NGD: 90s Yamaha gets a second life

[Kawaii Besu]

I recently got a Yamaha RGX821D; apparently the dearest of the entire RGX line in the 90s. I scored it for $280 and I thought given what it is and the condition it is in that I got a really good deal. However, there was horrible backbow and then the truss rod was completely loose. The buzzing in the middle was horrible especially under high gain and it was all just a complete mess of a guitar. It was a shame because I finally found the Yamaha I always wanted and then I ended up getting a bad one.

But I felt there was nothing left to lose so I searched some ways to bring a neck like that back from the dead and so I did the following: I put a straight edge over the neck and then clamped it right in the middle where the bow starts. I then took a clothes iron that's basically maxed out in temp and then left it over the straight edge for 20 minutes, moving around the neck as needed. I then let the neck cool down while clamped.

And voila! The neck was dead straight when I got it out. With 10-46 strings on tuned at E standard, I was able to get about 1.5 full turns worth of truss rod in there to get it to its ideal relief. I have more than enough quarter turns just in case I want to bring it down to 9-42s or something. Plus I think it will continue to bow forward as time goes by (hopefully not backwards again like some people claim after a heat press job like that).

It plays like a dream too! The neck is kind of in between an Ibanez Wizard and Wizard III in thickness so it is very thin but it very round like a Fender C. It's quite comfortable for me and it's quite a nice change from the Wizards that I have. The five scallops from frets 20 to 24 are pretty neat too! The stock pickups sound amazing; loads of clarity and balls even in high gain. I wouldn't need to replace these in a heartbeat.

Overall, I'm satisfied I got this. Sure, it was a rocky start getting it but at least I learned how to fix a warped neck like that. And then I got a nice guitar as a bonus.

That flame maple veneer at the top and back though!

With the gang!

Bonus pic: The neck being repaired.

 

[308sc]

I've got a 90's pacifica that punches way above its weight class. Nice score and great save!!

 

[Crungy]

That is gorgeous, congrats! Idk why but I frickin LOVE the Yamaha logo on it.

 

[ThunderUnderground]

Neck join and partially scalloped fretboard is cool. Nice to see some different idea's.

Well done fixing it yourself 🤌

 

[lost_horizon]

People really sleep on these guitars. The top is actually Flamed Sycamore. The pickups also auto split in positions 2 and 4 and sound very tele/strat like.

Mine in my profile pic is the same guitar, just with a maple board and reverse headstock.

I have upgraded pickups to Bare Knuckle Aftermath Bridge, Cobra middle and Dimarzio Steve Morse Neck.

Also mine came with a swapped Gotoh GE-1996T.

All these guitars came with 9-42 strings, I have a feeling if you put some super heavy strings on there it wouldn't cope as the neck and the Yamaha neck joint is so thin.

It is a crime they aren't making these anymore. They brought back the Super Flighter as the Revstar time to bring back the RGX (or the non scalloped pickguard YG) .

 

[vilk]

Welcome to the RGX team! I've never played one of the Taiwanese ones, but I've always been curious to try those because of the half scalloped upper frets. Looks cool!

 

[groverj3]

That's a pretty rad Yamaha. Congrats!!

 

[SalsaWood]

Definitely the nicest Yamaha I've seen in a loooong time.

 

[eaeolian]

Those are, indeed, rad guitars. Glad that neck trick worked out for you!

 

[Shawn]

Very nice. Nice little collection too.

 

[Kawaii Besu]

Thanks everyone! This guitar really is a blast to play; I wouldn't mind giving it the heat treatment again if the neck reverts to a backbow again lmao. Honestly could get myself some more Yamahas in the future. Maybe if I could find the RGX420DZ I used to own back when I was starting...

People really sleep on these guitars. The top is actually Flamed Sycamore. The pickups also auto split in positions 2 and 4 and sound very tele/strat like.

Mine in my profile pic is the same guitar, just with a maple board and reverse headstock.

I have upgraded pickups to Bare Knuckle Aftermath Bridge, Cobra middle and Dimarzio Steve Morse Neck.

Also mine came with a swapped Gotoh GE-1996T.

All these guitars came with 9-42 strings, I have a feeling if you put some super heavy strings on there it wouldn't cope as the neck and the Yamaha neck joint is so thin.

It is a crime they aren't making these anymore. They brought back the Super Flighter as the Revstar time to bring back the RGX (or the non scalloped pickguard YG) .

My dream would be Yamaha refreshing the RGX/RGZ/YG line and then giving a few 7 and 8 string guitar options. That would surely give Ibanez a huge run for its money!

Also, sick 821DMR! While my TRS Pro is still alright (flutters like crazy), it goes hella sharp when I pull up. Might have to invest in some studs down the line. It's also cool they're using something other than flame maple for the veneers (thanks for the correction!).

I see you have quite the Yamaha collection too! How is the RGZ II? I'm curious about that model. That trem looks like the ZR trem before it was even brought up as an idea!

 

[maliciousteve]

I really like the look of these. Always had a thing for this version:

Hard to find though

 

[lost_horizon]

My dream would be Yamaha refreshing the RGX/RGZ/YG line and then giving a few 7 and 8 string guitar options. That would surely give Ibanez a huge run for its money!

Also, sick 821DMR! While my TRS Pro is still alright (flutters like crazy), it goes hella sharp when I pull up. Might have to invest in some studs down the line. It's also cool they're using something other than flame maple for the veneers (thanks for the correction!).

I see you have quite the Yamaha collection too! How is the RGZ II? I'm curious about that model. That trem looks like the ZR trem before it was even brought up as an idea!

I love how Yamaha has kept production in Indonesia vs going full China with Pacifica's. They would do a great job making more guitars. In fact the current Revstar's with Stainless steel frets are a great bargain compared to many competitors.

With the TRS-Pro, check the posts aren't loose, put some tape around the posts to tighten them up. The housing isn't very good for the posts plus the Gotoh posts are slightly wider spacing so that's why I installed the gotoh studs.

Here is my post about tremelo stabilisers, I had a Goeldo Backbox on my RGX-720DG TRS-pro and honestly never had to retune it.

Tremelo Stabiliser ( Stabilizer ?) Comparison

As discussed before I finally published my video comparison. WD music Trem Stabliser is the cheapest and can do unison bends https://www.wdmusic.com/tremolo-stabilizer-details.html Goeldo Backbox is better than the WD for tremelo upbends and flutters but worse for other things like unison bends...

sevenstring.org

The RGZ-II I haven't actually played it! I bought it because I needed the tremelo bar as my dad (who is a touring musician) needed a replacement whammy bar for his (which has seen more than 30 years worth of gigs) and it was cheaper to buy the entire guitar from Japan! It's still in his shed in another state. It has the tension screw so you can adjust feel without touching springs and I'm looking forward to playing mine. With the carved top it is like an Ibanez S-series plus it is one of the rare Yamaha necks without a scarfe joint. It is a bargain where you can get a MIJ Superstrat for less than $250.

 

[Dekay82]

Very cool, its got somenold Valley Arts vibes

 

[lost_horizon]

Very cool, its got somenold Valley Arts vibes

If you want some real valley arts vibes get a Yamaha Session 703/903

 

[aesthyrian]

I love this! Great job at bringing it back to life. Those oval inlays and the scallops look cool as fuck. It even has direct mount pickups.. Yamaha did it right.

That heel cutaway is awesome and so is the unique screw mounting.

 

[groverj3]

Looks like a Suhr Modern now that I think about it.