Pacifica Pro Series

stimpsonslostson

Yamaha have released a top tier of Pacifica guitars. 



£1k for the "Standard plus" Made in Indonesia
£2k for the "Pro" Made in Japan

I'm not keen on the faded jeans colour of one of them and the abruptly cut off scratchplate, but other than that I'm sure they're great. 
However, those prices are firmly in Fender American Standard territory. 

What do you think? 
My prediction without having touched one is that they're superb guitars, will be considered a bit vanilla and would depreciate like a stone if you bought one.

carlos

Paging @JohnCordy ;

sweepy

I do wonder if they have dumped the narrow nut of the older Pacifica’s  but I think most of us wince at £2k for a Yamaha no matter how good they are 

timmypix

I can only imagine they've done this based on the success of the Revstar line being reorganised in a similar way - dumping the numbering system for Professional/Standard etc. The pickguard is certainly nodding to the Revstar, even if it looks a bit odd.

I think it's cool that they've got properly high-end Pacificas again for the first time in years, buuuut I'd still rather have a 90s 912 or 1421.

However, if I were in the position where I was gigging a lot and needed something unassuming and versatile, I have to say I think I'd rather one of these than the equivalent Fender offering.

HAL9000

I think your prediction is exactly right. I used to own a Pacifica 611H which was an excellent guitar but lacked something in the personality department. To be fair, when I did move it on, it hadn’t depreciated by anything like as much as I was expecting. Have I missed it? Yes, a little bit but not enough that I see myself ever buying another.

As an aside, when Yamaha first introduced the Pacifica it was as a ‘Professional ‘ model. The budget versions came along later.

Greatape

Can't help but feel that they are playing it way too safe. 

https://reverb.com/uk/item/13587765-yamaha-pacifica-80-s-sparkle-orange

RichAC

They give me an Ibanez AZ series vibe - posh superstrats with all the trimmings.

I like the scratchplate; it makes them look a little different, and associates them with the much-more-cool Revstar line. 

If I was in the market for an expensive s-type, I’d be looking at these. My first electric was a Yammy so I have a soft spot for the brand. 

I’d love to see a high-end RGZ or RGX as well - a balls out shred machine. 

Chimpankie

Any word where they’re being made in Japan? Do Yamaha have their own factories or do they use one of the OEMs?

JohnCordy

Yamaha have their own factory in Hammamatsu Japan (and their own in Indonesia I think?).

The nuts are 42mm on these.

I think @RichAC is about bang on in terms of this being relatively close to the Ibanez Az, the neck is not quite as chunky which is one of the few downsides I think some folks had with the Ibanez Az, and for me personally I prefer the pickups in the Pacificas 

Sync

Lot of competition in this £1k and £2k market now and the Yamaha isn't exactly a standout with a  supporting artist legacy that draws a breadth of player base.

No matter how technically brilliant it may be. 

Philly_Q

Sync said:

Lot of competition in this £1k and £2k market now and the Yamaha isn't exactly a standout with a  supporting artist legacy that draws a breadth of player base.

Are Michael Lee Firkins and Bill Leverty not still going strong...?

Sync

Philly_Q said:

Sync said:

Lot of competition in this £1k and £2k market now and the Yamaha isn't exactly a standout with a  supporting artist legacy that draws a breadth of player base.

Are Michael Lee Firkins and Bill Leverty not still going strong...?

I rest my case

carlos

Sync said:

Lot of competition in this £1k and £2k market now and the Yamaha isn't exactly a standout with a  supporting artist legacy that draws a breadth of player base.

No matter how technically brilliant it may be. 

They'll get Mancuso to play them?

Alun

I think they look fantastic, love the city pop styling and liking the sound of the pickups so far. I was about to start modding my Player Strat but am seriously tempted to sell it and put the money towards one of these instead. Depreciation is certainly a thing to consider but ultimately I’d rather just get the guitar I’m more excited about than waste my days worrying about residual value. Only question mark for me is whether the Professional version is worth the extra outlay. Will probably pop down to Andertons to compare when they take stock. 

Philly_Q

JohnCordy said:

I think @RichAC is about bang on in terms of this being relatively close to the Ibanez Az, the neck is not quite as chunky which is one of the few downsides I think some folks had with the Ibanez Az, and for me personally I prefer the pickups in the Pacificas 

That's the first time I've ever seen anything saying Ibanez necks might be a bit too chunky. 

Musical_Mystery_Tour

Bit on the overpriced side for what is basically a Strat copy.

OilCityPickups

Musical_Mystery_Tour said:

Bit on the overpriced side for what is basically a Strat copy.

Musical_Mystery_Tour

Yup, that too.

Alun

Musical_Mystery_Tour said:

Bit on the overpriced side for what is basically a Strat copy.

Could argue that for basically any guitar though. Heck, you could argue most Fenders are overpriced. 

Musical_Mystery_Tour

Alun said:

Musical_Mystery_Tour said:

Bit on the overpriced side for what is basically a Strat copy.

Could argue that for basically any guitar though. Heck, you could argue most Fenders are overpriced. 

If one is prepared to do a bit of DIY, there are a ton of two-hundred quid Strat copies these days which - courtesy of CNC cutting - are basically okay from a wood standpoint which you can then throw some better parts on and cross the finish line at about the four hundred quid mark, and they'd piss all over that thing.

Philly_Q

Alun said:

Musical_Mystery_Tour said:

Bit on the overpriced side for what is basically a Strat copy.

Could argue that for basically any guitar though. Heck, you could argue most Fenders are overpriced. 

There are many on this forum who would argue that any guitar more expensive than the most basic of Harley Bentons is overpriced.  And I hope they have great fun playing their diddley bows and tea-chest basses.