Yamaha Revstar RSS20 Flash Green

Yamaha Revstar RSS20 Flash Green review

The Yamaha Revstar RSS20 Flash Green pairs a chambered mahogany body with a maple top, a mahogany neck, and two Alnico 5 humbuckers. Its compact feature set includes a five-way switch and a push/pull tone control, giving players more pickup options than a conventional two-humbucker layout. The guitar has a 629 mm (24.76-inch) scale, 22 jumbo stainless steel frets, and a Tune-O-Matic-style bridge with a stopbar tailpiece. It ships with a gig bag, but not a hard case.

The RSS20 is part of Yamaha's Standard Series and has been available since March 2022. Its listed price is 699. The finish is called Flash Green, and a three-ply black pickguard and chrome hardware complete the look. Player feedback describes the finish and overall construction as polished, with several owners particularly praising the neck and fretwork. Reports are strongly positive overall, though a small number of setup and hardware concerns are worth keeping in mind.

Construction and playing feel

The three-piece mahogany neck is set into the body and reinforced with carbon. Its rosewood fingerboard has white line inlays, a 305 mm (12-inch) radius, and a 41.9 mm (1.65-inch) nut width. The 22 jumbo stainless steel frets are designed for durability, and owner comments describe the fret installation and rounded fret ends as clean. Several players also found the neck smooth and comfortable to play.

The body is chambered mahogany with a maple top. One player felt the guitar balanced well and appreciated that it did not suffer from the neck-heavy feel they had experienced with another style of single-cutaway guitar. Another described the instrument as comfortable, stable, and well prepared out of the box. That experience was not universal: one buyer felt the factory string height was slightly high, while other players said their instruments arrived properly set up. A quick setup check after delivery remains sensible.

Some isolated quality-control notes appeared in the feedback. One owner found the output jack nut loose and a control knob sitting at an angle. Another noted a small gap between the pickguard and a pickup. These reports sit alongside numerous descriptions of flawless finishes and solid construction, so they are best treated as individual inspection points rather than a defining pattern. Check the jack, knobs, pickup surrounds, and setup when the guitar arrives.

Pickups and controls

The bridge position uses a VH5b Alnico 5 humbucker, while the neck position uses a VH5n Alnico 5 humbucker. The master volume and master tone controls keep the main layout straightforward. The tone control has a push/pull focus function, and a five-way switch provides additional pickup configurations. The supplied specifications do not detail each switch position, so the practical recommendation is to try them in person rather than assume a particular wiring arrangement.

Player descriptions point to a broad range of sounds. One owner praised warm, full clean tones as well as high-gain sounds, and another called the guitar versatile across styles. Feedback also mentions a useful focused, boosted character from the switching arrangement, with one player comparing that sound to tones associated with Santana. For heavier rock, a reviewer reported good results with an overdrive pedal and a Marshall Origin 20 amplifier. These are personal impressions, not guarantees of a specific sound with every rig.

The chambered body also came up in comparisons with semi-hollow instruments. One player heard some of the warmth and harmonic character they associated with that style, while describing the guitar as retaining the punch and upper-fret access of a solid-body design. Another praised its sustain and described the overall voice as modern and adaptable. The guitar has no tremolo system, using a fixed bridge and stopbar instead.

What owners report

Across the feedback, build quality and value are recurring strengths. Owners mention a comfortable neck, stable tuning, well-finished frets, and electronics that worked correctly on arrival. Several players compared the instrument favorably with more expensive guitars they had owned, though such comparisons reflect individual taste and experience. One reviewer also appreciated the included gig bag. The factory strings are Elixir Nanoweb Light, gauged.010 to.046.

There are a few practical caveats. Individual instruments may need a string-height adjustment or pickup-height change to suit the player. One owner raised a concern about the precision of the tuning machines, while another found the controls and electronics trouble-free. Inspecting the hardware and controls is prudent, particularly given the isolated report of a loose jack nut.

Verdict

The Yamaha Revstar RSS20 Flash Green offers a distinctive green finish, a chambered mahogany body, stainless steel frets, and a versatile two-humbucker control layout. Owner feedback supports its reputation for comfortable playability and strong construction, with reports of warm clean sounds and convincing overdriven tones. The occasional setup or hardware issue suggests checking the individual guitar rather than assuming every example will be perfect. For players seeking a fixed-bridge electric guitar with flexible pickup options and an included gig bag, the RSS20 makes a compelling case at its listed price of 699.