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Yamaha PAC611H
Yamaha RSP20
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Playability
72
Sound
76
Build
67
Value
77
Score
72
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Playability
80
Sound
74
Build
74
Value
66
Score
76
FIND IT ON:
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Yamaha PAC611H vs RSP20 Specs Comparison
Yamaha PAC611H RSP20
General
Brand: Yamaha Yamaha
Year: 2019 2022
Configuration: HP90 HH
Strings: 6 6
Made in: Indonesia Japan
Series: Pacifica REVSTAR
Colors: Black Blue, Yellow Burst
Left-Handed Version: No No
Body
Type: Solid Body Solid Body
Body Material: Alder Top: Maple / Back: Chambered 2-Piece Mahogany, Carbon Reinforcement
Bridge: Hardtail Bridge with Graph Tech String Saver Saddle Tune-O-Matic
Neck
Neck Joint: Bolt-On Set
Tuners: Grover locking Die-Cast
Fretboard: Rosewood Rosewood
Neck Material: Maple 3-Piece Mahogany, Carbon Reinforcement
Decoration: Dots Lines
Scale Size: 25.5" 24.75"
Shape: Pacifica C Revstar C
Thickness: 1st Fret: 0.823'' (20.9mm) - 12th Fret: 0.902'' (22.9mm) 1st Fret: 0.827'' (21mm) - 12th Fret: 0.941'' (23.9mm)
Frets: 22 Medium Nickel Silver 22 Jumbo Stainless Steel
Fretboard Radius: 13.78" 12"
Nut: Ivory Tusq Plastic
Nut Width: 41mm (1.614'') 41.9mm (1.65'')
Electronics
Bridge Pickups: Seymour Duncan TB-14 (Humbucker / Passive) VH5b (Humbucker / Passive)
Middle Pickup:
Neck Pickup: Seymour Duncan SP90-1n (Single Coil / Passive) VH5n (Humbucker / Passive)
Switch: 3 Way 5 Way
Knobs: Dome Dome
Pickup Mods: Coil Split Boost
Volume Controls: 1 1
Tone Controls: 1 1
Hardware
Strap Lock: No No
Hardware Color: Chrome Chrome
Show Diagrams Comparison
Yamaha PAC611H pickups switch and push knobs diagram
Yamaha PAC611H's switch options
Yamaha RSP20 pickups switch selector and push knobs diagram
Yamaha RSP20's switch options

Reasons to Get
Yamaha PAC611H over RSP20

Type of Frets
Medium vs Jumbo
You'll feel the fretboard when pressing down the strings
Nut Material
Ivory Tusq vs Plastic
Resistant, good tuning stability and rich tone
Pickup Mods
Coil Split vs Boost
Splits humbuckers into single coil pickups
Neck Joint
Bolt-On vs Set
Allows you to detach and swap the neck
Pickups
HP90 vs HH
High-output rhythm with vintage soloing tones
Locking Tuners
Yes vs None
Easier to change strings
Neck Thickness at 1st Fret
0.823'' (20.9mm) vs 0.827'' (21mm)
More comfortable open chords for small hands
Neck Thickness at 12th Fret
0.902'' (22.9mm) vs 0.941'' (23.9mm)
More comfortable at higher frets for small hands
Nut Width
1.614'' (41mm) vs 1.65'' (41.9mm)
Favors small hands, easier bar chords and other shapes
Scale Length
25.5'' (647.7mm) vs 24.75'' (628.7mm)
Lower action and brighter natural tone
Fretboard Radius
13.78'' (350mm) vs 12'' (304.8mm)
Flatter fretboard makes it easier to play single notes and bend
Value Score
77 vs 66
Better price/quality relationship

Reasons to Get
Yamaha RSP20 over PAC611H

Weight Relief
Yes vs None
Lighter Body
Country of Manufacturing
Japan vs Indonesia
Built with higher quality standards
Fret Material
Stainless Steel vs Nickel Silver
Best fret material that will last forever
Release Year
2022 vs 2019
From a more recent year
Frets Height
Taller vs Shorter
Easier to press down strings and bend them
Type of Frets
Jumbo vs Medium
You won't feel the fretboard when pressing down the strings
Pickup Mods
Boost vs Coil Split
Increases the output of the pickup
Switch Positions
5 vs 3
More tone options
Pickups
HH vs HP90
High output without hum
Neck Thickness at 1st Fret
0.827'' (21mm) vs 0.823'' (20.9mm)
More comfortable open chords for big hands
Neck Thickness at 12th Fret
0.941'' (23.9mm) vs 0.902'' (22.9mm)
More comfortable at higher frets for big hands
Nut Width
1.65'' (41.9mm) vs 1.614'' (41mm)
Less likely to mute strings by accident and more space for fingerstyle
Scale Length
24.75'' (628.7mm) vs 25.5'' (647.7mm)
Easier bending, shorter fret separation and warmer natural tone
Fretboard Radius
12'' (304.8mm) vs 13.78'' (350mm)
Easier to play chords without muting strings

Other Key Differences
Yamaha PAC611H vs RSP20

Bridge Pickup
Seymour Duncan TB-14 vs VH5b
Different Bridge Pickup
Neck Pickup
Seymour Duncan SP90-1n vs VH5n
Different Neck Pickup
Body Wood
Alder vs Mahogany
Different Body Wood
Neck Wood
Maple vs Mahogany
Different Neck Wood
Headstock
6 vs 3-3
Different Headstock
Nut Material
Ivory Tusq vs Plastic
Different Nut Material

Shared Features
Yamaha PAC611H vs RSP20

Fretboard Wood
Rosewood
Same Fretboard Wood
Strings
6
Same playing style
Body Type
Solid Body
Feedback free
Volume Knobs
1
Same volume control
Tone Knobs
1
Same tone control
Number of Frets
22
Same maximum octave
Paint Finish
Poly
Resistant paint that ages well
Bridge
Fixed
Good sustain and needs no set-up
Pickups Power
Passive
Cleaner sound and no battery needed
Neck Profile Type
C
Comfortable neck that works for most people

Common Strengths

  • High-Quality Frets
  • Top Pickup Brand
  • Expensive Wood

Common Weaknesses

  • Stays in Tune (Evertune)
  • Compound Radius Fretboard
  • Luminescent Sidedots
  • Strap Lock
  • 21:1 Tuner Ratio
  • Active/Passive Preamp

Price History Comparison

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SET PRICE ALERT

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Hand Size Comfortability

After taking into account the scale length, nut width, neck profile and fretboard radius, we can conclude that both favor small hands .

Yamaha PAC611H:
Big Hands
Small Hands
Yamaha RSP20:
Big Hands
Small Hands

Beginner Friendliness

The Yamaha PAC611H meets 6 out of our 8 criteria items for beginner friendliness, while the Yamaha RSP20 meets only 5. This takes into account the type of frets, scale length, nut width, bridge type, fretboard radius, and neck profile to determine the easiest combination for new players.

New Player Friendliness

Yamaha PAC611H
  • Comfortable shape
  • Easy-to-use bridge
  • Locking tuners
  • Tall frets
  • Narrow nut
  • Comfortable neck
  • Comfortable fretboard
  • Short scale

New Player Friendliness

Yamaha RSP20
  • Comfortable shape
  • Easy-to-use bridge
  • Tall frets
  • Narrow nut
  • Comfortable neck
  • Comfortable fretboard
  • Short scale
  • Locking tuners

Sound Quality Comparison

The wood used in an electric guitar or bass is not as important to determine the final tone. However, some people prefer specific wood types, so we'll take a look at those first. Then, we'll take a look at the electronics to determine the versatility and sound quality of each instrument.

Woods Used in Both

Rosewood wood pattern used for guitar building
Rosewood

Rosewood is an almost purple-looking wood that is used mainly for fretboards since it's heavy, rare, and expensive. It's sometimes used on acoustic guitar bodies to create stronger warm tones. Find out more about Rosewood.

Woods Used in the Yamaha PAC611H

Maple wood pattern used for guitar building
Maple
Alder wood pattern used for guitar building
Alder

Maple is one of the most popular necks for good reasons. It is a strong wood that is relatively cheap to make and looks beautiful. The highest quality maple is the hardest that comes from North America. Find out more about Maple.

Alder is the most popular wood that Fender uses in most of their guitars nowadays. Even though they say it's because of its balanced tone with an emphasis in the upper midrange, it probably is because it isn't too expensive, and it's also pretty lightweight—more than Mahogany. Find out more about Alder.

Woods Used in the Yamaha RSP20

Mahogany wood pattern used for guitar building
Mahogany

Mahogany is a fairly rare wood nowadays. It's used mostly for bodies due to its relatively lightweight. Gibson popularized it with their Les Paul guitars during their golden years, so this wood has a lot of good reputation behind it. The most expensive type comes from South America and it's still used by Gibson even today. Find out more about Mahogany.

Winner: Yamaha RSP20.

Pickup Configuration

The Yamaha PAC611H has an HP90 configuration while the Yamaha RSP20 has HH pickups.

HP90 means it rocks a Humbucker at the bridge and a P90 at the neck. This is not a usual combination, which makes guitars like this really special. You'll get high-output rhythm pickups and a classy slightly cleaner tone excellent for blues and similar genres.

On the other hand, Double Humbucker (HH) is the choice for people who want a fuller, more round sound with tons of mids and lows. Humbuckers also get rid of the hum noise that plague single-coil pickups. They can work out for almost any genre going from Djent to even Jazz.

Pickups Quality

Both come with very good pickups from at least one of the specialized brands in the market. With pickups like these, you probably won't need an upgrade anytime soon.

You can purchase similar pickups to the Yamaha PAC611H's and use them on any guitar:

Both use Passive pickups. This is what's used for most music genres. They have a regular output and will serve you for both high-gain and clean tones. The alternative (Active pickups) offer a higher output that is mostly used for heavy music.

Winner: Tie.

Versatility Comparison

Some instruments offer you more ways to explore your creativity than others. Below you'll find how both compare when it comes to versatility.

Switch Options

The Yamaha RSP20 gives you 5 switch options while the Yamaha PAC611H gives you 3. This means that the Yamaha RSP20 gives you more options to find the right pickup combination for the type of sound you want to achieve

Both give you different pickup mod options.

The Yamaha PAC611H offers Coil Split.

Coil Split lets you disconnect one of the pickup coils. When used with humbuckers, it turns them into single-coil with lower output and cleaner tone.

On the other hand, the Yamaha RSP20 comes with the following: Boost.

A Boost will give your pickups more output, similar to an active pickup. It's great if you like to use a lot of output for heavy genres, but also like to use a cleaner tone often.

When evaluating versatility, we also take into consideration bridge and neck joint type, number of frets, switch options, amount of pickups and more.

Winner: Yamaha RSP20.

Final Sound Quality Scores

Yamaha PAC611H
Pickups 90
Sustain 75
Versatility 59
Tuning Stability 80
Sound 76
Yamaha RSP20
Pickups 90
Sustain 80
Versatility 62
Tuning Stability 65
Sound 74

Build Quality Comparison

When it comes to build quality, we like to take into account everything used to build the instrument. This includes materials, hardware and the quality control expected depending on the country where it was built. Let's see how the Yamaha PAC611H compares to the Yamaha RSP20.

Country of Origin

The manufacturing country can tell a lot about the build quality of an instrument. The Yamaha PAC611H is built in Indonesia while the Yamaha RSP20 is made in Japan.

Indonesia is becoming the most popular country for guitar building because they can make good instruments for a low price. Some people think that they're 'the new China' when it comes to build quality. But the truth is that Indonesian guitars are more consistent, although Chinese quality has improved a lot in the last few years.

Japan has a long history of high-quality guitar building. Little has changed in terms of their manufacturing and quality control over the years. Many guitars made in this country can be compared—and even beat—others made in the US.

Winner: Yamaha RSP20

Nut Material

If you want your guitar to stay in tune and sound good, you need a well cut nut. Nut quality can be inconsistent even when comparing two copies of the same model. The best way to make sure you're nut will be well done is by getting a nut made by an expert company like TUSQ or Micarta.

The Yamaha PAC611H has a Ivory Tusq nut. Ivory used to be considered the best material for guitar nuts due to its beauty, durability, and the rich harmonics and sustain you could get from a guitar with it. However, the way to obtain it is simply unethical. Enter TUSQ ivory nuts, which are made synthetically to imitate ivory. Technically, it's better than ivory because it is consistent piece-to-piece, while natural materials can vary a lot, even if they're made from the same.

On the other hand, the Yamaha RSP20 comes with a Plastic nut. This is a low-quality nut that you might want to consider upgrading soon. Bone and TUSQ nuts are the best for guitars with a fixed or simple tremolo bridge.

Winner: Yamaha PAC611H.

Fret Material

Most fret wire is made of nickel silver. This material eventually wears down after a lot of use and most instruments end up needing a complete fret replacement. However, some expensive models come with stainless steel frets. This is what you should aim for if you can afford it.

In this comparison, the Yamaha RSP20 is the only one that has stainless steel frets. These frets will basically last for the entire life of the guitar. They will never need polishing nor replacement. And not only that, but some people also notice that bending and vibratos are much easier to perform when they upgrade to stainless steel.

Winner: Yamaha RSP20.

Bridge

The perfect bridge for you will depend on your playstyle because they all have advantages and disadvantages. However, some bridges are more expensive—like Floyd Roses and Evertunes—and thus add more value to a guitar.

Both come with a similar bridge: Fixed. It's a simple bridge that is very beginner-friendly since it doesn't require any set-up. You can swap strings easily. It might also give more sustain since it doesn't have complex moving parts that make the strings lose vibration. However, it doesn't have the same versatility as a tremolo bridge.

Since we need to be objective, the most expensive type of bridge will be the winner of this section. In the end, this doesn't matter if you're not going to use the bridge for its original purpose, so choose the bridge that fits your playing style better.

Winner: Tie.

Tuners

The Yamaha PAC611H has the best tuners of the two because they are locking tuners. They'll help to keep your guitar in tune because they allow you to tune it without wrapping the strings around the posts. This avoids variations in the tuning due to the strings changing position at the post after a bend. They come at the disadvantage of being slightly heavier than regular tuners. Also, it makes it a lot easier to restring.

Winner: Yamaha PAC611H.

Neck Joint

Contrary to popular belief, the difference in sustain and tone that some neck joints give to a guitar is simply unperceivable—if they're all well built. However, some of them do have advantages over the others.

The Yamaha PAC611H has a Bolt-On neck joint. This neck is joined to the body by 4 bolts that you can simply unscrew. This allows you to replace the neck or take it off for travel. It's the most common and cheapest way to build a guitar.

On the other hand, the Yamaha RSP20 comes with Set neck joint. This neck is tightly glued to the body. They give you the least versatility because you can't swap them for a neck that fits your hand better if you want to, unlike bolt-on necks. Some people think this gives more resonance and sustain, but there's no real difference if the bolt-on joint is well built.

Winner: Yamaha PAC611H.

Here is the list of features that were considered when choosing the winner in the Features subcategory:

Strengths & Weaknesses
Yamaha PAC611H
  • Locking Tuners
  • Expensive Wood
  • Ivory Tusq Nut
  • Top Brand Pickups
  • Coil Split Pickups
  • Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
  • Made in Indonesia
  • No Neck-Through Build
  • No Weight Relief
  • No Luminescent Inlay
  • No Tremolo
  • No Compound Radius Fretboard
  • No 21:1 Tuner Ratio
  • No Strap Lock
Strengths & Weaknesses
Yamaha RSP20
  • Stainless Steel Frets
  • Made in Japan
  • Expensive Wood
  • Top Brand Pickups
  • Boost Pickups
  • Weight Relief
  • No Locking Tuners
  • No High-Quality Nut
  • No Neck-Through Build
  • No Luminescent Inlay
  • No Tremolo
  • No Compound Radius Fretboard
  • No 21:1 Tuner Ratio
  • No Strap Lock

Final Build Quality Scores

Yamaha PAC611H
Quality of materials 66
Features 65
Quality Control 70
Build Quality 67
Yamaha RSP20
Quality of materials 66
Features 60
Quality Control 95
Build Quality 74

Playability Comparison

Let's now compare their playability. Bear in mind that the instrument will feel different depending on your hand size and play style. That's why you should always test before buying. But if you can't or want a second opinion on it, we can still take a look at each of the important measurements of the instrument for you. This way, we can predict how easy a guitar might be to play, or how different it will feel compared to the other.

Remember that, even though the difference might seem small, every inch counts when it comes to feeling of the instrument in your hands. Any variation can completely change how comfortable a guitar feels in your hands.

Nut Width

Yamaha PAC611H Nut Width
Yamaha PAC611H Nut Width
Yamaha RSP20 Nut Width
Yamaha RSP20 Nut Width

The nut width will affect the separation between strings at the nut. In this comparison, the Yamaha RSP20 has the wider nut with 41.9mm (1.65'') vs 41mm (1.614''). This is a 0.9mm (0.036'') difference

This means that it will be more difficult to do bar chords on the Yamaha RSP20, especially closer to the nut. However, it's also easier to play without muting strings accidently. This favors people with big hands.

Scale Length

Yamaha PAC611H's Scale Length
Yamaha PAC611H's Scale Length
Yamaha RSP20's Scale Length
Yamaha RSP20's Scale Length

The scale length is one of the things that influences playability the most. This is the distance between the nut and the bridge and will affect everything from low action allowance, difficulty to perform bends, fret separation, and even tone.

The Yamaha PAC611H has the longest scale: 25.5". The Yamaha RSP20 is only 24.75" long. This is a 0.75'' (19.1mm) scale length difference.

This longer scale means that the strings need more tension to get in tune. This is good if you want to avoid fret buzz, which can happen when the strings are too loose and touch the frets while vibrating. This is especially important when playing in lower tunings. This will also let you reduce the gap between fretboard and strings (low action) to make them easier to press down. However, this higher tension will also make it harder to perform bends and vibratos as the strings will feel stiffer.

This also means that the frets have a longer separation between each other, so this will make it harder for people with smaller hands when playing some chord positions.

Another characteristic of a longer scale is that it makes the guitar sound 'snappier' or brighter. This is due to the extra separation between harmonics and overtones produced by the tension. This influences tone more than any other factor (except the pickups).

Lastly, remember that you can also affect the tension of the strings by changing your string gauge. You can use a thicker gauge for more tension and a lighter one for less tension.

Neck Profile

Yamaha PAC611H Neck Profile
Yamaha PAC611H's neck profile
Yamaha RSP20 Neck Profile
Yamaha RSP20's neck profile

No single neck shape is better than others. However, most people tend to prefer a thinner necks because it doesn't get in their way when playing fast and most hand sizes can adapt to it pretty well. However, some people still prefer thicker necks for a better grip, especially if they have big hands.

Both the Yamaha PAC611H and the Yamaha RSP20 have a C-shaped neck. This is what you'll find in most modern guitars. Most people feel like the thickness of a C neck is simply the less intrusive one for playing fast, while at the same time allowing you to grab the neck easily for resting if you want to.

Fretboard Radius

Yamaha PAC611H Fingerboard Radius
Yamaha PAC611H's Fingerboard radius
Yamaha RSP20 Fingerboard Radius
Yamaha RSP20's Fingerboard radius

Most guitar fretboards are not flat; they usually have a curve or arc across their width. A curved fretboard will make it easier to perform chords without muting strings, while a flatter one will make it easier to play single notes, which is good for bending and soloing in general. The best fretboards have a compound radius that varies across the fingerboard, but they're not common since they take a lot more work to build.

In this case, the Yamaha RSP20's fingerboard radius is smaller, which means it's more curved than the Yamaha PAC611H's. This extra arc will make playing chords easier in this model. You won't be as likely to mute the strings, especially if you have big hands. However, playing single notes and bending will be easier on the Yamaha PAC611H.

Still, both tend to favor soloing over chords, so if you're looking for a guitar for playing rhythm, you might want something else with a radius closer to a Stratocaster's 9.5''.

Fret Size

Yamaha PAC611H Frets Size
Yamaha PAC611H's Frets Size
Yamaha RSP20 Frets Size
Yamaha RSP20's Frets Size

The Yamaha RSP20 has Jumbo frets, which should be taller than the Yamaha PAC611H's Medium frets.

Some people prefer taller frets because they result in more sustain since the strings get pressed cleanly without interference from the fretboard. However, if they're too tall—like Jumbo frets—, you might change the pitch of the strings accidentally if you press too hard because you won't be touching the fretboard with your fingers. This is also why some guitarists with a heavy grip prefer smaller frets. They like to feel the fingerboard to avoid pressing down too hard and getting out of pitch.

Final Playability Scores

Yamaha PAC611H
Bending & Vibrato Ease 75
Chord Playability 70
Solo Playability 70
Playability 72
Yamaha RSP20
Bending & Vibrato Ease 95
Chord Playability 65
Solo Playability 80
Playability 80