Musical Product Reviews

[Dmitri]

So I was thinking about it the other day - I don't know if anyone here besides myself is a musician or not. So I figured this might be a way to find out, and possibly help out fellow musicians, or those who are considering taking up the art at some point.

For those who don't know me, I have been playing music since about 4th grade, so figure 20 or so years. I started in concert band in school, before eventually moving to "contemporary" instruments in high school. I am pretty proficient in saxophone, piano and keyboard/organ, acoustic and electric guitar, as well upright bass and either acoustic or electric bass guitar.

I will be periodically reviewing various kinds of gear, from guitars and amps to keyboards and such, as well as effects, mics, sound gear, and instructional materials. I am also happy to answer any questions that may arise, to the best of my ability. I do ask that everyone simply remember that I am expressing my opinions, formed from years of playing, yes - but still my opinions. I may think a piece of gear is lousy, or not a good value, I may recommend something as a killer deal, or suggest a retailer or website - and you may disagree. And frankly, that's cool - that's why there are dozens if not hundreds of manufacturers and stores out there. So take what I say with a grain of salt, please.

I'll start with a few guitars and amplifiers (all stuff I either do own, or have owned), as well as a few pianos and keyboards.

[Dmitri]

Yamaha Pacifica Electric Guitars

I have owned 2 of these (604W), and played several (012, 112, 812) that friends of mine own. When looking at guitars, just like anything else for the most part, the differences in model numbers and the like can be very confusing. Yamaha is notorious for this, since they tend to discontinue specific lines and then later reintroduce them under a different (or even the same) moniker. So some of what I am reviewing here is only available used, since Yamaha has discontinued some of the mid-range and high-range models. First I will deal with the low-end models, since they are very similar in look, build, and price, and they are readily available at local retailers like Menchey or Guitar Center, as well as online retailers. Later I will cover the 604 and the 812, which are much higher in quality, and a little higher in price - both are also no longer in production, so Ebay is a good place to look for them.

PAC012 and PAC112J

The PAC012 is an agathis body, maple neck, and sonokeling (kind of wood) fretboard. They come stock with a "vintage" style tremolo (whammy bar) and standard in line tuners. Pickups are Yamaha generics, with a single-coil in the neck and middle, and a humbucker in the bridge. 1 volume control and 1 tone control, paired with a 5 way blade switch to select the pickups (neck, neck&middle, middle, middle&bridge, bridge) round out the features on this entry level, budget conscious guitar. It usually comes in, from online retailers like Musician's Friend or Music123, around $179, without a case. The guitar is meant to mimic the ubiquitous Fender Stratocaster, guitar of choice for many famous musicians like Hendrix, Clapton (after the Bluesbreakers and Cream) Buddy Holly, Yngwie Malmsteen, Billie Joe Armstrong (before he switched to Gibson Les Paul Juniors), and many others. They are generally considered to some of the most versatile guitars in existence, especially in this pickup configuration - the bridge humbucker allows for more aggressive rock tones and shredding.

I give this guitar about a 2/5 rating - which is probably harsh, given that I love Yamaha gear. My issue is this: at $179, the price point is only $20 less than the PAC112J, and the wood is much cheaper. Agathis is a soft wood, and one of the least sonically active of them. The PAC112 uses the same electronics, tuners, neck, fretboard, etc., but uses real alder for the body and rosewood for the fretboard - both of which are more resonant and toneful woods. So basically, for $20 more, you are getting a significantly better sounding guitar if you go with the 112, something that will grow with you as you grow as a musician. About $300 in work on the 112 will leave you with a nearly pro-quality guitar.

Both the 112 and the 012 are beginner instruments, but I have personally used the 112 live, and it holds up well. The single coils are rich and glassy, with nice harmonics when overdriven or distorted - especially the neck pickup. The bridge humbucker is a little harsh and brassy, though rolling the tone control back a little helps this out a bit. Overall, I give the PAC112 a 4.75/5 for features, sound, and overall value - you simply won't find another "fat strat" style guitar anywhere near this price that delivers the sonic goods the way that this one does. It simply blows the Squier Stratocasters out of the water, and frankly challenges some of the Fender MiM (made in Mexico) Strats to justify their nearly $500 price tag. Especially since Fender has gone to a more aggressive sounding pickup, these Yamaha guitars are closer to the traditional Strat from the 60s and 70s that people know and love.

I got the pics below from the Yamaha website, though I cannot say that I have ever actually seen this finish in real life... usually you see a black, creme, natural wood, brown stain, red, or blue. Anyway, that is the 112.



And this is the 012, in metallic red.

[Dmitri]

Now for the fun ones...

Yamaha Pacifica 604 and 812

The Pacifica line, as mentioned above, is made to mimic the Fender Strat. For the beginner, the 112 is killer, but for the more seasoned veteran I recommend either the 604 or the 812. There are some significant differences between the two models, though there are also striking similarities.

The 604 was made in a stop tail (no whammy bar) or Wilkinson bridge (really nice whammy bar) model. I have owned 2 of the Wilkinson model, so that is what I am reviewing. To start, the 604 is a solid alder guitar, instead of the multipiece makeup that the 112 sports. This means that there is no glue involved, which means more sustain and greater acoustic resonance. The pickups are a notch above the 112, and sound like late 50s/early 60s Fenders. It has the same blade selector, but the tone knob is on a push toggle, which will make the back humbucker become a single coil if pressed (referred to as "coil tapping" for those unfamiliar with the idea). This is nice for versatility, and really makes the 604W a sweet guitar for a working musician.

Another standout feature are the Sperzel locking tuners - for those unfamiliar with the idea, they help to keep the guitar in tune when using the whammy (a real problem on a lot of tremolo equipped guitars) without the difficulty of changing strings that accompany the traditional "Floyd Rose" system (a nightmare IMHO). Also helps to keep the guitar in tune during odd temperatures and during string bending. In combo with the Wilkinson's smooth response, this is a great guitar for those looking to emulate Hendrix and his whammy bar antics.

Other than those things, the guitar is very similar to the 112s. The finishes tend to be a little nicer, but that is just my own aesthetic taste, after all. They can also be picked up on the cheap used, often at or under $400 - and in my opinion, they are pretty well just under the quality of an American Standard Stratocaster by Fender (around $1000 guitar). A pickup swap (about $130 if you do the wiring yourself, or $200 installed) would surpass the Fender in a blink.

Moving up a notch, the 812 adds a maple top (usually figured for added aesthetic value) that really makes the sound sparkle. Maple adds a little snap and high end bite to the sound, and works really well with the upgraded Seymour Duncan pickups. These went for around $1000-1200 new, and can often be had used nowadays for between $500-700. Getting a little saltier, but the features are amazing. Yamaha also added a Warmoth neck (just a really good and well-known manufacturer) to this model, and kept the Sperzel tuners and Wilkinson bridge/tremelo setup. In fact, right now there is an Ebay auction with one of these listed with a Buy It Now of $625, complete with hardshell case (usually another $100 add-on). I have personally played one of these, though I never did manage to own one, and take it from me, they are amazing. Sound wise, I rate them WELL above the Fender American Standards, more in the range of a Custom Shop type item costing $1500+.

So, I suppose my point is that name brands like Fender obviously charge a premium for the branding - not a shock to anyone, I imagine. But if you are a newbie to guitar, or a budget minded working musician, or just someone looking to expand your tonal palette a little, these are mighty nice guitars by Yamaha. Particularly the 604 and 812 can be had for a song, and are a practical players dream. In recent years, I have sold mine off, and invested in Les Paul style guitars (upcoming review!), semihollow body electrics (another one!) and most recently a cheap Fender Telecaster knockoff (twangy and countrified). I wish I had kept one of em though, and recommend them to anyone interested.