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Description

The Yamaha Pacifica 120S Electric Guitar offers an excellent blend of performance and versatility, making it a reliable choice for musicians at any level. Renowned for its dual humbucker pickups, this guitar delivers a robust and dynamic sound, suitable for a wide array of musical styles. Whether you're strumming soulful blues, rocking out with heavy metal riffs, or exploring jazz melodies, the Pacifica 120S has you covered.

Crafted with a solid agathis body, this guitar provides a warm, resonant tone that complements its comfortable, easy-to-play bolt-on maple neck. The rosewood fingerboard adds a smooth touch, enhancing playability and allowing for expressive performances. Designed with both beginners and seasoned guitarists in mind, the Pacifica 120S doesn’t compromise on quality or playability.

Its classic design and reliable hardware ensure that the Pacifica 120S stands the test of time, providing musicians with a durable instrument that can handle the rigors of frequent performance. With a vintage-style tremolo bridge, players can experiment with pitch modulation, adding a creative edge to their sound.

Key Features:

  • Solid agathis body for a warm, resonant tone
  • Bolt-on maple neck for comfortable playability
  • Rosewood fingerboard for smooth touch and expressiveness
  • Dual humbucker pickups for a dynamic and powerful sound
  • Vintage-style tremolo bridge for pitch modulation
  • Versatile sound suitable for multiple musical genres
JoshOptical

JoshOptical

Yamaha Pacifica 120S- VERY first notes

Video thumbnail for Yamaha Pacifica 120S- VERY first notes by JoshOptical

Yamaha Pacifica 120S- VERY first notes

JoshOptical

JoshOptical

Reviews

Owner Insights

We analyzed real musician discussions from forums and Reddit to find what players love, question, and tweak about Yamaha Pacifica 120S Electric Guitar.

Setup and maintenance

  • Some owners struggled to lower the action to their preference, indicating potential setup challenges with achieving low action.

    Source

Mods and upgrades

  • The guitar is noted to have coil-splitting capabilities, allowing single-coil sound from the humbuckers.

    Source

Features and functionality

  • The Pacifica 120S includes a coil-splitting feature, providing versatility in sound options.

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Comparisons

  • Owners emphasize that the Pacifica's humbuckers excel in rock genres, especially when compared to single-coil setups more typical of HSS strats.

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  • Owners suggest considering Squier or Epiphone models, as they may offer superior features for a similar price.

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Use cases and applications

  • Ideal for glam rock due to its humbucker configuration, offering robust sound suitable for heavier styles.

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  • It's primarily recommended for rock and metal genres due to its distortion capabilities.

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User experience

  • A user with over 20 guitars frequently returns to their 90s Yamaha Pacifica, citing its reliability and daily use appeal.

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Value and pricing

  • Recent price increases have been noted, with some owners feeling they paid more than typical market value for the guitar.

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  • While some find it worth $120, others believe it's more suited for prices around $50 due to its limitations.

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Build quality

  • Some users reported the absence of a truss rod, which limits neck adjustments and affects playability.

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Critic Reviews

Pacifica 120S Review: When I compose my own songs, some influences of the 80's,... | Yamaha | Electric Guitars | Reviews @ Ultimate-Guitar.Com

ultimate-guitar.com

The Yamaha Pacifica 120S is praised for its versatility, comfortably handling genres from jazz to heavy metal. Its sturdy build and smooth neck make it suitable for both beginners and seasoned players, delivering impressive sound quality comparable to more expensive models. However, the factory setup requires adjustments for optimal performance, and the stock pickups could benefit from an upgrade for clearer distortion and punchier bass tones. Despite its discontinuation, this guitar remains a reliable workhorse, offering exceptional value for its price, with some minor gripes about Yamaha's attention to detail.

positive

Pacifica 120S Review: It was great for my first electric guitar, both in quality... | Yamaha | Electric Guitars | Reviews @ Ultimate-Guitar.Com

ultimate-guitar.com

The Yamaha Pacifica 120S shines as a beginner's electric guitar with its solid build and affordability. It delivers a clear tone suitable for various genres, though it lacks sound variation due to minimal controls. Its durability is commendable, handling rough use without issue, making it a reliable choice for learners. However, the guitar's limited control options and awkward pickup placement might bother more advanced players. Despite its minor flaws, the Pacifica 120S is a great entry-level instrument praised for its quality and price, ideal for novices exploring different music styles.

positive
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4.5 out of 5

Based on 5 Reviews and 11 Ratings

5 star
4 star
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1 star
gabriele_giambartolomei

Nice cheap guitar

Played it for a short time in Scotland. Bought it for just over 100 Sterling Pounds in 2005.

griffin_lohner

Solid ass guitar

I have an older version of this guitar, where the headstock simply says YAMAHA and the body is more like a Fender Telecaster. Before I got it, the pickups were upgraded to fit my personal style, so I can't speak on that end. However, it is my go-to guitar because of how comfortable it is to play (And maybe because the guy who gave it to me coil tapped the pickups with a 5 way switch, only way to live, man.)

jhendrix

It's my first guitar

It's my first guitar. It's have really cool sound.

michael_barakat

I used to own expensive guitars...

I used to own expensive guitars until one day after doing some recordings I preferred the sound of this to anything else. The playability is excellent as well.

T

A very playable guitar

This guitar has a very effortless feel to it. It's very fun to play and has great looks. I originally bought it because of the value and the resemblance of Matt's Manson Guitars.

Artist usage

Add artist
See how Matthew Bellamy uses Yamaha Pacifica 120S Electric Guitar

Matthew Bellamy

Singer, Guitarist

Muse

...
Verified via Photo

Matt Bellamy used the Yamaha Pacifica 120S Electric Guitar as one of his main guitars the years of the Showbiz tours.

See how David Davidson uses Yamaha Pacifica 120S Electric Guitar

David Davidson

Guitarist

Revocation

...
Verified via Photo

In an Instagram post, David Davidson shares a photo of his first guitar, the Yamaha Pacifica 120S Electric Guitar, adorned with various stickers.

See how Charlie Barnes uses Yamaha Pacifica 120S Electric Guitar

Charlie Barnes

Singer, Guitarist

Bastille

...
Verified via Photo

In this photo from Charlie's instagram, you can see his Pacifica 120s.

Genre Usage

Based on how artists on Equipboard use this gear, it is most commonly found in the following genres.

Used With

Based on how musicians on Equipboard use Yamaha Pacifica 120S Electric Guitar, it is most commonly used with the following gear.

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