Find beginner Yamaha guitars, featuring the Pacifica series as the main option for getting started on the electric guitar. Models like the Pacifica 012, 112J, and 120H offer different pickup and bridge combinations to suit the sound you are looking for. Compare the Yamaha Pacificas and choose your first guitar.
The Yamaha Pacifica is the family that makes up the majority of Yamaha guitars in our beginner selection. To choose between its models, look primarily at budget, pickup configuration, bridge type, and construction specs.
The Pacifica 012 is the most affordable entry point into the range, while the Pacifica 112J keeps the HSS setup but adds upgrades in construction and hardware. The Pacifica 120H shifts the focus with two humbuckers and a fixed bridge.
| Model | Pickups | Bridge | It might interest you if... |
|---|---|---|---|
| Yamaha Pacifica 012 | HSS, ceramic pickups | Vintage-style tremolo | You are looking for the most affordable entry to the Pacifica range and want a guitar to learn various styles |
| Yamaha Pacifica 112J | HSS, ceramic pickups | Vintage-style tremolo | You want to keep the HSS setup with an alder body and die-cast tuners |
| Yamaha Pacifica 120H | HH, Alnico V | Fixed | You prefer two humbuckers and are specifically looking for rock, fuller sounds, or a bridge without a tremolo |
If you don't have a clearly defined style yet, the Pacifica 012 and 112J offer an HSS configuration that combines two single coils with a humbucker. If you prefer two humbuckers and a fixed bridge from the start, the Pacifica 120H offers a different alternative.
Yamaha specifically designed the PAC012/100 series as a range where a first guitar must offer good construction, comfort, and sound. The Pacifica 012 is Yamaha's most affordable electric model within this family, and the Pacifica 100 models expand the options for pickups, fretboards, and finishes.
Another important point is that it is not just a single guitar. Within the Pacifica line, you can find everything from general-purpose HSS models to the 120H with two humbuckers, making it possible to choose based on the type of music you want to learn.
It can provide clear and defined sounds for practicing chords, clean lines, blues, pop, and many styles where you want a less thick response.
It adds new combinations via the five-way selector switch and allows you to explore different sounds within the same guitar.
It is especially useful when using distortion or when you want a response with more body and output for rock and higher-gain styles.
That's why an HSS can be a practical choice when you are starting out and still want to experiment with different styles. It doesn't mean it's strictly better than an SSS or HH: it simply offers a combination of two pickup approaches.
Both share important aspects: a 25.5-inch scale, 22 frets, an HSS configuration with ceramic pickups, a five-way selector, and a vintage-style tremolo bridge. The main decision lies in how much you want to invest and the differences in construction and hardware.
The Pacifica 012 is the most affordable model in the range. The Pacifica 112J features an alder body and die-cast tuners, making it an interesting option if you can stretch the budget for your first guitar a little further. Both allow you to tackle very different sounds thanks to their HSS configuration.
It is not mandatory to choose an HSS guitar to start. The Yamaha Pacifica 120H uses two Alnico V humbuckers and a fixed bridge. Yamaha specifically aims it at those who prefer a fuller, more powerful humbucker sound, while also including a push-pull coil split feature.
It can be an interesting alternative if your musical influences are heavily rooted in rock and styles where you will use distortion frequently.
If you want to compare Yamaha with other beginner brands and models, check out our selection of beginner electric guitars, where we also include the Yamaha Pacifica 012.
Yes. Yamaha designed the Pacifica 012/100 range as a suitable family for those looking for their first guitar, featuring different pickup, construction, and finish options. The key is to choose the model that best fits your budget and the style you want to learn.
Both use an HSS configuration and allow you to tackle very different styles. The Pacifica 012 is the most affordable option, while the 112J uses an alder body and die-cast tuners. If budget is the priority, the 012 is a good entry point; if you can invest a bit more, the 112J is worth comparing.
HSS means the guitar combines a humbucker pickup in the bridge with two single-coil pickups in the middle and neck positions. This setup allows you to get different responses from a single guitar and is featured on models like the Pacifica 012 and 112J.
Yes. HSS Pacificas feature a bridge humbucker that works well with overdriven sounds, while models like the Pacifica 120H go straight for two humbuckers. The right model will depend on the type of rock and the sound you want to achieve.
The Pacifica 120H is a great option to consider if you prefer to avoid the tremolo. It uses a fixed bridge and two Alnico V humbucker pickups, offering a different approach to the HSS Pacifica 012 and 112J with tremolos.
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