Yamaha Pacifica 112V review

Yamaha describes the Pacifica 100 Series as an entry point to electric guitar for more than a decade, and the 112V is the version we would point most beginners to first. It pairs an alder body with a bolt-on maple neck and rosewood fingerboard, and its three alnico V pickups sit in an HSS layout: a humbucker at the bridge for rock and two single coils for cleaner sounds. A push-pull coil split on the tone knob turns the humbucker into a single coil, which widens the range further. The 13-3/4 inch fingerboard radius is flatter than a vintage Strat, so bends are less likely to choke, and the vintage-style tremolo has block saddles and die-cast tuners. Yamaha's US store lists it at $379.99, though it showed out of stock there when we checked. We compared documented features and published prices; we did not test it.

Who it is for

New players who want one guitar that handles clean, blues and rock tones and a maker known for consistent quality.

Price

$379.99 at the Yamaha US store when checked (listed out of stock there; also sold through dealers).

$ 379.99 Out of Stock
Quoted from the vendor pricing page on November 9, 2026.

Key features

• Alder body with gloss polyurethane finish
• Alnico V humbucker and two alnico V single coils (HSS)
• Push-pull coil split on the tone knob
• Bolt-on maple neck with rosewood fingerboard, 13-3/4 inch radius, 22 medium frets
• Vintage-style tremolo with block saddles and die-cast tuners

Strengths and weaknesses

• Strength: Alnico pickups and an alder body at an entry price
• Strength: Coil split gives single-coil sounds from the humbucker
• Strength: Flat 13-3/4 inch radius makes bends and chords easier
• Weakness: Listed out of stock on Yamaha's own store when checked
• Weakness: Single master tone control
• Weakness: No gig bag listed

Key facts

• Pickups: Alnico V, humbucker plus two single coils (HSS)
• Body: Alder
• Neck: Bolt-on maple, rosewood fingerboard, 22 frets
• Scale length: 25-1/2 inches (648 mm)
• Bridge: Vintage-style tremolo with block saddles

Where it ranks

Yamaha Pacifica 112V is No. 1 in our Best Beginner Electric Guitars verdict.