The Yamaha RGS Range

The Yamaha RGS Guitars


This is a work in progress as definite information on these guitars is extremely difficult to find. I cannot find them in any catalogue that I have access to and although 4 of the 6 models are listed in the archives the pages with details are not there. Production was very short lived for both releases.


The RGS guitars are strat copies quite cheap models definitely the lower end of the Yamaha range. There were effectively two releases the first four models were released in 1990 and 1991, the second in 2002. All models were made in Taiwan. All are bolt on neck 22 frets 648mm scale and around 3.5kgs weight.


Update June 2022
I now have access to the 1991 Japanese catalogues and the first release is featured there so now have much more detail. They were released as part of the Yamaha First Stage Street Style offer see the end of this page


The first release

Three models were released in July 1990 The 103p and the 112p at 35000 yen and the 312p at 48000 yen.

103p 112p 312p
Price 35000 yen 35000 yen 48000 yen
Body Alder Alder Alder
Neck Bolt on Maple or Nato Bolt on Maple or Nato Bolt on Maple
Board Bubingha Bubingha Bubingha
Bridge Vintage II Vintage II RMX III
Headstock Matching strat style with Yamaha and Model Name 1 string tree Matching strat style with Yamaha and Model Name 1 string tree Matching strat style with Yamaha and Model Name 1 string bar
Pickups GS-F1W x 3 Ceramic Single Coils GS-F1W x 2 GS-H1B X 1 Ceramics >GS-F1W x 2 GS-H1B X 1 Ceramics
Controls 1V 1T 5 way 1V 1T 5 way 1V 1T 5way
Colours Black or White Black, White or Vintage Red Black, White or Vintage Red
Scale 648mm 648mms 648mms
Hardware Chrome Chrome Black

A further model was released in June 1991 the 112ps at 35000 yen production of all four models ended in 1991


The 103p



This guitar is as the name suggests an SSS. The pickups look to me to be ceramic. It has a 6 point vintage style vibrato bridge and trap tuners, never a sign of quality.



The 112p and 112ps

A 112p in black and a 112ps in blue


A red 112ps

These guitars are SSH models the pickups being described as GS-F and GH-F vintage pickups. The only differences I can find between the p and the ps are cosmetic. The p has a black scratchplate with black controls and pickup covers the ps has White scratchplate with black controls and pickup covers. The ps at least black red and blue.



The 312p

A 312 in white

This guitar is more of a Superstrat having a RMX 111 Bridge and locking nut. Again though it has a Maple neck with Bubinga board attached to an Alder body. Vintage style tuners. All hardware and plastic is black and it has decent diecast tuners.

The second release

In 2002 a further two RGS models were released. The 121 and the 121s. All models I have seen are dated 2002, so I suspect they lasted less than a year.






Top a 121 in black below a 121s in purple and one in red


On the left the 121 with trap tuners and on the right the 121s with vintage style tuner

These are essentially the same model the usual Bubinga on Maple neck with an Alder body HSH configuration. The obvious difference between the two models is the tuners. The 121 comes in at least Black, Electric Blue and Red, the S in at least Purple, Red, Blue and Black.

Update Sept 2020
Joe Chang from Chicago Emailed me. He has bought an RGS 121 it's made in Indonesia and he got the following from Yamaha
Manufactured 2002-2003
Body is Agathis
Neck is Maple
Fingerboard is Rosewood
1 single coil and 2 humbucker pickups
Chrome Hardware
Based on the serial number I would say it was manufactured in 2002.

Obviously this contradicts the previous info I had on body wood

Joe's Guitar




Yamaha Guitar Starter Packs

The 103p the 112p and the 312p were available as part of the
First Stage Street Style
This was a guitar and Amp deal with all you need to start playing, similar to deals done with Pacificas and Squiers.
There were in total six guitars all with the same accessories but priced according to the guitar these are:
FS1 RGS 103p 55000 yen
FS2 RGS 112p 55000 yen
FS3 RGS 312p 68000 yen
FS4 RGX 112 JII 59000 yen
FS6 RTX 102 58000 yen
FS7 RTL 102 58000 yen

Note there is no number 5 and FS6 and FS7 are described as new suggesting there was an earlier deal including another guitar as FS5 but there is nothing in the 1990 catalogue and nothing in any western catalogues that I can find




The Guitar part of the catalogue scan. There was a Bass version available as well
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