Yamaha FX500B

This unit is very easy to use - just wish it had more than 30 user presets!

I play a Charvel 3B and a Cort Artisan C4 Ltd through this. Used it with a trace amp for nearly ten years and just about to try it with an Ampeg head. The sounds are relatively noiseless and the ability to set a noisegate on the overdrive whilst having zero set on the distortion means it can also act as a noisegate. Good presets and very nice Chorus/Flanging sounds. Have even used it to process vocals in the past. Using a line level input (in an effects loop) takes a little care but still sounds great. I've used it on covers of everything from Beatles to Nirvana great on come as you are) and coldplay. Distortion is not the greatest unless you like cold sounding crunch. The ability to switch the order of reverb and modulation (cho/fla) is a plus too.

Used it for over ten years - sockets feel a little flimsy at the rear but it is very robust and the 1/2 rack casing is very reassuring. Never had any trouble with this baby and would never consider a backup.

Never needed to find out!

I would recommend this to anyone - forget stomp boxes - this is still (in 2005) high on spec and as with all yamaha kit very well thought out. had this for 11 years and would use nothing else!

Bought it used, so I didn't have a manual. Within 5 minutes I had it hooked up and I was checking out the different preset effects. What I really like was how the unit doesn't switch the effect until you hit the Recall button, so you can cycle thru the effects without noises or popping sounds. I also use it as an amp simulator with headphones, so if I want to practice at 2 am, I can do so without disturbing my neighbors.

I have it hooked up to the effects loop on my Hartke 3500 Transient Attack head w/ Hartke 4x10 and 1x15 cabs. The axe is a very basic Ibanez EDB300 passive bass. This box really opened up the tonal qualities of my bass. I can emulate just about any sound. All of the effects are crisp and noise free so long as you don't go psychotic with the levels and the input gain (duh). The distortion is all crunch and no fuzz. If you want fuzz, get a pedal. As for the compression, I use the built in compression on my amp.

I have had one problem. The front input jack came loose so I had to crack open the case and tighten it. It was easy to do and has been the only problem.

I went online and found a PDF manual in about an hour. Other than that, I have no idea because I haven't had a problem.

I play alot of hard rock (AC/DC, Led Zep, Hendrix) and heavy metal (Metallica, Slayer, Sepultura, etc.) and having all the available slots to save my different sounds is perfect. I have been playing for 8 years and I have a couple different effects pedals, but this is the only one I use EVERYTIME I PLAY. I only wish it had a better distortion/overdrive effect.

Very very easy to use, totally intuitive with every effect available at a touch...Absolute cinch plus easy editing.Had the FX running in no time without a manual.

Using it live and in recording with a Zoot bass or a P/bass,SWR rig.
Not a noisy device unless too much of its processing is used...but who needs to trash their tone with ANY box!
Its got great sounds,theres more than enough here! You can find most of the Artists you'd wish to emulate if you spend time with it.
Most effects are excellent quality.

Relability has been A1...the thing has been gigged, dropped etc etc etc...goes on and on.

Have had good back-up from Yamaha...use lots of their stuff, but not needed for the FX500B...they charged well for bits though!

I played everything across the board...i mean everything!Been playing Bass 30 years as a pro...i'd definately get another if the worse occured. Theres plenty of big money stuff out there , but this used properly is as good as...if you make sure you get everything right like your EQ's and your amounts of processing, well, as always. My view is that even the most expensive effect is a nightmare not used correctly.
I like its simple high quality sounds...compared with other products of its ilk, its as good used well...at the end of the day none of whats out there does it that much better than the FX500b.
The FX has been a great recording tool thats had an influence on what i've played...great sounds....and never gets in the way. Used when bought...its been excellent.

The first review gives you no information. So here is some: Great little bass module. Very easy to use. Each major effect is directly selectable. Patches are easy to edit, but some of the keystrokes seems rather odd. I didn't have a manual with mine but I had a FX500 (it's sister effects module) and essentially it was exactly the same. The unit is easy to use. Definately optimized for bass.

I use it in the effects loop with either a bassman 60 or bassman 200 amp. Seems as clean or better then other units in it's price range and much cleaner than similar units put out by Alesis. Good frequency range. Higher sample rate. Reverbs, flanges, choruses, EQ are great. Compressor is slightly breathy (I don't use it, but use a separate DBX unit). The distortion is rather a 1 trick pony. But good for that one sound. Very average distortion by most standards.

Yamaha gear is tough. I don't expect problem one with it.

No problem getting accessories if you have money (manuals, power supplies, schematics, etc). Never tried to get actually help on using a product.

This is a decent little module. I didn't want to spend a ton on a good effects module for my bass but wanted quality sounds. This seemed to fit the bill. I still use my separate compressor/gate and may get a different distortion pedal. This is really just a "standard" effects treatment unit without some of the bizarre effects or speaker emulations you get with newer much more expensive units. I like running my bass fairly dry anyway. Good solid little bass module for a great price.

I bought this a few years back when I had a steady bass gig. It didn''t prove too roadworthy and would sometimes switch patches in the middle of a tune. I''ve since dusted this sucker off and it''s actually a pretty decent second string, general purpose fx unit for my 8track studio.