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Yamaha Pacifica PAC112J and PAC112JL
The Yamaha Pacifica 112J and 112JL is arguably the most versatile one in the 100 Series. It's the same as the PAC112V, but with ceramic pickups instead of Alnico ones. Some see this as a downgrade. It's suitable for players of all levels and popular choice among beginner guitarists for its excellent value.
Pros
- Incredibly versatile
- Solid build quality
- Yamaha's reputation
- Only left handed option in the 100 series
Cons
- Lower-end and hardware overall
- No Alnco pickups might be a downgrade
The Yamaha Pacifica 112J (and JL) is one of their most popular electric guitar models, known for its versatility and affordability. In this article, we will explore the features and benefits of the Yamaha Pacifica 112V, as well as its drawbacks.
The 112J and 112JL name explained
- 1: The first number shows the 'range', here the entry one.
- 1: The second number shows if there's a humbucker in the bridge, here one.
- 2: The last number shows the how many single coil pickups there are, here two.
- J: The letter J stands for a Rosewood fretboard.
- L: The letter L indicates that this is a left handed guitar.
Find the full Yamaha Pacifica naming scheme explained here.
Materials and build quality
The Yamaha Pacifica 112J (and L) is built with a solid alder body, providing a balanced and clear tone. It also features a maple neck with a rosewood fingerboard, which offers a comfortable playing experience. The guitar comes equipped with a set of versatile pickups, including a bridge humbucker and two single-coil pickups. The humbucker has a 'coil splitter' which means you can turn it into another single coil pickup for even more tonale options, especially with the 5-way selector switch.
Compared to the 112V options, the 112J(L) doesn't come with Alnico pickups but ceramic ones.
The hardware on the Yamaha Pacifica 112J(L) is decent, higher series Pacifica's naturally offer a higher quality. The tremolo bridge might lose tune a little quicker than other, more high-end models. This is to be expected and shouldn't be a turn-off at this price point. The PAC112J is available in several finishes. The 112JL, only comes in black and yellow natural satin.
The weight is perfectly balanced and the body has some cutouts to make it more comfortable to play.
Conclusion
The Yamaha Pacifica 112J(L is an excellent guitar for players looking for a versatile instrument that is suitable for a variety of playing styles. Due to it's price point, you are getting slightly less higher-quality hardware compared to other Yamaha series. This shouldn't be a turn off however, as it can still easily beat other brands at this price point.
It doesn't come with Alnico pickups, compared to others in this series which might be a downgrade compared on your needs. Check out our Alnico pickups post here.
The 112JL is the only left handed option in the Yamaha Pacifica 100 series.
