I can find 10 models in the 300 range and there is no easy way to group them except to take out the 12 string models and the just group the rest together with a bit of a split around body shape.
There are 2 12 string models the 303 12 and the 303 12ii I have owned the first model in faded blue
a superb guitar for the money, now sold because I dont play anything which suits a 12 string. Here's a
comparison of the 2 models
| 303 12 | 303 12ii | |
| Body | Alder | Alder with an Ash Veneer |
| Neck | Maple | Maple |
| Fretboard | Rosewood 350mms radius 22 medium frets | Rosewood 350mms radius 22 medium frets |
| Headstock | Old Style Logo Pacifica Yamaha with Tuning fork logo single gold string bar Model and s/n on back | Old Style Logo Pacifica Yamaha with Tuning fork logo single chrome string bar Model and s/n on back |
| Tuners | Gold Yamaha Diecast | Chrome Yamaha Diecast |
| Pickups | 3 single coil alnico GS-F2W white | 3 single coil alnico black |
| Nut | 43mms | 43mms |
| Hardware | Gold | Chrome |
| Bridge | Gold Gotoh 12 string bridge** | Chrome Gotoh 12 string bridge** |
| Controls | White 1 volume 1 tone 5 way switch* | Black 1 volume 1 tone 5 way switch |
| Pickguard | Pearloid White laminated | Black laminated |
| Colours | Cherry Red Burst or Faded Blue | Old Violin Sunburst or Honeyburst |
| Available | 1996/7 | 2000 |
| Only 400 made |
* I am reasonably certain that this is a 5 way mine certainly was, the archives and reviews say so
but the 1996 and 1997 catalogues both say 3 way but it's not the first time I have seen errors in Yamaha catalogues.
**The Bridge is an unusual arrangement in that 6 of the strings are routed through body and 6 straight
through the bridge.
These are the 302S, the 311S and the 311MS the latter two are the same guitar just one Rosewood and the other Maple
boards.
The 302S
This guitar was produced in Taiwan between 1995 and 1998
Body Alder Telecaster Shape Cream Binding
Neck Maple
Fretboard Rosewood 22 frets 13.75" radius
Headstock Plain Old style logo "Pacifica Model name Yamaha " Tuning Fork Logo 1 string tree model name
and serial number on the back
Tuners Yamaha Diecast Gold
Pickups 1 black 1 gold Alnico (probably ii) single coils
Controls Gold 1 Volume 1 Tone 3 way switch
Nut Non Locking 41mms
Hardware Gold
Bridge Tele style hard tail
Pickguard Pearloid Laminated
Colours Cherry Burst, Faded Blue or Charcoal Grey
The 311S and 311MS
These guitars are often referred to as Mike Stern "entry level" even Yamaha have referred to the 311MS
as a Mike Stern model. In reality they look similar but are very different in specification both of the
311 models are made in Taiwan the M is just Maple Fretboard
Body Alder with Ash laminated top Telecaster Shape Cream Binding
Neck Maple
Fretboard Rosewood or Maple 22 frets 13.75" radius
Headstock Plain Old style logo "Pacifica Yamaha " Tuning Fork Logo 1 string tree model name
and serial number on the back
Tuners Yamaha Diecast Chrome
Pickups 1 black Alnico V humbucker and a black hotrails type see picture below
Controls chrome 1 Volume 1 Tone 3 way switch no coil tap
Nut Non Locking 41mms
Hardware Chrome
Bridge Tele style hard tail
Pickguard Black Laminated
Colours Natural, Vintage Blonde or Oil Stain
The S was made from 1999 to 2003 and the MS from 1998 to 2004
There are four models which with dates (from the Archives) are said to be
312 1995 to 2004
312H 1996 to 2004
312ii 1998 to 2000
312Mii 1998 to 2001
All made in Taiwan
Really this is two models the 312H is a 312 with a different body finish and the 312Mii is just the Maple board version
of the 312ii.
The models are not necessarily in all the catalogues for the relevant years. The ii models seem to be a different spec
released in the middle of the life of the original 312s, it would perhaps have been less confusing to label the iis
as SE or X or similar.
| 312 | 312H | 312 ii and 312M ii | ||
| Body | Alder | Alder with Quilted Maple Top High definition finish | Alder | |
| Neck | Maple | Maple | Maple | |
| Headstock | Plain old logo Tamaha Pacifica on front tuning fork logo 1 string tree and with Model number and serial number on the back | Plain old logo Tamaha Pacifica on front tuning fork logo 1 string tree and with Model number and serial number on the back | Plain old logo Tamaha Pacifica on front tuning fork logo 1 string tree and with Model number and serial number on the back | |
| Fretboard | Rosewood 13.75" radius 22 medium frets | Rosewood 13.75" radius 22 medium frets | Rosewood or Maple 13.75" radius 22 medium frets | |
| Tuners | Gold Yamaha Diecast | Gold Yamaha Diecast | Chrome Yamaha Diecast | |
| Pickups | White Yamaha Standard HSS described as GS-F2W SCs and GH-F2W HBs | White Yamaha Standard HSS described as GS-F2W SCs and GH-F2W HBs | Black HSS Alnico Vs | |
| Controls | White 1 volume 1 tone 5 way switch no coil tap | White 1 volume 1 tone 5 way switch no coil tap | Black 1 volume 1 tone 5 way switch no coil tap | |
| Nut | 41mms non locking | 41mms non locking | 41mms non locking | |
| Hardware | Gold | Gold | Chrome | |
| Bridge | Vintage Vibrato | Vintage Vibrato | Vintage Vibrato | |
| Pickguard | White | White Perloid | Black | |
| Colours | Faded Blue, Cherry Red Burst or Faded Grey | Old Violin Sunburst, Amber or Trans Blue | Old Violin Sunbusrt, Honeyburst, Trans Red, Trans Green or Trans Blue | |
| Launch Price | 37000 yen | 40000 yen | 37000 yen |
This is the current offering as at 2019. It is made in Indonesia. Launched around 2011 in 2019 it is
retailing around £260.
Specs
Body Alder
Neck Maple
Fretboard Rosewood 22 frets 13.75" radius
Headstock Plain Pacifica Yamaha Guitar Development style Tuning Fork Logo 1 string tree model name
and serial number on the back
Tuners Grover Locking Chrome
Pickups 1 Chrome Alnico V humbucker and a Gold P90 Alnico
Controls chrome 1 Volume 1 Tone 3 way switch coil tap on tone control
Nut Graph Tech Tusq 41mms
Hardware Chrome
Bridge Strat style hard tail
Pickguard Perloid Laminated
Colours Black, Vintage White, Yellow Natural Satin or Red Metallic
Oct 2023
Still the current offering with broadly the same specs, some colour changes RRP £501
