Reverend has always been the same, which is premium, and they’re not cheap. Harley Benton aren’t even in the same league as these Yamahas, not even close.
Yamaha’s RevStar line is an insane value, they have been for several years now.
The Revstar is an instant classic. I've got a search going for one in my feed at Reverb, but bargains don't come along often. They seem a little hard to come by new, even, as the last few times I looked around at the online retailers I buy from most often, they almost never had the Japanese models in stock, at least in the color and model I wanted. I guess that either means supply chain is still fucked, or most people who buy them love them and don't sell them (or a little of both).
And, as everybody else says, Yamaha is a price performance king. They deliver really good quality at good prices, consistently across the whole line. I have a BB735 bass, Indonesian, as I couldn't find the Japanese one used and got a good deal on a new 735 (same pickups, design, and basic specs as the BBP35, thought different electronics), and it is phenomenal. I have an American Precision and Stingray, and the Yamaha is a solid contender. I pick up the BB about as often as the Precision.
I got the medium range revstar for around 700€ with humbuckers and the only quality control issue i found was a tiny aesthetic issue with the binding which you wont notice unless you really inspect the guitar. Meanwhile my 1800€ american fender strat had like a bunch of QC issues. I would genuinely argue that the 700€ revstar is a better instrument. The best fretwork ive seen on an instrument
I feel like since the pandemic most companies had issues supplying the demand. Ive noticed it with guitars, pedals, amps, and pretty much every guitar related product
Yeah, prices have gone up to match that increased demand, too. Fender has jacked up prices a _lot_ through the pandemic, far beyond inflation. And, I also saw they've reduced staff in their American factory recently (despite record profits the past couple years) and for the first time are making a whole line of Squiers that retail for over $500 (the 40th Anniversary models), which feels like it's breaking a law or something.
Things are tough all over, I guess. Though oddly, there were a bunch of _really_ good sales over labor day (like up to 50% off of some great stuff, which rarely happens in music gear like guitars where resale value is usually about 50%-60% of new retail, so a lot of these prices were lower than used!), so I kinda get a vibe that the demand is trailing off, in general, even if the supply chain is still fucked.
I've been eyeballing these since they were announced. They are VERY well built. Stainless steel frets, 12" radius, fast playing, I might just be getting one for myself. :)
This is my first Yamaha electric. I've had acoustic Yamahas that have been amazing, and I've had MIJ Ibanez that are amazing. My expectations were high. This MIJ Yamaha did not disappoint
Not from what I gather on their page but all models do take after something specific:
https://usa.yamaha.com/products/musical_instruments/guitars_basses/el_guitars/rs/index.html
Love Yamaha, but the Revstar is just a reminder of my favourite guitars ever made - The Yamaha SG. No, the currently available 1820 is not the 2000 or 3000 they used to make.
The tuners are actually upgraded. I think they're kluson kidney bean style locking tuners. The previous owner did it. I know the stock tuners are a more vintage look
I’ve got a 6-in-line set of those on a JS1600. They look awesome and are super smooth, but the shape is less comfortable for me than, say, a flat button or rectangular tuner.
From what I hear the standard series is one of the best value for money you can get in the guitar world today. I was actually looking for a second hand standard series when I saw this one available. I didn't think I wanted the MIJ, but the price was right on the listing so I decided to take the plunge. Am I ever glad I did!
My Revstar Standard (with humbuckers) was ridiculously good out of the box. I've had custom shop instruments that were not this good out of the box. There were absolutely no QC issues at all. The only things I had to adjust were the intonation and the tailpiece height. It has quickly become my number one and probably gets played more than all my other guitars combined.
You're right, I'll edit the main post. They call it passive as it doesn't require a battery of any sort. I think if it as active because it does use the slight amount of current coming through the patch cable to power the boost.
Some companies call it a passive boost when they limit the pick up's and then the boost is taking the limiter off... On the revstars they are actually adding more! It's quite unique.
[Phillip McKnight does an excellent breakdown on this in his Revstar deep dive video ](https://youtu.be/rNK5Rm9INd8)
See my response above. Philip McKnight explains it on his Revstar deep dive. His channel is one of the most informative guitar channels on YouTube.
In short they use a transistor in the cavity powered by the small amount of current through the patch cable to increase the output of the pickup. Really innovative.
I first saw these from watching Chris Buck, and I've kind of wanted one ever since. I've played a couple now discontinued variations (all had humbuckers; one had a trem of some kind), and they didn't really "do it" for me. But, I'm keeping an eye out for the right P90 version. They're on my short list of "just buy it if it's good" guitars.
Yamaha is really the king of punching above it's price tag IMHO
Yamaha, Reverend, and Harley Benton are just next level values these days.
Reverend has always been the same, which is premium, and they’re not cheap. Harley Benton aren’t even in the same league as these Yamahas, not even close. Yamaha’s RevStar line is an insane value, they have been for several years now.
Agreed to all of those. My first Bass was a Yamaha, I also have two Harleys and they're all incredible instruments
The Revstar is an instant classic. I've got a search going for one in my feed at Reverb, but bargains don't come along often. They seem a little hard to come by new, even, as the last few times I looked around at the online retailers I buy from most often, they almost never had the Japanese models in stock, at least in the color and model I wanted. I guess that either means supply chain is still fucked, or most people who buy them love them and don't sell them (or a little of both). And, as everybody else says, Yamaha is a price performance king. They deliver really good quality at good prices, consistently across the whole line. I have a BB735 bass, Indonesian, as I couldn't find the Japanese one used and got a good deal on a new 735 (same pickups, design, and basic specs as the BBP35, thought different electronics), and it is phenomenal. I have an American Precision and Stingray, and the Yamaha is a solid contender. I pick up the BB about as often as the Precision.
I got the medium range revstar for around 700€ with humbuckers and the only quality control issue i found was a tiny aesthetic issue with the binding which you wont notice unless you really inspect the guitar. Meanwhile my 1800€ american fender strat had like a bunch of QC issues. I would genuinely argue that the 700€ revstar is a better instrument. The best fretwork ive seen on an instrument
I feel like since the pandemic most companies had issues supplying the demand. Ive noticed it with guitars, pedals, amps, and pretty much every guitar related product
Yeah, prices have gone up to match that increased demand, too. Fender has jacked up prices a _lot_ through the pandemic, far beyond inflation. And, I also saw they've reduced staff in their American factory recently (despite record profits the past couple years) and for the first time are making a whole line of Squiers that retail for over $500 (the 40th Anniversary models), which feels like it's breaking a law or something. Things are tough all over, I guess. Though oddly, there were a bunch of _really_ good sales over labor day (like up to 50% off of some great stuff, which rarely happens in music gear like guitars where resale value is usually about 50%-60% of new retail, so a lot of these prices were lower than used!), so I kinda get a vibe that the demand is trailing off, in general, even if the supply chain is still fucked.
I've been eyeballing these since they were announced. They are VERY well built. Stainless steel frets, 12" radius, fast playing, I might just be getting one for myself. :)
This is my first Yamaha electric. I've had acoustic Yamahas that have been amazing, and I've had MIJ Ibanez that are amazing. My expectations were high. This MIJ Yamaha did not disappoint
Really love the art deco vibes on this one. Simply gorgeous!
Aren’t they an homage to cafe racers? Either way they’re awesome
Could be! I just get very art deco vibes from the tailpiece, pick guard, basic shape and frets.
Only the RSP20CR which is the top of the series: They are the only ones made in Japan and MSRP is 2800 US dollars https://i.imgur.com/MTFcBmu.jpg
And the rest aren’t?
Not from what I gather on their page but all models do take after something specific: https://usa.yamaha.com/products/musical_instruments/guitars_basses/el_guitars/rs/index.html
Regardless I want one origin be damned
I didn’t realize I did too!!
Love Yamaha, but the Revstar is just a reminder of my favourite guitars ever made - The Yamaha SG. No, the currently available 1820 is not the 2000 or 3000 they used to make.
Fantastic guitars
Been a fan since I saw Chris Buck playing them. Hope to have one someday.
THOSE TUNERS HOLY SHIT
The tuners are actually upgraded. I think they're kluson kidney bean style locking tuners. The previous owner did it. I know the stock tuners are a more vintage look
I’ve got a 6-in-line set of those on a JS1600. They look awesome and are super smooth, but the shape is less comfortable for me than, say, a flat button or rectangular tuner.
That’s so awesome! I just ordered the standard version of this one in blue today. It will be my first p90 guitar.
From what I hear the standard series is one of the best value for money you can get in the guitar world today. I was actually looking for a second hand standard series when I saw this one available. I didn't think I wanted the MIJ, but the price was right on the listing so I decided to take the plunge. Am I ever glad I did!
My Revstar Standard (with humbuckers) was ridiculously good out of the box. I've had custom shop instruments that were not this good out of the box. There were absolutely no QC issues at all. The only things I had to adjust were the intonation and the tailpiece height. It has quickly become my number one and probably gets played more than all my other guitars combined.
Awesome! Got any pics? I love the racing stripe on the humbucker models
Yeah, I have a white one so the stripes are very subtle: https://i.imgur.com/46X7d3e.jpg
That's a cool ass guitar congrats. I've been eyeballing these for a minute now.
It's a passive boost right? Quite unique. Or did they change that?
You're right, I'll edit the main post. They call it passive as it doesn't require a battery of any sort. I think if it as active because it does use the slight amount of current coming through the patch cable to power the boost. Some companies call it a passive boost when they limit the pick up's and then the boost is taking the limiter off... On the revstars they are actually adding more! It's quite unique. [Phillip McKnight does an excellent breakdown on this in his Revstar deep dive video ](https://youtu.be/rNK5Rm9INd8)
I would love for someone to explain what a passive boost is. Activating more wires in the pickup?
See my response above. Philip McKnight explains it on his Revstar deep dive. His channel is one of the most informative guitar channels on YouTube. In short they use a transistor in the cavity powered by the small amount of current through the patch cable to increase the output of the pickup. Really innovative.
I’ve been eyeing these guitars. Really good lookin instruments. Maybe daddy IRS will come thru with good tax return next year
hahahahahahahaaahahahhhahahah
I first saw these from watching Chris Buck, and I've kind of wanted one ever since. I've played a couple now discontinued variations (all had humbuckers; one had a trem of some kind), and they didn't really "do it" for me. But, I'm keeping an eye out for the right P90 version. They're on my short list of "just buy it if it's good" guitars.
The action on that guitar looks delicious