Yamaha RGX620Z

I puchased this nice axe at Sam Ash in Sarasota, FL (USA), about a year and a half ago. It went for $239.00 and at first I was skeptical about it, but after one sitting i was very much into the instrument and home with me it came. I've been tinkering with guitar for about 3 years prior to my Yamaha and have since become a serious guitarist. Adding to my list of instrument i play and now record in my home studio for hobby and recreational purposes in allforms and types of music and finding new ways to express myself in music.

First thing i noticed was the tremlo system. it resembles the typical 'Fedner' style yet can be swung both ways for sweet divebombs to soaring climbs. the best part of this is after you've had a GOOD set of strings installed and properly pre-stretched. it stays in tune after heavy hanging on the whammybar. the finish (Blueburst transparent) is very nice and the matched flamed maple and paint finish make it stand out quite well, in all three color choices. the electronics are decent as the pick-ups are very clean and hum-free. Hardware is nice and solid as is the set-up on the guitar out of the box (though i had mine set to personal specs for my style) and using good strings (B52 Rockers by Everly are hands down awesome strings) and properly installing/ stretching them coupled with awesome looks and sweet playability makes for a good investment and sweet instrument. you'll actually be proud to say "Yeah, that's MY Yamaha, and I love it!"

there's not much to list here except a couple things that could be incidental and not a common problem, however my toggle pick-up selector switch 'buzzed' alot when switching from pick-up to pick-up. i had this replaced by Sam Ash via Yamaha with a high end switch and since then, no problems. the only other thing i dont particularly care for is the stock tone & volume knobs. they are chrome nubs with a pair of cheap looking "O-Rings" around each one. these too were replaced with knurled 'typical' chrome knobs and all's fine.

the first thing about the guitar is the weight when you pick it up. you would expect, like with many imports, it to be superlight or mega heavy and with the RGX620Z you find it has a very "Fender" weight to it. reading the specs it has an alder body with a AAA flametop of mahagony, a ahrd rock maple neck with a slightly thicker than average rosewood fingerboard. The headstock is maple and painted black with a damn near 1/4 inch laminate of macthing maple flametop as the body which gives it a nice balanced weight in all honesty though the strings come very close to the laminate on the pegboard. Electronics are sound and pick-ups are nice and noise-free (aside my switch problem) the rest of the elecs were well soldered and the interior had the metal tape lining the inside of the areas with wiring for good, clean grounds and no interference. The neck itself is more like a cross between a tung-oiled Gibson LP neck with a stylized Ibanez headstock and is unsymetrical and the double cutaway makes it easy to reach all the frets and the radius is pretty flat so bending notes and finger picking is a dream. Tuning pegs are sealed and in black-chrome, the strap pegs are solid and do not wigglee loose or are too small. This whole guitar has that "Just Right" feeling especially the tremlo, which ironicly enough is not a locking tremlo in any way shape or form. and yet still keeps in tune and chaging/ replacing strings is a breeze and done quickly enough. the paint and finish is of very high quality and lovely in a room, outside, or on stage.

This instrument is part of a 6 guitar collection of mine including a Les Paul, MM Axis, Strat (Fender Highway series), and an Ibanez GSA60 (my first axe) and is the second most played in my collection for live or studio. Fit, finish, playability, and value is waht this guitar embodies very well and is a dream to play and show. not really a "first guitar" type in my opinion, but one WELL worth being an intermediate/ recording guitar or a second one for stage if not a primary. Get them while you can as the RGX620Z's are not made anymore but they are available out there. once gone, that's it and even Yamaha's Corp site mentioned how impressed the music industry was with this axe (maybe they'll bring it back or make a new line with it's same features).

This review was originally published on http://www.musicgearreview.com