8 Best Yamaha Pacifica Compared & Reviewed

 

Best Yamaha Pacifica Review – Top Rated Models with Buying Guide

 

If you’re into guitar playing and your goals call for the best Yamaha Pacifica electric guitar, yet you don’t have enough time to do all the research required to find the unit that best meets your needs, this paragraph might be of help. After taking a closer look at the various Yamaha Pacifica models available for sale and their features, we’ve concluded that the first option that deserves attention is the Yamaha Pacifica Series PAC112V Electric Guitar. Built to ensure a great tone and remarkable playability, this model features quality materials and a thoughtful design that will cover your needs for a long time. The lightweight solid alder body and smooth C-shaped maple neck render it suitable for beginners and younger players. Thanks to the trio of pickups featured, you will be able to dial in various tones to suit a variety of genres. In case this product is temporarily unavailable, a reliable alternative from the same series is the Yamaha Pacifica Series PAC012 Electric Guitar. 

 

 

Comparison table

 

 

 

8 Best Yamaha Pacifica (Updated Reviews) in 2021

 

 

Since there are various features to consider when looking for the best Yamaha Pacifica electric guitars, we have compiled below a list of Yamaha Pacifica reviews to provide you with more information about various models. Check it out before deciding on a product.

 

 

1. Yamaha Pacifica Series PAC112V Electric Guitar

 

Stylishly designed and built with quality materials, this model is worth considering if you’re a beginner or you have little experience in guitar playing and you need an instrument that ensures playability and versatility. To deliver such results, the guitar features a solid alder body that is lightweight, a smooth C-shaped maple neck, and a rosewood fingerboard. 

All these characteristics will make it easier for emerging players to explore the sonic capacities of an electric guitar. Moreover, it comes with a trio of pickups that will get versatility one step further and enable you to nuance your performance with various tones, including clean highs and punchy mids.

Thanks to the sleek neck, you can use the instrument for chording or lead play and thus engage in different approaches. The unit is packed with a vintage tremolo bridge and block saddles that will help you stay in tune. This particular model features the Sonic Blue color, a choice that will visually complement your playing sessions. The guitar comes in a variety of other colors as well.

 

Pros 

If tonal variety and playability are the benefits you’re interested in, this electric guitar is worthy of consideration as it was built to provide you with such advantages. 

To perform the way it does and keep up with many practice sessions, the unit is built with quality tonewoods, including maple for the C-shaped neck and rosewood for the fingerboard.

The body features solid alder and is lightweight, which renders this model suitable for emerging players and beginners. 

Due to the pickup trio, you will have the possibility to flavor your sonic outputs according to your preferences and needs. 

The sleek neck ensures instant playability, while the stylish Sonic Blue color option will add nice visuals to your performance.

 

Cons 

This guitar is more appropriate for beginners and, therefore, seasoned players might want to keep on looking at other models as well before making a decision.

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2. Yamaha Pacifica Series PAC012 Electric Guitar

 

Suitable for beginners and musicians on the lookout for a decently-priced entry-level guitar, this model from the Yamaha Pacifica series is packed with features and materials that should keep up with many of your practice sessions and provide you with tonal versatility. The unit sports a Strat-style double-cutaway body like all the other models in this series.

To keep the guitar under $200, the manufacturer used solid agathis for the body, which is similar to basswood. The other materials employed for the construction of this unit include maple for the neck and sonokeling for the fingerboard. 

The unit sports chrome tuners to help you keep the instrument in tune, a humbucker in the bridge position, as well as single coils in the neck and middle positions. The body features a high-gloss finish, and the guitar is available in various color options, such as Black, Metallic Blue, Metallic Red, and Old Violin Sunburst.

 

Pros

Featuring a stylish and lightweight design, this electric guitar is an option beginners might want to consider as it ensures playability. 

The manufacturer employed tonewoods such as agathis and sonokeling to keep the price suitable for budget-conscious buyers, yet the materials used ensure durability. 

Adding nuances to your performance is possible thanks to the trio of pickups featured while keeping the instrument in tune shouldn’t be a problem as it comes with chrome tuners.

Given its components, the unit is versatile and produces clear sounds and can thus be employed for different genres and approaches.

The high-gloss finish and Strat-style double-cutaway body pair all the above-mentioned benefits with visuals that won’t go unnoticed.

 

Cons 

Given the price of this unit, some of its parts might not be as durable as expected or desired; for example, the electronics might not keep up with heavy use for too long.

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3. Yamaha Pacifica PAC112JL YNS Left-Handed Electric Guitar

 

If you’re a left-handed player on the lookout for an entry-level electric guitar from the Yamaha Pacifica series, this unit might be cut out for you as it was designed to meet such needs and perform beautifully for a long time. The item comes with a solid alder body that is lightweight and comfortable, which makes this unit suitable for beginners and intermediate players.

The C-shaped maple neck is sleek, a feature that further adds to the playability ensured by this model. The guitar also features a rosewood fingerboard and string steels to provide you with countless hours of practice. 

The sealed Yamaha tuners will help you keep the guitar in tune while the bridge humbucker with two single-coil pickups will enable you to produce a variety of rock and vintage sounds. The controls featured provide color-shaping options to suit many preferences and genres. The item is available in a variety of colors. 

 

Pros

This is an entry-level unit that was built to make it comfortable and easy for beginners and players with little experience to explore the sonic realm of this instrument.

The guitar sports a solid alder body that is lightweight and comfortable to hold, as well as a sleep neck that adds to the playability offered by this model.

Due to the controls and the bridge humbucker with two single-coil pickups featured, you will get to express your sonic personality and creativity. 

Considering its components and the way it was designed, versatility is another benefit offered by this instrument. 

This particular model features a yellow natural satin design; however, the item also comes in other color options to cover a variety of preferences.

 

Cons 

Keep in mind that this is a left-handed guitar and, therefore, suitable only for a certain category of players; the Pacifica series includes right-handed models as well, though.

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4. Yamaha Pacifica PAC611HFM TP Solid-Body Electric Guitar

 

This model ensures tonal variety and playability and packs features that produce tones your audience is highly likely to appreciate, as well as a stylish design that will catch everybody’s eyes. The instrument boasts a solid alder body, a flamed maple top, as well as a beautiful gloss polyurethane.

The item also comes with a C-shaped maple neck that is sleek and adds to the player’s comfort and a rosewood fingerboard. These features make it possible for you to employ the guitar for lead play and chording alike. In the bridge position, you will find a Seymour Duncan TB-14 humbucker so that you can dial in humbucking tones.

For crisp, single-coil tones, the item is also equipped with a Seymour Duncan SP90-1N single-coil that is placed in the neck position. Adding tonal colorings to your performance is further ensured by the controls featured while keeping the guitar in tune won’t be a problem thanks to the Grover locking tuners. 

 

Pros

With this model, you get tonal variety, playability, as well as looks that will add remarkable visuals to your performance. 

The unit was built to perform and last while keeping the playing experience comfortable and thus comes with a lightweight and easy to hold design. 

The C-shaped neck is sleek, and the guitar also features a rosewood fingerboard to provide the user with instant playability. 

To enable you to explore and discover your creativity, the instrument is packed with two Seymour Duncan pickups, a 3-position blade, and master tone and volume controls.

Thanks to the Grover locking tuners and hardtail bridge with string-saver saddles, you don’t have to worry that the instrument will go out of tune too soon.

The laminated maple top, finish, and design details featured will make sure your performance is not only about impressive tones but also about stylish visuals.

 

Cons 

The quality of the neck might not be as high as desired, at least when it comes to seasoned players. 

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5. Yamaha Pacifica Series PAC212VFM Electric Guitar

 

The guitars in the Pacifica series are appreciated for ensuring a great tone, versatility, and playability, and this unit makes no exception. Boasting an eye-catching caramel brown color and an elegant design, this unit is worth adding to your options if you want high sound quality as well as stylish looks.

Everything that goes into the making of a guitar contributes to the way it sounds and its durability. To make sure that the sounds produced are not only clear and versatile but that the instrument keeps up with frequent playing sessions, the manufacturer packed this model with a maple top, a solid alder body, a maple bolt-on neck, and a rosewood fingerboard. 

The unit also features a vintage tremolo with block saddles, as well as a 5-position switch with coil tap to further up your performance and enable you to explore while staying in tune. The guitar is also available in Tobacco Sunburst and Translucent Black.

 

Pros 

This guitar was built to cut a fine figure not only from a sonic point of view but also from a visual one and thus boasts quality materials and an inspired and stylish design.

Since the materials used for the construction of a musical instrument and the way they are put together determine the sounds delivered, the manufacturer chose quality tonewoods.

The unit features a flame maple top, a solid alder body, a rosewood fingerboard, and a maple neck that work together to create clear sounds, ensure playability, and keep up with extended use.

Thanks to the 5-position switch, you will be able to extend your playing possibilities, while the overall comfortable and easy-to-hold design makes this unit suitable even for beginners.

 

Cons 

Depending on your experience and skill level, you might find the action of this guitar to be a bit high; plus, keeping the G string in tune might be a bit problematic.

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6. Yamaha Pacifica PAC510V OVS Solid-Body Electric Guitar

 

The guitars in the Pacifica Series were designed as a result of the need for an instrument in this class that can deliver versatility, individuality, and playability, and this unit lives up to that purpose. Featuring simpler looks than other models in this series, this model stands out through the rich tonal possibilities it ensures. 

If you’re thus looking for an electric guitar that will capture your various nuances and help you express it with clear sounds, the PAC510V might be cut out for you. Even if this model comes with only one pickup, it still ensures versatility. 

The Seymour Duncan Trembucker P-Rails will enable you to enjoy greater freedom when playing, whereas the Wilkinson VS50 bridge with precision machined zinc saddles will provide you with stability and an impressive feel. The Grover locking tuners are designed to lock the strings automatically and thus ensure stable tuning while making it easy to change strings fast.

 

Pros

Packed with quality components that have been thoughtfully and skillfully put together, this Pacifica model is built to provide you with versatility and tonal stability.

Even if the product features a single pickup, the guitar still delivers an impressive number of tonal possibilities so that you can explore and express your sonic creativity.  

The Graph Tech TUSQ XL nut, string trees, and Grover locking tuners provide stable tuning that will help you engage in many playing sessions before retuning is needed.

The tonewoods chosen for the construction of this unit include alder for the body, maple for the neck, and rosewood for the fingerboard. 

The Wilkinson VS50 bridge with precision machined zinc saddles will add to the noteworthy feel and the stability ensured by this guitar.

 

Cons 

Despite the locking tuners, string trees, and Graph Tech nut, keeping the guitar in tune might not always be flawless. 

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7. Yamaha Pacifica PAC611HFM TBL Solid-Body Electric Guitar

 

With this guitar, you won’t just get an instrument that will help you discover your sonic personality and express it beautifully but also a stylish design that is highly likely to cut a fine figure. The guitar was built in such a way to make it comfortable for you to play for hours on end and get tonal versatility while doing so.

Like other models in this series, the PAC611HFM TBL sports a solid alder body with a flamed maple top, as well as a maple neck and a rosewood fingerboard. Keeping the instrument in tune shouldn’t be a problem as the item is paired with Grover locking tuners and a Graph Tech nut. 

The guitar also comes with a hardtail bridge, Graph Tech string saver saddles, and Seymour Duncan pickups so that you can get creative and nuance your performance with a variety of tones. This is the Translucent Black model, but the item is also available in other color options. 

 

Pros

If your musical interests are varied, and you’re on the lookout for a versatile electric guitar that will keep up with your different approaches, this unit is worth taking a closer look at. 

Thanks to the Seymour Duncan pickups and the controls featured, exploring a noteworthy array of tones will also be a part of your performance. 

The product is built with quality materials, including solid alder for the body, maple for the neck, rosewood for the fingerboard, and flamed maple for the guitar’s top. 

Given that the PAC611HFM TBL features Grover locking tuners and Graph Tech nut and string saver saddles, the instrument shouldn’t go out of tune anytime soon.

The item comes in a variety of color options so that you can easily get the one that best meets your preferences.

 

Cons 

The strings featured might not be that durable and, thus, replacement might be needed; however, this also depends on your playing style and how often you use the item.

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8. Yamaha Pacifica PAC612VIIFM TBL 6 String Solid-Body Guitar

 

Following the design lines of the other models in the Yamaha Pacifica series, this guitar was carefully built with quality materials that should provide you with tonal variety and stand the test of time. To perform the way it does, the instrument boasts an alder body, a C-shaped neck, and a rosewood fingerboard. 

The lightweight body and the comfortable and playable neck and fingerboard render this unit suitable even for players who are just getting started. To cover various preferences and interests, the PAC612VIIFM TBL was designed to ensure versatility and a wealth of tonal possibilities.

It thus comes with three Seymour Duncan pickups, as well as a 5-position lever switch, and master tone and volume knobs. To help you play for hours without worrying that the instrument will go out of tune, the guitar is packed with Grover locking tuners and a Wilkinson VS50 bridge. This is the Translucent Black version of this guitar, yet various other color options are available.

 

Pros

The instrument is worth considering if you’re interested in playability, tonal variety, and a comfortable design. 

The item features quality tonewoods and components that should cover your needs for a long time, and they include rosewood, maple, and alder. 

An instrument that easily goes out of tune can prove to be a nuisance, and, to avoid such unpleasant events, Yamaha used Grover locking tuners and a Wilkinson VS50 bridge. 

The Seymour Duncan pickups, 5-position lever switch, and master tone and volume knobs will help you tailor your sonic outputs according to your needs and preferences. 

The lightweight body and comfortable design make this option ideal even for players with little experience, while the color options available will enable you to get the model that matches the rest of your gear. 

 

Cons 

Given the quality of the components used, the craftsmanship, and the way it performs, this unit is a bit pricier than other models in this series. 

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Our Comprehensive Buying Guide 

 

Playing the guitar is not only about developing a new skill and using your brain in a new and different way. It is also about exploring your creativity and discovering and building your sonic personality. If you’ve embarked on this journey and chose the electric way to do it, trying one of the Yamaha Pacifica guitar models is an inspired thing to do. 

The Pacifica guitars have garnered appreciation and positive feedback thanks to the versatility, reliability, and playability they deliver. The models in this series come in a variety of colors as well and finishes that visually complement a guitar’s performance. 

However, finding the best Yamaha Pacifica electric guitars might not be the easiest thing to do, especially if you have little experience in this field. There are different factors that require your attention, and we have highlighted them below so that you can get the Pacifica guitar that best meets your needs with greater ease. 

Your needs and budget 

Before getting into details regarding the materials used for an electric guitar, the hardware, and other such aspects, you need to consider your interests, goals, and budget. These factors will help you narrow down the list of options and increase your chances of getting an instrument that you will feel comfortable playing and that will keep you motivated. 

If you’re a beginner, it is probably best to go for a guitar size that ensures ease of playing. Learning to play the guitar is challenging at first, and you most probably don’t want a too big or uncomfortable guitar to make it more difficult. In case this is not your first electric guitar, it should be easier for you to identify what suits your current skill level. 

The way a guitar is built and the materials used will determine the price tag. While getting a cheap Yamaha Pacifica electric guitar seems more reasonable if it is for a beginner, you still might want to think twice since a high-quality guitar increases the chances of keeping the player motivated. 

A too cheap guitar that goes out of tune easily or is difficult to play is likely to discourage a beginner. What’s great about the Yamaha Pacifica electric guitar series is that it includes models that are specifically designed for beginners, given their Stratocaster style and easy-to-maneuver design. Some of them are available for $200 or so, which is more than a budget-friendly price point.

 

Tonewoods

Everything that goes into the making of a guitar, be it an affordable Yamaha Pacifica electric guitar or an acoustic one from a different brand, determines the way it performs and how long it lasts. Tonewoods play a huge role here and have a significant impact on the sounds produced by a guitar. 

Some of the most common tonewoods used for the different parts of a guitar include mahogany, rosewood, alder, maple, agathis, ebony, and nato. Each of them comes with characteristics that set them apart from the others in terms of durability, tone, resonance, and visuals. 

Many of the Yamaha electric guitars in the Pacific series, such as the Yamaha Pacifica 611HFM and the Yamaha Pacifica 112J, feature a solid alder body. Yamaha often paired such a body with maple top and neck, and rosewood fingerboard. 

It is best to try out a guitar and listen to the way it sounds before buying. If you can’t reach a store, you might want to look for a video showcasing the model of your interest and see if the tonewoods employed bring the sonic contribution you’re after. 

 

Body style

Electric guitars come in three body types, including the hollow body, the semi-hollow body, and the solid body. Each of them has specific characteristics, and, therefore, getting more information about each of these types before you purchase is essential if you want the model you get to be that perfect match. 

Many of the Pacifica electric guitars from Yamaha that we have showcased above feature a solid body, one of the most commonly used body types for this category of instruments. Such models use solid wood, as the name suggests, and can range from simple units with a single pickup to decorated options with multiple pickups. 

The hollow-body guitars resemble acoustic guitars since they are built like them and feature a hollow inside. This design ensures more resonance, and such guitars are often employed for jazz, given their tone richness and bass depth. 

Electric guitars featuring a semi-hollow body are built with a solid center wood block for increased sustain and stability. This type is more versatile and can be employed for genres ranging from jazz to blues or punk rock.

 

Electronics and pickups

Whether your budget limits you to look only for cheap Yamaha Pacifica electric guitars or allows you to get pricier models, another highly important aspect to take into account is the electronics and pickups featured. These components have the most significant impact on the sounds produced by the guitar. 

Simple Yamaha electric guitar models come with a single-coil pickup and thus produce crisp and bright sounds. However, the Pacifica series includes models that come with Humbucker pickups to eliminate hum and provide players with tonal variety. Such units ensure increased tone strength, thickness, and loudness, which makes them suitable for heavy metal, rock, and jazz.

The market also offers electric guitars that feature active pickups that run on batteries. The advantage of these pickups is that they not only produce cleaner sounds, but they also have a higher output when compared to magnetic pickups. Still, many electric guitars boast passive pickups. 

Keep an eye on the location of the pickups as this influences the tone they deliver. Models that are packed with multiple pickups come with controls to access either a pickup or a combination of two or three of them. They include blade selectors, rotary knobs, or toggle switches. To tailor your performance even more, it is best to look for a guitar that also offers volume and tone controls. 

Tuning machines and other considerations 

Many of the affordable Yamaha Pacifica electric guitars, such as the Yamaha Pacifica 112, are suitable for beginners and intermediate players. Regardless of your skill level and experience, make sure that the unit you want to get won’t go out of tune too often or easily. Check out the tuning machines featured before your purchase.

Units with locking tuners are appreciated for ensuring tuning stability and preventing the strings from stretching too much or flipping when using a tremolo system. As far as the bridges of an electric guitar are concerned, these parts come in two main types: stoptail and tremolo bridges. 

The former is fixed into the body of the guitar and thus delivers enhanced tuning stability and sustain. The latter allows you to bend all the guitar’s strings at once, but that can also get the strings out of tune more easily. 

Don’t forget about the number of frets of the model you want to buy. Electric guitars usually come with 22 frets, yet the market also offers units featuring 24 frets. Make sure you pay attention to the Yamaha Pacifica dimensions, including the scale length. This one ranges from 24.75″ to 25″ and has an impact on the quality of the tones delivered. 

To make sure you get to enjoy the beautiful Pacifica music produced by the guitars in this series, it is compulsory to pay attention to the above-mentioned factors. You might also want to read a Yamaha Pacifica review or watch a video of a live session to learn more about a particular product before hitting the order button. 

 

 

Frequently Asked Questions:

 

Q: Where is Yamaha Pacifica made?

Manufactured by Yamaha, the electric guitars in the Pacifica series were originally designed by Rich Lasner and reached completion with the help of Leo Knapp in the company’s custom shop from California. Although these guitars were just a test project at first, Yamaha decided that these instruments should enter production. 

The guitars in this line are made in Asia, and, if you purchase one, you should see the precise manufacturing location on the label. Some of them, such as the Yamaha Pacifica 112V, are made in Taiwan, while others are manufactured in Indonesia. 

Regardless of their production location, the guitars in the Pacifica series have come to be appreciated by players worldwide thanks to the quality delivered and their competitive prices. Many models are entry-level units for beginners and intermediate players, yet the materials that went into their construction and components used render them reliable. 

Q: What is the difference between Yamaha Pacifica 012 and 112?

Even if these two models share some common features, the Yamaha Pacifica 012 and 112 models do differ in terms of price, materials used, and performance delivered. One of the first things you’ll probably notice is the difference in price. The 112 model is the pricier unit out of these two, yet the difference is somewhere around $100-$150. 

This further talks about other features that set these two units apart. For example, the 012 comes with an agathis body, while the 112 sports an alder body. The former has a design and characteristics that render it suitable for beginners. 

The latter is a good choice for novices as well, but it can also be employed by more seasoned players. The 112 is equipped with Alnico V magnet-based pickups, while the 012 packs two single coils and a humbucker. Plus, the Yamaha Pacifica 112 allows you to make more modifications so that you can reach the sound of interest. 

 

Q: What pickups do Yamaha Pacifica guitars have?

The Yamaha Pacifica guitars were built to meet the various needs of musicians and respond to different playing styles. Thus, the pickup configuration used for the instruments in this series is committed to ensuring a variety of sounds ranging from clean tones to deep heavy distortion. 

You will, therefore, find all the main pickups used for electric guitars when it comes to the models in the Pacifica series. From single coils to humbuckers and soapbar pickups, this line of guitars will enable you to find the model that best covers your preferences in this area as well. 

For example, the Yamaha PAC612VIIFM sports a Seymour Duncan TB-14 humbucker that is placed in the bridge position, a Seymour Duncan SSL-1 placed in the middle, as well as a Seymour Duncan SP90-1N single-coil that can be found in the neck position. 

The Yamaha PAC611HFM comes with a Seymour Duncan SP90-1N single-coil for the neck and a Seymour Duncan TB-14 humbucker featured in the bridge position.