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Yamaha PAC611HFM
Sterling JP60
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Playability
72
Sound
76
Build
68
Value
77
Score
72
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Playability
70
Sound
66
Build
60
Value
70
Score
65
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Yamaha PAC611HFM vs Sterling JP60

Reasons to Get
Yamaha PAC611HFM over Sterling JP60

Decorative Top
Flame Maple vs None
Finished with beautiful natural wood patterns
Neck Profile
Pacifica C vs John Petrucci
Comfortable neck that works for most people
Pickups Brand
Seymour Duncan vs None
Pickups from a renown brand
Pickup Mods
Coil Split vs None
Splits humbuckers into single coil pickups
Pickups
HP90 vs HH
High-output rhythm with vintage soloing tones
Nut Width
1.614'' (41mm) vs 1.693'' (43mm)
Favors small hands, easier bar chords and other shapes
Bridge
Fixed vs Tremolo
Good sustain and needs no set-up
Fretboard Radius
13.78'' (350mm) vs 16'' (406.4mm)
More curved fretboard helpful to play chords without muting strings
Value Score
77 vs 70
Better price/quality relationship

Reasons to Get
Sterling JP60 over Yamaha PAC611HFM

Release Year
2018 vs 2015
From a more recent year
Frets Height
Taller vs Shorter
Easier to press down strings and bend them
Neck Profile
John Petrucci vs Pacifica C
Thin and flat neck for playing fast
Pickups
HH vs HP90
High output without hum
Number of Frets
24 vs 22
Allows to reach higher notes
Nut Width
1.693'' (43mm) vs 1.614'' (41mm)
Less likely to mute strings by accident and more space for fingerstyle
Bridge
Tremolo vs Fixed
Simple vibratos without too much maintenance
Fretboard Radius
16'' (406.4mm) vs 13.78'' (350mm)
Flatter fretboard makes it easier to play single notes and bend

Other Key Differences
Yamaha PAC611HFM vs Sterling JP60

Bridge Pickup
Seymour Duncan TB-14 vs Sterling Humbucker
Different Bridge Pickup
Neck Pickup
Seymour Duncan SP90-1n vs Sterling Humbucker
Different Neck Pickup
Body Wood
Maple vs Basswood
Different Body Wood
Headstock
6 vs 4-2
Different Headstock
Nut Material
Ivory Tusq vs Compensated
Different Nut Material

Shared Features
Yamaha PAC611HFM vs Sterling JP60

Neck Wood
Maple
Same Neck Wood
Fretboard Wood
Rosewood
Same Fretboard Wood
Strings
6
Same playing style
Body Type
Solid Body
Feedback free
Switch Positions
3
Same pickups versatility
Volume Knobs
1
Same volume control
Tone Knobs
1
Same tone control
Paint Finish
Poly
Resistant paint that ages well
Scale Length
25.5'' (647.7mm)
Same string tension and fret separation
Pickups Power
Passive
Cleaner sound and no battery needed
Neck Joint
Bolt-On
Allows you to detach and swap the neck
Type of Frets
Medium vs Medium Jumbo
You'll feel the fretboard when pressing down the strings

Common Strengths

  • Locking Tuners
  • High-Quality Nut
  • Expensive Wood

Common Weaknesses

  • Neck-Through Build
  • Weight Relief
  • Stays in Tune (Evertune)
  • High-Quality Frets
  • Compound Radius Fretboard
  • From a High-Quality-Standards Country
  • Luminescent Sidedots
  • Strap Lock
  • 21:1 Tuner Ratio
  • Active/Passive Preamp

Table of Contents

Price History Comparison

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Which One is Better Overall?

After going through our comparison algorithm, the results show that the Yamaha PAC611HFM is probably the better product overall with its final score of 72 compared to the Sterling JP60's 65 score, although not by a lot.

The Yamaha PAC611HFM wins when it comes to sound, playability, build quality, value for the money. This means that it wins over the Sterling JP60 in every aspect.

If you got small hands, none of these instruments will make a big difference when it comes to comfortability.

Which One is Better for Beginners?

If you're looking for your first guitar to learn how to play, the Yamaha PAC611HFM is the better choice.

The Yamaha PAC611HFM meets 6 out of our 8 criteria items for beginner friendliness, while the Sterling JP60 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 PAC611HFM
  • Comfortable shape
  • Easy-to-use bridge
  • Locking tuners
  • Tall frets
  • Narrow nut
  • Comfortable neck
  • Comfortable fretboard
  • Short scale

New Player Friendliness

Sterling JP60
  • Comfortable shape
  • Easy-to-use bridge
  • Locking tuners
  • Tall frets
  • Comfortable neck
  • Comfortable fretboard
  • Narrow nut
  • Short scale

Nevertheless, when it comes to choosing an instrument, you should pick the one more compatible with your personal style. Still, below we'll try you to give you our results as objectively as it's possible to help you decide.

Yamaha PAC611HFM Overview

  • From Yamaha's 2015 Pacifica series
  • Made in Indonesia
  • 6 strings
  • 25.5"'' scale
  • 13.78" Fretboard Radius
  • Flame Maple top
  • Maple/Alder/Flame Maple Laminated body
  • Maple neck
  • Rosewood fretboard
  • Bridge pickup: Seymour Duncan TB-14 (Humbucker/Passive)
  • 1 volume and 1 tone Dome knobs
  • 3-way Switch
  • Hardtail Bridge with Graph Tech String Saver Saddle bridge
  • Pacifica C Bolt-On neck
  • 22 Medium frets
  • Grover locking tuners
  • Weight between 7.45lbs (3.4kgs) and 7.55lbs (3.4kgs)
  • Compare Specs >

Sterling JP60 Overview

  • From Sterling's 2018 John Petrucci series
  • John Petrucci Signature
  • Made in Indonesia
  • 6 strings
  • 25.5"'' scale
  • 16" Fretboard Radius
  • Basswood body
  • Hard Maple neck
  • Rosewood fretboard
  • Bridge pickup: Sterling Humbucker (Humbucker/Passive)
  • Neck pickup: Sterling Humbucker (Humbucker/Passive)
  • 1 volume and 1 tone Dome knobs
  • 3-way Switch
  • Modern Tremolo bridge
  • John Petrucci Bolt-On neck
  • 24 Medium Jumbo frets
  • Locking tuners
  • Compare Specs >

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

Maple wood pattern used for guitar building
Maple
Rosewood wood pattern used for guitar building
Rosewood

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.

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 Sterling JP60

Basswood wood pattern used for guitar building
Basswood

Basswood is a lightweight type of wood that isn't as expensive as other popular choices for guitar building. It gives more power to the mid-range frequencies. Its color can vary from pale white to light brown. Find out more about Basswood.

Winner: Tie.

Pickup Configuration

The Yamaha PAC611HFM has an HP90 configuration while the Sterling JP60 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

The Yamaha PAC611HFM has pickups from a more specialized brand than the Sterling JP60. Its pickups should simply give you a better, fuller sound, although it all depends on what type of music you're going to play. We recommend these pickups for Hard Rock and similar genres.

You can purchase similar pickups to the Yamaha PAC611HFM'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: Yamaha PAC611HFM.

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

Both are equal when it comes to the pickup switching option.

Only the Yamaha PAC611HFM comes with some kind of pickup modification: 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.

Yamaha PAC611HFM pickups switch and push knobs diagram
Yamaha PAC611HFM's switch options
Sterling JP60 pickups switch and push knobs diagram
Sterling JP60's switch options

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

Winner: Sterling JP60.

Final Sound Quality Scores

Yamaha PAC611HFM
Pickups 90
Sustain 75
Versatility 59
Tuning Stability 80
Sound 76
Sterling JP60
Pickups 55
Sustain 65
Versatility 69
Tuning Stability 75
Sound 66

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 PAC611HFM compares to the Sterling JP60.

Country of Origin

The manufacturing country can tell a lot about the build quality of an instrument. Both in this comparison where made in Indonesia.

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.

Winner: Tie

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 PAC611HFM 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 Sterling JP60 comes with a Compensated nut. Each hole where the string sits at the nut is cut at a different distance from the bridge, which compensates for the different amount of tension that each string is subject to. This fixes most intonation issues across the fretboard, so it gives great tuning stability.

Winner: Tie.

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.

Unfortunately, none of them come with stainless steel frets.

Winner: Tie.

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.

The Yamaha PAC611HFM's brige is a 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.

On the other hand, the Sterling JP60's is a Tremolo. Tremolo bridges give you more versatility than fixed bridges. They let you perform the intense vibrato effects that would be impossible with a fixed bridge. However, since the bridge floats and there's less contact with the body, the strings lose sustain slightly faster. They can also be a bit harder to restring and set up correctly than fixed bridges.

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

They both have 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: Tie.

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.

Both have 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.

Winner: Tie.

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

Strengths & Weaknesses
Yamaha PAC611HFM
  • 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
Sterling JP60
  • Locking Tuners
  • Expensive Wood
  • Compensated Nut
  • Tremolo
  • Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
  • Made in Indonesia
  • No Top Brand Pickups
  • No Neck-Through Build
  • No Push Knob or Extra Switch Option
  • No Weight Relief
  • No Luminescent Inlay
  • No Compound Radius Fretboard
  • No 21:1 Tuner Ratio
  • No Strap Lock

Final Build Quality Scores

Yamaha PAC611HFM
Quality of materials 70
Features 65
Quality Control 70
Build Quality 68
Sterling JP60
Quality of materials 46
Features 65
Quality Control 70
Build Quality 60

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 PAC611HFM Nut Width
Yamaha PAC611HFM Nut Width
Sterling JP60 Nut Width
Sterling JP60 Nut Width

The nut width will affect the separation between strings at the nut. In this comparison, the Sterling JP60 has the wider nut with 43mm (1.693'') vs 41mm (1.614''). This is a 2mm (0.079'') difference

This means that it will be more difficult to do bar chords on the Sterling JP60, 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 PAC611HFM and Sterling JP60's Scale Length
Both have the same 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.

In this case, both have a scale length of 25.5".

This is the scale used in most Stratocasters. It's slightly longer than the typical 24.75'' size found in Les Pauls, and it's one of the main reasons why Stratocasters have such a bright sound in general. A longer scale also means that the strings will have higher tension. This will help you get lower action without suffering fret buzz, which will also be helpful when playing in lower tunings without having to increase your string gauge.

However, this also means that there will be more separation between frets, which can make it more difficult to play. Also, bending the strings will require more strengths due to the increased tension, but remember that a tremolo guitar will offset this difficulty.

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 PAC611HFM Neck Profile
Yamaha PAC611HFM's neck profile
Sterling JP60 Neck Profile
Sterling JP60'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.

In this case, both have different neck shapes:

The Yamaha PAC611HFM has a C type of 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.

The Sterling JP60, on the other hand, has a D neck. This is a thin and flat neck that is made for playing fast. If you prefer a neck that doesn't get in your way when soloing, this is the shape you should use. Guitarists that prefer to have a bit more grip won't like this type of neck.

Fretboard Radius

Yamaha PAC611HFM Fingerboard Radius
Yamaha PAC611HFM's Fingerboard radius
Sterling JP60 Fingerboard Radius
Sterling JP60'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 PAC611HFM's fingerboard radius is smaller, which means it's more curved than the Sterling JP60'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 Sterling JP60.

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''.

Hand Size Comfortability

Everyone has a different hand size, and that's why it's recommended to try a guitar before buying, even if others tell you that it's comfortable to play. However, we can know whether a guitar favors small or large hands just by knowing its exact measurements.

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

Yamaha PAC611HFM:
Big Hands
Small Hands
Sterling JP60:
Big Hands
Small Hands

Fret Size

Yamaha PAC611HFM Frets Size
Yamaha PAC611HFM's Frets Size
Sterling JP60 Frets Size
Sterling JP60's Frets Size

The Sterling JP60 has Medium Jumbo frets, which should be taller than the Yamaha PAC611HFM'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 PAC611HFM
Bending & Vibrato Ease 75
Chord Playability 70
Solo Playability 70
Playability 72
Sterling JP60
Bending & Vibrato Ease 70
Chord Playability 60
Solo Playability 80
Playability 70

Specs Side-by-Side

Yamaha PAC611HFM vs Sterling JP60
General Yamaha PAC611HFM Sterling JP60
Brand: Yamaha Sterling
Year: 2015 2018
Configuration: HP90 HH
Strings: 6 6
Made in: Indonesia Indonesia
Series: Pacifica John Petrucci
Colors: Black, Red, Purple, Orange Burst Black, Green
Left-Handed Version: No No
Body
Type: Solid Body Solid Body
Body Material: Maple/Alder/Flame Maple Laminated Basswood
Bridge: Hardtail Bridge with Graph Tech String Saver Saddle Modern Tremolo
Neck
Neck Joint: Bolt-On Bolt-On
Tuners: Grover locking Locking
Fretboard: Rosewood Rosewood
Neck Material: Maple Hard Maple
Decoration: Dots Custom Jp Inlays
Scale Size: 25.5" 25.5"
Shape: Pacifica C John Petrucci
Thickness: 1st Fret: 0.823'' (20.9mm) - 12th Fret: 0.902'' (22.9mm) 1st Fret: - 12th Fret:
Frets: 22 Medium Nickel Silver 24 Medium Jumbo Nickel Silver
Fretboard Radius: 13.78" 16"
Nut: Ivory Tusq Compensated
Nut Width: 41mm (1.614'') 43mm (1.693'')
Electronics
Bridge Pickup: Seymour Duncan TB-14 (Humbucker / Passive) Sterling Humbucker (Humbucker / Passive)
Middle Pickup:
Neck Pickup: Seymour Duncan SP90-1n (Single Coil / Passive) Sterling Humbucker (Humbucker / Passive)
Switch: 3 Way 3 Way
Knobs: Dome Dome
Pickup Mods: Coil Split None
Volume Controls: 1 1
Tone Controls: 1 1