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Yamaha Revstar RSS20 Sunset Burst

4.9 out of 5 stars from 18 customer ratings ()

Electric Guitar

  • Standard series
  • Chambered mahogany body
  • Maple top
  • Glued-in 3-piece mahogany neck with carbon reinforcement
  • Rosewood fretboard
  • White lines fretboard inlays
  • Scale length: 629 mm (24.76")
  • Fretboard radius: 305 mm (12")
  • Nut width: 41.9 mm (1.65")
  • PPS nut
  • 22 Jumbo stainless steel frets
  • Pickups: VH5b AlNiCo 5 (bridge) and VH5n AlNiCo 5 (neck) humbuckers
  • Master volume control
  • Master tone control with push/pull function for focus
  • 5-Way switch
  • 3-Ply black pickguard
  • Tune-O-Matic bridge with stopbar tailpiece
  • DieCast machine heads
  • Chrome hardware
  • Ex-factory stringing: Elixir Nanoweb Light 010 - .046 - article no. 152175
  • Colour: Sunset Burst
  • Incl. a gig bag
  • Available since March 2022
  • Item number 539446
  • Sales Unit 1 piece(s)
  • Colour Sunburst
  • Body Mahogany
  • Top Maple
  • Neck Mahogany
  • Fretboard Rosewood
  • Frets 22
  • Scale 629 mm
  • Pickup System HH
  • Tremolo No
  • Including Case No
  • Incl. Gigbag Yes
758
All prices incl. VAT
In stock
1

Speaks a language all its own

Yamaha Revstar RSS20 Sunset Burst

The Revstar RSS20 Sunset Burst from Yamaha brings together a host of modern specifications with a distinctive old-school charm. At its core are two vintage-voiced humbuckers that cover everything from warm cleans through to modern Rock tones, and the five‑way pickup switch also offers out-of-phase sounds in addition to the usual range of pickup configurations. Pulling out the tone control pot activates what Yamaha calls the focus switch, a passive mid and bass boost. The defining idea here is flexibility – and in practice, the Revstar does prove exceptionally adaptable, a true everyday workhorse for musicians. The build is equally noteworthy: The mahogany body features moderate chambering in the sides, which makes the guitar lighter while also giving it a remarkably resonant, clear tonal response. The Revstar delivers a very boutique vibe at an extremely appealing price point.

Maple top on the Yamaha Revstar RSS20 Sunset Burst

A classic reimagined

The look of the Yamaha Revstar is unmistakable. It feels like a timeless classic from guitar history – just seen through a 21st-century lens. The choice of woods certainly follows a tried-and-tested formula: The mahogany body and neck, for a mid-focused sound profile, are paired with a maple top that adds a pleasing high-end presence. The rosewood fingerboard, featuring white-line inlays and 22 jumbo stainless steel frets, has a 12" radius that combines with the C-shaped neck profile to deliver a very comfortable playing experience. The neck is reinforced with carbon strips, which enhances stability and makes the Revstar less susceptible to changing conditions. This construction not only improves durability, but also adds to the instrument's resonance and sustain. In that sense, Yamaha has taken classic guitar specifications and carried them confidently into a new era.

Rear view of the Yamaha Revstar RSS20 Sunset Burst

Layered in the mix

The Revstar's two humbuckers have a moderate output, which gives them a great deal of versatility. From clean tones right through to heavy riffs, there's a broad palette on offer here. The bridge pickup delivers more output than the neck pickup – a classic configuration that provides a strong, cutting lead sound. Even when heading into heavier territory, the humbuckers remain highly functional, although using a suitable boost helps drive the amp with the necessary push. Thanks to their vintage-leaning tonal character, the pickups offer clear string separation and a well-defined attack. All in all, the Yamaha Revstar RSS20 Sunset Burst is a flexible instrument that will comfortably cover everything from Rock and Blues to old-school Metal.

Headstock on the Yamaha Revstar RSS20 Sunset Burst

About Yamaha

For decades, Yamaha has been one of the world's best-known manufacturers of musical instruments and audio technology. The Japanese company's long history began at the end of the 19th century with the harmonium. The product range has constantly expanded since then, which has made Yamaha one of the few manufacturers today to offer almost the entire range of existing musical instruments: From upright and grand pianos to guitars, wind instruments, and bowed string instruments and from drums and percussion to electronic keyboards and synthesizers. Yamaha is also a major force in the field of audio engineering as a manufacturer of mixing consoles, amplifiers, PA systems, and more. Yamaha's guiding principle is to combine traditional craftsmanship with state-of-the-art technology.

A very flexible sound

The Yamaha Revstar RSS20 has a complement of modern specifications that make it highly versatile in practice. In particular, the neatly designed circuitry that governs the two humbuckers makes the guitar a powerful all-rounder across a wide range of settings. Thanks to the treble-bleed circuits, the pickups remain clear and don't lose any high-end even when the volume control is rolled back, so moving from a dirty tone to a clean sound can happen in an instant. In combination with the focus switch and the really interesting out-of-phase configurations – which combine both humbuckers, but minimally delay the output of either the one or the other pickup – it's entirely possible to play an entire show with just the Revstar and a good amplifier (though a tuner's never a bad idea!) Of course, it will also perform convincingly in more complex setups, and as such the Yamaha Revstar RSS20 should appeal equally to ambitious players and professional guitarists. For safe transport, a high-quality Yamaha gig bag is also included as standard.

Yamaha gigbag

18 Customer ratings

4.9 / 5

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15 Reviews

S
A Beautiful and versatile instrument
Sævar 08.01.2023
I was expecting this to be a fantastic guitar because I already have the first generation 502T Revstar with the P90's, which is an awesome guitar.
And to be honest I prefer the 90's, but there are times when you need a humbucker equipped guitar (and also a Strat and a Tele) and I had sold my Les Paul. So when Yamaha decided to update the Revstar series I thought why not, and I really wanted one of these sunrise burst beauties.
And I was not disappointed with the looks of this guitar when it arrived. The guitar I received is a thing of beauty. The product pictures really don't do it justice. I would attach a photo off my guitar to this review if it were possible to show you what I mean. The colours of the burst are richer and deeper than they appear to be in the pictures. Having such a beautiful instrument makes you want to play it more, at least that's my experience.
I also like the updated electronics, the InBetween positions are really useful, and the pickups in this thing sound really good. I would say they are sort of medium output, and very expressive and well rounded. I thought I might swap them out for a pair of SeymoreDuncans but now that I've had the guitar for a week and I have played it for hours every day, I see no reason for that.
This guitar is a slightly bigger than the first generation of Revstars, but feels a bit lighter, this may be because it is chambered but it not a huge difference and is not particularly heavy, but it's no feather-wheight. The main thing is that it's perfectly balanced and comfortable standing or sitting, no neck dive. In these reviews people often say that a guitar is good considering the price, but I'm not going to say that here because this is a fantastic guitar, full stop.

pros:
Fit and finish: Flawless, and drop dead gorgeous paint sunrise burst.
Fretwork. Very good. No high frets or buzz or anything like that (even though it came set up with very low action). The guitar I received would probably rate 4 out of five on the “Know your Gear” nylon sock test.
Playability: out of the box this guitar played extremely well. The action was a bit too low for my liking, since I'm a bit heavy handed, but I haven't felt the need to raise it yet.
Electronics: Quality components. I really like these pickups and the five-way switch open the possibility of some very useful in between sounds. The booster function is also very cool. When you are about to solo, flip it on and it will kick the front end of your up a little bit harder and lift your tone a notch.
Design: This guitar is unique and different, and not the clone of some big brand design from the 50s or 60s.

Cons:
Tuners: this is maybe not that real con, I guess the tuners are fine for a guitar this price, but I would have preferred the locking tuners. In fact I don't understand why they don't ship them was locking tuners, it's just much more convenient for string changes and also helps with tuning stability. I also have to say that the tuners on my 502T feel a bit more premium somehow. This is the only thing I will be changing on this guitar, and it's a shame because I really like white machine heads on the original tuners.
Intonation: intonation on the D string and three high E was slightly off. It took me five minutes and one screwdriver and a tuner to fix that. Not really a problem for someone who knows how to do that and I guess that some setup work is to be expected when this is shipped overseas, or at least that has been my experience.

Based on this experience I can highly recommend this guitar, But if you don't have a P90 guitar and want to try something a bit different, get the P90 version of the Revstar.

[update]
I have now had this guitar for six months and changed out the tuners for locking tuners. IMO the tuners were not horrible but when you have a guitar that is this good this is an easy mod. It improved tuning stability.
I have not had any issues that were not to be expected. I have had to adjust the truss rod a couple of times as it has gotten used to its new climate, time will tell if the carbon reinforcements in the neck make any difference (I am sceptical to be honest) but other than that, nothing.
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T
Astonishing Value
TrevorM 12.05.2022
These guitars are amazing value for money. If you do your research and know what you’re getting you’ll be pleased. This is not an Ibanez super thin/quick neck but is very playable and feels similar to a my 2004 Gibson Les Paul classic. Fret work is incredible … and you’re getting stainless steel. You’ll cover beautiful cleans to heavy rock very comfortably on this, it’s well balanced and not too heavy. All in all amazing guitar and at a price that’s incredible value for money in my opinion.
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KD
Kameni Džon 14.11.2023
great guitar, very good craftsmanship. the finish looks way better in person, and the guitar plays and sounds very good, in this price range the best you can get
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F
What a great instrument.
FuLeng 26.09.2023
The delivery was spot on, great job Thomann!

This guitar came perfect out of the box and since it arrived, I can't keep my hands off of it :D

I mostly play my acoustic Yamaha A3M, and i must say the switching has been much easier than on my Fender Player Start.

Warmly recommend this guitar, and oh yeah, the push pull pot works amaaaaaazing on lead lines.

Cheers!
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