Yamaha Revstar 2 Standard - A real winner.

[marsonic]

I played a few of these guitars a few weeks ago in a shop, and I was very impressed.

I don't need another guitar right now, and there are other things higher on the list of things that I either do need or really, really want....but, I'm probably going to buy one at some point. I can wait until one jumps out at me as "yeah, this one".

 

[Piing]

The Hardware IS Asian and it IS pot metal . The pickups ARE bland and generic. The Poly IS the same as Epiphone is now . No hate just facts. I actually quite like it but I would have to replace the electrics and pickups. The switch is good (Oak Grigsby) but the rest is junk. I could use the pickups but think PRS SE quality.

Generically assuming that Asian hardware is junk is very wrong and biased.

All Asian countries that manufacture guitars, from China to Japan, have a range of good and high quality components

 

[GitGuy513]

Thanks for the kind words but I have no prejudice about cheap stuff. I just don't buy in to the wood and finish doesn't matter and cheap pot metal hardware however good it looks is a problem . From my perspective these are well made but the core materials are budget and that comes with issues that can't be addressed. Wood selection is almost anything goes and they tend have a poor sounding truss rod design for easy manufacture ( the effect of the space around the rod and increased metal) thick plasticised finish, generic pickups and tone sucking sintered pot metal hardware . How do they compare? Musical instrument have a priority list for the materials that goes something like; Fuction, Sound, availability, cost. and these will be ;Cost ,availability, function, ease of production and then sound. I get it they are cheap and that is a skill in it's self but it is possible to make musical instruments cheaper by making them simple. Cort makes some very good things for instance (Strandberg) it's not about their ability to make good things it's about the choices that have to be made to keep the price down.

First, I never said you have a “prejudice against cheap stuff”! That’s just reducing and minimizing my point into ridiculousness. I have a Strandberg and love it so this is no knock on Strandberg, but we’re not talking apples to apples in that case.

Beyond all that my comment about having an inconsistent bias is that it seems like you’re OK with certain cheaper mass produced companies like Fender or Epiphone while ragging on others. The cheap Strats and Les Pauls can have all the issues you mention. The only difference is they started this whole outsourcing to cheap labor countries before everyone else so they were ahead of the game, but now companies like PT Cort in South Korea and Indonesia with PRS have caught up or even surpassed the others. I’m not sure where Yamaha is making the Revstar’s, but Yamaha is no new kid on the block and have been making quality reasonably priced instruments for a long time.

This video is super impressive. Maybe if the idiots of the world don’t start WWIII and ruin it for everyone we can all be winners.

 

[Andy Eagle]

Generically assuming that Asian hardware is junk is very wrong and biased.

All Asian countries that manufacture guitars, from China to Japan, have a range of good and high quality components

This is out of context.
It specifically answers the OP's claim that it is not generic pot metal hardware from Asia. It is exactly that. Pot metal hardware is garbage wherever it is made because of the process of sintered powder casting. I don't have anything against quality manufacturing from any country. Zinc is also not a problem if it is poured as a liquid and only used for parts that it is strong enough.The consistently highest quality hardware available ATM is Gotoh ,yes Asian.

 

[Andy Eagle]

First, I never said you have a “prejudice against cheap stuff”! That’s just reducing and minimizing my point into ridiculousness. I have a Strandberg and love it so this is no knock on Strandberg, but we’re not talking apples to apples in that case.

Beyond all that my comment about having an inconsistent bias is that it seems like you’re OK with certain cheaper mass produced companies like Fender or Epiphone while ragging on others. The cheap Strats and Les Pauls can have all the issues you mention. The only difference is they started this whole outsourcing to cheap labor countries before everyone else so they were ahead of the game, but now companies like PT Cort in South Korea and Indonesia with PRS have caught up or even surpassed the others. I’m not sure where Yamaha is making the Revstar’s, but Yamaha is no new kid on the block and have been making quality reasonably priced instruments for a long time.

This video is super impressive. Maybe if the idiots of the world don’t start WWIII and ruin it for everyone we can all be winners.

There are good cheap guitars out there that don't use thick finish and cosmetic gloss (binding, fancy pickguards,flame veneers) to hide shitty fundamentals. Yamaha 112 was always outstanding value and even came in a thin skin clear finish some of the time. Fender and Ibanez have also made some outstanding budget stuff. Epiphone is mostly pretty bad. PRS SE started out total shit and have worked their way up because the price point has pushed higher as the product has sold allowing for better products. The Best thing PRS SE did was move to Indonesia because they had to retool and that is where most of the gains have been. Korean PRS necks and fretwork was way off USA speck and the shift improved this aspect enormously . Flat low wide soft fretwire with over beveled edges on an Epiphone generic C neck shape on Korean PRS felt nothing like the real thing. Schecter for example make great product in Korea as does ESP. It is not about where the instrument is made it is about the decisions that are made to bring the price down and whether that results in an instrument or a guitar shaped commodity.

 

[MisterE]

A bit off topic but, when I look at the Revstar, I always think of the SG's.
I always liked them ever since I saw Martin Barre play one.
But if you look at the cost of a new one now....€3600.... that's steep for any factory made guitar in my book.
That's what I paid for my custom made Larkins.
But it won't stop me gassing for a nice Yamaha SG

 

[Stonetone]

Loved my Original Revstar and sold it to get this, it arrived last week
Yamaha, Sleeper guitars such an amazing guitar for the price

 

[secondwindow]

Loved my Original Revstar and sold it to get this, it arrived last week
Yamaha, Sleeper guitars such an amazing guitar for the price

View attachment 116505

Congrats! That's a nice looking guitar. I like that the Burst finish is different from the usual.

 

[Stonetone]

Congrat! That's a nice looking guitar. I like that the Burst finish is different from the usual.

Thank you, yes I chose that finish cause could not gel with the stripes on the others, i do plan to swap the Pickguard and Rings though, I ordered the cream ones, also going to put Locking tuners these ones are great for sure, i just like the convenience of Locking's

 

[secondwindow]

Thank you, yes I chose that finish cause could not gel with the stripes on the others, i do plan to swap the Pickguard and Rings though, I ordered the cream ones, also going to put Locking tuners these ones are great for sure, i just like the convenience of Locking's

Swapping the black for cream will look nice. I like locking tuners for the convenience, too. I even put a set on my Taylor acoustic, but not my 12-string (yet).

Enjoy!

 

[sprint]

Coming back to the Revstar Standard's focus switch and related transformer in the cavity - BS as suggested above? or, if real, and drawing a small amount of current from commected amp, what happens when plugged into Axfx?, could it cause damage?

 

[Stonetone]

Coming back to the Revstar Standard's focus switch and related transformer in the cavity - BS as suggested above? or, if real, and drawing a small amount of current from commected amp, what happens when plugged into Axfx?, could it cause damage?

No Issue's when Connected to my Helix, but its not something I will use though

 

[skolacki]

Coming back to the Revstar Standard's focus switch and related transformer in the cavity - BS as suggested above? or, if real, and drawing a small amount of current from commected amp, what happens when plugged into Axfx?, could it cause damage?

Found a drawing of what someone thinks the circuit is but he’s not claiming accuracy. It was drawn as part of a filter circuit. In any case, the only thing supplying power at the input are the pickups which is not much at all. This thing will not damage electronics no matter what it is. The FAS unit or amp is not going deliver any power to your guitar either. No worries man. The focus switch won’t kill you or your equipment. Hopefully it sounds good. I’m hoping to find one local to try out. I dig that burst.

 

[guitaroholic]

Coming back to the Revstar Standard's focus switch and related transformer in the cavity - BS as suggested above? or, if real, and drawing a small amount of current from commected amp, what happens when plugged into Axfx?, could it cause damage?

As far as sound, it does 'something'. Like an EQ shift of sorts, but it's inconsistent on how it acts - most notably on some cleans vs distorted, but even among dirty sounds I find it do different things depending on preset. On some presets I even prefer it engaged as the base rhythm and then turn it off for lead focus. weird.
It's a tone shaper, but I much more appreciate the #2 and #4 positions for variety than the focus switch.

 

[Stonetone]

As far as sound, it does 'something'. Like an EQ shift of sorts, but it's inconsistent on how it acts - most notably on some cleans vs distorted, but even among dirty sounds I find it do different things depending on preset. On some presets I even prefer it engaged as the base rhythm and then turn it off for lead focus. weird.
It's a tone shaper, but I much more appreciate the #2 and #4 positions for variety than the focus switch.

Same here
There is a feature on my Godin Classic CT-90 called the HDR Revoicer circuit, that i absolutely love
the Push switch at the tone Control

High-Definition Revoicer (HDR) system. Just push the button discreetly located near the guitar's tone knob, and the HDR system revoices and augments the frequency range of each pickup, allowing you to go from passive to active pickups very simply. You'll instantly notice extra bite, dynamic response, and clarity. It effectively doubles the power of your guitar.

 

[skolacki]

Same here
There is a feature on my Godin Classic CT-90 called the HDR Revoicer circuit, that i absolutely love
the Push switch at the tone Control

High-Definition Revoicer (HDR) system. Just push the button discreetly located near the guitar's tone knob, and the HDR system revoices and augments the frequency range of each pickup, allowing you to go from passive to active pickups very simply. You'll instantly notice extra bite, dynamic response, and clarity. It effectively doubles the power of your guitar.

Great looking guitar. That HDR is active, so not the same thing as what’s on the Revstars. Always cool to have tonal options. What’s the neck like on the Godin’s?

 

[lscottk]

Glad I found this thread on the Revstars. I am looking at these seriously for a guitar with P90s which I don't have currently.

(I was over talking about these on @Joe Bfstplk 's PRS P90 thread before I realized I was derailing the thread on his beautiful PRS with 3 P90s.)

@fremen has a standard, I think, and he is using it on some videos over on his presets thread.

So for 2022 - They have pro, standard, element series. Here is the specs page, Revstar Specs

At 12" neck radius I would think "C" would be the most popular, but you never know. @fremen was correct about them having the same stock pickups between model lines, Alnico V magnets. The Pros are MIJ and have hardshell case, and I.R.A. treatment, whatever that is, but it sounds like I "need" it, lol. I'm going to want increased resonance!

INITIAL RESPONSE ACCELERATION​

Yamaha’s I.R.A. process applies specific vibrations to release stresses between an instrument’s components, resulting in a new guitar with “played-in” sound and feel.

Brighter colors indicate increased volume and therefore greater resonance.

Then the other difference is the push-pull is a focus switch which they describe as "overwound" pickup character, more aggressive. On the element it is a HPF instead of focus. They describe an out of phase position on the 5 way switch, which is what I'm jonesing for. So looks like an extra grand based on Sweetwater's retail prices, the Pro is going to be $1999. The Standard $899, the Element $499 Revstars at Sweetwater

I am digging the Pro w/ P90s with the stoptail piece and the finish colors - especially the gold and sunset burst. Since the extra grand ($1100) would be for a Yamaha made in Japan, a hardshell case, increased resonance, it would be worth ordering one with the fact that I could send it back to Sweetwater if it was a dud or had some weird neck shape... I usually don't really have a problem with adapting to the neck profiles as long as it isn't a baseball bat thick 50's thing... anyway I'm thinking this is going to be my next purchase, and replacing the P90s with Kinman

I am trying to talk my buddy who is looking at Gretch Renown kits to take the trip with me to Sweetwater, we are 5 hours away. I may just go and visit and make a day of it, get a motel to crash at and come back the next day. Tomorrow night Andy Timmons is going to be giving a clinic showcasing his new Keely Halo pedal ... I promise I won't act like a fanboy if I go.

I just got a RSP02T. I ordered it last May through Musician's Friend. I waited almost a year for it, and it finally arrived unannounced about 2 weeks ago. It was worth the wait. I haven't tried a Standard model, so I can't compare it to mine (Pro version), but I love mine. It is an awesome instrument. I've been buying and selling guitars since the mid-70s. This is one of the best guitars I've ever owned. I'd highly recommend picking one up, if you can find one.

 

[Stonetone]

Great looking guitar. That HDR is active, so not the same thing as what’s on the Revstars. Always cool to have tonal options. What’s the neck like on the Godin’s?

Love the Neck, bound Richlite™ board, 12 Inch radius, no satin back, fret work is Incredible
Hardware is awesome as well especially the Graphtech ResoMax bridge system ABR-1

 

[alcyppa]

I periodically get GAS for these Revstars but in the end I never pull the trigger because I dislike pretty much every finish they offer.

If they ever come out with a nitro checked finish (like the Chris Buck one) it would be really hard not to fall for it.

 

[lscottk]

Here are some pics of my RSP02T