Quick Product Summary

The Yamaha Revstar Element RSE20 in Black delivers the distinctive design, comfortable feel and versatile twin-humbucker sound of Yamaha's modern Revstar range at an accessible price point. A chambered mahogany body, set-in three-piece mahogany neck and dual VH3 Alnico V humbuckers provide a strong combination of warmth, sustain and definition, while Yamaha's push/pull Dry Switch adds useful tonal flexibility.

With its comfortable 24.75-inch scale length, 22 jumbo frets and dependable Tune-O-Matic bridge and stopbar setup, the RSE20 works equally well as a first serious electric guitar, an everyday gigging instrument or a versatile recording guitar. The Black finish gives the Revstar's retro-inspired double-cutaway shape a clean, understated and purposeful appearance.

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At A Glance

Feature	Details
Brand	Yamaha
Model	Revstar Element RSE20
Finish	Black
Type	Solid Body Electric Guitar
Condition	New
Pickup Configuration	Dual Humbuckers
Main Appeal	Versatile humbucker tones with comfortable chambered construction
Best For	Rock, blues, indie, alternative, pop and general-purpose playing
Skill Level	Beginner through advanced
Case / Gig Bag	Not included

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What Makes the Yamaha Revstar Element RSE20 Special?

The RSE20 takes a distinctive approach to the traditional twin-humbucker electric guitar. Its chambered mahogany bodyhelps reduce unnecessary weight while retaining the warmth, sustain and resonance associated with mahogany construction. Combined with its set-in three-piece mahogany neck and shorter 24.75-inch scale length, the RSE20 feels comfortable and familiar while maintaining its own unmistakable Revstar character.

Its pair of Yamaha VH3 Alnico V humbuckers provides the body and output needed for driven rock tones while retaining enough clarity for cleaner playing. Pulling the tone control activates Yamaha's Dry Switch, a passive high-pass filter that produces a brighter, tighter sound without using conventional coil splitting or sacrificing the hum-cancelling properties of the pickups.

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Who Is It For?

The Yamaha RSE20 is a strong choice for players who want the warmth and power of a twin-humbucker electric guitar but prefer something different from more traditional single-cutaway designs.

Its manageable scale length, comfortable chambered body and simple controls make it accessible to newer guitarists, while its set-neck construction, versatile electronics and distinctive feel give intermediate and experienced players plenty to work with on stage, in rehearsal or in the studio.

It is particularly well suited to:

• Rock and alternative guitarists

• Blues players wanting warm humbucker tones

• Indie and contemporary pop musicians

• Players upgrading from their first electric guitar

• Guitarists seeking an alternative to traditional twin-humbucker designs

• Recording musicians who value simple but flexible electronics

• Players who prefer a shorter 24.75-inch scale length

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Why Choose a Dual-Humbucker Electric Guitar?

A twin-humbucker guitar offers an excellent balance of warmth, output and noise rejection. The bridge pickup provides the bite and focus needed for riffs, lead playing and driven amplifier sounds, while the neck pickup delivers a rounder voice for blues, smooth lead lines and warm clean tones.

The RSE20 expands on this familiar formula through its Dry Switch, allowing brighter and tighter sounds to be accessed without changing guitars or adding complicated controls. This makes it particularly useful for players who need to move between clean, crunch and higher-gain tones within the same set.

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Yamaha RSE20 vs Revstar Standard RSS20

The Revstar Element RSE20 provides the most accessible route into Yamaha's Revstar family, focusing on the essential Revstar experience with chambered mahogany construction, VH3 humbuckers, three-way switching and the Dry Switch circuit. The Revstar Standard RSS20 sits further up the range with additional construction, hardware and electronic refinements. For players looking for the distinctive Revstar design and core twin-humbucker sound at a more accessible price, the RSE20 offers excellent value.

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Technical Specifications

Body

• Body Type: Revstar Element

• Body Material: Chambered Mahogany

• Body Finish: Gloss Polyurethane

• Finish / Colour: Black

• Construction: Set-In Neck

Neck

• Neck Material: Three-Piece Mahogany

• Neck Finish: Satin Polyurethane

• Scale Length: 24.75" / 628.6mm

• Fingerboard: Rosewood

• Fingerboard Radius: 12" / 304.8mm

• Frets: 22

• Fret Wire: Jumbo

• Nut Material: PPS

• Neck Thickness: 21.0mm at 1st fret / 23.9mm at 12th fret

Electronics

• Neck Pickup: Yamaha VH3n Humbucker

• Bridge Pickup: Yamaha VH3b Humbucker

• Pickup Magnets: Alnico V

• Pickup Selector: 3-Position Lever Switch

• Controls: Master Volume, Master Tone

• Additional Control: Push/Pull Dry Switch on Tone Control

Hardware

• Bridge: Tune-O-Matic

• Tailpiece: Stopbar

• Tuning Machines: Die-Cast

• String Spacing: 10.5mm

• Pickguard: 3-Ply

• Factory String Gauge: Elixir Nanoweb Light .010–.046

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The Yamaha Dry Switch Explained

The push/pull tone control activates Yamaha's Dry Switch, which functions as a passive high-pass filter. Engaging it reduces selected low frequencies from the guitar signal, creating a brighter, tighter and more focused sound.

Unlike a conventional humbucker coil split, the Dry Switch retains the hum-cancelling characteristics of the pickups and avoids the significant drop in output commonly associated with split-coil sounds. It is particularly useful for cutting through a mix or moving from thick rhythm tones to more articulate clean passages.

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Chambered Mahogany Construction

Rather than using a completely solid mahogany body, Yamaha employs a carefully chambered design in the Revstar Element.

The chambering helps manage overall weight while contributing to the lively and resonant feel of the guitar. This can make the RSE20 particularly comfortable for longer rehearsals, recording sessions and live performances while preserving the full-bodied character players expect from mahogany construction.

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What’s Included?

• 1 x Yamaha Revstar Element RSE20 Electric Guitar in Black

Case or gig bag is not included.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Yamaha Revstar Element RSE20 suitable for beginners?

Yes. Its comfortable 24.75-inch scale length, straightforward electronics and stable fixed bridge make it very approachable, while the quality and versatility of the guitar allow it to remain useful as the player develops.

What pickups are fitted to the RSE20?

The RSE20 is equipped with a pair of Yamaha VH3 humbuckers using Alnico V magnets, with dedicated neck and bridge versions.

Does the Yamaha RSE20 have coil splitting?

No. Instead, Yamaha uses its push/pull Dry Switch, which creates a brighter sound through passive filtering while retaining the hum-cancelling properties of the pickups.

What does the Dry Switch do?

The Dry Switch reduces selected low frequencies to create a tighter and brighter sound. It provides additional tonal variation without the large output reduction often associated with splitting humbuckers.

Is the Yamaha RSE20 a solid mahogany guitar?

The body is constructed from chambered mahogany, helping reduce weight while retaining the resonance and full tonal character associated with mahogany.

What styles of music suit the RSE20?

Its dual-humbucker configuration makes it particularly well suited to rock, blues, indie, alternative and pop, while the Dry Switch gives it enough flexibility to cover a broad range of musical styles.

Does the RSE20 have a tremolo?

No. It uses a fixed Tune-O-Matic bridge with stopbar tailpiece, making it a straightforward option for players who value tuning stability and simple restringing.

What is the scale length?

The RSE20 has a 24.75-inch / 628.6mm scale length, giving the strings a slightly softer feel than many 25.5-inch-scale electric guitars when using comparable strings and tuning.

How many frets does the Yamaha RSE20 have?

It features 22 jumbo frets on a rosewood fingerboard.

Does the Yamaha RSE20 Black come with a case?

No. A case or gig bag is not included with the RSE20.

Is the Black version different from other RSE20 finishes?

The core construction, electronics and hardware specification remain the same. The Black finish simply offers a darker, understated appearance while retaining the distinctive Revstar body shape.

Is the Yamaha RSE20 suitable for gigging and recording?

Yes. Its dependable fixed bridge, twin humbuckers and useful Dry Switch make it a versatile choice for live performance, rehearsal and recording.

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Why Buy From Fair Deal Music?

When you buy from Fair Deal Music, you are buying from an established independent UK musical instrument retailer with decades of experience helping musicians find the right equipment.

• Expert advice from knowledgeable musicians

• Carefully checked new, used, pre-owned and ex-display equipment

• Competitive prices on leading music brands

• Secure UK-wide delivery

• Flexible finance options, subject to status

• Friendly support before and after purchase

• Trusted independent UK music retailer with decades of experience

Trade In. Trade Up. Save More.

Thinking about upgrading your current guitar? Fair Deal Music accepts part exchange on a wide range of guitars, basses, amplifiers and other musical equipment.

Trading in your existing gear can help reduce the cost of your next purchase and avoids the inconvenience of selling privately. Contact our team for a no-obligation valuation and see how much your current equipment could contribute towards this Yamaha Revstar Element RSE20.