Yamaha Revstar RSS02T Sunset Burst

I was in the market for a P90-guitar, and ran into the upgraded Revstar-series during my research. Highly praised in ever review, I decided to try the Revstar ahead of the Fender Noventa Jazzmaster and Gibson Les Paul. And boy, did I save some money.

The least important first; pure visuals as I opened the gigbag on arrival was gorgeous. It looks like an icicle with the nice sunset birst. Picking it up, you understand why the reviews highlight the craftmanship. Feels good, solid, and no flaws or marks anywhere. Bindings way better than more expensive counterparts! Fairly light and compact, which really suits my preferences. Balances nicely on the strap, no diving or wobbling.

Then you plug it in, and immediately hear you got a rockmachine in your hands. Nice growly low end (which muds up a little on high gain) with balanced mids is perfect for rythm and riffing. Punch in the boost, and it's ready for leads.

The flexibility of this guitar is the absolutt highlight. Pickup switch positions 1 and 5 give you what you know; neck or bridge P90 alone, with all that comes with a P90. Then you go to positions 2 or 4, and get a serial delayed bridge after neck or vice versa, and the hint of vintage single coil sweetness adds to the sound of the growly P90. Hard to describe, worth experiencing. Positions 2 with a little drive and a delay, you got mellow rock tones for ages. The 5-way switch and the pull-booster on the tone knobs makes it almost impossible to put down, as it is way to fun discovering tones with this very playable guitar (stainless steel frets with the smoothest out-of-the-box finish in any guitar I've owned. You kidding?!)

Taking the price into consideration, this might just be the best guitar purchase I've done so far.

I was inspired by Chris Buck and wanted a versatile guitar with P90 pickups and I was not disappointed!
Out of the box, the Yamaha Revstar RSS02T was well set up and easy to play. The build quality is noticeably better than my previous budget Strat-style guitar. The Sunset Burst finish looks excellent, and I’m glad I went with it instead of black. The neck’s satin finish was another draw—it feels very comfortable and suits my playing style.
The 5-way switch offers good versatility, and the guitar delivers more punch than my previous Strat, which works well for rock and blues. The Focus switch adds a unique character, with position 4 producing a fuzz-like tone on an overdriven amp. While I’m not an expert on pickups or electronics, the sound is thicker and fuller than the single coils I used before, which I prefer.
After a few months, I still enjoy picking up this guitar and playing it regularly. It feels like a significant upgrade from my beginner guitar in terms of sound and feel. Unsurprisingly it hasn’t made me play like Chris Buck, but it’s still a joy to use.

Final Thoughts
I think the Yamaha Revstar RSS02T is a solid choice for those looking for a versatile guitar with good build quality. It feels like a great option for intermediate players ready to move beyond entry-level instruments.

I wanted to give my impression of the Revstar RSS020T. This thing is heavy! Heaviest guitar I have ever owned and I've had a few, but the sounds you can from this guitar is worth every ounce! And those sounds are not like all of the other guitars. This is a new world of sound all its own.

This guitar rings longer and louder than most and retains its own personality throughout its wide range. To me, a lot of guitars do not sound so great clean. Just lacking something... The Revstar sounds incredible clean. And distorted, it soars into another dimension.

The P-90 pickups are extremely responsive and react perfectly to what is fed to them. Maybe the best sounding P-90's I have ever played. No need to upgrade anything on this guitar.

This guitar has earned the place of honour in my home studio...instead of hanging on the wall, it is on a stand within reach, ready at all times. Unplugged, it is resonant and always ready for a quick workout. Plugged in, inspiration jumps into my fingertips.