The Yamaha Revstar is Yamaha’s modern electric guitar, designed around the look of 1960s London cafe racer motorcycles. Launched in 2015 and rebuilt for its second generation in 2022, it comes in three tiers, with the top Professional models made in Japan. This guide explains the design, what changed in 2022, and which Revstar fits you. For the brand as a whole, see our Yamaha Brand Guide.
Yamaha Revstar Quick Facts
- Launched: 2015, as part of Yamaha’s 50th year of guitar making
- Inspiration: 1960s London cafe racer motorcycles
- Second generation: 2022: chambered bodies and new switching
- Tiers: Element (RSE), Standard (RSS), Professional (RSP)
- Made in Japan: The Professional models
- Latest: RSP20B 60TH for Yamaha guitars’ 60th anniversary (2026)
- What Is the Yamaha Revstar?
- First Generation Revstar (2015): A Cafe Racer You Can Plug In
- Second Generation Revstar (2022): What Changed
- Revstar Element vs Standard vs Professional
- Revstar RSP20B 60TH: The 60th Anniversary Model
- Which Yamaha Revstar Should You Buy?
- Final Thoughts
- FAQ
- More Yamaha guitar articles
What Is the Yamaha Revstar?
The Revstar is a single-cut-style electric guitar created by Yamaha’s in-house Design Laboratory. The goal was a guitar that felt custom-built, mixing classic and modern styling.
The big idea came from motorcycles. Yamaha took inspiration from the stripped-down cafe racers of 1960s London: even the pickguard is cut short at the bridge, like the shortened fenders on those bikes. It is a fitting idea for a company whose name also appears on motorcycles, though the two Yamahas are separate companies with different logos.
First Generation Revstar (2015): A Cafe Racer You Can Plug In
The first Revstar arrived in 2015, as part of an eight-model lineup marking 50 years of Yamaha guitars. Its details were straight from the garage.
| Detail | The cafe racer touch |
|---|---|
| Steel-wool satin finish with glossy stripes | Like a hand-finished custom tank |
| Raw copper pickguard | Ages and changes color over time |
| Distressed pickup covers and custom knobs | A worn-in, custom-shop look |
| Original Revstar tailpiece | A signature part on the 02T models |
An award-winning design
Yamaha lists Good Design, Red Dot, iF Design and German Design awards for the Revstar’s design.
Second Generation Revstar (2022): What Changed
In 2022 Yamaha rebuilt the Revstar. The look stayed, but almost everything underneath changed.
| Change | What it does for you |
|---|---|
| Chambered body, designed with Yamaha’s Acoustic Design process | Lighter, better balanced and more resonant |
| 5-way switching on Standard and Professional | Positions 2 and 4 add a subtle out-of-phase sound for more usable tones |
| Focus Switch (pull the tone knob) | A passive boost that trims highs and pushes lows and mids, like an overwound pickup |
| Carbon-reinforced neck on Standard and Professional | More stable tuning and cleaner bends |
| Dry Switch on Element | Filters low end for a cleaner, brighter sound |
| Left-handed models | More players can get one |
The second-generation bodies are also slightly larger than the original Revstar.
Revstar Element vs Standard vs Professional
| Tier | Model code | Key features | Made in |
|---|---|---|---|
| Element | RSE | Chambered body, 3-way switching, Dry Switch | Outside Japan |
| Standard | RSS | Adds 5-way switching, Focus Switch, carbon-reinforced neck | Outside Japan |
| Professional | RSP | Adds carbon-reinforced body and I.R.A. treatment; hard case | Japan |
Within the Standard and Professional tiers, the 20 models are the main line, while the 02T models keep the original Revstar-style tailpiece. Humbucker and P-90-style pickup options are available depending on the model.
Revstar RSP20B 60TH: The 60th Anniversary Model
For Yamaha guitars’ 60th anniversary in 2026, Yamaha released the RSP20B 60TH alongside an FG9 60TH acoustic. If you want a collectible Revstar, this is the one to watch.
Which Yamaha Revstar Should You Buy?
| You want… | Look for |
|---|---|
| The Revstar look on a budget | Element (RSE) |
| The best value with the new switching | Standard (RSS) |
| A made-in-Japan Revstar | Professional (RSP) |
| The original tailpiece style | RSS02T / RSP02T |
| A collector piece | RSP20B 60TH |
Final Thoughts
The Revstar shows a side of Yamaha that guitar players sometimes forget: a company that also builds motorcycles, borrowing a motorcycle idea to design a guitar.
If you want a made-in-Japan Yamaha electric that is not a vintage reissue, the Revstar Professional is the modern answer.
FAQ
When did the Yamaha Revstar come out?
The Revstar launched in 2015, and Yamaha released the second-generation Revstar in 2022.
What inspired the Yamaha Revstar design?
The design was inspired by 1960s London cafe racer motorcycles. Even the pickguard is cut short at the bridge, like a cafe racer’s fender.
Is the Yamaha Revstar made in Japan?
The Revstar Professional (RSP) models are made in Japan. The Element and Standard models are made outside Japan.
What is the difference between Revstar Element, Standard and Professional?
Element has 3-way switching and a Dry Switch. Standard adds 5-way switching, the Focus Switch and a carbon-reinforced neck. Professional adds a carbon-reinforced body, I.R.A. treatment and Japanese build.
What is the Focus Switch on a Revstar?
It is a passive boost on the tone knob that trims highs and pushes lows and mids, giving a thicker, overwound-pickup sound.
What does 02T mean on a Revstar?
The 02T models keep the original Revstar-style tailpiece, while the 20 models are the main line.
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