Yamaha Pacifica 112V
- We are an independent review website and do not sell products. Purchases are made with the retailer you choose.
- We are an independent review website and do not sell products. Purchases are made with the retailer you choose.
Ask a group of guitar teachers what first electric guitar to buy and the Yamaha Pacifica 112V comes up again and again. It has been around for decades with steady refinements, and its reputation rests on consistency: good build quality, a comfortable neck and a pickup layout that covers almost every style a beginner will try.
At a glance
- Body: alder
- Neck: maple, bolt-on
- Fingerboard: rosewood, 22 frets
- Scale: 25.5"
- Pickups: two Alnico V single-coils (neck, middle) and an Alnico V humbucker (bridge)
- Controls: master volume, master tone with push/pull coil split, 5-way switch
- Bridge: vintage-style tremolo
Why HSS is a smart layout for beginners
Single-coil pickups in the neck and middle give clean, bright Strat-like sounds for pop, funk and blues. The bridge humbucker is thicker and quieter, so it handles rock and heavier distorted tones well. Pull the tone knob and the humbucker splits into a single-coil sound, adding even more variety. In short, you don't need to decide your musical direction before you buy.
Build and playability
Yamaha's quality control is a big part of the appeal: fretwork is usually clean, and the satin-finished neck feels smooth and fast. The alder body is light enough for long practice sessions.
Limitations
- The vintage-style tremolo can drift out of tune with heavy use — fine for light vibrato.
- Tuners are basic; locking tuners are a popular later upgrade.
- More advanced players may outgrow the pickups, though many keep the guitar as a reliable backup.
Verdict
A safe, versatile first electric guitar that rarely disappoints. Pair it with a modelling amp such as the Boss Katana-50 MkII or the Positive Grid Spark 40.
