Yamaha Revstar Series

About the Yamaha Revstar Series

The Yamaha Revstar Series brings together distinctive styling, carefully developed construction and versatile electric guitar tones. Inspired by café racer motorcycles and Yamaha's engineering heritage, Revstar guitars combine individual finishes with practical design features for musicians who want an instrument with its own character. The range is divided into three main tiers: Revstar Element, Revstar Standard and Revstar Professional. Each offers a different combination of construction, hardware and tonal features, making it easier to find a guitar suited to your playing style and budget.

From punchy rock rhythms and blues leads to clean chord work and expressive alternative tones, Yamaha Revstar guitars are designed to handle a broad range of musical styles. Chambered bodies, custom-wound pickups and distinctive switching options help give the series its own sound and feel.

What Makes the Yamaha Revstar Series Different?

Chambered bodies designed for tone and balance

Every guitar in the current Revstar range features a chambered body developed using Yamaha's Acoustic Design process. Yamaha uses measurement, analysis and modelling to refine the body's internal construction, with the aim of shaping resonance and tone while reducing weight and improving balance. The chambered design contributes to the character of the instrument while helping make it comfortable for longer playing sessions. Body construction differs between the Element, Standard and Professional tiers, so comparing the individual specifications is worthwhile when choosing a model.

Humbuckers and P90-style pickups

Revstar Professional and Standard guitars are available with different pickup configurations, including humbuckers and P90-style single-coils. Humbuckers are a strong option for fuller sounds and driven tones, while P90-style pickups offer a more open, cutting character that works well for blues, indie, rock and many other genres. The choice affects more than output alone. Pickup response, amplifier settings and playing technique all influence the final sound, so consider the tones you use most when comparing models. Revstar Element models use dual Alnico V humbuckers, offering a straightforward setup for players who want a versatile electric guitar without the additional switching options found on higher-tier models.

Focus Switch and Dry Switch tonal options

One of the distinctive features of the Revstar range is its approach to tonal flexibility.

Revstar Professional and Standard models feature a Focus Switch, which provides a passive boost designed to create a more powerful, overwound-pickup-style response. It can add extra presence and drive when pushing an amplifier or help change the character of a clean sound. Revstar Element guitars instead feature a Dry Switch, a high-pass filter that reduces low frequencies for a brighter, more focused tone. It offers another way to adjust your sound without adding a separate pedal to your setup.

Five-way switching on Standard and Professional

Revstar Standard and Professional guitars feature a five-position pickup selector despite having two pickups. This switching circuit offers additional tonal combinations, including phase-shifted sounds in positions two and four. These settings provide alternatives to the usual bridge, neck and combined-pickup sounds, making it easier to explore different textures from one guitar. Element models use a three-way selector, keeping their controls simpler and more direct.

Distinctive café racer-inspired styling

The Revstar design draws inspiration from café racer motorcycles, with sculpted body shapes, distinctive finishes and carefully considered hardware. The styling feels modern without losing the familiar proportions of a traditional electric guitar. Yamaha's attention to detail extends across the range, from the body contours to the neck finish and pickup design. Professional models carry a Japanese-made identity, while Standard and Element offer their own balance of features and value.

Understanding the Yamaha Revstar Range

Yamaha Revstar Element

The Revstar Element is the entry point to the range. Models such as the RSE20 feature a chambered mahogany body, mahogany neck, dual Alnico V humbuckers and a push/pull Dry Switch filter. Its straightforward controls and bold finish options make it a practical choice for everyday playing, rehearsals and gigs. Left-handed versions are also available in selected configurations. The Element is worth considering if you want Revstar styling and useful tonal flexibility at a more accessible price point.

Yamaha Revstar Standard

The Revstar Standard adds more advanced construction and switching options. Models including the RSS20 and RSS02T offer a choice of humbucker or P90-style pickup configurations, five-way switching and the Focus Switch passive boost. The chambered body and carbon-reinforced neck are designed to support resonance, stability and balance. Standard models suit guitarists looking for a versatile instrument that can move between clean passages, crunchy rhythm tones and more driven lead sounds.

Yamaha Revstar Professional

The Revstar Professional represents the top tier of the range, with guitars crafted in Japan. Models such as the RSP20 and RSP02T feature a chambered maple-and-mahogany body, carbon reinforcement in the body and neck, and premium hardware and finishes. Professional models are available with humbucker or P90-style pickups, alongside five-way switching and the Focus Switch. A hard-shell case is included, making the range particularly appealing to players looking for a high-specification guitar for regular performance and recording.

Who Is the Yamaha Revstar Series For?

The Yamaha Revstar Series suits guitarists across a range of experience levels and musical styles.

Beginners and developing players: Revstar Element provides a straightforward setup with versatile humbuckers and practical tonal controls.

Gigging guitarists: Standard models offer additional pickup combinations and switching options for changing tones throughout a set.

Blues and rock players: Humbucker and P90-style configurations offer different responses for expressive leads, powerful chords and dynamic playing.

Recording musicians: The range of pickup options and tonal controls makes it easier to find sounds that sit well in different arrangements.

Experienced players: Professional models offer Japanese construction, premium features and a high-specification playing experience.

The best tier depends on the features you need, your budget and the way you play. Comparing the feel, pickup configuration and controls in person can help you decide which Revstar model is the best fit.

Choosing a Yamaha Revstar Guitar

Before buying a Yamaha Revstar guitar, consider the sound you want, the features you'll use and how the instrument will fit into your existing setup.

Choose your pickup configuration. Humbuckers offer a fuller response and are popular for rock and heavier styles. P90-style pickups provide a different balance of bite and openness. The right choice depends on your preferred tones and amplifier.

Compare the three tiers. Element keeps things straightforward, Standard adds five-way switching and the Focus Switch, and Professional offers Japanese-made construction and higher-end specifications.

Think about tonal flexibility. If you enjoy adjusting your sound directly on the guitar, the Focus Switch on Standard and Professional models offers a useful boost option. The Dry Switch on Element models provides a brighter alternative by filtering low frequencies.

Consider comfort and balance. The chambered body is a defining feature of Revstar guitars, but neck profile, weight and overall feel still vary by model. Try different versions if possible, particularly if you play standing for long periods.

Check accessories and package details. Consider whether you need a case, strap, cable, amplifier or other essentials. Professional models include a hard-shell case, while other tiers may have different included accessories.

People Also Ask

Yamaha Revstar FAQs

What is the Yamaha Revstar Series?

The Yamaha Revstar Series is a family of electric guitars inspired by café racer motorcycles. It includes Element, Standard and Professional models, each offering a different combination of construction, pickups and tonal controls.

What is the difference between Revstar Element, Standard and Professional?

Element models provide a more straightforward design with humbuckers and a Dry Switch filter. Standard models add pickup options, five-way switching and a Focus Switch. Professional guitars are made in Japan and feature premium construction, with the same broad pickup and switching choices available across the tier.

Is the Yamaha Revstar good for rock and blues?

Yes. Revstar guitars are versatile electric instruments suited to rock, blues, indie, alternative and many other styles. The choice of humbuckers or P90-style pickups affects the response, while the Focus Switch on Standard and Professional models offers additional tonal options.

What does the Yamaha Revstar Focus Switch do?

The Focus Switch on Revstar Standard and Professional models provides a passive boost designed to evoke the sound of overwound pickups. It can add extra presence and power to the signal without requiring an external boost pedal.

What is the Dry Switch on a Yamaha Revstar Element?

The Dry Switch is a high-pass filter that reduces low frequencies to create a brighter, more focused sound. It is activated using the push/pull tone control on compatible Element models.

Are Yamaha Revstar guitars suitable for beginners?

Yes. Revstar Element models are a good starting point for players who want a versatile electric guitar with straightforward controls. Standard and Professional models offer additional features that may appeal as playing experience and tonal preferences develop.

Find Your Yamaha Revstar at Absolute Music

The Yamaha Revstar Series combines distinctive design with practical tonal flexibility across Element, Standard and Professional models. From the accessible RSE20 to the Japanese-made RSP range, there's a variety of configurations to compare based on your playing style, preferred pickups and budget. Explore Yamaha Revstar guitars at Absolute Music to compare models, finishes and specifications. If you need help choosing between the Element, Standard and Professional ranges, contact the Absolute Music team for advice on finding the right guitar for your sound and setup.