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Home > Effects > Effects Reviews > Yamaha > FX-770

Yamaha FX-770

Summary
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Manufacturer URL http://www.yamaha.com/
Ease of Use 8.5 (10 responses)
Sound Quality 8.1 (10 responses)
Reliability 8.4 (10 responses)
Customer Support 6.0 (5 responses)
Overall Rating 8.6 (8 responses)
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Page: 1 (Show 10 | 25 | 50 | 100 reviews per page) Showing 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
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Product: Yamaha FX-770
Price Paid: N/A
Submitted 04/10/2004 at 03:31pm by Victor

Ease of Use : 8
Really easy to use that. I didn't have the User Manual so i had to download that. But before i do, i could use this FX 770. I just don't have total control of MIDI stuffs, i wanna control the Wah FX by a MIDI foot controller and i can't do yet. If someone know how do that, please contact me. But anyways, it's a grat FX, nice reverbs(for guitar players, i don't use that for voices and drums) nice delays and all stuffs. Oh, nice tuner too...and you know...is very diffcult to find out a nice digital tuner.

Sound Quality : 9
I use the FX 770 in my guitar set up. I have a Hand-made custom guitar, but with all GIBSON stuffs(pickup 500T, Kahler bridge). I plug my guitar in the FX 770, and i use the drive of Peavey Rockmaster preamp in the loop of that. That's a great sound, the loop is totaly bypass and the sound out from FX770 and goes to a 100w poweramp Marshall 9200, and then, to a Crate 412(cabinet). I don't have bad critics to do..that is simply the best sound that i could get. I used to use the JMP-1 and JFX-1 in the 9200(all marshall stuffs) but after i choose this gear and i don't wanna change anything anymore. Like i said before, the FX770 has a lot of great effects, really good! you have a lot of possibilities of reverb, delays and a lot of modulation effects. But the best thing is that you can mix any effect with any effect. I just have a problem with a MIDI stuff(wah fx), like i said before.

Reliability : 8
I think that you can trust the FX770. I didn't do a lot of gigs with that, but i use to rehearsal for hours and i don't have problem. I think that if you don't have a electrical problem in the place that can "hurt" the FX770, you won't have any problem.

Customer Support : No Opinion
Never need before.

Overall Rating : No Opinion


Product: Yamaha FX-770
Price Paid: US $400 used
Submitted 07/09/2003 at 03:48pm by Sergio Espejel Cano
Email: otilio_odeo at hotmail<dot>com

Ease of Use : 8
As easy as plug your guitar, select one of the patches and start jamming, it really has some great ones, some weird ones, and some are just crap. But come on! It has a hundred in ROM and the same in RAM -the ROM should be not as big, it just had to be a sample.
The manual describes in very easy steps how to edit, how to program and how to play in a breeze. Accesing edition of a determined parameter could be done just by pushing the desired effect in wich it is. In general, manuals are not made to everybody, but this is such a bless, because it explains everything in plain english, and avoids technical rubbish.
Don't know if there's an upgrade, but Yamaha is not into upgrading old processors.

Sound Quality : 7
Respecting Yamaha's fame, the modulation effects, delays and reverbs are just great. There's a pitch shifter that makes your homework in terms of detuning your guitar if you don't want to move the tuning pegs (I've been able to reproduce nu metal tunes without having to tune down). Great idea to include an effects loop into the effects chain, also as great as the amp simmulation (I feed my Vox C30 with the half-stack setup and makes my sound growl). Compression is good enough, and the noise gate makes every preset very, very silent.
...and here comes the cons!
The 3 wahs included doesn't convince me at all, much less if you control it through the insert with an analog volume pedal, instead of doing it via MIDI.
Distortions in Yamaha units have always been a dissapointment, but I can tell that the ones in the FX-770 are by far the most decent that I've heard (having already used the FX500 before). Although, the Digitech RP200 owned by my band's vocalist have some crunching ones that could make my FX-770 sweat a bit.
The delaying time between changing presets (by hand or MIDI foot controller)will be a curse in this kind of processors. A damp pedal plugged in a determined jack at the rear can switch on and off the desired effects of a preset, but has the same inconvenient.
I've managed to control the overall performance by a MIDI foot controller. I started using it with the ART X-15 and it did well enough, but I felt that the 2 devices weren't compatible enough, so I managed to get the latest edition of Yamaha's foot controllers: the MFC10, that lets me switch on/off up to 5 effects in a selected preset, control up to 2 in real time, and select any of the 200 presets. Just great, aside of the inconveniences I told before.

Reliability : 9
I use my effects mainly in rehearsal and live. It has suffered energy overloads, falls, rains. It's made of steel, I don't think it needs a backup. Only thing I have to be aware of is the battery of the memory.
Making a wish, I'd love to have more RAM memory.

Customer Support : 10
Here in Mexico, Yamaha support is the most trustable choice. Not only with the FX-770 (wich I took once for repairing the data wheel, it got well), but also for other devices I owned.

Overall Rating : 8
I've played mainly rock music, original tunes, cover tunes. The FX-770 was my choice in 1998 for substituting an FX-500 that was stolen from my van with other devices. I'm planning seriously in changing it for a floor unit, since it would simplify my carrying and installation of my live setup.
I'm very pleased about the versatility of the unit, since I've learned to use just one patch for every song, and making my changes of sound "inside" the patch, instead of changing presets. I use every feature of it, and still recommend Yamah, except of course for the distortions (that can be arranged by putting your preferred distortion in the loops effect). The lushness of the reverbered patches sound great if you use a Fender loaded with EMG active pickups.
One last advice: plug it direct on board for recording. Chances are you won't need your amp.


Product: Yamaha FX-770
Price Paid: US $125.00 used
Submitted 10/11/2000 at 08:50pm by Scott Knudson
Email: sknudson<at>columbia dot total-web dot net

Ease of Use : 8
The data wheel makes this processor a snap to use. All the controls are fairly self explanatory with nice displays and interface. Editing patches is no problem (once you get the hang of it) The manual could be a little less tech. but gets you where you need to go, and is actually in plain, concise ENGLISH!

Sound Quality : 8
The distortions are better than most rack effect processors and can be modified quite easily to suit your tastes. The other effects are high quality, easily comparable to more expensive units. The presets are abundant and varied. I like the sound effects (space chatter, gremlins etc.)

Reliability : 7
I don't really gig but this unit appears up to the chore. I was impressed by it's solid, metal construction. The knobs feel secure and deliberate unlike other units out there.

Customer Support : 10
Well deserving of high marks. The yamaha solutions network makes contact a snap. I ordered a manual for this unit and received it in 4 days. They were professional and courteous.

Overall Rating : 8
I play a very eclectic mix of stuff, ranging from OZZY to Segovia. This processor is compatible with my needs, there could have been a few more "clean" presets and the amp simulation is merely "passable" but overall, I like it alot. I looked at several units on E-Bay and decided on this one because of it's versatility and no-nonsense user interface. I like knobs alot more than hypersensative buttons that wear out. I play this through a behemoth Peavey musician 400 (explains the need for tonal modification) and it fits the bill admirably. If this was lost or stolen, I'd like to think I could get another one but they were discontinued along time ago, but I'd stick with Yamaha.


Product: Yamaha FX-770
Price Paid: US $176 used
Submitted 07/24/2000 at 01:06pm by Park Boyer
Email: Drktranquillity<at>aol dot com

Ease of Use : 10
Very nicely layed-out, very easy to edit sound patches.

Sound Quality : 8
The sound quallity on this unit's plethora of effect is wonderful, only thing lacking is the distortions. Simple fix is to run your favorite distortion/OD preamp or pedal through the effect loop, works like a charm then.

Reliability : 9
Seems to be pretty reliable, only problem may be the memory backup battery which needs to be replaced periodically, I think the manual said 5 years or so.

Customer Support : No Opinion
never had to deal with them.

Overall Rating : 9
I think it's a wonderful little preamp, tons of effects at disposal and infinite ways to edit them all. If not for the slack distortion it would definitly be a perfect '10'.


Product: Yamaha FX-770
Price Paid: 650 (R$)
Submitted 03/11/2000 at 07:24pm by Fabio Augusto Mello
Email: fam<at>ufrgs dot br

Ease of Use : 9
Very easy, you can change the effects fastly and the data wheel makes easy to create the sounds.

Sound Quality : 8
Very good, I use it to record and had a very little noise. The distortion is very bad, it's worse than the distortion from a ZOOM 505, but the delays, chorus and delays are excellent.

Reliability : 9
I use it everytime I play, no trouble.

Customer Support : No Opinion
Never needed....

Overall Rating : 9
very good, nice effects


Product: Yamaha FX-770
Price Paid: 1600 DEM
Submitted 09/28/1999 at 03:37am by Dusan Zak
Email: dusan dot zak<at>comparex dot sk

Ease of Use : 9
Using is really very simple. Patches are O.K. Manual is good. Never heard about possibility to upgrade.

Sound Quality : 9
Using foa home recording. Some noise with using single coils. Sound is great, if I use headphones.

Reliability : 8

Customer Support : 1
In my country was customer service terrible. I cannot find somebody, who can repair it (after crash - some functions are misiing).

Overall Rating : 9
I play rock, country and jazz. It is a very good processor, but it should be longer maintained by the manufacturer. I use FX-770 since 1994. My gear consist of Fender, Yamaha, Behringer and AKAI equipment.My favorite sounds are L.A. sounds. I would like to have some support from Yamaha for this product. It was a very good processor.


Product: Yamaha FX-770
Price Paid: US $0$ (i know someone that works for yamaha and when i found this in his basement he said i could
Submitted 03/30/1998 at 01:59pm by josh ulrich of Electric Socket

Ease of Use : 10
its realy easy to get a good sound out of it you just tur it on choose a patch and start strumming i havent done alot of editing because the pre-sets are plenty! but there are little buttons with little lights and push the button the light comes on or off they are named pre amp- wah pitch modulation and reverb amp sim stuff like thati have not seen a manual yet im sure there is one

Sound Quality : 8
i have a strat copy with three single coils and a peavey encore 65 with one 12 inch speaker no there is no noise AT ALL that is kinda bad becasuse it sounds to sterile the effects are good if you EQ it all right though i have a realy easy time getting the James hetfeild "god like" sound out of it vecause it has that kind of distortions i have a harder time getting a good punk rock sound out of it but just turn the pre amp gain down a notch and you can come close the distortion is the best effect on here

Reliability : 10
i dont need a back up cause this thing will not die but when i feel like it i have a zoom 510 distortion pedal and a vox wah wah i use them not very often

Customer Support : No Opinion
i dont need it this thing is a freaking TANK

Overall Rating : 10
i play punk and metal yes this is great if it was stolen id find the dood kill him and say this thing is a 500$ effects proceser that i got for free ...you nimrod. i love some of the modulaton effects te sound great and have cool names like "gremlings" and "space chater" its realy great for direct recording good amp sim. i love it go to my bands web page http://www.angelfire.com/pa/electricsocket you might find some of my opinoins on this and other equipment there feel free to email me for any specific questons ill gladly answer them


Product: Yamaha FX-770
Price Paid: US $500
Submitted 10/22/1996 at 06:40pm by Ed Edwards

Ease of Use : 8
Pretty easy to program. Data wheel speeds things up. Display is average to small. Manual is very useful.

Sound Quality : 8
Very quiet. That's why I decided on it, for recording it is very useful. But the major downside is that it takes the dynamics out of your ax. It is meant to be for guitars (amp sim, preamp w/distortions, auto-wahs, etc.) but it takes the punch out of the sound of the pickups. This is due to using some solid state preamp section (op amp, transistor, whatever) which has "unity" gain but in reality color the sound grey. The chorus, reverbs and flanges are pretty good. Digital wah only fair. Pitch shift but no digital whammy. The Leslie is lousy. The distortions are fairly tube-like and quite passable. Good compressor/gate which assists in its quietness.

Reliability : 9
Had no problems, owned 15 months.

Overall Rating : 7
Don't think I'd buy another one. Love its quietness for vocal reverbs. Hate the way it kills the dynamics of the pickups, but almost all of these front end things mess up the guitar/amp combination. Matter of fact, I use it from the effects send on a tube combo so I can mix the clean miked amp with the processed sound sent to the board directly. When I routed the processed signal back into the amp, the amp/ax lost all it's character.


Product: Yamaha FX-770
Price Paid: UK pounds 300
Submitted 06/22/1996 at 02:52am by tony goodall

Ease of Use : 7
Easy to get good sound, presence control on front good to correct for diff guitars/pickups, without editing patches
editing not too difficult
Manual OK

Sound Quality : 10
Not noisy
Mostly good sounds
All effects high quality

Reliability : 10
Yes
Yes

Customer Support : 8
Rang yamaha once, for literature, they were ok
Got MFC06 midi footcontroller easily

Overall Rating : 9
Maybe
Love- send/return loop that is programmable and can be switched in from the midi foot controller - I use it with H&K valve rack preamps
very cheap
wish it had more send/return loops
erm.. does help make music. pitch change not ace


Product: Yamaha FX-770
Price Paid: N/A
Submitted 04/06/1996 at 12:46pm by Anonymous

Customer Support : 1
I tried to deal with Yamaha about a Midi footcontroller for my FX770, but they seem to make a product for about six months and then stop making it and everything that pertains to the product. I really hope I never have to get it repaired because I doubt that you could find someone to repair it!


Product: Yamaha FX-770
Price Paid: Italian Lira 800000 used
Submitted 07/10/1995 at 03:22am by Anonymous

Ease of Use : 8

Sound Quality : 6

Reliability : 5

Overall Rating : No Opinion
5

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