Yamaha Pacifica 012 Guitar Review

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If Yamaha is known for one thing in terms of their specialty, it would probably be their great collection of guitars. These are hyped up for their great tone, feasibility, and sound, which is why it comes as no surprise that people have high expectations from the Yamaha Pacifica series.

These guitars tick all the right boxes and are a great series for amateurs and pros alike. This class first came out in the 1990s and has released top-notch guitars ever since. The PAC012, also called Yamaha Pacifica 012 of this series, is again another gem that has come out with the Pacifica series and has blown the minds of music enthusiasts across the world.

It is a great guitar for beginners trying to find their footing and is everything one might be looking for in an electric guitar, thus making this a great pick. Alongside that, its great quality is what makes this guitar truly stand out and makes one choose the Pac012 time and again. Here are a few of Yamaha Pacifica 012 features, advantages, comparisons with other products, and the price. All these details might just be enough to daze you enough to pull the trigger on the purchase and end your search for electric guitars.

History of the Pacifica

The Yamaha Pacifica guitars have been on the market since the 1990s. Initially designed in California, Yamaha has grown the Pacifica line to 15 various models throughout the years. The PAC012 is an entry-level instrument, whereas the PAC600 family costs upwards of $900. Perfection, Authenticity, and Revolution are Yamaha’s core values. The Pacifica’s are a mainstay in the musical world, with a variety of pickup settings, build styles and substances.

Features of the Yamaha Pacifica 012 Guitar

Artistry

Yamaha guitars have a style of their own, which makes them sleek and unique in a way like no other. The PAC012 is not different in that sense and has a design like a Stratocaster with a huge pickguard. The form, along with its defined edges and deep curves, will attract you to buy it.

The curves of this guitar make the design of this guitar more definitive and add the volume that is much required. Besides that, this specific model of Pacifica 012 has a bolt-on construction, which means that the guitar is constructed in a way that involves joining a guitar neck and body using screws or bolts, which gives it a more rugged and rustic look, perfect for the hippie teenagers and professionals.

This guitar also comes with several other advantages. First off, its Agathis-like body makes it stand out from others on the market. Also, the maple neck and the rosewood fingerboard are other features that bring forward the soft tone you are looking for. All these features allow users to play warm tones, and the quality of the Agathis is reflected in the sound given off by this guitar.

Another great thing to remember about the Agathis body is that it falls between the Alder and basswood and thus is surely optimal for the warm tones making Pacifica 012 a reliable choice. It is noteworthy that some might not believe the Agathis wood to be of good quality, but with the Pacifica guitar, this does not hinder the sound quality and playability, even making Agathis a strength instead of a weakness.

Also, the snorkelling fingerboard which comes with this guitar has a scale length of 25.5 and comes with a glossy finish. What makes the design even more desirable is its availability in several colours, including black, red metallic and even dark blue metallic. With all these features, the artistry and build of this guitar surely offer the best there is to bring to the plate, making Pacifica the optimal choice, especially if warmer tones are a priority for you.

Hardware

One might expect the Pacifica 012 to have hardware that’s over the top, but the truth is it has basic hardware that follows the exact purpose it promises to serve. The simple hardware does not mean that this electric guitar lacks any feature but instead means that this guitar’s hardware might be perfect for beginners trying to find their footing.

The features of this hardware include the 5-position pickup switch and master volume control, both of which ensure ease of playing. It also has tone controls to manage the tone effortlessly. You also get two single coils, one at the neck and the other at the middle. These coils give it a rustic look, which resembles that of a vintage-style tremolo bridge.

Some might also say that the tuners on this guitar are not the best, but in our opinion, for beginners, this works perfectly, ensuring great performance and smooth usage. The tuners are also set up on an unpainted headstock, which adds to the appearance of this guitar and ensures that the tuners keep the strings in place.

Another unique feature in the electric guitar is the tremolo bridge, which has chrome plating that adds to its beauty and makes it decent, durable, and stable, which are all the qualities we are primarily looking for.

Another thing to keep in mind when getting your hands on the Pacifica 012 is that it is called a beginner guitar solely since its hardware configuration is quite uncomplicated, or in other words, a little easy to configure as compared to other guitars on the market.

Pickup configuration

Earlier, the fender and squire pickup configuration were used commonly in Yamaha products and elsewhere. However, with the introduction of the Pacifica series, the use of these pickup configurations has decreased.

Instead of using three single-coil pups, now the Pacifica series only uses two single pickups, each at the neck and in the middle, meaning that the whole configuration is a lot different than what it was earlier. Also, you get a humbucker in the middle right at the bridge position, allowing for more variability in songs by accessing more pickup combinations and exponentially improving sound quality.

Now the pickup configuration is that of the famous and much-known H/S/S configuration. This means the configuration is of a humbucker/single-coil/single-coil, which is the new and the much-coveted way of playing and is connected to the five-way pickup selector switch alongside a single master tone knob and a master control knob, all of which are extremely important and integral in producing a sound like no other.

With so many features and accessories ensuring you get a good pickup configuration, it comes as no surprise the Pacifica 012 is a fan favourite and a guitar everyone wants to get their hands on, especially beginners and novices.

Sound

Agathis hardware ensures that individuals get a clear and warm sound that matches that of the higher-priced models. Another noteworthy feature of the Pacifica 012 is the smaller neck. This helps one in forming chords and playing the instrument more easily, thus ensuring better playability.

As we are all aware, Yamaha is a company that pays a lot of attention to detail, and there is nothing they value more than a better sound. Thus, when playing the Pacifica 012, the same quality of excellence is reflected in the guitar.

The Yamahas knowledge also sees this of tone wood, which is applied while making this guitar. This tone wood, like mentioned earlier, makes sure that there is a great tone and sound, that too in a price much lower than that offered by other competitors.

With features like a narrow neck, the Agathis tone wood and even a lower price, Yamaha Pacifica 012 is everything one needs in an electric guitar and more. This is one model not to be skipped out on, especially with its unique sound and huge selling points.

Playability

The Pacifica 012 is one of the best electric guitars in terms of its playability. The features it offers are great and varied, which is an excellent factor. One of the features offered is the armrest contour. This armrest contour is unavailable in most other guitars, making this one of the most comfortable electric guitars out there. Another aspect that makes this armrest contour a coveted feature is its easy accessibility and ease of use.

Another feature to note is the C-shaped neck on this guitar, which is thicker than other guitars, but it also offers a narrower body at the nut, thus making it easier to hit the right chords and pull the string when required.

To be specific, the 1.62-inch narrowness makes everything more straightforward in terms of chord stretch. Moreover, the satin finish offered on this electric guitar makes it ultra-smooth, thus generating it feasible to play fast clicks or make complex chord changes effortlessly and easily. One more thing which is excellent about this guitar is its modified bridge design, which is unavailable in other Pacifica models and is only a specialty of the Pacifica 012. The block-style design is also more discrete and attractive, thus ensuring a better playing experience and full comfortability side by side.

Tone

Yamaha guitars are one thing: up to the par. But this guitar, with its beautiful tone and playability, ensures that it is above the par, especially for the little price that you pay. This means that not only is it extremely affordable, the Yamaha Pacifica 012 also sounds a lot better, especially at the price point it comes in.

The one thing that makes this guitar different from others is its better pickups, combined with the tuners and advanced setting, ensuring that you get your full value for money. There is a humbucker in the middle of the guitar, which plays a major role in the quality of sound produced.

It does so by pushing the single-coil pups aside and making sure the sound quality is excellent. Alongside this feature, the five-way selector, a unique component on the Yamaha Pacifica 012, gives way to more pickup combinations. This allows you to play a diverse collection of songs and give you a mind-blowing experience.

Another thing that is noteworthy and supremely underrated about this electric guitar is the fact that everything works in great coordination. The pickups, tuners and the bridge tremolo all work in sync, ensuring that the sound produced is top-notch.

The coordination and sync will not just make this Pacifica series worth it but will also make you want to get your hands on the 012 right away. With so much coordination, you can play whatever you want to. This guitar brings you the whole package with no room for error in the tone department, whether it be jazz, blues, rock, or even vintage rhythms. Hence, this guitar is a beginner’s best friend and just the thing they are looking for, especially when starting because of its versatility.

Price

Usually, price is something to be overlooked when the investment is something as meaningful as an electric guitar. However, with the Yamaha Pacifica 012, price too is a great reason to buy this guitar right away, making it a great investment.

Do you want a configuration like the Gibson Les Paul or the Fender Strat? When it comes to the Yamaha Pacifica 012, you get the benefits of both and drawbacks of none, making this like an expensive Yamaha guitar one did not even know they needed. One thing is for sure: for the features it comes with, Yamaha Pacifica 012 offers a great value for money, so this is a must-buy and something we recommend you not miss out on, especially if you’re an aspiring guitarist.

Benefits

Throughout, several points have made this guitar seem like the most optimal choice. These, along with many other reasons, make Yamaha Pacifica 012 the best there is out there. These features include impressive construction and quality build, as seen by the hardware made of Agatha tone wood and even a snorkelling fingerboard.

Another great feature about this Yamaha Pacifica 012 electric guitar is its smooth frets with a great finish. It also comes with even better tuners that tune seamlessly, ensuring an experience like no other.

Often, for guitars that are not so pricey, it is reflected in their build. However, with the Pacifica 012, that does not seem to be an issue because of its solid body. For beginners looking to get the best electric guitar, this is the best starter instrument to get their hands on.

Cons

With several pros, these cons might not be that immense but are still worth mentioning so you can get all the entire lowdown. Even though you’re getting the Yamaha Pacifica 012 at a great price, with an excellent build, top-notch sound quality and everything else might seem like this guitar ticks the right boxes; however, sometimes, the buzzing on the e-string can be a little annoying and disappointing.

To play this guitar, one also needs a little bit of a setup, making it an extensive process. But once set up, it delivers everything it promises to do, which is why it is a great selection.

Why is the Yamaha Pacifica 012 the best seller?

If you’ve looked for novice electric guitars, you’ll notice that there are many choices. Many of them are unidentified, poorly conceived, and poorly constructed. They’re inexpensive, but they’re a pain to play. When it comes to guitars, you usually get what you pay for. The excellent thing is that getting a quality beginner guitar does not have to be expensive.

The pickup setup is one of PAC012’s greatest characteristics. A humbucker transducer is installed at the bridge, allowing you to perform severely distorted types, including punk, hard rock, and metal. You also get two individual coil pickups in the bridge, providing cleaner sounds while also allowing for a bluesy sound.

The Yamaha Pacifica 012 5-way switch selects which pickup is active at any given time. At setting 5, you’re fully utilizing the humbucker, which results in severely distorted sounds. The silky surface on the Yamaha Pacifica 012 body makes it easy to move around the fingerboard. Some novice guitars compromise on the neck quality, which might make moving your fretting finger harder.

That becomes extremely aggravating after a while. To make the most of 22 frets, you should be able to move around easily. This provides you lots of room to learn scales and take your first venture into soloing. The Pacifica has received rave reviews, which is what one would anticipate a well-known brand like Yamaha.

Final verdict

For someone who has no clue about electric guitars as such and is trying to get an excellent idea about where to get started from, the Yamaha Pacifica 012 series is a great guitar to begin with. This electric guitar offers comfort with its armrest contour, and the satin finish on the neck are features that maximize comfortability.

Even though this guitar has basic hardware, this hardware serves all the right purposes. The jaw-dropping price of the Yamaha Pacifica 012 is also more than just great. We recommend you get this right away with all these features that ensure the best performance, playability, and tone.