- This topic has 16 replies, 9 voices, and was last updated 27 minutes ago by
.
-
Posts
-
-
I recently bought a Yamaha Pacifica 611HFM and added it to my ever growing collection of guitars.
Based on price alone it should have been outclassed by every other guitar I own (Epiphone ES 335, Fender international colour tele, PRS SE Santana, PRS SE Hollowbody 2 Piezo) but it plays and sounds so much better than the others. Straight out of the box it was perfect
I paid £660 for it brand new which is half the price of some of the others I’ve bought (most second hand though), but despite this its probably the best guitar I’ve ever owned and I’m unsure how I’ll ever top it.
Some of the stand out features:
Graph Tech Black TUSQ XL Nut & String Tree
Graph Tech String Saver Saddles
Grover Locking Tuners
USA Seymour Duncan SP90-1n & Custom 5 Pickups (with Push-Pull Coil Split)
Perfect fretwork (in my opinion)
Fast Poly-Satin Neck Finish
Hardtail String-Through BridgeI dread to think how much this would cost on a Fender or Gibson.
I’ve recently got rid of my PRS Hollowbody and Epiphone ES 335 and will likely look to get rid of the PRS Santana too. I feel like the Yamaha has cured my Gear Acquisition Syndrome!!*
Has anyone else experienced this? Finding the one guitar that makes you realise the big brands aren’t necessarily as good as their reputation suggests? I appreciate I’m only comparing mid range guitars, but you get the idea
I changed the scratchplate on my Pacifica and also put in a black cover on the p90 and different dials. I then completely dented the back of it by dropping some wall paneling on it…
*Hmm Revstars do look nice…
-
That is one of those guitars that gets over looked just due to brand name alone. That was a very good decision on your part Ben. Can’t wait to hear what it sounds like. Those SP90 pickups should sound sweet. It has a great look to it, and I like the standard dot inlays on the neck. As long as it feels good in your hands and plays well, that’s all that matters.
Root note patterns >>> CAGED shapes >>> TRIAD'S. Just put in the work and watch your guitar skills soar.
-
-
Hi Ben , I have the same model but a different colour , you get a lot of guitar for the money , Yamaha make some fine instruments, I agree those revstars look and sound great especially the p90 ones .
-
-
-
-
Yeah Ben, It’s great when you find a guitar and it checks all the boxes! I had a long talk with the regional Yamaha rep for So Cal and those guitars seem impressive.
Last year I bought a Godin 5th Ave Kingpin with 2 p-90’s. The guitar is an archtop made in Canada with a wild cherry body, satin finish maple neck, Tusq bridge and it sounds awesome. My Fenders, Epiphones and Taylor have been highly neglected since getting this one.Mike
-
-
Yamaha was the first brand I have ever trusted with any of my instruments and have never been disappointed, even at the beginner level prices. My first classical guitar was Yamaha A101, first travel size Yamaha APX2T, then the silent nylon guitar SLN200N. I also have a vintage Pacifica 112, and the THR30iiWL amp which is just perfect.
So yeah, I can totally relate to your feelings about your new 611HFM! I have never played those I am sure that I would be getting more for the money than I get from most of the sought out brands, other than the “name”. Congrats, can’t wait to hear her!
🎸JoLa
-
I have the THR30ii as well. It’s amazing and the 5 default presets are perfect. I had a Boss Katana before which I really didn’t get on with (to the point where I preferred to play unplugged). Don’t think I could rate Yamaha any higher. I guess I know what brand I’ll choose if I ever need to buy a boat engine or motorbike 😂
-
-
-
Ben
Yamaha doesn’t play around when it comes to production and quality control. They have been producing a dreadnaught acoustic that is cutting into Martin’s D-18 and D-28 model’s business. The flat-pickers love ’em. That being said, I have experienced similar situations with Ibanez electrics and Fender/Gibson electrics. Ibanez look as sharp, play as well and sound phenomenal. Additionally, I have encountered this with Eastman acoustics v Gibson. Eastman makes L-00, LG-2, and J-45 versions of the Gibson counterpart and I have to say the Eastman guitars are superbly made, play like butter and are close in tone. So yeah, I struggle with this every day and have started thinning my collection for more economical brands. Great topic!! Be well.John
-
Interestingly I’ve never got on with Ibanez guitars but have only ever played their entry level models. I owned a hollow body Ibanez but it felt incredibly cheap and had the world’s driest fretboard. It did sound amazing though!
Oddly one of the worst guitars I’ve ever played is a Gibson Les Paul. An ex girlfriend loaned me one but it was incredibly heavy, awkward to play sat down and I didn’t really get the hype. ..But this was 13 years ago and I had no idea what I was doing then or what was good/bad.
I was at a guitar shop yesterday and was offered to play a standard 60s Les Paul. It look phenomenal but they just aren’t for me
-
-
When I took up guitar again late(r) in life, the guitar I bought first was a Yamaha acoustic for about £350. It was a lovely instrument. Comfortable to play and rich in sound. I’ve been lucky enough to have been able to buy a Martin and sold it on the grounds I would probably not play it again. Something I regret as it held its own against the Martin despite a ten fold price difference.
I do have an itch for a Revstar now and I think the Yamaha acoustic experience is part of that. -
Yamaha makes great stuff. I had a Yamaha TRBX bass that rivaled most MIM fenders. I also have a Yamaha THR amp, and that thing has become my favorite small practice amp (and I tried many!)
-
-
- You must be logged in to reply to this topic.
