If you like it, take the $169 and fix it, since it’s an easy fix. Unless you’ve gone sour on the guitar. If so, send it back.
Still working it through. I'll likely keep it, but I'm going to see what my options are from Yamaha. We'll see how it goes.
Yamaha have very good after sales service
This ^^^, and perhaps the OP should change the name of the thread to "Yamaha Revstar- a real bummer."
Some models are good but don't be too quick. Look at that horrendous 12th fret inlay filler, weird actives and odd trem with no support for parts.I was eyeing a Professional too, but given their same hardware and electronics, especially tuners and pickups, I'll be happy with my Standard.
While the tuners are ok, I'd have expected a branded version for the Pro. And while pickups are made to Yamaha spec, a Pro version shouldn't say G&B on the pup plate.
Love the fretwork though!
It's my 3rd Yamaha, over 30 years after I bought my first two. One of which was this '89 Image Custom. Made in Taiwan it cost more than a Les Paul StudioLite in the day. I bought it overseas, but it was about the equivalent of $1,600-1,800 today. So twice the Standard, and almost Pro pricing.
But no-compromise features:
- Brazilian Rosewood fingerboard
- Immaculate fit, finish, fretwork
- 'Yamaha Japan' LOCKING tuners (but really Gotoh I think)
- Yamaha pickups (don't know if they outsourced back then, but these were highly proprietary active/passive tech, and sound amazing)
- Carved, flame top
- Abalone inlays (not abalam)
Wish the Revstar Standards and Pros would live up to this...
You know what they say about opinions....
I am not talking about opinions , those inlays and the things I mentioned are objectively bad but It can still be a great sounding and playing guitar. I am commenting about decisions made at Yamaha more than anything here. Yamaha have a long history of producing great product that they just drop and end support faster than you can say "next".
Another thing to take in to consideration is when you look at an R9 Les Paul there is a lot of crappy elements in the way it is built and a few design points that are far less than functional but nobody would deny it is a phenomenal musical instrument me included.
I wouldn't have a problem just fixing the damn thing but Yamaha told me that if I fix it myself I will void the warranty. To keep the warranty I would have to take it to a Yamaha warranty service center, which is an hour each way, plus leaving it there for a week (or a month). I'm waiting for my regular Musician's Friend rep to come back to work tomorrow (he's off Sunday and Monday) to see if he can give me a bigger refund. It will cost them a whole lot more than $169 to deal with a factory defect guitar. If $169 is all they'll offer then I am sending it back. Taking it to the warranty repair center is too much hassle and I'm not going to pay a premium for a new guitar just to void the warranty a month after I get it. That is unless MF makes it worth it to me. We'll see what happens.
But for the stripped wood screw, I really like my guitar. So I agree with you. These are good guitars, especially for the money.
But for the stripped wood screw, I really like my guitar. So I agree with you. These are good guitars, especially for the money.
The hassle is certainly a downer, but a stripped screw could happen on any production guitar. And I've had a worse problem on a custom build with a young builder who used the wrong sealer on the wood, so that the nitro finish started to bubble because the nitro didn't adhere properly. That guitar seemed to be cursed (and I'm only half joking). It took 3.5 years from payment to receipt after the refinish to correct the nitro problem. Then it got stolen when someone sneaked into my house while I was asleep under the influence of narcotics because of pain from passing a kidney stone. They walked right by my head, no more than 2 feet away, to steal the guitar and my wife's purse. They stole our car, which we eventually got back with only a few cigarette burns and the reek of stale beer. The guitar was never found. Probably in some drug dealers living room.
Shit happens. Roll with the punches, I say. I don't have any rockets headed towards my house, and I've got food and a heater keeping my family warm. Life is good.
