Depending on your point of view there are either 2 or 3 Mike Stern Models. Certainly the 1511MS and the 1611MS
and maybe the 311MS. Some say that the 311MS is just a 311S with a maple neck others that it's a 1511MS with different pickups.
The Yamaha archives refer to it as a Mike Stern Model and some of the literature does and some doesn't. For no good
reason I will deal with the 311MS in the 3 series section.
The 1511 and 1611 look extremely similar except for the finish there is an oil finish on the 1611 neck whereas the 1511
is unfinished. The 1611 has had the Initial Response Acceleration treatment, make of that what you will.
Prices
At the time of writing (May 2019) the 1611 has an RRP of £1773 but typically retails between £1400 and £1540
Ebay auction sales are quite rare and result in around £550 for a 1511 and £650 for a 1611.
Body Bound Ash gloss finish
Bolt on Maple C shaped unfinished on the 1511 oil finish on the 1611
Fretboard Maple 22 Frets 7.25" radius
Headstock Plain with tuning fork logo pacifica yamaha and signature on the front model number, serial number
and Made in Japan on the back
Tuners Chrome Gotoh Vintage style
Pickups SD 59 humbucker and SD Hot rails humbucker
Controls chrome on tele style chrome plate 1 volume 1 tone 3 way switch no coil split
Nut synthetic bone
Hardware Black
Bridge 6 saddle tele type fixed
Pickguard Black 3 ply
Colours Natural only
Years available 1997 to 2012 for the 1511 to 2013 to date for the 1611
Launched at 250.000 yen
