The Yamaha Revstar Detailed Review

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Tools used in this video
Link to Yamaha Revstar guitars
Friedman Smallbox pedal
Fender 65 Deluxe Reverb
My favorite inspection kit ( I keep this with me everywhere I go)
The Snark tuner I'm using in this video
String Swing guitar hangers (I only use String Swing)
Radius Gauge with slots
Fret Rocker
Precision Notched Straightedge
The Music Nomad gauge I use
Digital Caliper
Digital Multimeter
Clip On Tuner in this video
My Favorite set up tools
Here are some other products from a dealer I trust and buy from online

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00:50Specifications
03:04 The Geeky Stuff
08:38 Sound Demo
18:19 My Thoughts

[PhillipMcKnight]

After the video went up Yamaha sent a email confirming it is a passive boost and they said this

Yamaha's responce

“The output is amplified by using a small transformer to emphasize or boost the mid and low frequencies. The transformer was designed by Yamaha guitar division to control how much emphasize or boost certain frequencies by adjusting the number of coil turns”

[GunsandGuitars]

This is the most innovation we’ve seen in electric guitar technology in a LONG TIME. I hope Yamaha continues in this direction, it opens up a ton of possibilities. Also thank you Phil, I think you just sold me a guitar

[kingstumble]

I like Yamaha as a company. Pianos to motor bikes. Everything they make is high quality.

[ACoustaDC]

I like that Yamaha makes this body shape and head stock style in a world of Les Paul's and strat copies. It's Unique but not over the top and the paint job is super cool.

[msh]

I' started playing Yamaha Pacifica's over 35 years ago and have never stopped. Yamaha simply makes some of best player friendly instruments on the planet. Lots of bang for your buck.

[richdubbya]

I have 2 Yamaha Revs.. a RS502 (flat green with p90s) and a RS820cr (race stripe). Both solid bodies. GREAT GUITARS! Thought I'd change the pickups? No need. Great feel, great sound. They seem setup from the factory.. I love em.

[glenclifton]

I've been watching you for about five years and I've never seen you this happy with a guitar. You smiled through the whole video . I'm with Dan, I think I've gotta have one!! Great video as always!!

[mrbertiep]

I bought my SA 2000 years back. It is an awesome instrument. Yamaha make wonderful instruments with quality woods, components and construction.

[riloh]

damnit Phil! I’ve been fighting the urge on these new Revstars and you’re not helping.

The smile on your face when playing tells me all I need to know.

[darrensjames]

The energy and enthusiasm that you put into this video certainly tells us that this guitar is a very well-crafted instrument. Thank you, Phill.

[fenderbass]

With a transformer turns ratio of 1:2, that will indeed double the voltage driving the amp, which is also 6 dB. However, that comes at a price. The load impedance seen by the guitar pickups decreases 4-fold. If the amplifier has a 1 Meg input impedance, that now looks like 250k which will dampen the resonance of the pickups. Further, the cable capacitance will be multiplied by 4. For example, a 10 foot cable with 300 pF of capacitance will look like 1200 pF to the pickups with the boost on. Both of these factors will darken the tone by suppressing high frequencies.

[jasonmcmillan]

The attention to detail in this review is outstanding, and the guitar is too. Thanks Phil. Thanks Yamaha.

[hearpalhere]

I love that you showed the guts of the guitar Philip and also explained the boost. Not many other review videos even bother to try explaining what the switching options actually do. It's a great looking and sounding guitar.

[danbrown]

I bought this model and finish, it's brilliant.

[Lysdexia]

My favourite guitar review channel by far - so trustworthy that I bought this guitar, albeit in the black finish. You're doing a terrific job, Mr McKnight.

[Xcorgi]

You don’t normally see Phil smile when playing while doing a demo. So even with the rigorous overview and checks he did on this guitar, that rare smile tells us all we need to know. Also I’ve never heard him stop to say “that’s fricken awesome” in the middle of playing. At the end he said he doesn’t like to rave but he did actually let that slip a bit. 🤣 The sheer quality and intelligent innovation that went into this guitar 🎸 is definitely worth the low price of $799.00 for admission. These things are on back order everywhere you look for a damn good reason. As soon as I see a new one available, I’ll jump on this in a heartbeat!

[joetspaulding]

I hope Yamaha comes up with something this exciting for us bass players! a chambered BB with stainless steel frets would be killer

[DaniBlack]

As a left handed guitarist I'm really thinking about this guitar, sounds awesome and it's well build. I love the push pull trick with that transformer. Thanks a lot for this video!

[davidcroft]

Good review. Thank you for NOT doing all the O/Drive madness that so many reviewers do, thus, we never get to hear how the Guitar basic sounds really are. Now I know how that model Revstar actually sounds, Excellent! Think I'll buy one.

[IDGAF_PLUS]

I recently purchased a Yamaha solid rosewood acoustic after a TON of research and deciding they were the best bang for buck for the features I was looking for. Got one of their Japan models. Yamaha knows how to make an amazing instrument, and they do it at prices well below what others are doing for the quality. I have zero doubt that this is a fantastic guitar.