YAMAHA REVSTAR

YAMAHA REVSTAR
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GUITARIST JUNE 2022
simply master volume and tone, the latter
with a pull switch to engage either the Dry
Switch on the Element models (a high-pass
filter that we saw on the original series)
or the Focus Switch on the Standard and
Professional models, a new Mk II feature
(see Under The Hood, over the page).
These guitars might be made in factories
over 3,000 miles apart and span quite a
price range, but the actual craft is very
similar: in no way does the RSE20 feel
‘cheap’ compared with the RSP02T. The
rear cavity cover on the RSE20 isn’t quite as
cleanly recessed, the fret ends are left a little
sharp unlike the nicely domed ends to the
Standard, and the fretwire is slightly wider
and lower on the Element model, too. We
must say, however, that these are effectively
production prototypes. Oh, and another
small difference is that the Element’s tune-
o-matic is a smaller-width ABR-1-style
whereas the other tiers use a wider travel
Nashville-style unit.
Before Revstar, all of Yamaha’s electrics
proudly displayed a block-style Yamaha
headstock logo. Here, it’s replaced by just
the brand’s tuning fork logo on a raised
button-sized disc: the only mention of
Yamaha is on a (removable) country of
origin sticker on the back of the headstock.
Feel & Sounds
We’re seeing quite a shift to lighter guitars
in the market, but while these new Revstars
might be quite chambered none of our
samples are what you’d call feather light.
Early original Revstars that we evaluated,
such as the RS502T and RS820CR,
came in at 3.98kg (8.76lb) and 4kg (8.8lb)
respectively, while a quartet of models we
reviewed later had a range between 3.83kg
(8.4lb) and 4.04kg (8.9lb).
Our four Mk II models today range
from the 3.52kg (7.76lb) of the the RSE20
to 3.86kg (8.5lb) for the RSP02T, which
are a little lighter with a 0.34kg (0.75lb)
variance. Aside from the unspecified body
enlargement, our four guitars’ bodies all
measure 347mm (13.6 inches) in width and
pretty much 430mm (16.69lb) from the
base to the top of the bass-side horn, and
42mm (1.65 inches) in depth, very slightly
thinner than the 44mm (1.7-inch) depth of
the originals. For reference, a Les Paul is
330mm (13 inches) wide by 438mm (17.2
inches) long with a rim depth of 50mm
(2 inches) rising to just over 60mm (2.4
inches) at the peak of its dome top.
In reality, the guitars certainly don’t feel
‘big’ and they don’t feel light, or indeed
chambered. In fact, whereas with many
THE RIVALS
Plenty of big names are in competition
here, not least Epiphone with its Les
Paul Studio (in-store at £399), all
mahogany with a maple veneer top and
Alnico Classic covered humbuckers.
Another guitar in strong competition to
the RSS20 is Epiphone’s 1961 Les Paul
SG Standard (£649, inc case).
PRS’s new SE 24-08 Standard (£620)
shares an all-mahogany set-neck
construction and very neat pickup
switching of the humbuckers to true
single coil via two mini-toggle switches.
We also get a vibrato.
Sitting between the Standard and
Professional levels is Reverend’s
Sensei (£949), which looks like an
offset Revstar with plenty of features,
including all korina construction and
dual Railhammer humbuckers.
Let’s not forget Gordon Smith in the
UK. Its GS2 can be custom-ordered to
similar specs as the RSP02T, excluding
the graphite reinforcement but
including stainless-steel frets for just
over £1,400 including case.
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VIDEO DEMO http://bit.ly/guitaristextra
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