Yamaha Revstar RSE20 Red Copper

Yamaha Revstar RSE20 Red Copper review

The Yamaha Revstar RSE20 Red Copper is an electric guitar built around a chambered mahogany body, a three-piece mahogany neck, and two Alnico V humbuckers. Its combination of straightforward controls and a push-pull tone knob gives it a little more tonal range than a basic two-pickup setup, while keeping the layout familiar. It has been available since March 2022 and belongs to Yamaha's Element series.

At a listed price of 452, the RSE20 sits in a range where buyers often have to choose between an attractive finish, reliable construction, and comfortable playability. Owner feedback suggests Yamaha has managed to bring those qualities together. Reports describe a good out-of-box setup, solid tuning stability, and a sound that compares favorably with more expensive guitars. Those are customer impressions rather than guarantees, but they point to a strong value proposition.

Construction and playing feel

The body is chambered mahogany, with no separate top. Yamaha says its acoustic design process informed the body shape and chambering. Players note that the guitar feels balanced and that the chambered construction helps reduce weight. One reviewer also described the instrument as having strong sustain and a lively response. These impressions will vary with setup, strings, amplifier, and playing style.

The set-in, three-piece mahogany neck has a 629 mm (24.76-inch) scale, a 41.9 mm nut width, and a rosewood fingerboard with white dot inlays. The fingerboard radius is 305 mm (12 inches), and the guitar has 22 jumbo frets. Neck thickness measures 21 mm at the first fret and 24 mm at the twelfth. One owner describes the neck as smooth and comfortable in the hand. The dimensions offer concrete reference points, but hand size and personal preference matter more than any single neck profile measurement.

Feedback on the factory setup is mostly positive. Several owners found their guitars playable soon after unpacking, with one mentioning only a small tuning adjustment before playing. As with any new guitar, a professional setup can help tailor the action and intonation to an individual player. Reports on fret-end finish are more measured: one reviewer found the fret ends acceptable for the price, while noting they did not match the finish of a much more expensive instrument.

Pickups and Dry Switch

The RSE20 uses Yamaha VH3 Alnico V humbuckers, with the VH3b at the bridge and VH3n at the neck. A three-way selector chooses the pickup positions. A master volume knob and master tone knob keep the control layout simple. The tone control has a push-pull function that engages Yamaha's Dry Switch, a high-pass filter intended to produce a brighter, thinner sound without the volume drop and added noise associated with a traditional coil split.

Player comments describe the basic humbucker sound as warm, full, and clear, with one buyer saying the guitar covered the tones they wanted. The Dry Switch is useful when a part calls for less thickness, though it does not turn the humbuckers into single-coil pickups. One owner found that it thinned the sound without reaching the degree of a coil split. That distinction matters if you are looking for a pronounced single-coil character rather than a leaner variation on the guitar's main voice.

Hardware, finish, and practical details

The Red Copper finish is a major part of the guitar's appeal. Owners describe it as a rich, dark red, set off by a black three-ply pickguard and two lighter center stripes. The fingerboard is rosewood, and the hardware is chrome. The guitar has die-cast tuners and a PPS nut. It does not have a tremolo system, and neither a case nor a gig bag is included.

Most comments on fit and finish are favorable, though one player identified a practical issue with the bridge. Its edges felt sharp during palm muting, so the owner rounded the bridge saddles. The same player replaced a scratchy, unusually loose-feeling tone pot. These are individual reports, not evidence that every RSE20 has those problems, but they are worth checking when the guitar arrives. Inspect the bridge area and test the tone control before settling on a setup.

Verdict

The Yamaha Revstar RSE20 Red Copper offers a distinctive finish, a comfortable-feeling mahogany neck, dual humbuckers, and a Dry Switch that adds a useful brighter option. Customer feedback points to strong sound and construction for the price, alongside a generally playable factory setup. Potential buyers should check the bridge edges and tone control on their particular instrument, and budget for a setup if they want the guitar adjusted to their preferences. At 452, it makes a compelling choice for players who want a fixed-bridge guitar with a warm humbucker voice and a practical way to thin it out.