Construction: Both Yamaha Revstar Standard variants have the same main construction features. Unfortunately, the high end Pacifica never really took off. The out of phase sounds also work with the Focus switch, allowing you to dial up some really interesting tones. While each new 2022 Revstar model features a chambered body, the latest editions are available in new racing-inspired finishes, with new switching options, as well as in left-hand models. This is one fight the Katana cant win! To my good fortune, the fine folks at The Arts Music Store were able to arrange a short term evaluation of a Standard model and I chose to go with the build that has two P90 pickups. They both share the new Focus switch, and have a 5 way pickup selectorbut they work totally different depending on the pickups. The Revstar Standard that I was able to try out had a hang tag of $999.99 CAD. Additional appointments to the Revstar Standard RSS02T include a gloss body finish, satin neck finish and rosewood fingerboard with 22 stainless steel frets. I think the Yamaha Revstar Standard could be a great replacement for the expensive axe that you probably play at bar gigs. Microsoft Surface for Music Production: Surface Book 3 or Surface Go 2? I knew long before plugging it in, that it was going to be a sonorous experience and it certainly is. The next step up is the Custom models that are made in Japan, and quite pricey. These two Standard models have a ton of features and specs that professional guitarists are going to love. The Focus switch acts like a passive EQ adjuster, no battery needed. These pickups will cut in just about any kind of mix, since they push the mids so hard. You can really attain some sounds that you would usually buy a pedal to get. Comes with a gig bag. These in between positions give you an almost cocked wah-wah sound. You can get the classic single coil tones from the neck position, but you can also get Les Paul Jr-style sounds from the bridge. The body finishes are inspired by cafe racers and given Yamahas long involvement in motorcycles I understand the crossover. The Maple top also adds a different dimension when it comes to resonance. This is a two channel amp with no reverb and selectable output level for 15 or 30 watts. But the Revstar DNA is the same in both of the Standard Series models. Yamaha is trying really hard to break the reputation it has for being a beginner brand. Maybe then, we will see more Yamaha models later this year that will appeal to all kinds of players, with more features and options for the Revstar range. Try it yourself, you may think its a great thing. I was disappointed with the lack of coil split, until I played with the 5 way a little more. A good P90 is the best of all worlds in my opinion, and the range of tones from the five way switch gives you lots of options. Now I know why these humbuckers are so punchy to begin with. In fact, I even included it on our list of the best beginner guitars, because I used a Pacifica for years as my backup guitar. Some people dont care for stainless steel frets, I like them a lot. I also used that Pacifica to record a few times, when my Les Paul just didnt have the tones I needed. While the Revstar Element Series seemed really nice for the price, the Standard is supposedly the Pro Model, a workhorse guitar for the gigging musician that needs a little more than what the Element can offer. But waitit gets crazier! You have a Gibson style 24.75 scale length with all of the Yamaha Revstar models, and a 14 fretboard radius. The Pacifica 612VII was a huge leap in quality for the regular Pacifica, and I was very surprised that these guitars were under $1000. The Focus switch is the perfect booster for leads, or for a totally different tone without hitting a pedal or changing the amp settings. The neck still feels like a slightly fatter Stratocaster to me, but it is super comfortable. The dual P90 RSS02T is a totally different animal. Now, Yamaha has a whole new lineup of Revstar guitars for 2022, available in three tiers. Its like we have awoken a sleeping giant that always had the potential to be something greater. inspired by the style and performance of 1960s caf racer motorcyclesmarked the Japanese brands first new electric guitar series in more than a decade. It is just a few milliseconds off, and not even something you can hear. On the neck pickup, this gives you an automatic Slash/Santana creamy tone. This next sample is a simple chord riff sequence with the guitar turned up full, which pushed the VOX into a pleasant overdrive recorded into Studio One using an AKG condenser microphone run into an Apollo Solo interface. It also looks the part, with the sharp horns it will fit right in a rock/metal setting. The Alnico V pickups are just as bright in the Standard series as they were in the Element. In the top tier of the new 2022 lineup, Revstar Professional guitars receive Yamahas Initial Response Acceleration (I.R.A.) I did find that the Philips screw heads were of a too soft metal. I used the trusty BOSS Katana 100 since I am so familiar with it. Now this is not as nice as a MONO or anything, but this would be as good as a $50 Gator Brand bag at the very least. In fact the bridge pickup was mounted and thats about it. Good to see the old-school Industrial fans in the comments! The guitar is light, has incredible acoustic resonance and is readily playable. The large unique looking tailpiece and tune-o-matic style bridge are well finished and appear to be quality parts, not cheap stamped pieces. That is, until I started playing. The fingerboard is rosewood and the frets are jumbo stainless steel. I know we have all been burned by Indonesian made guitars at some point, but Yamaha really delivers with these models. I always like to use a tube amp, and a modeler for reviews and these are both amps that guitarists would use considering the Revstar guitars price range. All three regular positions sound great clean, crunchy, and even with high gain. Over the last two days, I have kind of fallen in love with both models! To my ears it is a low + mid passive boost with what also sounds like a high shelf filter. No pedals were used in the recording, this is guitar into amp. Now that Yamaha and Line 6 are the same company, I think we will continue to see some different marketing tactics and some extraordinary guitar designs. Its sound is driven by dual single-coil pickups, as well as a passive focus switch for further tone sculpting. The frets are in the medium category as far as the way they feel to me, and I couldnt find the actual fret size mentioned in the paperwork. There is a tap for the tuner on the volume pedal and all of my initial playing was the guitar dry through the amp. Without the chambering, you would have your usual Mahogany body/Mahogany neck guitar. Can you hear me Gibson and Fender? How do they stack up to the Element Series? Both share the same main features, while appealing to two totally different types of players, tone options, and feel. The new Yamaha Revstar Standard comes in two different variations, and today we take a look at both! There were two plugins used on the interface itself, a standard UA 610B preamp and a LA-2A Silver set to open the sound up a bit. really, this may just be the tip of the iceberg when it comes to what the Revstar series could become. Which is a shame, because I would gig with one of those guitars, or record with them with zero complaints. I know how to dial in tones really well on both amps, and they were available at our affiliate site where I test gear for reviews. I think Yamaha is really onto something with the new Revstar guitars. For classic style and timeless sound, strap on your helmet and speed over to CME today to test-drive any Yamaha Revstar guitar, and get ready to preorder one from the new lineup for 2022, today! If you play rock or anything with a lot of distortion, I think the dual humbucker model is going to be more your speed. The pickups also play a huge part in this, of course. I would love to have each in the studio as well! Position one is bridge, three is both, five is neck. Yamaha adds new Revstar models but do they stand out? Yamaha. The P90 pickups came with cream covers and sound like a P90 should, or at least they do now. I could have gotten a humbucker model but I am glad I got the version with the P90s. Its sound is driven by dual humbucking pickups, as well as a passive focus switch for further tone sculpting. If you already know the features, skip down to Testing! Sure, the Standards are prettier to look at, but the added features are more impressive than the look by far. But as a base design, the chambering certainly isnt a gimmick. This could even replace a clean boost pedal! Rolling the guitar volume up to ten produces that delicious VOX overdriven tone. It can make the guitar have a vowel-like quality to individual notes, and can even be a little honky. Immediately after that review, I knew I was going to take a look at the Yamaha Revstar Standard next, and I honestly couldnt think of how Yamaha could possibly improve on an instrument like the Element. Its heavy enough not to flop all over the place and light enough not to be fatiguing if you play standing for an extended period of time. Yamaha Revstar Standard RSS02T: I will be 100% honest with you here, I am not usually a fan of P90s and Im definitely not a fan of the Trapeze style bridge on this model. I use my whammy bar so much, that is has become a part of my style. The alternative is two humbuckers, but I had heard the brilliant Welsh guitarist Chris Buck playing a model with P90s and I really wanted to try that. What a piece of art! The factory supplies Elixir Nanoweb 10s as the shipping strings. All I knew in the play test is that nothing choked out and the neck was not so flat as to annoy my arthritis. Call (773) 525-7773 or Chat Today! I was not ready to be taken aback by such a cheap guitar. Thanks, Yamaha. The neck pickup through the Fender clean with a splash of reverb was absolutely gorgeous. Visit Our Showroom Today! Now available in Chicago Music Exchange Exclusive colorways, including Army Green (RA) and Coral (W), both Reverend Descent models feature Railhammer pickupsgiving players a passive bass roll-off knoband are outfitted with Reverends custom SIT 12-68 gauge string set, which features a plain third string for easy bending. We will go over the features and specs of both variants of the Yamaha Revstar Standard models, and talk about the differences between both. The action was far too high for me, and the pickups were much too close to the strings, producing those wolf tones that you read about. The only thing that is missing for me, is locking tuners. This is usually a hard question to answer when it comes to two models that are similar, but with the Yamaha Revstar Standard models, it has never been more clear which one belongs where. There were no dead frets or fret sprout, and the neck binding all looks great as well. Im going to try really hard not to gush too much, but the quality of both models is just insane. The neck is a flatter C shape and is neither too thin nor too chunky. But these are definitely a step up in sonic variety. Your email address will not be published. The pickup setup was the first disappointment in the guitar. You absolutely cannot bend this neck. I recently noted that Yamaha had refreshed their Revstar lineup into three series, Element, Standard and Professional. These are well crafted, and they offer features that I have honestly never seen on another guitar unless it was customized. More important to me is how resonant the guitar is. The Yamaha Revstar Standard comes in two different models, while the Element series only has one. This opens up a whole new world of tones, both clean and dirty. I took one that had not been inspected in store as yet because I prefer to learn what state guitars are in out of the box. I always say that one day, I will give up playing heavy stuff and start a blues trio. Is it worth the extra money, or is the Revstar Element a better buy? The RSS20 is a versatile guitar, and makes for an ideal gigging guitar. It has ample padding, a headstock rest, and plenty of pockets. With any article, there's only so much space available and in an article about Front 242, we obviously had to concentrate on 242. The Focus really tames these pickups, and makes them incredibly smooth, with a chime-like quality. This sounds really cool when you go into a solo, and with chordsI honestly have no way to describe it! I hate satin finishes on guitars. I feel a lot better playing something like the Revstar, instead of one of my more expensive guitars. It can be a little hard to describe how the 5 way works, as well as the new Focus switch, but I will do my best. Finally, a wood difference I can actually hear! I have not played the humbucker version as yet but expect it to be a good choice and a better alternative to the increasing price tag of the Sire L7 series. Join our mailing list for prime access to new gear, great giveaways, and the best deals! I suppose this means I need to try out more P90s, because these are amazing for clean/crunch tones. The Revstar Standard comes with a gig bag but I used a generic one so as not to mark up the one in the box. It would take a huge change in humidity to make this neck shift at all, and it will probably never warp. These are both the Standard Series but the models are so incredibly different, and can cover so much tonal territory. Aesthetically, I like the tailpiece. The Revstar was very clean, but really needed a setup. The guitar is still very balanced with no neck-dive issues. Image copyrights are held by their creators and used with permission, Technologist, photographer, videographer, general pest. Comes with a gig bag. It just smooths everything out, giving you 10 tonal options in total, just like the dual humbucker Yamaha Revstar Standardbut in a completely different way. The 5 way switch here is more like a traditional Strat. All written materials copyright Ross Chevalier. These had flame finishes, name brand hardware, and Seymour Duncan pickups. The build quality is excellent, and the sound from the P90s is awesome, certainly as good as any other P90s that I have in guitars and overall better than most. I usually dont buy into the tone wood stuff, but as far as chambering the body? The unique Hanko mark on the headstock means Revstar. If I owned this guitar, I would probably keep the Focus enabled all of the time. The nut material is not listed, but I am guessing this is graphite, and the nut was cut properly on both. If I were to become a Revstar player, I would want one of each model to gig with. Yamaha has proven that it can make a high quality guitar that is ready for the stage. Both have some very unique sounds to offer, and I cant imagine just having one, since I have played both now! I am not sure if the one that I got was an outlier, as Yamaha guitars are usually ready to go out of the box. But to be completely honest with you, this is something I could overlook with this guitar because it sounds so sweet. This thing is single coils on steroids, and the look/aesthetics would fit on just about any stage. Overall, when it comes to how these guitars are built, I would say that these are probably expensive guitars if I didnt know the price. Even with the maple cap, I would not call this type of build a bright guitar by any means. Its sound is driven by dual single-coil pickups, as well as a passive focus switch for further tone sculpting. Element and Standard models are built in Indonesia and Professional models are built in Japan. The reason I talked so much about the Pro Grade Pacifica models, is because that is exactly what I think the Yamaha Revstar Standard is trying to be. You would assume the 5 way switch is for coil tap positions, since this is a humbucker guitar. My amp for the test is my handwired VOX AC30. I would call it out of phase but really it sounds like something completely different. The neck has a 12 inch radius according to the docs. I dont particularly like the Trapeze bridge on these. Thats the best way that I can explain the sound of the 5 way switch mixed with the Focus. The neck has a smooth satin poly finish. When you play in a band, having a backup is a wise idea since you never know what may happen on stage. The bridge is hot enough to handle some serious distortion, while still remaining very clear. Boasting a roasted maple neck with a 26 -inch scale, Reverends Descent RA and Descent W baritone guitars are specially designed to deliver the booming lows of a korina-bodied baritone guitar, but short enough to play like a normal guitargiving guitarists the best of both worlds! The cream binding is also on point with both models, and the binding is one of the aesthetics that set this model apart from the Element Series. Become a CME VIP and get the latest news on gear, giveaways, and deals FIRST! The Revstar is definitely built for the stage and the studio. From first glance this looks just like the Element, and it is totally unassuming. This is why I recorded with my expensive guitars, and played shows with budget ones. This is usually done by turning down the tone knob, but this EQ switch does it for you! Id definitely take it over any of the entry level Gibsons that cost much more and whose build quality is sadly often questionable. I would totally gig either of these guitars, and other than the lack of locking tunersthey are ready for the road. I was surprised by the price, for sure. It feels like a Fender in some ways, but it also has the familiar feeling of a shorter scale Gibson guitar. We're taking the good vibrations of Squier's Classic Vibe series and amping things up with five fabulous models, outfitted in exclusive custom colorways that you can only get at the Chicago Music Exchange! More on the recording setup will follow. Comes with a gig bag. When you pull the Focus switch with the P90s, it shifts the EQ the same way by removing some of the top end and boosting the lower Mids. These are guitars that are made for the gigging guitarist in every way. Why skimp on locking tuners, Yamaha? We're only a click away. So, any instrument purchased from the Gift of Music Collection Foundation Collection at CME puts another instrument in the hands of the next generation of music makers! Basically what the 5 way switch is doing, is causing a delay between the two pickups with the in between positions. They are super clear, and the string separation under high gain is surprising. All of that work paid off, because these sound amazing both clean and distorted. Yet this is how Yamaha explained the 5 way switch to me, and I have never seen something like that on any guitar. There are 22 frets on the neck and the scale length is 24 3/4 inches. Always). Hey neighbours! They are built well, with a super stable neck that can survive touring. The neck is a three piece mahogany unit with two carbon reinforcing rods. The top is curved, so it took a little while to get the output balance good between the pickups as the guitar has one volume and one tone control. The Standard Series is the best of the imports, and its a steal at 800 bucks. They really arent made for that kind of style, so while the other model excels under high gainthis one is the opposite. It makes a difference, because these are bright sounding guitars. But this is a whole new level from the Element series. It was quite quick when I got the straight out of the box guitar, but a bit of wax polish and some light buffing and its glorious. Once recorded an Eddie Kramer Tape Delay preset was applied. I found myself turning down treble on both amps, which is something I almost never do. First launched in 2015, Yamahas Revstar lineinspired by the style and performance of 1960s caf racer motorcyclesmarked the Japanese brands first new electric guitar series in more than a decade. Now acoustic players would tell you differently, that Yamaha is not just a beginner brand. But the Standard Series also has a maple top, and I think this adds a little more to the resonance, especially strumming it acoustically. Really, the only thing that is different is the pickups and bridge configuration, but depending on what kind of music you play, one may be vastly better than the other for your style. This is exactly the guitar I would pick for that project! The Focus switch works completely different on this model as well. A tone machine! I was always afraid of someone spilling beer on my expensive guitar, or it getting stolen on tour. Yamaha tried to break into the mainstream with the Pacifica Series, by making more high end versions of the model. Both models that I played weighed in at about 8.5lbs. Additional appointments to the Revstar Standard RSS20 include a gloss body finish, satin neck finish and rosewood fingerboard with 22 stainless steel frets. Something else that is missing for me is a trem system. Add the focus with some of the in between switching positions, and you can just about nail the tone from Bohemian Rhapsody. Technically, you have 10 different tones to choose from with the Yamaha Revstar Standard RSS20. Other than that one gripe, these guitars are pretty much flawless in build quality. Now, for the first time since the Revstar series was initially debuted, the 2022 Revstar lines Element and Standard tiers are available in left-handed versions, in both black and Swift Blue finishes. The straps allow you to carry it with a handle, or wear it like a backpack. But it has a Focus switch that acts as a passive boost that not only brings up your volume, but also adds bass and midrange to your sound. These may be able to survive a nuke blast, but how do these guitars sound? This neck is stable as hell, so once you set it you can forget it. These P90s have a lot of midrange, and they get close to mimicking a Telecaster. So lets get started! The stainless steel frets make a huge difference, and the fretwork was perfect on both guitars. The EQ Focus is perfect for solos, since it does boost the signal a bit while it dials out some top end. Sticking with the honesty, I ditched the Katana for this part of the review because these P90s were made for a tube amp like the Fender Blues Jr. You can look over guitar forums and see just how many times the Yamaha Pacifica will come up as the answer to getting a good beginner guitar. With most guitars that have no trem option, I will often do the bend the neck trick to get the same bendy effect. For a better experience on Gearnews, we recommend JavaScript to be enabled. The body has a high gloss polyurethane finish (Yay! Here you can get a lot of those classic sounds, but they are brighter and more full because the pickups are so punchy. The middle position has that dual single coil acoustic quality that I love from Telecasters. I was not prepared to completely fall in love with these pickups, but I absolutely have! The dual carbon fiber rods that stabilize the neck was something I honestly didnt put a lot of thought into. The finish on both is flawless and amazing, without any smears or streaks. Under high gain, these are just too noisy and brittle.