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Calling this cheesy is almost an insult. This thing was a monster in its time and you need to look at it in that perspective. Like some kinds of music, this is timeless.

It’s a piece of art in 1983 before Midi. There are a lot of wonderful one-man-band live performance helper secrets that haven’t been shown. Faders are all motorized. Knee control is for full-in, pitch bend, change parts etc. same as those hidden toe switch in the volume.paddle. Try to memorize the whole settings for different part of the song in the white memory buttons. It could store the settings into cartridge for different songs. And the most unusual thing is, all faders are motorized. So you could recall the mixing levels of different part of keyboards but still trim them during the performance. In addition, for live performances, making the fader closer to the player to get louder is natural instead of push away to get louder.

Wow this brings back memories. I was very fortunate to have one of these 1985-1989. The FX-20 was Yamaha's flagship from the Electone range of this era and featured the introduction of FM (Frequency Modulated) sounds. I know you said it sounds a bit tacky, but at the time we considered this to be an astonishing leap in sound quality from keyboards from prior eras. It was also Yamaha's first range to also feature touch-sensitive keys giving a new dimension in expression. The top keyboard is called the "solo" keyboard by memory, and it has a limited number of instruments to chose from on the panel to the left of it. It was a special keyboard for monophonic solo instruments like a trumpet or flute - i.e. can only play a single note at a time. Yes, the slide-out drawer for the traditional pipe organ sounds was cool. You mentioned difficulty in changing it while playing, but the idea was you could pre-set different combos, and store them as presets readily accessible in the upper and lower green 'combination' sections up there on the main console. One of the most magical things about this Electone is its ability to remember 8 entirely different setups (registers?), including the positions of all those individual mechanical volume slider controllers! So when you press one of the 1 to 8 to recall a setup, all the selections change in a flash, but also those volume sliders actually moved like magic back into the position you had them stored. Unfortunately over a number of years the volume slider mechanisms would seize up, so Yamaha's next generation replaced these with a non-mechanical equivalent. It was never the same, not seeing the magic of the actual levers move like magic. I'm sure probably just needed a little cleaning or WD-40. Furthermore, you could buy a memory cartridge and store the register settings to the cartridge. They were expensive so I only had 2 of those cartridges, but I remember taking the cartridge to music lessons and being able to easily recall all my pre-sets on my teacher's FX-20. For it's time, this was an amazing piece of technology, and a well-built sturdy piece of quality furniture! A nightmare to physically move around, but it truly was an honour to have one.

Retailed for nearly $23,000 back in the day. Do the math as to how much that would be today. I've got one sitting in my basement right now...

Hi James, my name is Adriaan Laurijsen and I performed on this FX 20 during a Yamaha Electone Festival in Holland in 1982. It was a top of the line " Electone " not " organ " in that year (even though the HX 1 came out little after this FX 20.) The presets "then" were considered " great " in those days. They "couldn't " make a " piano-sound " really sound like a piano... it was always like "toy piano " sounding. But that wasn't the major feature of the instrument. Coming back to WHY it wasn't considered an " organ " !! That's because even though it looks like one, it has all these presets that you went through, and "ONE" of the presets is the "organ" sound. But instead of giving you only 6 or 8 preset organ sounds, they decided to put in that organ board underneath so you could use the drawbars while playing. Former drawbars on Yamaha electones only had 3 settings and were more like tabs. (look at the C-55 or D-80) The strong point in these "electones" was that you could use "packs" to register the presets in "sequence of use" including tempo changes and pre program the drums (can't remember if FX 20 could do this) My later model HX 1 can. The " KNEE LEVER " as it was called was for bending the tone of a pan flute sounds down. Or sustain on " piano type sounds" Came in handy. Later it was a switch on the volume pedal. One for Rhythm "start/stop" and on the other side for "sustain" ( on my WERSI I could program the "function" of those switches which came in handy because you could even put a sound on it (like " you can ring my bell" that song and put that drum sound which is recognizable for this song on that switch) i'm getting off track now. The "Solo" mono tone mini keyboard came from the D-80 earlier model and it's sound canvas is on the left of that mini keyboard. Funny thing was that if you wanted to play solo on it, " vibrato " could be added by moving your hand fast left/right while depressing a note (key) I don't remember if one had options for this function Like a now used (modulation wheel) like on my HX 1. I hope I was able to tell you some new things about this great yamaha "electone" FX 20..... PS I enjoyed your video and enthusiasm while going through the features on this model. Thank you, greetings Adriaan

I remember our local music shop with one of these on display. It was a marvel of technology at the time in the early 80's. I particularly remember the motorised sliders, and a knee lever to be operated with your right knee!

This Electone FX-20 was manufactured back in 1982/83. The reason why the volume slider has to be moved downwards for maximum volume because of the designs of the tabs or stops of the older Electone models; you had to push the tabs downwards to activate the flute voices you want and these tabs came in colours such as green, red, yellow or white, just like the E-20 or C-55 vintage organs. The third manual is the solo keyboard where the controls and sound panel are located on the left of those smaller keys. The FS and FX models are some of the last Electone organs to have the very grand spinet designs and powerful amplifier speakers. Played on them before in some churches and I do know a few of these organs are being used for up to 20 to 30 years (in Singapore) ….now many churches have the Electone Stagea organs :)

This used FM tone generation technology, like Yamaha’s DX7. Also has a nice sounding drum section.

FX20 1983, Great organ for it's time. The home version of the legendary FX1.

This video made me laugh! I can imagine the organ might be confusing for some. I had an FX-3 (ultra rare) which was the white stage version of the FS-70 which was a couple models below this, but had a massive separate speaker cabinet and still had three manuals. The hidden panels were so cool on these as were the motorised sliders which moved when you changed registration memory (and which you didn't show!!) Unfortunately they were prone to fail. This series of organs I think are the coolest ever made in terms of their design and features, very James Bond like. Sound quality was good for the technology at the time. Try the slide feature on the upper manual, brilliant for making bird sounds!

Played one at my music school concert back in 1985. The top of the line cost $50k back then. I was in awe of it.

The Baptist church I attend in Belo Horizonte (BRAZIL), has one of these. I'm struggling to learn how to set it up for pipe organ sound. Thanks for the video. It has helped me a lot!

At 3:01 your thumb is literally on top of the solo keyboard voice buttons.

FX-20 was built in1983.

0:42 it is made in 1983 2:17 it is a solo keyboard

I played that The Yamaha FX 20 in a local supper club for years in the 1980's. At the time, blind organist Rollie Hudson was an artist for Yamaha along with being organist for the White Sox. I forget the list cost but got a reduced price from a dealer friend for the club owner who was also a friend. I believe it worked to about 12K. It was dinner music, an easy gig. I could do a decent job with just about any 40's, tune requested along with Latins and show tunes for 4 or 5 hours 2 nights a week. Years later the owner moved it from Pennsylvania to his home in Florida.An interesting side note being, it was destroyed in a hurricane 5 years ago and the insurance paid my friend the full 1980 selling price because there was no replacement value for it. He also had to use the money to replace the organ with another instrument so he used the cash to buy a Yamaha Disklavier Piano. I moved from Yamaha to Technics instruments years ago. I am still using a KN7000. It was their flagship keyboard. I have purchased other instruments including newer and new Roland and other theater organs but still return to my 25 year old keyboard over them. It was truly decades ahead of it's time. I has also spent years in the heat an cold of my vehicle been left "on" for days and played with my my grand kids with never a failure or repair. I'd like to see you get your hands on one to review. P.S. I just discovered your channel. You do a great job. Keep up the good work!

I remember this organ ,,,,I played and still have the FS 70 ,, use to play in the Yamaha Electone Festivels in Victoria in the 80’s lol

Brings back memories, I remember having lessons on the FX20 lol How things have changed

The FX series was released in 1983 and the various models in this range were made up to 1988. The FX-20 is the largest organ in this series and a really amazing machine!

I had a Electone E5 by Yahama, was a great keyboard, it had the pull out drawer also. The sq. buttons between the keyboards are presets, thanks for the review.

Hi James, I have a Yamaha electone (EL-40), the knee lever on mine is for sustain, I suspect most of the electones have this. I was only looking yesterday to see if you had a video on an electone!

hi James! great review as always! this is my 2nd comment here btw because i just got a beautiful FX-20 in near-mint condition a few weeks ago, FREE! (all it cost me was about $160 to rent a U-HAUL truck and tow it from 45 miles away in the LA area to my place of residence in OC, Ca ... and well, some extra gas/mileage costs for my own car as well because my wife and i had to drive there first of course!) :-) it also has 4 hard-to-find-now memory cartridges! just like yourself, i had difficulty finding out where the sound buttons of the mini-keyboard solo section are ... but pretty soon i found them: they are to the left of that section on the 3rd tier (2nd upper keyboard) but somehow they are easy to miss at first glance! silly, eh? :-) the knee-lever thingy under the lower keyboard can be used to control the reverb, among other things as it's assignable ... then there are some input/output sockets under there on a small panel as well, to the right of the knee lever, plus an extra light switch that can turn off the lights if the cover is drawn out and closed/locked, so one doesn't have to push the folding cover back only to turn the lights off in case one forgets to turn them off after turning the entire unit off ... cool, right? :-) there's also a foot-switch to the left-upper section of the volume pedal ... it's also assignable to do things like the rhythm variation ... there are three big external speaker sockets on the rear lower section of this behemoth of an organ as well btw: 2 for Yamaha's own super-powerful TM-1 speakers and 1 for a Leslie ... that 'mysterious' mini-drawer on the left with those cute little register volumes and stuff, was already in use in the earlier Yamaha Electone organs of the 1970s btw ... i remember Electone E-6 of the mid-1970s hand one for example, which i saw in a catalog back in the day ... you may also want to know what i learned only an hour or so ago: FX-20 shares all the basic features of the FX-1, only the latter is more advanced and looks much cooler in design ... search for the FX-1 if you don't know about them already and i'm sure you'll agree it's such a great looking instrument really! it's along the line of the older GX 'White' series of Yamaha organs, with its first produced as early as 1968, made of super-lovely white fiberglass with grey and black trims, aluminum, chrome pistons and so on, suited to decorate the inside of a 24th century ultra-modern starship from the Star Wars movies! ;-) also, based on what i learned, the FX-20 came out in 1983 actually (and not late 1990s or early 2000s as you guessed) and its price was more than $20`000 at the time, while the FX-1, also marketed in the same year and produced in a limited number, was twice the price of the FX-20 ... (the FX-20 weighs more than 420lbs btw, and FX-1 more than 560lbs! imagine me, a 61-year-young man, had to tow the FX-20 mostly on my own using a non-standard dolly! wish had someone to take photos and videos of me, especially when i moved it down the truck's ramp after arriving home! i'm really lucky it was not damaged badly except for some little scratches, nor was myself!) :D last but not least, the instruction manual clearly discourages using this organ's lights as nightlights or something along those lines as you suggested yourself ... and i think that's a good precaution as replacing those bulbs is not easy really! also, if i'm not mistaken, last night, while checking things, i probably discovered another small light underneath the lower keyboard to illuminate the pedals section, as similar organs usually do although it doesn't light up anyway, which is probably due to a dead bulb or something ... more useful info on the FX-20 and FX-1 by someone who's owned both, here: bentonelectronics.com/my-yamaha-electone-fx-1-acquisition/#1

It was a really nice organ, it was of few that did not have spinet keyboards. You didn’t discover how how to save the registrations and store them...if you lived closer I’d give a lesson on how to fly it. Favourite was always the clarinet on the top keyboard. After having played three keyboards and both feet at the same time, the piano always seemed easy! Drew

This was a 1983 model. Organ technology progressed considerably by the late 80s and early 2000s. By that point there had been the HS/HX series in the late 80s, the massive step-upin realistic sounding instrumentation with the EL series ... EL90 and ELX1 being top of the range. Then there was the EL900 and AR series.

Love your videos brother! Fellow keyboardist here and I subscribed to your channel

The logic of the volume sliders is such as the Hammond drawer bars . You push they get lower. If you know anything about Yamahas, they have been doing those drawers from back in the 70's. The FX series was the last of them. The FX-20 was the top of the line and regardless of the FX-1 which is almost identical, they are amazing organs. The problem with some of the FM sounds from the 80's lacked some luster. The lever is used for sustain, and can be assigned on later HX models and such.

. . . bought mine in 1984 (think they had been approx a year by then) and it cost a fortune - you can now pick them up for very little on the likes of eBay etc. Still have mine - still love playing it . . .

Dude - this was the king of the Yamaha DX inital range. Its a very cool synth, its just a pity that they were the last generation before MIDI (and hence midi voice programming) but the drawbar FM is really cool

I played on that organ in the mid 1980s, not late 1990s. It has some awsome orchestrated background styles, and it is very much the same as the FX-1, a Eletone that I want.

God I learnt on that and it was the early mid 1980’s and I was 17

Yamaha has used hidden drawers on some of their other instruments, like the EX-1 and GX-1. On the CS-80 synth, there were tiny sliders hidden under a panel on the top that were used as preset memory. By the way, I'm jealous that you have access to an organ store - I miss playing the organ!

And nowadays you can find the FX20 being sold for peanuts or nothing at all, free actually! The hardest parts to get are the RAM packs used for storing registrations.

The little keyboard is what Yamaha called a solo manual. The controls for it are directly to the left of the keyboard and are labeled solo keyboard

The reason the Volumes are "backwards" is to conform with the standard of stops and drawbars. Pull them toward you to make it louder. I had an FX-20 for 10 years. I loved it for the rhythm section and Bass Sounds.

The right knee controller is usually to control the sustain and to cut on and off the sound between the presets. Have you tried playing around with the numbers right below the upper manual. The small keys above the upper manual also serve as the synthesizer. The sliding box at the bottom of the keyboards is a lot better with the E-5 that can replicate several combination of sounds; by pressing in between I believe 1 to 5 and C for cancel to do several combination or settings. I have an E-80 that has no preset box but has three numbers below the lower manual 1 to 3 and C for Cancel and switching preset sounds and the normal combinations. This is where you use your right knee controller. I have not tried using the FX models but I know it is based on the same principle. The levers for Yamaha organs always the softer sound on 1 and the loudest on 3. I believe there is a basic organ manual setting online these days. I hope my comment help you even in some little way.

It looks like the controls for the topmost "solo" keyboard are to the left on the same plateau as the solo keyboard itself.

2:22 That smaller third keyboard is called the “Solo” keyboard, and the buttons for it are just to the left of it, labelled “SOLO”

You're correct Paul about the sustain function, in fact most of the older electones have a knee lever.

I'm a bit late - hope you sorted the achine out. I was surprised that you didn't cotton on to the buttons to the left of the solo keyboard - they control the voices. The key to this organ is the button group - 'ensemble', which allows you to combine all those other sections. You were looking at the drawbars. - on the ensemble, select upp combi, and you have now selected the upper combination button set. The 4 top button has 1 button - 'lever', which will play the sound as per whatever the drawbars are now set to. But, if you want, you can store the current setting in of 3 memory buttons. This gives you 4 custom drawbar settings - 3 memories and 1 current serrungs. The bottom row are 4 preset sounds. Any or all of the other instrumental and percussion groups can be added/removed via the ensemble buttons. You need to hear this machine played by someone (like a theatre oragn player), and you will be truly amazed, it's hard to pick it from a small orchestra. There are a few people playing fx20 on YT, but, if you are despearte to hear some, let me know and I can email you some. I have an fx20, and many years back, an organist, Tony Fenelon performed a concert for the local yamaha dealer. It was simply stunning. Mind you, the machine has never sounded as good, but Tony is an exceptional player. Thanks for your interesting videos!

I think the volume knobs are like that to emulate the feel of drawbars

The volume and reverb knob is pretty similiar to a Hammond organ's drawbars. That explains why max is on the bottom

My relatives had an organ at home back in d '70s. While YAMAHA E-3 was very popular in d '70s.

This particular model is 1980s. Circa 1982-1985. My first organ was in the same F family of electones - a yamaha FC-10. The third keyboard above the upper keyboard is a solo keyboard. It will most likely only play lead voices (meaning, it is monophonic). I have noticed there are some buttons on your right side there. These could operate the solo keyboard.

I own one they are great organs

The Organ Studio here sold the FX-10 and FX-20 while I was still in High School. I graduated in 1966. The FX-20 sold for over $25,000 back then.

Also, why the volume for the separate rows is bottom; max & top: min is because when you are playing a piece, it is easier to pull down and go straight back to your playing so you don't mess up. So that is why they made it down instead of up, so when you are playing, it does not slow your tempo down to change the volume.

That sounds really good with the drawbars. It's no synthesizer, but sounds a lot better than some other electronic organs I have heard. I guess FM for the win? :) I kind of want one, lol

I have an FX-10 which is the exact same instrument, but without the solo keyboard. Unfortunately, the rhythm portion of my organ is not working correctly, so I have not had the opportunity to use that feature

I cannot wait for you to play on Pipe organ

Hi - where is the store location you're visiting here? Thx

The best playing on this organ came from UK . . . PHIL KELSALL recorded two albums on this.

I have been looking for this model for a little while now, Its sadly kinda hard to find one.

I have actually both been to that place and have played on that exact organ. It was made from around 1983 to 1986, and was the first Electone to have Yamaha's FM synthesis as tone generation. The knee level basically does a 'Hawaiian Guitar' effect for the most part though I think that you can program it to do a few more things. As some have said, you pretty much JUST missed the buttons to control the top (solo) keyboard at the 3 minute mark. Very great organ - the only drawback for me is the lack of MIDI, though you can technically add it to music production, etc, as an individual unit (but no note signals, etc). Yamaha also made a rather limited edition model using much of the same technology but in a futuristic at the time (but now mid century) casing called the FX-1 - which allegedly cost the same as a fully stocked Mercedes S Class at the time of its release.

Hi I live in Singapore I have an FX20 & loved playing on it since a teenager Unfortunately it’s seen it’s heydays but am too sad to discard it Am reaching out if anyone has any advice or referral for me to be able to get help to salvage ,coz I miss playing it

The “cheesy” sounds are so charming! Reminds me of the newer Opeth albums which I love!

0:45 Wouldn't blame you getting the dating wrong. Yamaha were really ahead of the time with this design in 1983.

I have a Yamaha Election EL60 doesn't work. After power up the unit, there is back light but blank screen, does anyone have any ideas? I'm looking for service manual but don't know where to get it.

2:22 That smaller third keyboard is called the “Solo” keyboard, and the buttons for it are just to the left of it, labelled “SOLO”. Unlike the regular keyboards, this one would be monophonic.

Made late 1982 (as a 1983 model) until late 1986.

I don't know why you find this instrument registration confusing. Yamaha was always the easiest to navigate.

most of the time, Yamaha electone players first set and record their registrations in the numbers 1-8 found inbetween the 2 keyboards before they start to play a song. in this way, they just press the corresponding number to call up the set registration..

A small switch below the organ you can turn off the light

Hi James, it should say the year on the back on a label.

I won the Seattle Electone Festival on an FX20 in 1984. Then went to the finals in California and unfortunately did no win! However, I just bought one form a church here in Florida in excellent condition for (Geat Ready)....$75.00! That's right Seventy Five Dollars!

Hi I'll like to buy this organ so where can I get and how much?????

What is the market price of this machine in 2020?

if you like this Yamaha model, then check out the 1968 X68 and its siblings coming out in later years too! the X68 is so ultramodern in looks and performance you'd probably freak out! :-)

1:51 I think the light set is just fine, and doesn't cause excessive light reflection on the keys.. 😁

After Fx series, yamaha europe produce AR series base on classic organ (electric) while the rest of yamaha music in the world produce HS series than EL series (modern tech).

Thumbs up Indiana USA.

I highly recommend you to find a Yamaha electone ELS 02c and make a video of it .. Its the best in the world

The lever I think you are talking about by pushing the foot over actually holds the notes out, like a piano.

2:22 That smaller third keyboard is called the

This is a late late 80s Yamaha Electone organ. I think that the german Wersi organs from this time period has a mutch better sound.

The drawbars are drawerbars

Its from 1984 1985 I sell that orag brandnew in that time

does this electone tranpose?

Solo keyboard. This electone is in the early 80s. Then the HS

Show the rhythm section pls

That organ was Made around 1983 1984....

Is that organ on sale?

Max Volume with slider down panders to organists (the target market)... draw bar down = max volume.

1983

What kind of organ is that white one....

In that time the was the model range fs20 fs 30 fs 50 and fs 70 and th two premium models fx 10 an fx 20

an organ from the 80's

I played this organ from 1992 to the end of 1999.

Is this midi based?

I rather expensive night light, don't you think?

Overwhelming as HECK

I can't tell if you're 17 or 37...

does this electone tranpose?