Modified two more of my Yamaha Pacifica's this week

[T-Bone-BBQ]

First is my Yamaha Pacifica 212VQM. I replaced the stock trem block with a full sized steel block and replaced the old pickups with a Seymour Duncan Custom 5 Trembucker in the bridge and a Dimarzio VV 54 Pro in the neck and a Dimarzio Injector in the middle. I also put a treble bleed kit on the volume pot.





Next is my Yamaha Pacifica 112J I changed up. It did have a Seymour Duncan Alnico II Pro in the bridge, and Dimarzio Injector and VV 54 Pro in the middle and neck (put those in the 212VQM). Now it has a set of Chrome covered Duncan 59 Custom Hybrid/Jazz pickups in.

 

[Arwin]

Re: Modified two more of my Yamaha Pacifica's this week

Very Cool! Are doing any coil splitting with the HH Pacifica? And if so are you using a four-pole selector switch or push pull pots for the splitting? How do the Custom 5 and the 59/Custom Hybrid compare for you in these guitars?

 

[T-Bone-BBQ]

Re: Modified two more of my Yamaha Pacifica's this week

Very Cool! Are doing any coil splitting with the HH Pacifica? And if so are you using a four-pole selector switch or push pull pots for the splitting? How do the Custom 5 and the 59/Custom Hybrid compare for you in these guitars?

Not doing any coil splitting on either guitar. I've tried it with other guitars, but just never end up using those tones. I love the Custom 5. Right now it's my favorite bridge pickup by far. Big tone from it. The Hybrid is good, but it's a little less output and brighter in tone. I'm going to leave it in this guitar for now and give it a good chance, but if it comes out then a Custom 5 will take it's place.

 

[Mincer]

Re: Modified two more of my Yamaha Pacifica's this week

I love Pacificas! These 2 look great, although I might use my 5 way switching that use inner/outer coils on the HH one. You'd need a Super Switch, and to flip a magnet.

 

[T-Bone-BBQ]

Re: Modified two more of my Yamaha Pacifica's this week

Flip a magnet?

 

[Arwin]

Re: Modified two more of my Yamaha Pacifica's this week

I think the magnet flip was in reference to a switching scheme that isolates both inner coils or both outer coils in positions 2 and 4 on the 5-way switch. Flipping the magnet in one pickup and using different leads allows for those positions to be wired for hum-cancelling using the four conductor leads.

Alternately you can use a wiring scheme that pairs the north coil from one pickup with the south coil from the other and you'll have a pair of single coils on that cancel hum with no modifications/mag swap needed

Here's an example:

http://guitarelectronics.com/2-humbuckers-5-way-lever-switch-1-volume-1-tone-05/


You could also have a switching scheme that puts the humbucker coils in parallel for positions 2 and 4, this would also be hum-cancelling and offer some more single coil like tones in positions 2 and 4

http://guitarelectronics.com/2-humbuckers-5-way-lever-switch-1-volume-1-tone-04/

 

[T-Bone-BBQ]

Re: Modified two more of my Yamaha Pacifica's this week

I see. I've never had much use for coil splitting and all that stuff. I've tried some of it, but never end up using it.

 

[Undone]

Re: Modified two more of my Yamaha Pacifica's this week

I still say there is no better platform for mods than a Pacifica. I have 12-15 assorted versions. Mostly mid '90's to early 2000's made in Taiwan. Unreal how cheap you can pick one up. I think the most I've paid for one was recently when I gave $225 for a mint antique blonde MS311 with maple fingerboard. If it wasn't for the sentimental attachment I have to my ESP's, Dean and Epi 339 Pro the Yamahas would be more than enough. My buddy picked up a new 2017 Fender Stratocaster Elite recently and was blown away that my $125 black/maple 112M was so close to his $1,700 top of the line strat. Sure the pickups are usely replaced in my Yamahas but that seems to go with just about any guitar regardless of price.

 

[T-Bone-BBQ]

Re: Modified two more of my Yamaha Pacifica's this week

I've got 7 Pacifica's now and love them all. I find great deals on them, then upgrade them with better electronics, some good used pickups (Duncan/DiMarzio), a couple of other items on the bridge (saddles, trem block) and they are ready to rock!

 

[Undone]

Re: Modified two more of my Yamaha Pacifica's this week

I found a 1997 recently that had been mothballed in a music store in New York. I paid $125 for it delivered, and had to pull the plastic off of the pickguard and back plate. This guitar had never been played! They definitely fill any strat needs/wants I may have. I usually block the trems so I can't really comment on their quality but the tuners on anything from a 112 and up have never given me any issues whatsoever. I love the necks on them and they are extremely consistent from one to the next. How are you liking the Custom 5?

 

[Undone]

Re: Modified two more of my Yamaha Pacifica's this week

The cool thing is the majority of the 112's I find have little to no fret wear. I have had to give them all set ups but that's to be expected.I guess a lot of beginners pick them up and quit before they put any real wear on them. I picked up another one for $65 a couple of months back and had all intentions of just keeping it as a spare neck (maple fingerboard ). Once I cleaned the gunk off of it and threw on some strings and a set up I couldn't put it down.

 

[T-Bone-BBQ]

Re: Modified two more of my Yamaha Pacifica's this week

I found a 1997 recently that had been mothballed in a music store in New York. I paid $125 for it delivered, and had to pull the plastic off of the pickguard and back plate. This guitar had never been played! They definitely fill any strat needs/wants I may have. I usually block the trems so I can't really comment on their quality but the tuners on anything from a 112 and up have never given me any issues whatsoever. I love the necks on them and they are extremely consistent from one to the next. How are you liking the Custom 5?

Wow, that's a fantastic deal! I've never had any issues with the normal sealed tuners. The tuners on the PAC012 models are cheaper, but I never get those guitars...it's always the 112's or better. I don't really use the trems and never have them floating, but the upgrade in the trem block seems to add a little sustain IMO, but people's thoughts on that vary.

The Custom 5 is by far my favorite bridge pickup. I've got it in a few Pacifica's and also a few of my PRS SE guitars. Good output without being too hot and a big tone. Strong bass without being muddy. The description of it as a "59 with 2X the output" is basically just about right. I had a '59 in the bridge of my Santana SE and loved the tone, just wanted something a little hotter. Put in a Custom 5 and the tone is the same, just more output. I love the Custom 5.

 

[Undone]

Re: Modified two more of my Yamaha Pacifica's this week

I also have some older RGX's, a YGX and a 120SD and they are all excellent guitars. I want to try the Custom 5. Isn't that what they are putting in the newer 611's stock?

 

[T-Bone-BBQ]

Re: Modified two more of my Yamaha Pacifica's this week

I really want to get a Pacifica 112J or 112M with a maple fretboard.

 

[Undone]

Re: Modified two more of my Yamaha Pacifica's this week

They can be a pain to find. It took me a while to gather 2 black/maples, a brown/maple, another brown /maple (now painted white...back yard rattle can) and my MS311 blonde/maple. I still want a natural/maple and have a couple of natural/rosewoods but I can't justify buying any more until I have all of these completely dialed in. I have run out of room! Last count there were 27 guitars in my bedroom. Good thing I'm single! One wall of the room is (4) 6x stands all in a line. Ridiculous. Let me know what flavor(color guitar) maple fretboard you are looking for and I can hunt one down for you. Believe it or not GC's website for used guitars, etc. has been lucky for me. I was on there one night and found a used kind of rough condition what I thought was a 112J and called the store in AZ to ask about it. They were only asking like $85 for it. When the sales guy picked up the phone he said he was sorry but the guitar was in too rough condition to sell. I asked him if he could take some pics of it and send them to my phone. When I got the pics I couldn't make out the model but it had an unfamiliar neck joint. It looked horrible. Two pots were snapped off, half of the nut was missing and the tremelo was completely jacked up to the point of looking like the whole unit was bent. I called them back and asked if they would let me buy it for $50 with no return option. Well it shows up and ends up being a 521 with the compound radius neck! Once I read up some on the model I realized it was worth more than any other Pacifica I had by far. It is currently at my techs house being brought back to life for the princely sum of $35 in parts and a six pack of Corona. All told I will still only have $95 invested in a 521!

 

[T-Bone-BBQ]

Re: Modified two more of my Yamaha Pacifica's this week

I also have some older RGX's, a YGX and a 120SD and they are all excellent guitars. I want to try the Custom 5. Isn't that what they are putting in the newer 611's stock?

Yes, I have a 611 and it has the Custom 5, but it's a little darker sounding because it has the chrome cover and Yamaha uses 250k pots for the tone. Not that it sounds bad, just a little darker.

 

[T-Bone-BBQ]

Re: Modified two more of my Yamaha Pacifica's this week

I have a Pac510V just like this one and it's a fantastic guitar. Never thought I'd like a guitar with just a bridge pickup, but for one of the bands I play in it's perfect.

http://www.guitarcenter.com/Used/Yamaha/Pacifica-PAC510v-Solid-Body-Electric-Guitar.gc

 

[T-Bone-BBQ]

Re: Modified two more of my Yamaha Pacifica's this week

I also have some older RGX's, a YGX and a 120SD and they are all excellent guitars. I want to try the Custom 5. Isn't that what they are putting in the newer 611's stock?

Here's a pic of my 611VFM...fantastic guitar. No reason at all to change anything on it except the strings when it's time. The only thing I did besides a setup was put a treble bleed kit on the volume pot. I am getting another pickguard made of aged white pearl just for looks.

 

[Mincer]

Re: Modified two more of my Yamaha Pacifica's this week

I still say there is no better platform for mods than a Pacifica. I have 12-15 assorted versions. Mostly mid '90's to early 2000's made in Taiwan. Unreal how cheap you can pick one up. I think the most I've paid for one was recently when I gave $225 for a mint antique blonde MS311 with maple fingerboard. If it wasn't for the sentimental attachment I have to my ESP's, Dean and Epi 339 Pro the Yamahas would be more than enough. My buddy picked up a new 2017 Fender Stratocaster Elite recently and was blown away that my $125 black/maple 112M was so close to his $1,700 top of the line strat. Sure the pickups are usely replaced in my Yamahas but that seems to go with just about any guitar regardless of price.

So for someone looking for one, which is the one to get? (asking for a friend)*



*not asking for a friend

 

[T-Bone-BBQ]

Re: Modified two more of my Yamaha Pacifica's this week

It would depend on the budget. If you can find a used 611 either hardtail or trem version used for a good price you can afford I'd jump on it. They're fantastic guitars. Locking tuners, good bridges, very well built and already comes stock with great pickups.