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Yamaha RGX 420S Drop6
Yamaha have long been in the business of producing high quality affordable electric guitars and the RGX420S is certainly no exception.
The first word that comes to mind here is 'modern', in more ways than one. In terms of appearance Yamaha have clearly chosen to break away from the typical Les Paul, SG or Strat sty lings we've come to expect. Opting instead for a sleek smooth machined look, (owners of the new RBX Rock bass series will identify with this). The model reviewed came in a laminated top satin grey, as shown in the picture, and also includes black hardware, giving this guitar a serious, solid and cutting edge feel about it. Upon eagerly removing it from its box and associated wrapping, I felt I had a sturdy guitar in my hands. The build quality is excellent, with the exception of some slightly messy drilling around the bridge action screws although this remains virtually out of sight. The body is constructed from solid Alder, and is incredibly light weight, due in part to the tremolo spring recess. It is double cutaway, and some would say, slightly reminiscent of the Ibanez RG series, or Kirk Hammets main ESP for those 'Tallica fans out there. The fret board is rosewood, and comes complete with a black 'gloss' finish to match the hardware. We're also treated to a rather tasty 24 frets, which is good news for those that like to 'shred', and this is complemented with the afore mentioned double cutaway body, as well as a thin profile bolt on neck. Features: well, the most obvious is the Floyd Rose licensed bridge with locking nut. The controls are fairly standard, 1 master volume, 1 master tone and a 5 way pickup selector switch. However we notice an extra switch lurking back there, oddly dubbed the 'blower' switch. This allows you to bypass the circuitry all together and taps into the raw signal of the rear hum bucker, which is fantastic for kicking into ego-tastic hair solos. Pickups; standard dual hum bucker configuration (with stock pickups of unknown brand), although the range of sounds goes far beyond most similar guitars, thanks to the 5 way selector switch. And there's one other feature hiding away here; the neck. A rather evil 666.8mm long, the Drop 6 is a baritone guitar, designed to meet the needs of guitarists who demand a heavier lower sound, as seems to be the trend in modern rock music. This longer scale serves to keep the massive strings (11-64) from becoming floppy in their B tuning. So all that said, how does the thing play? Well the best test is to simply play an old familiar riff. For the appeal behind this model is that guitarists can achieve the low growl of a costly 7 string, but without having to relearn chord shapes, or re-master old riffs. You'll find a nice little grin creeping across your face when you suddenly realise you're causing a small earthquake here. The extremely high string gauge does take some getting used to.
The low B is equivalent to the second highest string on a bass guitar, to put it in perspective. However thanks to the long scale neck, the tension is manageable, and Yamaha boast equal tension to a set of super light 9-42's
This is somewhat debatable from low B to A, and what should be the G string, (now a D) is wound. So in theory, yes the tension is probably on par with a set of super lights. But considering the sheer size of them, and the wound G/D string, its quite a different story in practice. This said, it is extremely manageable, and not a task to play at all.
You'll find yourself gliding up and down the neck with ease; the neck is thin and smooth. The action is low, but rarely, if ever buzzes. On the model reviewed, there were no 'choke' points anywhere on the fret board, so (if there were such a thing) you can bend up to Q no problem if you like! The range of sounds on offer is especially impressive. Position 1, (rear hum bucker connected in series), is loud, punchy and clear and is well suited to high gain rhythm sounds, producing a typical nu-metal grind. Position 2, (rear hum bucker connected in parallel) delivers an almost Strat-ish sound, and is perfect for more mellow blues or soft rock riffs. Positions 3 through to 5 offers round, hollow tones, again well suited to jazz, blues, or anything else for that matter - which is surprising for a guitar built to the demands of today’s heavy sounds. The controls are of good quality here as well. The pots are very smooth and progressive.
Controls on guitars of this price range usually go something like 'off - REALLY loud'. The pickups are incredibly quiet; surprising considering they are passive and that this guitar usually sees most of its action in front of a computer screen!
And of course, there's the Floyd Rose tremolo system. First and foremost it provides fantastic tuning stability, and you can quite happily thrash to hell and back, and find it still in tune. In addition to this, you can go on some wild whammy excursions safe in the knowledge it will come back as you left it. In fact, you can droop the strings clean off the neck, and it returns to perfect tune every time. The review model came set up with a floating bridge, meaning I'm able to yank the bar away from the body also. I can't imagine this is good for the guitar or the strings, and I wouldn't like to test just how far this can be done. I've heard claims of a 4th -up-...but I'll take their word for it.
So - overall? - Very impressive. No grumbles whatsoever in fact. The factory set up was fantastic. The documentation included is fairly thorough, detailing truss rod adjustments, bridge adjustments and so on. It's an absolute joy to play, and the 'weirdness' of that 64 gauge string is well worth overcoming for the sheer power you can produce. And that's really what this guitar is all about. It was designed with today’s heavier and lower sounds in mind. If the names Dino Cazares (Fear Factory) or Mike Mushok (Staind) ring any bells, then this is the guitar for you. But, at the same time, don’t be fooled into thinking this is purely a 'metal' guitar - far from it. The Drop6 can quite happily manage jazz, blues, soft rock and just about anything else. It does it all from booming lows, to screaming highs. Vicious grinds to smooth round vibes. Considering the price tag (as low as £245 in high street guitar stores), you're getting serious value for money. It's also worth mentioning that this guitar is also available in 'vanilla', (the RGX420S), and is tuned E to E. The same features apply, minus the long scale neck. So, in a word...fantastic! Go try one out NOW!
Review by
Chimpspanner
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