Yamaha PAC112V Electric Guitar: Full Review

The Yamaha PAC112V is an affordable, entry-level electric guitar that packs a surprising amount of quality and versatility for the price. Part of Yamaha's Pacifica series, the PAC112V features a solid alder body, a maple neck, and a rosewood fretboard. It's a super strat style guitar with dual cutaways for easy access to the higher frets.

The PAC112V is aimed at beginners and intermediate players looking for their first serious electric guitar or a high-quality backup option. While it lacks some premium appointments, it delivers excellent playability and tone thanks to quality components like its alnico V pickups. Overall, the Yamaha PAC112V punches above its weight class, offering new players fantastic value without sacrificing the feel of a real performance-ready guitar.

Body & Neck

The Yamaha PAC112V features an agathis body with a maple bolt-on neck. Agathis is an affordable tonewood that provides a balanced sound across the frequency spectrum. It offers a lighter weight than heavier woods like mahogany while still offering good sustain.

The maple neck provides brightness and snap that complements the agathis body nicely. It has a 25.5" scale length with 22 medium frets, rosewood fretboard, and a slim C-shape neck profile that facilitates fast, comfortable playability up and down the neck. Overall, the PAC112V offers a quality build with its solid agathis body and maple neck that should withstand the rigors of practice, performance and touring.

The Yamaha PAC112V is a great entry-level electric guitar that provides versatile tone and easy playability. The agathis body and maple neck give you balanced, quality tone that works for many musical genres. It's an affordable guitar that still delivers solid performance capabilities. Players who are looking for their first electric will appreciate the PAC112V's quality construction, classic looks and versatile sound. It's the kind of guitar that you can learn and progress on for years.

If you're looking for a step up, take a look at the Fender FA-125CE 0971113221. This is a cutaway acoustic-electric guitar with a laminated spruce top and mahogany back and sides. It has a slim neck profile for comfortable playing and an easy-to-use onboard preamp and tuner. The Fishman preamp lets you plug into an amplifier or PA system for amplified acoustic tone. This Fender acoustic-electric guitar gives you great looks, great sound quality and stage-ready features.

The Yamaha PAC112V and Fender FA-125CE cater to different needs but both offer quality and value. The Yamaha is a straight-up electric for versatile rock and pop playing. The Fender is an acoustic-electric for unplugged practice and plugged-in performing. Either one is a great choice for a guitarist looking for an affordable, quality guitar option.

Pickups & Electronics

The Yamaha PAC112V features a pair of alnico V pickups - a humbucker in the bridge position and a single coil in the neck. This versatile pickup configuration provides a wide range of tones.

The humbucker bridge pickup delivers a thick, warm output well-suited to rock and metal genres that need high output and sustain. The single coil neck pickup has a brighter, crisper tone that works nicely for cleaner styles like pop, funk, blues, and jazz.

There's a 5-way pickup selector switch that allows you to choose between the bridge humbucker, both pickups, the neck single coil, and some useful in-between settings. Having both a humbucker and single coil offers great tonal flexibility.

Volume and tone knobs give you further control over the output and EQ shaping. The electronics in the PAC112V are high quality for the price point. Between the pickup types, selector switch, and knobs you can dial in tones from aggressive rock to sparkling cleans.

If you're looking for a versatile electric guitar that can handle anything from metal to jazz, the Yamaha PAC112V is an excellent choice. With its quality components and flexible electronics, this guitar provides exceptional value. For another great option, check out the Fender 0970713121. This iconic Stratocaster model features three single coil pickups for that classic Fender tone. The alder body and maple neck provide a balanced, well-rounded sound. And the S-1 switching offers even more tonal possibilities. Between the bridge humbucker and neck single coil, the PAC112V covers a lot of sonic ground. But the triple single coils of the 0970713121 give you those sweet Strat tones that have shaped countless hit records. Both are fantastic electric guitars with quality components and electronics. It just depends if you prefer the humbucker/single coil or triple single coil configuration.

Playability

The Yamaha PAC112V offers great playability and feel thanks to its comfortable double cutaway body shape and slim, fast maple neck. The neck has a C profile that fits nicely in the hand. It's not too thin or too chunky. The fretwork on the rosewood fingerboard is excellent, providing a smooth surface for fast runs up and down the neck.

The PAC112V stays in tune very well too, even during heavy use. The vintage-style tremolo bridge is stable and doesn't go out of tune easily when using the whammy bar. Overall the guitar feels solidly constructed, with no sharp fret ends or other quality issues. It's a joy to play for extended periods without any hand fatigue.

Between the comfortable body shape, slim neck profile, quality hardware, and excellent fretwork, the PAC112V offers fantastic playability that punches above its price class. It's comparable to much more expensive instruments in terms of how easily and comfortably it can be played.

Sound

The Yamaha PAC112V produces a balanced, articulate tone that works well for a variety of musical genres. The alder body and maple neck give it a tight, focused sound with nice sustain and resonance.

The dual humbucking pickups provide a lot of tonal versatility. The bridge pickup produces fat, crunchy distortion that's great for rock and metal. The neck pickup has a smoother, mellower voice that's ideal for blues, jazz, and cleans. Switching between the two pickups, or using them together, allows for a wide range of tones.

This Yamaha sounds surprisingly organic and responsive for a guitar in its price range. Notes have good definition and bloom nicely when you dig in. Chords ring with complexity and character. The PAC112V may not have the tonal nuance of a high-end instrument, but it certainly holds its own sonically. Overall, it's a very capable electric that sounds fantastic when played through a good amp.

Versatility

The Yamaha PAC112V is a remarkably versatile electric guitar that can handle a wide range of musical styles and genres. Its alder body and maple neck give it a balanced and articulate tone that works well for anything from jazz to metal.

The two single-coil pickups and one humbucker allow you to get classic Strat-style tones, thick humbucker sounds, and everything in between. Clean settings on the PAC112V shine with warm jazzy tones. Switch to the bridge humbucker pickup and you can get crunchy rock distortions. The 5-way selector switch lets you blend the pickups for even more tonal options.

Whether you want to play blues, rock, country, pop, or even some heavier metal, the PAC112V can provide the right sound. Its excellent playability and comfort also make it easy to handle fast soloing or intricate chording across musical genres. Many guitarists appreciate the PAC112V as a "one guitar quiver" that can cover all their musical bases in a live performance or recording session.

The PAC112V's versatile configuration with quality hardware and electronics makes it a truly adaptable guitar. For guitarists who play in multiple styles, it's an excellent choice that can deliver pro-grade tones while still fitting into most budgets.

Pros

The Yamaha PAC112V electric guitar has several excellent features that make it a great choice.

• Quality construction: The PAC112V has a solid alder body and maple neck that give it a sturdy feel and great sustain. The fretwork and hardware are also high quality.

• Versatile pickups: With an HH pickup configuration using Yamaha's custom-wound Alnico V magnet humbuckers, this guitar can produce clean tones as well as rich overdrive. The 5-way switch provides a wide tonal palette.

• Comfortable playability: The PAC112V has a thin, fast maple neck and 22 medium frets. The rosewood fingerboard and double cutaway design also enhance playability across the neck.

• Vintage vibe: From the double cutaways to the pickups, many features of the PAC112V give it an appealing classic look and feel while retaining modern reliability.

• Cost effective: For the quality construction and components, the PAC112V provides excellent value in its price range compared to other guitars. It's a great guitar for new and advancing players.

Cons

While the Yamaha PAC112V offers a lot of value for the price, it does have some drawbacks compared to more expensive models.

• The build quality, while decent, is not as premium as some competitors. The basswood body and rosewood fretboard are common at this price range, but won't have the resonance or smooth playability of solid wood and exotic tonewoods.

• Similarly, the hardware and electronics are good but basic. The diecast tuners, tremolo bridge, and stock pickups get the job done, but leave room for upgrades down the line.

• It's designed as a starter guitar, so experienced players may want more options for switching pickups, coil-splitting, etc. The 5-way switch and master tone/volume knobs cover the basics.

• The fixed bridge limits your ability to experiment with alternate tunings. A guitar with a tremolo bridge would offer more flexibility.

• The PAC112V lacks the premium fit and finish you'd find on pricier models. The paint and finish work is decent, but has some rough edges here and there.

• Resale value tends to be lower than American-made Fenders and Gibsons. The PAC112V is best suited for beginner to intermediate players rather than as a lifetime investment.

While it doesn't compete head-to-head with professional instruments, the PAC112V's drawbacks are reasonable given its accessible price point. Overall it remains a great value electric guitar for the money.

Alternatives

When buying an electric guitar in this price range, there are several other models worth considering as alternatives to the Yamaha PAC112V:

Squier by Fender Affinity Series Stratocaster

The Squier Affinity Stratocaster is an excellent entry-level Strat with great playability and classic Fender tones. It features an alder body, maple neck, die-cast tuners, and three single-coil pickups for versatile tone. The slim neck and comfortable C-shaped profile make it a joy to play. Overall, an outstanding starter guitar for the price.

Epiphone Les Paul Special II

For players looking for thick humbucker tones, the Epiphone Les Paul Special II is a top choice in this range. It has a mahogany body, bolt-on mahogany neck, and dual open-coil humbuckers that sound fantastic. The slim taper neck offers smooth playability. While not as versatile as a Strat, it nails the Les Paul sound and style for an affordable price.

Ibanez GRX70QA

With its poplar body, maple neck, and two Infinity R humbuckers, the Ibanez GRX70QA delivers killer rock and metal tones. The slim fast maple neck allows for easy shredding, while the fixed bridge provides great tuning stability. A versatile and well-made guitar perfect for hard rock and heavy metal.

Jackson JS Series Dinky

The Jackson JS Series Dinky guitars offer amazing bang for your buck. With a slim maple neck, arched basswood body, and hot Jackson pickups, they play fast and deliver blistering high-gain tones. The Floyd Rose-licensed double-locking tremolo allows for dive bombs and other effects. A stellar option for shredders on a budget.

Conclusion

The Yamaha PAC112V is an excellent entry-level electric guitar that punches above its weight class. With its iconic double-cutaway design, comfortable neck, versatile pickups, and outstanding playability right out of the box, it's easy to see why the PAC112V has been one of Yamaha's most popular models for over two decades.

While the guitar's build quality and components reflect its accessible price point, the PAC112V offers a ton of value. The solid alder body and maple neck provide great resonance and sustain, while the rosewood fingerboard is smooth and comfortable. The dual single-coil pickups can handle anything from sparkling cleans to gnarly distortion. And the vintage-style vibrato bridge expands your tonal options.

For guitarists looking to buy their first electric or a reliable backup ax, the PAC112V is tough to beat. It may lack some bells and whistles found on more expensive instruments, but its quality craftsmanship and versatile sound make it a perfect platform for learning and developing your skills as a player. Thanks to its comfortable ergonomics and forgiving playability, the PAC112V is one of the best electric guitars available in its price range.

In summary, if you're shopping for a budget-friendly electric that doesn't compromise on tone or feel, the tried-and-true Yamaha PAC112V should be at the top of your list.