The Yamaha Pacifica series has long been one of the industry’s most reliable success stories, blending player-friendly ergonomics with consistently high-quality workmanship. Now Yamaha is shaking things up in a big way. Enter the Yamaha Pacifica SC, a fresh evolution that swaps the familiar ST-style outline for a T-style single-cut, while retaining the smooth, curved Pacifica design language players know and love.
This is not just a cosmetic rethink. Across both high-end and mid-range models, the Pacifica SC lineup introduces serious upgrades that push the platform further into modern, professional territory.
At the top of the range sits the Yamaha Pacifica SC P11 series, and it wastes no time making an impression. The new single-cut Pacifica-style body looks sleek and contemporary, while classic tonewoods keep things grounded. You get a two-piece Alder body paired with a bolt-on Maple neck, delivering a familiar snap and resonance with Yamaha’s typically refined feel.
Finish options are equally eye-catching, with Black Metallic, Shell White, Ash Pink, Breeze Metallic Blue, and Sunny Orange on offer. Depending on the model, players can choose between Rosewood or Maple fretboards, allowing for subtle tonal and aesthetic preference.
Where the P11 models really flex is in the hardware department. Yamaha has clearly spared no expense here:
- 22 Jumbo Stainless Steel frets
- Compound Radius fretboard, shifting from 9.5″ to 12″
- Locking Tuners
- Chrome Gotoh BC-TS1S bridge with compensated 3 Brass saddles
Pickup-wise, Yamaha equips every Pacifica SC P11 with a Reflectone HT7b single coil at the bridge and a Reflectone EH7n humbucker at the neck. Longtime Pacifica fans will recognize the name, as these pickups were co-developed with Rupert Neve Designs, bringing studio-grade clarity and balance into the guitar world.
Controls are thoughtfully modern. A three-way switch is joined by a master volume with a hi-pass capacitor for added clarity at lower volumes, plus a master tone control that doubles as a push-pull Focus switch. Pull it up, and the neck humbucker drops into single-coil mode for extra sparkle and versatility.
Yamaha is not stopping at the high end. The Pacifica SC Standard Plus models bring the same Tele-style single-cut silhouette to a more accessible price point, while still retaining an impressive list of features.
These guitars feature a three-piece Alder body, a Maple neck, and a choice of Rosewood fretboards on the 11S models or Maple fretboards on the 11SM variants. Unlike the P11 series, there is no compound radius here. Instead, Yamaha opts for a straight 12″ radius, a comfortable and familiar spec for many modern players.
Here is the surprise: despite the lower price tier, the Standard Plus models still include Locking Tuners, the Gotoh bridge, and the same Reflectone pickups found on the P11 series. The push-pull coil-split function is also present, ensuring that tonal flexibility remains a core part of the Pacifica SC identity.
Finish options are broad and stylish, with Ash Pink, Peppermint Green, Desert Burst, Black Metallic, and Shell White available across the range. Get the Yamaha Pacifica SC P11 for $2,199 and the Pacifica SC Standard Plus for $999 right here.
