Yamaha Pacifica - Great For Both Begginers and Gurus Alike
Originally designed and built by Rich Lasner and Leo Knapp in Yamaha’s California based custom workshop, in the late 1980s/early 1990s, the Pacifica started out life purely as a test piece. But, upon seeing it, Yamaha in Japan chose to put the guitar into production.
Through the following ten years or so there were many incarnations of the instrument including a twelve-string (PAC303 12) version along with many six-string versions.
Nowadays, only a small handful of models are still in production, starting with the PAC012 entry-level version and the top of the range being the Mike Stern signature model; PAC1511MS.
The Pacifica has always had a reputation, due to its low cost and ease of playability, for being a superb guitar for beginners.
Whilst the Pacifica has only two basic body shapes, the Stratocaster-like double cutaway and the Telecaster-like single cutaway, you would be forgiven for thinking that these were the only differences. However, when you consider all the different timbers, hardware and electronics used, you’ll soon see that each new combination creates a whole new electric guitar.
For example: The high-end, Mike Stern signature model (mentioned above) is manufactured with Seymour Duncan pickups at the neck and bridge, whilst the entry-level version uses one Yamaha Humbucker and two single-coil pickups. Also, the timber used to create the body of each guitar is Swamp Ash and Agathis (a tree found in the far-east and is related to the pine and spruce trees).