For decades, Yamaha has been investing heavily in the Pacifica line. Although we all played one at least once, and recognize it when spotted into the wild, they somehow never made it to the spotlight in a way other brands did.
Is this because they’re just not all that good, or is it because of a lacking marketing campaign behind them? Well, if Mike Stern is your main artist, you’re speaking to a very specific audience. In a way, to the public eye, Pacificas are like Elixir strings: Amazing, and for nerds only.
Well, let me tell you that after going full-on with a Pacifica in my hands, my idea of these guitars has changed. They can do it all and then some without breaking the bank. They might not make it into the cool kids’ club, but they surely ticked every box on my list.
Speaking of which, I just love to bring you guitars that are just hidden gems, packing such a stellar bang for the buck.
Buckle up, because here we go!
Quick Overview
Well-built, comfortable Super Strat with quality hardware, real Seymour Duncans, and an alder body that keeps things snappy. Leans bright, but versatile enough to cover blues, rock, and heavier styles with a few tweaks.
Top Appointments at Midrange Price; Looks, Materials & Construction
I don’t know if you know this, but Yamaha started as a piano company in the late 1800s (if you look closely at the logo, it’s three tuning forks intertwined). Well, nowadays, they make some of the best pianos in the world as well as world-class motorbikes, jet skis, amplifiers, Hi-Fi equipment, synths, mixing boards, off-board motors for water vehicles, and the list goes on.
Why is this important? Well, simply because Yamaha applies the same quality standards across the board. This means that the pots on your guitar are as reliable as the brakes on a motorcycle racing at 180 km/h.
If there’s one thing you can’t have any doubts about, it’s Yamaha’s precision, commitment to excellence, and quality. So, the moment I picked up this guitar, I inspected it thoroughly before playing even a note on it.
Yamaha Pacifica PAC612 VII FM
The finish was perfect. I hate to disappoint you by telling you that the mesmerizing maple top is a veneer, but it is so well-done that it could be a real one. I had to look it up to find out it wasn’t the real deal because the finish is flawless.
Moreover, the neck joint, fret dress, intonation, and the contours of the body shine, giving you a super Strat that can do it all with ultimate comfort. Yes, that C-shaped neck falls in the cavity of your hand, giving you a great playing experience.
Yamaha Pacifica PAC612 VII FM - Neck
I have to say I’m more of a satin-finish-on-the-neck kind of guy, but the glossy finish felt good, at least at first glance. More on this later.
The rosewood fretboard is dark, porous, and feels great to the hand. There are no fancy rolled edges, and the fret job isn’t Custom-Shop quality, but it’s amazing at this price point. You can play endlessly on this neck, and you’ll never get a sore hand or a sharp edge.
Yamaha Pacifica PAC612 VII FM - Fretboard
Although I would have gone for jumbo frets to make playing fast easier, this guitar’s medium frets are fun and comfy to play. Likewise, the 13.75” radius makes it a little flatter than a regular modern Strat (usually in the range from 9.5 to 12”), which is great to play fast solos, complex chords, and just jamming the night away.
I had to re-read the specs on this guitar after playing it for a while to believe it was true. Let me tell you this in a single, simple line: Yamaha cut no corners to make this guitar. Indeed, when you take this Yamaha PAC-612VIIFM home, you are getting much more for your money than any other brand offers today.
You get a lot of guitar for the money you’re paying.
Let’s break it down.
To begin with, you have a solid, contoured, light alder body with a laminated maple top. It’s a veneer, but maple is beneath it. In this price range, most of the competition would have made this a poplar body. This would turn it into a less defined instrument without that classic alder snap we love so much.
Moreover, the maple neck comes with real rosewood in the fingerboard, not pau ferro, richlite, or any other substitute. This is another thing you can only expect from guitars twice the price.
At the end of that well-crafted neck, you have a real Tusq nut, a matching headstock, and real Grover locking tuners. These are as smooth as they get; they keep everything rolling perfectly.
Finally, the Wilkinson bridge and Seymour Duncan pickups with a 5-way switch AND coil-split are proper for a guitar well into the $1,000+ market.
Did I bore you with the technical mumbo jumbo? I’m sorry about that. It’s just that I can’t believe Yamaha managed to put together such a high-end instrument at this price point. Well, believe it, folks, Yamaha just did it again!
How Does It Sound, Man?
I know what you’re thinking right now. “It’s all cool with the woods and the pickups, but does it sound top-notch, or bedroom-ready?” That’s a great question, my fellow guitar player. Let me answer it in a single line first, and we’ll dive deeper into the why; this guitar delivers sonically and performs way above its price range.
I started my test with the guitar completely clean, going straight into my Fender ’65 RI Deluxe Reverb. The result was just a little brighter than expected. The humbucker in the bridge has that nice, fat, punchy tone when using both coils that’s clear, bright, and cuts through. I mean, the combination of alder and a maple cap is always generous in the higher mids.
I played some jazz with the tone rolled down all the way, and, although I’m not comparing myself to Mike Stern, the sound was spot-on. I also tried some Chili Peppers with the coil-tap engaged in the bridge and the fourth position, and the results were great.
Yes, the percussiveness, the attack, and the solid, bright midrange cut through perfectly. I have to say this guitar sits closer to a Suhr than a Fender. It doesn’t have any dirt on the sound; it’s more pristine and modern. Nevertheless, the traditional Strat sound emerged.
The SSL-1 and SP90-1N single coils, also by Seymour Duncan, hold true to their heritage and make positions 3, 2, and 1 very enjoyable.
I engaged my Tube Screamer to add some grit to an otherwise pristine-sounding guitar, and I had to dial down the Tone knob on the pedal because it went too far into glassy territory. After addressing the high-end glass-like tones, I played some righteous blues.
In that scenario, this guitar shines and delivers usable tones throughout all combinations. I do have to say that the humbucker has a slight volume jump that’s kind of annoying, but the tone is just perfect.
I played everything from SRV to BB with some Mayer, and some Gary Clark Jr. in the middle, and the guitar stayed true to that midrange grit and mojo we need for that bluesy thing to sound right.
Finally, I dropped the sixth string to D and played some thunderous riffs with the distortion fully engaged. I can tell you that the humbucker stays clear and punchy all the time, while the single coils get that sharp edge, which we all love.
I played everything from Deftones to Ozzy and then lowered the gain to play some Soundgarden, Aerosmith, and Pearl Jam, and the results were consistent. I mean, it all sounded a little too bright to my taste, but that’s a treat you mostly get from playing these alder-body, maple-cap guitars.
I guess if this were a keeper, I would replace the bridge pickup with something a little darker and more powerful. Something like a Duncan Distortion or a JB. A little more output and a bigger bottom-end to match the bright, natural sound of the instrument would be perfect.
Why would I want a hotter humbucker if I’m annoyed by the volume difference? Well, I took a screwdriver and modified the pickup height to match them, and it all became a bliss to play with.
Let’s Talk Playability
I have to say the body of this guitar is just sexy. The heavy contours, prolonged upper horn, and mesmerizing blue (kind of swampy green?) dye make it a great stage-ready axe that feels comfortable to play for hours.
Moreover, the light weight, the Wilkinson tremolo, the locking tuners, and the fast, flat neck will have you playing for hours without re-tuning or adjusting or doing anything else.
I mean, playability is a critical item for guitars in this price range. In my opinion, Yamaha installing a Tusq nut as a factory spec is crucial to make this guitar fun and easy to play. You can dive bomb your way to stardom.
If you think about it, it’s a no-brainer; the whole thing is made of something close to graphite. I don’t know why this isn’t standard for more guitars in this price range. A proper nut really is a game-changer, not only for playability and tuning stability but also for tone.
The tremolo is so smooth that, not to say I pulled it off sounding close, but I did some outrageous Dimebag-worthy moves with the tremolo. Guess what? Yes, it came back to its place perfectly in tune.
Perhaps the only drawback I had playing this guitar for several hours was that sticky finish on the neck. If it were satin, I would have had way more fun with it just because my thumb wouldn’t be delayed in one spot while the hand is urging somewhere else.
Other than that, this is a terrific guitar that’s versatile enough to play anything you want and comfortable enough to play long sessions or shows.
Final Word
You know what? I get it. Yamaha isn’t cool. We all acknowledge it’s a great, solid brand. But while their motorcycles might be hip and badass, guitars and basses remain uncool.
There’s no real explanation other than bad marketing because, like everything else they do, Yamaha makes outstanding stringed instruments.
This Pacifica got me playing for hours and delivered thoroughly in every department. It screamed, shouted, barked, bit, and even purred when needed. The only caveat might be that it’s a little too inclined to the bright side of the spectrum.
Other than that, all components are top-notch, and so are the tonewoods.
The only thing Yamaha didn’t include with this guitar, which is a total shame, is a gig bag or case. It comes in a box like the cheapest Squier but loaded with real Seymour Duncan pickups and a Tusq nut. It just doesn’t make any sense.
If you can jump over the uncool factor, which means this guitar looks playable or even good to you, and falls within your budget, you just must try one.
It’s a gem hidden in plain sight. Happy (Pacifica) playing!
My Verdict
A legit hidden gem — great tones, solid feel, and components you usually see on pricier guitars. A bit bright out of the box and shipped without even a basic case, but otherwise hard to fault at this price.
