Yamaha Pacifica PAC112V Electric Guitar Review

The Yamaha Pacifica PAC112V is an affordable electric guitar with solid build quality. Its neck and design pave the way for comfortable playability and the tonal quality is great for a guitar of this price point. For beginner and intermediate players, this guitar is a great value-for-money choice.

Yamaha has a long-standing history of creating top-notch musical instruments, and the Yamaha Pacifica PAC112V is no exception. This budget-friendly guitar is a popular choice for musicians at various skill levels.

In this review, we will dive into the specs, design, and sound of the PAC112V while also offering alternative options for you to consider. Also, you can check out my detailed video review of the Yamaha Pacifica PAC112V through the link below:

8.7

Value for Money

9.0/10

Features

8.5/10

Build Quality

8.8/10

Sound Quality

8.3/10

Playability

8.7/10

Verdict

The Yamaha Pacifica PAC112V electric guitar is a fantastic choice for those seeking an affordable, versatile guitar. With its classic design, extensive tonal options, and good playability, it offers incredible value for its price. The only downside is the classic single-coil hum, but it's a minor issue given the guitar's overall performance.

Pros

  • Vintage look and solid build
  • Wide range of tonal options
  • Comfortable neck and easy playability
  • Great value for the price

Cons

  • Classic single-coil hum

First Impressions

Yamaha Pacifica PAC112V Electric Guitar
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As first impressions go, the Yamaha Pacifica PAC112V immediately impresses with its vintage look. The glossy Old Violin Sunburst finish is absolutely stunning, and the Alder body and Maple neck give it a solid, well-built feel without being too heavy. The rosewood fingerboard and medium-sized frets make it easy to play, even for beginners, and it sounded fantastic right out of the box.

Specs

The PAC112V is a solid-body guitar with a bolt-on neck joint, a 13.75-inch radius, 22 medium-sized frets, and a 25.5-inch scale length. Its hardware includes a vintage tremolo with block saddles, Yamaha sealed tuners, and a Yamaha Alnico V single-coil neck pickup, middle pickup, and humbucker bridge pickup. 

The controls consist of one master volume, one master tone (with push/pull coil-split), and a 5-way blade pickup switch. Utilizing the 5-way pickup switch as well as the push/pull coil-split, you can pump out a variety of sounds that cater to numerous genres.

Design

The guitar boasts a classic design, with a 3-ply white/black/white pickguard and an Old Violin Sunburst finish that adds to its vintage appeal. Its sleek Pacifica body shape allows for easy access to the higher frets, and the C-shaped neck is comfortable to play with, especially for those with smaller hands.

Sound Quality

The Yamaha Pacifica PAC112V offers a wide range of tones, thanks to its versatile electronics. The single-coil pickups produce bright and clear tones, while the humbucker provides a warmer, thicker sound. The coil-split function further expands tonal options, enabling you to switch between single-coil and humbucker sounds.

Overall, the guitar produces a rich, full sound suitable for various music genres, although the classic single-coil hum may be a concern for detail-oriented musicians. Naturally, a change of pickups is always an option if you want to avoid this.

Pricing

The Yamaha Pacifica PAC112V provides excellent value for its price, boasting impressive build quality, tonewoods, and sound. It’s a solid option for beginners and intermediate players alike. For the given price, it is challenging to find a superior option.

Alternatives

If you’re looking for an affordable electric guitar, consider the Squier Affinity Series Stratocaster which has 3 single-coil pickups and great playability. You can also check out the Cort G250 which is another affordable option with a rugged and beginner-friendly design.

Squier Affinity Series Stratocaster
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Verdict

Overall, the Yamaha Pacifica PAC112V is a budget-friendly, beginner-to-intermediate level electric guitar that boasts solid build quality, is versatile and suitable for multiple genres, offers great tonal quality for a guitar of this price point, and has a striking aesthetic appeal. Apart from the classic single-coil hum, there is hardly anything to fault with this affordable option.

Milan Trajkovikj

Milan Trajkovikj

I’m the Deputy Editor for Musician Wave and a touring and recording bass guitarist. I love to share my passion for all things music. I’ve been playing music for over ten years and I love exploring it further through writing. You'll also find me on the Musician Wave YouTube channel.

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