Yamaha RGXA2

 
Design of the RGXA2 centered on developing a lightweight instrument that would bring the guitar and player closer together. The focus was on providing the player with greater freedom, much like an air guitar, breaking down the boundaries between what is in the player's head and what comes out of the amp.

In creating a lighter guitar, one absolute condition set down was that sound quality could not be sacrificed. For this reason, a great deal of time and effort went into the creation of numerous prototypes. The A2 project had to combine three crucial factors, great sound, light weight, and sufficient strength to withstand the huge forces generated by strings under tension. Intensive research and development led to the creation of A.I.R. (Alternative Internal Resonance) technology. Although it uses a solid body design, the incredible resonance created by the unique construction method produces a big, open sound that resonates throughout the guitar's entire body. To match and compliment this instrument's unique characteristics, original bridge and pickup systems were developed, the resulting tone and response shattering the widely accepted concept that "lightweight means light sound". The RGXA2 brings a revolutionary approach to guitar design.The quest for the perfect design naturally took the route of trying to build the lightest possible guitar, but early prototypes, while incredibly light, didn't deliver the sound or playing experience that was essential. The final weight for the RGXA2 was set at around 2.5kg, a perfect balance, around 30% lighter than a regular solid body guitar but with all the feel and sound that players were looking for. This is lightweight design taken to the extreme.