Yamaha FX-20

[libraryguy]

Hey all,

I've been actively looking for another organ. An Electone FX-20 that had been used by a church is up for sale. I'm presently working out the logistics and getting people for going to pick it up. If the FX-20 is gone by the time I can do the move, there is an MR700T in the same neighborhood for sale. I might get it too if I ever want to take a small organ to church or for my upstairs organ. I'll get the FX first and the MR later.

Are there any warning signs to look out for on the FX-20 during the test drive? I don't think it has any of those programming module things with it. How about the MR700T, anything to watch for? It doesn't have the ROM cards either. I do know it is missing the plastic power button cover which I think is red.

The President is on CL for free. I have to move it out to bring in the Yammies. I have an unheated storage building to keep it in the dry. Anything else I can do to protect it a bit like a waterproof tarp or moving blankets? Someone wanted the pedals and bench but I'm not letting it go in pieces.

The asking price is $250 on the FX and $100 on the MR.

[Larrytow]

I've got an FX-20 and it is a wonderful organ. The sound system in it is very good and will really fill a room. The RP-1 registration packs are tough to come by anymore, so see if they are perhaps around the church somewhere. Could be with the manual for it ( If they have it yet ), or maybe in the bench ? They are a very heavy console ( 450+, I think ), so be ready to work when moving it.

I'm not sure on the price, but actually, if it is working, I think that would be fair.

Those FX Yamahas have had some problems with the power amp modules failing ( due to age ), but if one fails, it shuts the entire audio system down. You would know that of course when you inspect it. If it plays, it's fine.

It has an onboard memory system, so you can set all 8 general pistons, and do not need to have a RP-1. Those are for storing complete sets of 8 piston settings. But, the FX series is the last of the Yamaha consoles that are pretty much playable " on the fly " with all needed settings available on the control panel. No need to delve into menus and all that.

All in all it is a great instrument. I like my FX-1 better of course, but the FX-20 is pretty much the same instrument in a traditional console.

I don't know much about the MR -700T, so have no advice on that.

[libraryguy]

Thanks Larry,

I'll have to let the church know about that weight so to have enough people to load it. I'm going to use a piano dolly to get it up on wheels. That organ is heavier than my earlier Conn and present Gulbransen. it does cause my a little doubt about getting it. Fortunately I have only a threshold to get over, no steps and a tile floor at home. I thought digital organs were lighter than analogue. Is it the cabinet that makes that one so heavy? Is that shipping weight w/pedals and bench or just the console? At least if I get the MR as well it won't require any moving tools and can be easily pitched when it goes out someday.

[Kurzweil]

A lot of those organs used MDF instead of plywood and it is denser. Then they will use it in sections 2 to 3 inches thick to make the end blocks handsome, even more weight. You probably already know this but don't forget that few, if any, organs have a flat bottom like that of a verticle piano. Bring a piece of 3/4" plywood about the size of the footprint to give the piano dolly something to support.

[Larrytow]

The FX-20 cabinet is made mostly of plywood, and quite thick plywood at that. There is an MDF box inside of it for the sealed speaker enclosure that holds the 14" center / bass channel speaker. It has very substantial transformers for the power supplies. And there is a lot of "stuff" in it; all of it typical well built Yamaha components.

The base does actually have a full plywood bottom. So putting it on a single 4 wheel furniture dolly is do-able. But once it is on the dolly, it is sorta front / top heavy, so you need a couple of people to keep it stable. Don't try to use a cheap ( Harbor Freight, etc. ) dolly, it has to be a real one.

I just looked up the weight. It is 427 pounds, but that includes the pedals. Pedals are probably 80 pounds, so figure the console is "only" 350 pounds.

Also, all those big Yamaha consoles have built in steel roller wheels on each corner. They only allow you to roll it lengthwise; they are not swivel castors. They are handy for rolling it on hard surfaces with no dolly at all. To make a corner using just those wheels you have to hooft / slide the end around. They only project down from the base about 1/2" (max), so going over rough surfaces is not a plan. Door thresholds and the like cause you to rely on the plywood bottom to slide it over, but it can take it. DO NOT try and use those steel rollers on hardwood floors ! You will dent the floor for sure, and perhaps worse. They work real well on concrete or tile floors though.

I've moved a lot of organs over the years, and I think Yamahas are one of the most easy ones to handle because they are built so well . The heavy part is due to the built so well part, of course.

I would suggest that you go ahead and get it. The moving of heavy organs is part of the deal with wanting a nice one. Just need to get a plan before moving day.

Attached are some photos of the inside of mine, so you can see all the "stuff" that makes them so heavy. I have the brochure scanned to PDF, but the file size is too big to attach here. PM me if you want it.

[libraryguy]

I've never owned an organ with a speaker like that 14". Is that the power amp on the left side? Are there still any spares available like the power modules or the battery for the memory?

I like the looks of the case. It doesn't appear to be so top heavy like my present rig. My wife will like the dust cover.

I've had good luck using 2' x 8' strips of duckboard to lay over things like thresholds and pickup tailgates. I think 350 lbs is in the range of my earlier Conn and present Gulbransen. In fact I got the Conn out of the house by myself using a heavy duty dolly. I've used the duckboard method to get my Baldwin spinet piano in and a couple of washing machine swaps.

Someone has one of the spinet versions FS-300? a lot closer to home. Their delusional price is $2,650 and its been on CL for a while. I might would get it instead since it is so much closer and would save a little space but that price is impossible.

[libraryguy]

We'll, these things happen even in this evaporating home organ market.

I contacted the church where the FX-20 is and it is sold. Plan B may be to get the MR700T that is in the same area and use it until something better comes along. At least I will have some kind of Electone and I can take it with me if I want.

[Larrytow]

Sorry to hear that you missed out on the FX-20. There are certain models of certain brands that are still quite sought after by enthusiasts; the FX-20 is one of them. So having it go quickly(ish) at the 250.00 price is not real unusual. As with all good deals ( organs or tools or whatever ) : Ya Snooze, Ya Looze. Carry on the search - the good deals on organs are out there, and as you said, the market right now is strange.