Most sub-£200 electrics are played through necessity. Since 1993, Pacificas have been chosen by proper grown-ups with jobs, cars and everything. No wonder we have high hopes for the updated 112V.

The 112V is designed to let us “play harder”. Yamaha refers us to the solid US alder body, maple neck, rosewood fingerboard, vintage vibrato and a tantalising configuration of single-coils and humbuckers bolstered by a coil tap. If we had a guitar tech, he’d “approve of the stage-ready setup.”

Stick a blindfold on a guitar snob and they’ll swear this is a mid-price Strat. That boring body is contoured in all the right places, giving you free reign over a neck that is sensibly pitched between fast and fat, and offers fledgling players a decent platform for learning. The only conceivable criticism is that it feels a little generic, dealing in all styles but excelling at none.

You might argue the same applies to the tone. The 112V is easily one of the most adaptable models in this round-up, delivering a decent Strat quack from the singlecoils and scoring with a bridge humbucker that has decent weight behind it for rock and blues licks.

Verdict

Again, our only issue is its slight lack of sonic identity, with the balanced tone covering all bases but never quite polarising its audience. Still, it is certainly one of the best all-rounders here.

4 Stars

Pros: Versatility, pro feel, tone.
Cons: Slight lack of identity.

Buy: Yahamha Pacifica 112V is currently available from Andertons Music Co, Hartnoll Guitars and Thomann

Next: Spear RD-W