There are lots of models and variations in this series, I do not intend to go into fine detail about all of these. I would say from the outset that whilst these are inexpensive guitars they represent tremendous value for money, as always the build quality is excellent and they are tough. My son learnt to play on one of these and gigged it extensively in a post punk band and they did not look after their instruments well. 20 years on and it's still in sound working order and with a clean up would be an excellent guitar still. Prices of a new 112V vary with colour and what discount you can get but RRP in the UK is around £290 Yamaha London's current price is around£240 (June 2019)
This is the current core model (2019) around which all other current strat shaped models are based, previously it has been the
112 1993 to 2003 and the 112J 2003 and still current. All the 100 and 200 models are made in either Taiwan or Indonesia depending
on the date although both factories operated at the same time for a while so there is overlap.
Specs
These are the currect 112V specs
Body Alder with Gloss Finish
Neck Maple Satin Finish
Fretboard Rosewood 22 medium frets 13.75" radius
Headstock Plain Modern logo "Pacifica Yamaha Guitar Development" Tuning Fork Logo 1 string tree model name
and serial number on the back
Tuners Yamaha Dieca st Chrome
Pickups 1 white Alnico V humbucker in a black surround and 2 White Alnico V single coils
Controls White 1 Volume 1 Tone 5 way switch push pull coil tap on tone
Nut Urea Non Locking 41mms
Hardware Chrome
Bridge Vintage Style Tremolo with block saddles
Pickguard White Laminated
Here are some details about other current model with brief details of how they vary from the 112V I have not included colour options for all the different models.
| 112VM | Maple Neck |
| 112VMX | Maple Neck and Satin Body Finish Black Pickguard and Controls |
| 120H | 2 Black generic Alnico Humbuckers, Black Pickguard and controls 3 way switch |
| 112J | Ceramic Pickups no coil tap white controls on a black single ply pickguard |
| 112Jl | Left handed version of the J |
| 212VFM | Alder Ash laminated flame maple top |
| 212VQM | Alder and Ash Laminated Quilted Maple Top |
| 112VCX recently discontinued | Matching Headstock pickguard and control colours different see picture below. |
Most of this information comes from a Yamaha Enthusiasts Guide written by Rod Francis. I was helping Rod to produce a new one in 2017 but it looks like he hasn't had time to complete it
| Model | Comments |
| 120SJ | 2004-2010 Telecaster 2 Humbuckers hardtail bridge no coil tap |
| 120SD | 1994 to 2003 Telecaster Basswood or Alder Body Rosewood board (SJ) Bubinga Board (SD) HH no pickguard hardtail bridge no coil tap |
| 120S | 1998 to 2003 similar to 120SD Alder body Rosewood board |
| 112Jx and JMX | 2004 to 2007As 112J but black controls and pickguard M is Maple board |
| 112X | 1997 to 2001 as 112J or 112 but lots of black the plastic and the trem block |
| 112XC | 1999 to 2000 As 112X but matching headstock |
| 112XCii | 2000 to 2001 as 112XC just added some more colours |
| 112M | 1995 to 2006 as 112 and 112J but Maple board |
| 112JCX | 2004 to 2015 as 112J with matching headstock and improved tuners |
| 112CPJ | 2008 special edition Matching headstock and Mirror Pickguard and Decals |
| 112C | 1999 2000As 112 but metallic Red finish |
| 112Cii | 2000 2001 just added a Metallic White to the 112C |
| 112 | 1993 to 2003 Ceramic Pickups no coil tap Alder or Basswood body with Bubinga Fretboard until 1999 Rosewood board thereafter |
| 102S | 1995 to 2000 Telecaster 2 single coils tele style 6 saddle hardtail bridge white plastic |
| 102SX | 1997 to 2000 as 102S except black plastic and different colours |
As stated earlier this is not intended to be a complete cover of this series I do have more information on some of these models so if you have any specific questions you are welcome to email me.
In 2003 some of the 112 range were issued with a plate saying 1993 to 2003 in place of the 12th Fret markers.
Update November 2021 a note about Left handed Pacificas and early construction
Peter Moulton is a left handed guitarist and modder who has sent me some information on Pacifica early construction
and some left handed variations. His email is very informative and I reproduce a section of it here. Thank you Peter
Construction
My very first electric guitar was one of the new Pacifica 112 left handed models when they came out in the UK in 1993 costing £219.
I have a brochure from 1993 detailing the Yamaha 100 series guitars including the Pacifica 112, Pacifica 120SD, RGX 121D and RGX 121DM models.
According to this brochure, the original Pacifica 112 had a "Solid Basswood" body
(not Alder yet) and a Buvinga fretboard (not Rosewood yet), so I'm guessing Yamaha switched to Alder bodies and Rosewood fretboards from 1999 onwards.
As a left hander, I am limited to only a few models in Yamaha's range, hence I customise guitars to get the spec I want.
I have gutted and custom shopped probably 2 dozen Pacifica 112 projects, half a dozen ERG 121 projects, plus a few RGX projects,
so got to see some component differences, especially between left handed and right handed models.
Left handed v Right Handed
Pacifica 112J vs Pacifica 112JL
On the 112J the pin mount tuners use 2 pins, whereas on the 112JL the pin mount only uses a single pin.
The pot metal sustain block in the 112J weighs 134g but is only 127g in the corresponding 112JL.
Pacifica specs can differ depending upon the country of manufacture. For example, I have the following anomalies that deviate from
the standard 52mm 9.5K bridge, 52mm Middle single coil and 50mm neck single coil.
Indonesia 112JL Natural Satin s/n QKZ233370
Gifmen ceramic single coils are 52mm middle and 50mm neck with 52mm spaced 9.5K Samshin bridge humbucker.
Taiwan 112JL Black s/n IH28112
both ceramic single coils are 52mm and 5.7K to 5.8K resistance with 52mm spaced 12K bridge humbucker.
Indonesian 112JL Black s/n QKM303332
both ceramic single coils are 50mm and 5.25K to 5.30K resistance with 50mm spaced 9.77K bridge humbucker.
A Pacifica 112MX for a customer and my own Taiwanese Pacifica 112JL
came with Alpha mini pots, the rest I've seen use unbranded mini pots.
Peter has also provided a little information on Left handed RGX121S which is on the relevant page.
2023
The 112VM and 112VQM have been discontinued otherwise unchanged