are happy with, but set a little more than half way. The bad thing about it is the hi/lo switch. On the low, it causes a lot of feedback that isn't too pleasant. On the high, i tcauses more feedback, but you can hear your sound better. Don't use guitars with humbuckers. They still hum and you can't hear what you are doing. The manual is very informative. It's a trusty manual for three different languages. I support the foreigners in our country. What if you were in Germany and had a pedal you didn't know how to use and they had no English translations? You wouldn't get anywhere with that. This was my first pedal I got for Christmas when I was 14. It opened many doors to my imagination in music creation. I am 17 now and plan on purchasing my 7th pedal. I didn't know how to work with this pedal when I first got it, so I read the instructions. I recommend this pedal to anyone looking for some good blues sounds.

I can depend on this pedal only for blues gigs. Other than that, if I ran out of my other resources, I would not recommend this as a backup.

I've never had a problem with this. It's sturdy and has a good metal chassis.

I play a lot of styles. Blues are the root of my solos and a lot of what I do.

Yes! It may seem difficult to learn how to program this baby but hang in there. The "learning experience" will turn out some awesome sounds from this little box.

The manual is or isn't very helpfull. Depends on how much you understand and your past experiences with "programable" boxes. I got fed up with it within an hour or so. Kept going back to it and expermenting. Much later, I can tune in just about anything I want.

I play "Strats," "Kramers," "Washburn," "Westbury," and "Acoustic" guitars through this pedal. Single pickups running around 6-7.5ohms sound good. So do my "Humbuckers!"

Unlike some of the other reviewers, I am pretty satisfied with nearly all settings after I tweek each one in to my liking.

NOISE! After making your last adjustment, turn the third knob from left, all the way to "TEN" then back to the "OFF" position, then to the "TEN" again! Your "noise" should drop completley out! If you are using a Strat or single coils, use the 2 or 5 position (hum canciling).

What kind of amp do I use? Any choice of twelve! I have seven "Tubers" and five "Trannys!" I always run two amps in stereo or split them and go single by using a homemade A/B or both switchbox.

411 FX...Always to my 65 Q-Tube amp using a clean, very light chorus, with a touch of delay. I also play my "Washburn" Spirit, solid body, acouistic, through this setting which is the most lush, beautifull sound you will ever hear. Try using this pedal in "TRUE STEREO!" That means two amps. The rotarys, flangers, delays, and echos can make you melt!

Once again...Q Tube 65 for my clean only side and my 1960 "Omega" tube amp set up with the Zoom 2100 for other effects when needed. I have been using this setup for the last three years and the sound is just amazing.

Mine takes a "crash" when using batteries. Go to Radio Shack with a $20 bill and get the METAL HI rechargable AA batteries. Comes with the charger. You can play yer ass off for two or three days with these in before it takes a crap. Mine's not noisey on batteries. Not as much electrical noise as when using adapter.

I sometimes find that using the Adapter (9 volt) sets you up for interference from motors, some light fixtures, and TV or monitor noise so then I will use the batteries and have no problems.

It has been reliable for the three years or so that I have owned it.

Don't usually bother with repairs or replacements. If I spend my money on someones product and I am not happy or it does not work properly, why should I expect the replacement to work?

Pay damn near every style for 35 years.
I can live with this product.
EXPERIMENT with this pedal! It is worth the bucks you paid for it after you figure it out.

Thanks for reading or cussing my review!

A Great pedal if you are starting out.. Easy to program, Manuel in several different languages so it's easy to read, plus, it includes a parameter table so you know what dials create which effects.

Currently using a Squier Strat and Epiphone Les PAul with a Crate amp. I get some feedback or fuzz with the distortion through the Strat but every other effect is fine and the Les Paul is very quiet when you click on the distortion. The sounds of musicians are pretty accurate. You can adjust the depth of the effects so you'll eventually get the right sound you want. Personally, I go for the sounds of Deftones, Machinehead, Biohazard, etc.

Vey dependable. Personally, I would gig w/o a backup (Considering I have not had a first gig yet but you get my drift)

Never had to molest the folks at Korg

For the style of music I play, it is a good pedal because I can get some pretty heavy distortion out of it. However, the one effects I'm not too crazy about is the Auto Wah. After all, nothing beats the sound of an authentic wah-wah pedal (which I also have) This is one peadl that if it were lost or stolen, I would get another. One thing I wish it had was a record/playback feature but seeing as it's not a floor processor, that is not going to happen anytime soon.

If you can read English you can use it...
for the many parameters in such a small space -
I'll give it at leat a 9.

Again, this box has so many features yet they are all cramped into this little tuny space -so I didn't expect a "lexicon" sound but I was surprized that the sound was realy cool and in real stereo.

As Far as "Noise" - there is a noise cut on the last parameter, use it and you will have no Noise.
also, check your input signal b4 you blame this box.

so far so good on my unit .
but I don't abuse my tools.
It does eat batteries qyickly.

never tried them.

Here is the secret:
many musicians gave it a 10 and some gave it 4 ???
How can that be ? you ask.
well,
I decided to check it out for the "flaws" that were written here and
I came up empty handed.
My unit is 100% great.
maby the bad units are just broken ?

I love the Comp/Dist, modulation and the delays/reverb, the EQ and the Noise surpressor and I also used it on old analog keyboard that have no sound.

The most importent thig is this:

USE IT IN STEREO !
Wow, what a difference when you use the stereo out.
It is a real Stereo and you'll get the L-R ping-Pong effect.
when I switched back to mono, at least 50% of the sound was gone...

Now, you can get everything in one box to be perfect,
but if you want all in one -this box will do it for real cheap !

So, I'll give it a 10 for the amount of greatness and the Real Stereo
sound puring out of this little box...

This pedal very easy to use (BUT SO WHAT ! It should be easy to use!)once you get through the "one photo copied instruction page" I was expecting a little bit more for $120.00. but it doesn't take long to do quick changes after decyphering the instructions.

I have had this pedal for over 2 years and use it with a strat and a Fender hotrod deville 2x12 and I would have to say the overall sound is NOT THAT GOOD. There is a lot of noise on the overdrive functions and you can always hear the noise gate coming in and out. The adjustments for the individual sounds are very limited, such as vibrato depth, the auto wah is a useless as well as several of the other of the sounds it generates. The chorus sounds OK and the reverbs are pretty good. The overdrives suck. The vibro setting from the factory sounds pretty good. Overall I was disapointed with this thing.

I had a little bit of a problem finding a wall wart for this sucker and finally found one on an ATT answering machine that was headed for the trash. Batteries do not last but 2 or 3 hours per set if you are playing alot. After a year the bypass foot switch began to stop activating the bypass circuitry and it seems to have a mind of its own, somtimes it works, sometimes it don't. Also after leaving the pedal in effects mode for a while and then switching to the bypass produces a very unpleasant and rather loud POP!!!! not what you want to have at a gig.

I have looked for Korg info on the net and found little, and the local music stores are no help. I think Korg owners are on there own!!!and SOL.....

Most people who buy a new pedal for $120.00 will tell you only the best things about the toy they just got, but not me!!!!I bought this thing just to have fun with,and I have not had as much fun with it as I hoped. I have been playing for 25 years,I mainly bought this for the chorus, but find that I only use the room reverb now and wish I had went for the TC Electronics chorus instead. Another thing that stinks about this pedal is that there are two sets of factory presets, 6 on each level, that cannot be reprogramed, and all but 3 of the 12 suck. If you make the mistake of stomping the right foot switch to the dirty side you get assaulted by some pretty wicked metal drive with massive amounts of noise, this is the thing I dislike most about this box. So...FORGET ABOUT THIS P.O.S. and save up for a high quality device that sounds good. Mine is going on E-Bay ASAP. Don't bother

Very very Easy.......

I don't know english... -_-;;;

distortion ..... good...but noise!
overdrive ... not bad
fuzz ... not bad
chorus .... wow! good...but very thin.. not depth nob ...
echo .... hmmm... normal...
delay .... hmmm... good...
autoway ... suck...
flanger .... normal..
phaser ... good...


totally....Good pedal...

hmmm...

I don't know..

I play... alternative rock..Grunge...Brit pop...etc
this effctor is very useful...