| Pacifica | |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer | Yamaha |
| Period | Present |
| Construction | |
| Body type | Single or double-cutaway solid |
| Neck joint | bolt-on or set |
| Woods | |
| Body | Alder |
| Neck | Maple |
| Fretboard | Rosewood or Maple |
| Hardware | |
| Bridge | Vintage vibrato,Floyd Rose type vibrato,Wilkinson vibrato, or hard tail Tele |
| Pickup(s) | 1 humbucking and 2 single-coil pickups or 1 humbucking and 1 Hot Rails |
| Colors available | |
| black, lake blue, metallic red, natural, old violin sunburst, and translucent green | |
Yamaha Pacifica is the name of a series of electric guitars manufactured by Yamaha. The line was originally designed in Yamaha's California custom-shop by Rich Lasner, working with guitar builder Leo Knapp. Initially intended by Lasner and Knap as a test project, Yamaha Japan chose to produce the instruments.
Many variants of the Pacifica have been produced since the 1990s, including models styled like the Fender Stratocaster and Telecaster, twelve string models, carved-top and set-neck versions.
Pacificas all have one of two basic body shapes: a Stratocaster inspired double cutaway shape, or a Telecaster-like single cutaway. Apart from these similarities, the models vary in materials, hardware, and electronics. As of December 2009, there were currently 5 models in production.
The best-selling and most recognisable models are the entry-level PAC012 and PAC112. The 112 has a solid Alder body and has always been available with a clear varnish finish, showing the grain of the wood. At the time of the original launch this was intended to contrast with some of Fender's budget models, which then used cheap plywood for the body.
The early PAC1412 and PAC1421 models had set necks and carved tops with Floyd Rose locking vibrato bridges. These guitars were ultimately too costly to produce and hence too expensive for Yamaha's market. Other variations include the twelve-string PAC303 12, and the reversed headstock PAC721R.
The high-end PAC1511MS, for example, has a solid swamp ash body, with a Seymour Duncan humbucker neck pickup, and a Seymour Duncan "hot-rails" humbucker pickup in the bridge position, and a non-vibrato bridge with strings passing through the body. In contrast, the entry level PAC012 has one Yamaha humbucker and two single coil pickups, an agathis body and a Strat-style vibrato bridge.
At the 2011 Frankfurt Musikmesse Yamaha announced the 611HFM, 510V and 311H models and the reintroduction of the 120H.[1] The 120H is similar to the 112V, but features a hardtail, instead of a tremolo bridge, and a pair of humbuckler pickups.
Endorsers of the Pacifica guitars include Michael Lee Firkins and Mike Stern. Two versions of the Mike Stern signature guitar - models 311MS and PAC1511MS - have been produced as Pacificas by Yamaha since 1997. Both are similar in appearance, Telecaster-style with a distinctive wood-grain finish, but the PAC1511MS is much higher specification and more expensive.