Rookie
2006-07-17 03:06:37 UTC
I know that many people have an interest in this model, so here is a
review based on a few months of owning this guitar!
RGX A2 is only 2.3 Kgs, while the very lightweight Ibanez SA160 is 2.8
Kgs and most guitars are somewhere between 3.2-3.6. Yamaha has made a
very good step with this guitar, which employs special construction
technology to lose weight.
However, the guitar still balances very well, though it can be a bit
pokey when sitting.
Hardware is custom made of aluminum, the cylindrical tuners work well,
though I would refer some locking ones, and the bridge is a unique
conception that seems to not be easily serviceable.
Fretboard is very nice with no dots, fret ends seemed to be protruding at
first, but after some lemon oil they improved a lot. I suspect a couple
of lemon oil appliances in the future will take care of that altogether.
Neck is painted, but it feels ok, no sticky at all, it is a lot similar
to an Ibanez, but narrower, especially at the nut. It took a bit getting
used to it, but it seems fine.
The neck pocket wasn't very tight, and actually it might need some wood
film in both sides. Maybe I will do this in the future, but for the
moment I left it as it is. But I was annoyed by this, as I like them
virginally tight.
Pickups are humbuckers soapbar variety, they are not humbucker sounding
exactly, but rather closer to P90s. They have very nice clarity, but
don't distort easily, as they remain clear even at the highest distortion
settings. They take a bit getting used to them and adjusting your amp
settings accordingly, they are fine for jazz, fusion, fenderish sounds
and even shred and neoclassical. However, the guitar does not growl like
a mahogany one with usual humbuckers. So the sound is rather
idiosyncratic, full and crystal clear, but not fat and heavy, so no
thrash for this guitar.
The three available sounds are good and usable, a punchy bridge position,
a sweet sounding neck and a thinner middle one. There is a LED that gets
coloured according to the pickup selector position, though this may sound
gimicky it is incredibly cool!
At first, the guitar was so light I thought it would break up in pieces
and was afraid to hold it. So far it has proved ok, despite my initial
fears, as it felt like a toy, even compared to my very light Ibanez. So
it looks like a solid piece so far.
The bottom line: If you want a light guitar without spending an arm and a
leg for a high-priced Parker, this guitar is very nice. There are a few
things that annoy me, like the neck pocket or the fact that you can't use
a string winder with the tuners, but still I can live with them. Sound
takes some time getting used to, as it sounds different to everything I
had played before, but it can really deliver.
I still don't know about the longetivity of the guitar, but at the price
it is sold in europe (about 400 euros), you can afford to buy one to have
for a few years of useful life, though I suspect it will be fine for long
enough to make it into vintage territory some day :)
Feel free to ask any questions.
review based on a few months of owning this guitar!
RGX A2 is only 2.3 Kgs, while the very lightweight Ibanez SA160 is 2.8
Kgs and most guitars are somewhere between 3.2-3.6. Yamaha has made a
very good step with this guitar, which employs special construction
technology to lose weight.
However, the guitar still balances very well, though it can be a bit
pokey when sitting.
Hardware is custom made of aluminum, the cylindrical tuners work well,
though I would refer some locking ones, and the bridge is a unique
conception that seems to not be easily serviceable.
Fretboard is very nice with no dots, fret ends seemed to be protruding at
first, but after some lemon oil they improved a lot. I suspect a couple
of lemon oil appliances in the future will take care of that altogether.
Neck is painted, but it feels ok, no sticky at all, it is a lot similar
to an Ibanez, but narrower, especially at the nut. It took a bit getting
used to it, but it seems fine.
The neck pocket wasn't very tight, and actually it might need some wood
film in both sides. Maybe I will do this in the future, but for the
moment I left it as it is. But I was annoyed by this, as I like them
virginally tight.
Pickups are humbuckers soapbar variety, they are not humbucker sounding
exactly, but rather closer to P90s. They have very nice clarity, but
don't distort easily, as they remain clear even at the highest distortion
settings. They take a bit getting used to them and adjusting your amp
settings accordingly, they are fine for jazz, fusion, fenderish sounds
and even shred and neoclassical. However, the guitar does not growl like
a mahogany one with usual humbuckers. So the sound is rather
idiosyncratic, full and crystal clear, but not fat and heavy, so no
thrash for this guitar.
The three available sounds are good and usable, a punchy bridge position,
a sweet sounding neck and a thinner middle one. There is a LED that gets
coloured according to the pickup selector position, though this may sound
gimicky it is incredibly cool!
At first, the guitar was so light I thought it would break up in pieces
and was afraid to hold it. So far it has proved ok, despite my initial
fears, as it felt like a toy, even compared to my very light Ibanez. So
it looks like a solid piece so far.
The bottom line: If you want a light guitar without spending an arm and a
leg for a high-priced Parker, this guitar is very nice. There are a few
things that annoy me, like the neck pocket or the fact that you can't use
a string winder with the tuners, but still I can live with them. Sound
takes some time getting used to, as it sounds different to everything I
had played before, but it can really deliver.
I still don't know about the longetivity of the guitar, but at the price
it is sold in europe (about 400 euros), you can afford to buy one to have
for a few years of useful life, though I suspect it will be fine for long
enough to make it into vintage territory some day :)
Feel free to ask any questions.