Launched with much fanfare in 2015/16 the Yamaha blurb was full of things like this.
Inspired by the stylish lines and effortless performance of the Café Racer bikes that colored the streets of 1960s London,
the Revstar Professional wholeheartedly embraces the concept of being a stripped down, tuned up high performance package of sublime
guitar craftsmanship. Hand-selected premium parts and materials combined with an ingenuity and know-how that reflects Japan’s detail-oriented
engineering ethic, ensure that this guitar is true to the ethos of the Café Racer—function, character, and style to burn.
What is for sure is that this was the first completely new Yamaha Electric Guitar range for many years. There were many models and
variations with some additions and changes until the relaunch in 2022.
8 models appeared as new in the 2016 catalogue.
All models had the same basic body and neck shape reminiscent of some early SGs or SFs and had the following common specs
Set in neck with Gloss Polyurethane finish
24.75" scale
Nut 43mms Urea
Fretboard Rosewood 13.75" radius
22 Frets
Headstocks quite plain with Tuning fork logo on the front and Model, Country of origin and serial number on the back.
Here's the rest
| Model | RS320 | RS420 | RS502 | RS502T | RS620 | RS720B | RS820CR | RSP20CR |
| Body | Nato Gloss Finish | Maple/Nato Gloss Finish | Maple/Mahogany Matt Steel Wool Finish | Maple Mahogany Gloss Finish | Flamed Maple Mahogany Matt Steel Wool Finish | Flamed Maple Mahogany Matt Steel Wool Finish | Maple/Mahogany Matt Steel Wool Finish | Maple Mahogany Matt Steel Wool Finish |
| Neck | Nato | Nato | Mahogany | Mahogany | Mahogany | Mahogany | Mahogany | Mahogany |
| Tuners | Diecast | Diecast | Diecast | Diecast | Diecast | Locking Diecast | Diecast | Diecast |
| Pickups | HH3 Ceramic | VH3 Alnico | VP5+ Alnico P90 | VP5+ Alnico P90 | VH5 Alnico V HBs | VT5 Alnico V HBs | VH5 Alnico V HBs | VH7 Alnico HBs |
| Controls | 1V 1T 3way | 1V 1T push-pull dry switch* 3 way | 1V 1T push-pull dry switch 3 way | 1V 1T push-pull dry switch 3 way | 1V 1T push-pull dry switch 3 way | 1V 1T push-pull dry switch 3 way | 1V 1T push-pull dry switch 3 way | 1V 1T push-pull dry switch 3 way |
| Bridge Tailpiece | Tune-O-Matic Stopbar | Tune-O-Matic Stopbar | Adjustable Wraparound | Tune-O-Matc Aluminium Tailpiece | Adjustable Wraparound | Tune-O-Matic Bigsby | Satin Nickel Tone Pros AVT-II | Satin Nickel Tone Pros AVT II |
| Pickguard | 1 ply black | 3 ply black | 3 ply black | 3 ply cream | 3 ply black | 3 ply black | Aluminium | Copper |
| Fret Size | Medium | Medium | Jumbo | Jumbo | Jumbo | Jumbo | Jumbo | Jumbo |
| Colours at Launch | Black Steel, Red Copper or Stock Yellow | Black Steel, Fired Red or Factory Blue | Shop Black or Billet Green | Bowden Green | Brick Burst or Burnt Charcoal | Ash Gray or Wall Fade | Rusty Rat or Steel Rust | Brushed Black or Steel Rust |
| New Colours 2018 | Vintage White and Ice Blue | Maya Gold | Black | Snake Eye Green | Vintage Japanese Denim and Shop Black |
All are made in Indonesia except the RSP20CR which is made in Japan and has Yamaha AIR System
Some useful info on the bridge on the 820CR and the P20CR from Yamaha forum member P90_luv from Tonepros
They replied it's their Gibson/Epiphone AVT2 model with metric studs. The satin/nickel finish is not available
for the Gibson bridge or studs which are exclusive to Yamaha. They offered a PRS AVT2 satin bridge where they would substitute
the needed metric (non-satin) studs for the Gibson (American thread), satin studs. That sounded pretty good. I asked what the
difference is with the Paul Reed bridge. Seems fitment is different the PRS has a longer scale and the "home" mounting position
is further away from the neck. The Gibson version is shorter where the PRS bridge may not slide up far enough for proper intonation?
Basically, they may work. So its an AVT2 Gibson/Epiphone model to be safest and will absolutely fit.
And on the nut from Saul on the forum
As a few people have now asked about replacing that pretty awful Urea nut that is fitted to the revstar range of guitars
I thought it would be useful to post this info.
The only model of revstar that comes with a good quality TUSQ nut is the top of the range RSP20CR and as all the revstar range
share the same nut dimensions it would make sense to order the part for the RSP20CR and fit it to whatever model guitar you own.
So these are the details you need: TUSQ XL BT-6041-00 43mm(Bl)Part Number: WU137900
The Yamaha Musicians Forum has lots of threads on Revstar Mods upgrades etc. See my links to access or better still
join and ask your questions. Lots of knowledge there.
*The dry switch here is some blurb
Designed especially for Revstar, Yamaha's proprietary Dry Switch gives you the versatility of a coil-split, but with a tone that's
miles ahead. Using a passive filter circuit painstakingly designed to give the perfect frequency response, the Dry Switch filters out low
frequencies to give the punch and clarity of a single-coil pickup minus the inevitable hum and hollow tone often associated with split
humbucking pickups. And because it's a filter circuit, the Dry Switch works on both humbuckers and P-90s for a totally unique, usable tone.
Engaging the switch lowers the Bass frequencies by about 4Dbs.
Various other models were introduced mainly at the 2019 NAMM
RS720BX
This is a variation of the 720B differing only in having a non flamed Maple and Mahogany gloss finish body.
Guitar available in Vintage White
RS702B
Identical to the 720BX except for the pickups which are VP5n: P-90 Type Single-Coil/Alnico Vs a 3 ply cream pickguard
and the colour which is Black
RS502TFMX and RS520TFM
All as 502T except
| 502T | 502TFM | 502TFMX | |
| Body | Maple Mahogany | Flame Maple Laminated/Maple/Mahogany | Flame Maple Laminated/Maple/Mahogany |
| Finish | Gloss Polyurethane | Hand-Brushed Satin (Steel Wool) Finish/Polyurethane | Hand-Brushed Satin (Steel Wool) Finish/Polyurethane |
| Pickguard | 3 ply cream | 3 ply cream | 3 ply black |
| Colours | as above | Vintage Japanese Denim | Ash Gray |
