Yamaha Revstar II RSS20
Unbelievably, it’s been a year since Yamaha took the wraps off its redesigned Revstar II range. The series originally launched in 2015, the result of a lengthy design and evaluation process that – even for the careful, considered brand – was a rarity. The new range groups the guitars into three levels: the start-up Element, the mid-priced Standard (both Indonesianmade in Yamaha’s own factory), and the upper Professional level, which uses bodies and necks that are made in Indonesia but assembled, finished and set up in Japan.
Outwardly, the new guitars don’t look very different from the original models, using a very similar, slightly wider pointed horn double-cut style that harks back to Yamaha’s SG and the lesser known Super Flighter from 1977. But internally there are some fundamental changes. All are lightly chambered, and the Standard and Pro models add a thin 6mm maple top. They also use graphite reinforced three-piece mahogany necks with stainless-steel frets on a slightly rounder 305mm (12-inch) radius rosewood fingerboard, which is bound on both like the top edge of the bodies.
We’d asked for a loaner guitar, but the 2022 launch generated so much interest that Yamaha simply couldn’t meet the demand. Speaking to Yamaha’s Dan Stock earlier this year, we discovered that the backlog had been sorted and we were dispatched a Standard model, the RSS20 in Swift Blue – one of six available finishes from the new range.
Denne historien er fra June 2023-utgaven av Guitarist.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent ? Logg på
Denne historien er fra June 2023-utgaven av Guitarist.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
BASIC INSTINCTS
The sophisticated range of Swedish-designed guitars made by .strandberg* has lured thousands of players over to the headless side. But the company's new stripped-back Boden Essential model is its strongest play yet for the hearts and minds of mainstream players
Second String
As PRS's more affordable USA-made S2 line moves into its second decade, the series gets a revamp with - at last - USA-made pickups and electronics. What took so long?
PABLO VAN DE POEL
When a band from The Netherlands describes themselves as 'raw, psychedelic Southern rock', it may take a little cognitive processing to work out what that might mean. One listen to DeWolff, however, and you will be duly transported to the 60s for some fuzzed-out rock 'n' roll
THE BERNIE MARSDEN COLLECTION
With a fabulous collection of the late Bernie Marsden's guitars, amps and other highly collectable music gear going under the auctioneer's hammer on 11 June, we were thrilled to have the chance of a sneak preview
LENNY KRAVITZ
Some 35 years since the release of his debut LP, for his 12th record, Blue Electric Light, Lenny Kravitz is back again with equal doses of vigour and vibes, using vintage guitars and the purest valve amps
GEORGE VJESTICA
You may not know him at first glance, but the work of Stoke-on-Trent native George Vjestica has probably impacted some of your favourite albums and movies
DICKEY BETTS
Emerging from the shadow of Duane to write signature hit Ramblin' Man, the Allman Brothers guitarist was a hard-living pioneer of Southern rock
NICK GUPPY
It is with great sadness that we report the passing of our highly valued amplifier guru, who died suddenly in April
Lucky Break
Alex Bishop blends old wood with new in an attempt to fix a severely damaged guitar headstock
Tones Behind The Tracks
Cedric Burnside learnt at the knee of his fabled grandfather, but his latest album is a hill country blues masterclass on his own terms