What happened to Yamaha?

John_L

John_L

New member
This sort of follows on from the PRS thread. But back in the early 80's Yamaha were the number three quality guitar maker with the SG and so on. Before starting his factory PRS attempted to do a deal with them but didn't get the money he wanted (I bet he's glad he didn't now) and by 87 Yamaha had an odd shaped guitar and a couple of Ibanezalikes as their top of the line guitars. They attempted to get back in on the game with the PRS challenging MSG designed by Martyn Booth but never supported it. Now although Yamaha are king of the starter guitars and have reissued the old SG they have a tiny market share and nothing like the respect they had in the early 80's.
What is more puzzling is that they have just given up on guitars really, Brass instruments, Woodwind, Pianos etc… they are highly respected for their top quality instruments. But nothing in their guitar range comes close. It's odd.
 
Re: What happened to Yamaha?

I've wondered about this myself, actually. I've never actually played one of their older ones but I'm always tempted when they pop up on Ebay just because I've heard so many great things about them.

My number two guitar is still my trusty old Pacifica with a Custom Uo5 in the bridge. It ****ing rocks. The singer/guitarist of my favourite band played one of the RG copies completely stock through a Laney hybrid amp up until shortly before they broke up and I always loved his tone (though many here wouldn't, I think).

Here's mine...

pacifica.jpg
 
Re: What happened to Yamaha?

Yamaha has made fine instruments in the past indeed.
However, as you stated, they have been on their way downwards for a very long time, and seem to continue to give up on the guitar range.(more and more limiting the choice to a couple of models, in only fewer and fewer types.

One model that I regret disappearing is the Pacifica 912 with Floyd Rose that Michael Firkins once used (and even was endorsed with), fine guitar I'd realy like to have in my collection, but has been out of the catalogues for a long time. (they dropped Firkins' endorsement long time ago too).
I also remember very good Pacificas in the form of the 812 and 612, the 612 for example (if i remember correctly), came with superb hardware, wilkinson bridge, SD pups, sperzel locking tuners, the whole rim-ram, and was a superb guitar at the time, for a very fair price. Later on they lowered the quality of these guitars, removing the Wilkinson and so on, and now I see they have totaly been removed from catalogue as well.
Seems the only typical Pacificas you can get now is the 112 and 212.... (and the Mike Stern Sig, but that's not realy a Pacifica to me)

I completely agree that almost nothing in their current range, comes close to the supreme instruments they once made (and sold for very fair prices on top of it), just a shame that they kind of given up on their guitars, never to look back it seems too if you see the continuing limiting of their range.
 
Re: What happened to Yamaha?

Aren't their basses still fairly highly thought of?

I could swear I saw something about a new sig bass being released by them recently....
 
Re: What happened to Yamaha?

I think guitarists just don't like a Japanese name on the headstock, and it's as simple as that. There have been quite a few Japanese companies who chose an English or Spanish name, just to market themselves easier to the West.

Plus, the trend in the 90's leaned toward classic designs, and Yamaha seemed like the antithesis of that.
 
Re: What happened to Yamaha?

Gearjoneser said:
I think guitarists just don't like a Japanese name on the headstock, and it's as simple as that. There have been quite a few Japanese companies who chose an English or Spanish name, just to market themselves easier to the West.

Plus, the trend in the 90's leaned toward classic designs, and Yamaha seemed like the antithesis of that.
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This.

My Yamaha is still my go to axe even though I have American guitars that are better quality. It's like comfort food for me.

Granted I'd love have a larger harem of pro guitars.
 
Re: What happened to Yamaha?

The JEM Ghost said:
Yamaha has made fine instruments in the past indeed.
However, as you stated, they have been on their way downwards for a very long time, and seem to continue to give up on the guitar range.(more and more limiting the choice to a couple of models, in only fewer and fewer types.

One model that I regret disappearing is the Pacifica 912 with Floyd Rose that Michael Firkins once used (and even was endorsed with), fine guitar I'd realy like to have in my collection, but has been out of the catalogues for a long time. (they dropped Firkins' endorsement long time ago too).
I also remember very good Pacificas in the form of the 812 and 612, the 612 for example (if i remember correctly), came with superb hardware, wilkinson bridge, SD pups, sperzel locking tuners, the whole rim-ram, and was a superb guitar at the time, for a very fair price. Later on they lowered the quality of these guitars, removing the Wilkinson and so on, and now I see they have totaly been removed from catalogue as well.
Seems the only typical Pacificas you can get now is the 112 and 212.... (and the Mike Stern Sig, but that's not realy a Pacifica to me)

I completely agree that almost nothing in their current range, comes close to the supreme instruments they once made (and sold for very fair prices on top of it), just a shame that they kind of given up on their guitars, never to look back it seems too if you see the continuing limiting of their range.
Click to expand...

+ 1
Those Pacificas were really great guitars for the money. It´s a shame they stopped making them.
 
Re: What happened to Yamaha?

It's a real shame because their high end guitars compare well if not better than most guitars out there in terms of build quality, fit and finish and attention to detail. I had one of the Paul Reed Smith designed YSG's as well as my SG3000 and both are superb guitars. My mate begged the YSG off me and I wish I hadn't let it go.
 
Re: What happened to Yamaha?

My first guitar was a Yamaha SE series guitar....not sure where that fell in their lineup, but after I stripped the poly and refinished it, it became my best playing guitar before I got some higher end Gibson's and my Dean Hardtail.

It still sounds fantastic and always feels like an old friend. I'll buy another someday just to refinish....maybe in a H/S config. I see them on eBay for under $200.

Here's mine:

NewPickups009.jpg
 
Re: What happened to Yamaha?

Despite the pacifica being a very fine guitar (the ones I tried had really nice necks for my hand) they just didn't have the Ibanez factor... what ever that is/was.
When I was a kid guitar shops were full of assorted MIJ guitars from Yamaha, Tokai, Aria and a few others, plus MIJ Kramers and Fenders pet jap builder squire.
Oddly it was Ibanex who first looked like going to the wall as they just couldn't seem to cope with Charvel or Kramer. But they hit back by bringing out a great range of super strats with endorsements with the top players of the day. They also kept on making their more traditional looking machines as well as some top notch semis (more top notch names on the headstocks) and great range of basses and they seem to have a huge market area covered.
The success of the RG, S etc meant they had cash for developing more stuff and thus ended up with a huge range over a wide price range.
Yamaha came up with the Pacifica and no major endorsements. As good as it may have been it wasn't pointy enough for the metal heads or traditional looking enough for the retro boys.
They do still make some great guitars mind, especially the basses and acoustics.
 
Re: What happened to Yamaha?

i don't think they stopped making pacificas;
there's a wall full of them in a shop about 10 mins drive from here

yamaha anything is good.
^ nice guitars, guys
 
Re: What happened to Yamaha?

I have a couple of their AES series guitars, a 420 and a 620. They are both pretty well-made and have great chunky necks. True, they're not as nice as my Dad's FG-345, but still...
 
Re: What happened to Yamaha?

Been wanting one of these since they've came out...

Never seen one in any store.


AES1500-2.jpg
 
Re: What happened to Yamaha?

JOLLY said:
I saw a dude diving down the road on one today.
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LOL

I just parked mine a few days ago in the snow, but now it's in the 60's again.:scratchch

Yamaha's acoustics are good stuff. Back in the 70s they copied the pre war Martins and came up with some real nice sounding boxes.

I always felt like their electric guitar quality was as high as any Ibanez I've ever seen, but they just didn't quite hit with the masses.
 
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Re: What happened to Yamaha?

d1dsj said:
My mate begged the YSG off me and I wish I hadn't let it go.
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Ahem. I know a man who might be able to help you with that problem. :naughty: https://forum.seymourduncan.com/album.php?albumid=219&pictureid=1445

Yamaha seems to have shifted its attention towards the lower end of the market for the obvious reason that there are more sales to be had there. The high-end bass guitars bring status to the brand but not world dominating sales figures.

IMO, the Pacifica (112) is a brilliant starter guitar. The woodworking is fine. The hardware and electronics are a doddle to upgrade. I own several examples of its bass guitar equivalent, the Attitude Plus bass guitar, all modified. LIke TheProphet, I frequently turn to my "cheap" Yamaha instruments in preference to my American ones.
 
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Re: What happened to Yamaha?

Funkfingers said:
Ahem. I know a man who might be able to help you with that problem. :naughty:

Yamaha seems to have shifted its attention towards the lower end of the market for the obvious reason that there are more sales to be had there. The high-end bass guitars bring status to the brand but not world dominating sales figures.

IMO, the Pacifica (112) is a brilliant starter guitar. The woodworking is fine. The hardware and electronics are a doddle to upgrade. I own several examples of its bass guitar equivalent, the Attitude Plus bass guitar, all modified. LIke TheProphet, I frequently turn to my "cheap" Yamaha instruments in preference to my American ones.
Click to expand...

I remember playing the guitar equivalent quite a bit when starting high school. the playability was not all there. :smack:
 
Re: What happened to Yamaha?

I have long, thin fingers. I find the fingerboard radius on the Pacifica 112 too flat and the string spacing at the nut too narrow. This does not alter the fundamental build quality of the guitar. It just means that it doesn't suit me. (Or, more accurately, that my hands do not suit that guitar.)
 
Re: What happened to Yamaha?

Funkfingers said:
I have long, thin fingers. I find the fingerboard radius on the Pacifica 112 too flat and the string spacing at the nut too narrow. This does not alter the fundamental build quality of the guitar. It just means that it doesn't suit me. (Or, more accurately, that my hands do not suit that guitar.)
Click to expand...

Really? that would explain my experience as well. It's like chording on a violin when you've played a Gretsch!
 
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