Yamaha elect one fs500

[Outjumptherabbit]

I have recently acquired one that was donated to a church that had no use for it. It is in excellent condition. Was wanting to know a little more about it. I have no intentions of selling it but would like to know what something like this is worth. I don't know much about it. Still trying to figure out just what all it is capable of. Any insight would be greatly appreciated!

[andyg]

One of Yamaha's best organs, IMHO. Good basic organ flutes, solid orchestral and instrumental sounds, a solo manual and a decent enough rhythm section for the era.

Value? Not that much these days, but not the 'almost zero' figure that a lesser instrument would fetch.

Google yamaha manuals and you should find a site or two where you'll be able to download the full owner's manual.

[afuller5]

Here is a link where you can download a service manual.
https://uk.yamaha.com/en/support/man...=en&c=&k=fs500

Enjoy!

Allen

[Larrytow]

That is actually the link to the Owners manual, not the service manual. But still, the OP should download it, because there are lots of features on that FS-500 that are not obvious when just looking at the controls.

The FS-500 is a spinet model ( but lacking some features ) of the FX-20 / FX-1. They are all digital FM tone generation technology and date from the early to mid / late 80s. It is the same technology used in the famous DX-7 synthesizer.

Very nice organs actually - I am fond of mine.

[Outjumptherabbit]

Thank you everyone for the help and insight. I'll see what I can come up with. I am figuring some things out but the manuals will definitely help. I know it's capable of way more than I am figuring out on my own. Cheers!

[afuller5]

Larry,

Thanks! I meant to type "onwner's" and accidentally typed "service." Unfortunately, it is too late to edit the post. That's what I get for being in too much of a hurry.

Later,
Aleln

That is actually the link to the Owners manual, not the service manual. But still, the OP should download it, because there are lots of features on that FS-500 that are not obvious when just looking at the controls.

[Larrytow]

Allen, we all do things like that from time to time.

Actually, the only reason I pointed it out is that so no one gets the idea that Yamaha provides service manuals for free. They do not of course, and a copy of the FS-500 service manual ( if needed ) will take some searching and time to find.

I do however think that Yamaha is a Very Classy company because they DO make the owners manuals available for pretty much every Electone they have made . And their manuals site is easy to use, and Free.

Many Mfgs make some manuals available online, but a lot of times they only have current production ones. In one way that is a testament to how well built and long lasting Yamaha believes their products are. They perhaps realize that there is a large secondary market for them, and that owners manuals are often lost over the years.

Being rather "old school" about quite a few things, I tend to prefer using a printed copy of a manual like that. Particularly when sitting At the organ learning stuff about it. I have had good success by taking a flash drive with the file on it to a Kinkos / Fed Ex store and having them print it out and bind it for me. They do it well, and it is not terribly expensive.

[joecool240]

The FS500 owners manual looks like it's here:

https://usa.yamaha.com/support/manua...boards&k=Fs500

Joe

[Paul T]

I have a FS 500 that I got for the price of delivery which wasn't much.
It's a pretty good organ with an excellent speaker and amp setup, nice auto accompaniment section and fm sounds as you would find in their portable PS and PSS series which were realistic enough but not too exciting.
I need to dispose of mine since I spilled champagne into the keybeds and control panels and then while cleaning it up crushed a trim pot that rested under the keyboard that may have controlled the microprocessor. It still plays and sounds but the computer isn't booting, resulting in many functions not working and I haven't been able to get myself to pay to service it.

[RogerM]

What a waste. You should try Prosecco!

[Paul T]

Not a chance: brut all the way.