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Yamaha PAC611HFM
Yamaha PAC611VFM
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Playability
72
Sound
76
Build
68
Value
77
Score
72
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Playability
70
Sound
76
Build
70
Value
77
Score
72
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Yamaha PAC611HFM vs PAC611VFM

Reasons to Get
Yamaha PAC611HFM over PAC611VFM

Release Year
2015 vs 2013
From a more recent year
Bridge
Fixed vs Tremolo
Good sustain and needs no set-up
Avg. Weight
7.5lbs (3.4kgs) vs 8.1lbs (3.7kgs)
Tends to be lighter

Reasons to Get
Yamaha PAC611VFM over PAC611HFM

Bridge
Tremolo vs Fixed
Simple vibratos without too much maintenance

Other Key Differences
Yamaha PAC611HFM vs PAC611VFM

No Key Differences Found

Shared Features
Yamaha PAC611HFM vs PAC611VFM

Bridge Pickup
Seymour Duncan TB-14
Same Bridge Pickup
Neck Pickup
Seymour Duncan SP90-1n
Same Neck Pickup
Body Wood
Maple
Same Body Wood
Neck Wood
Maple
Same Neck Wood
Fretboard Wood
Rosewood
Same Fretboard Wood
Headstock
6
Same Headstock
Nut Material
Ivory Tusq
Same Nut Material
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
Pickups
HP90
High-output rhythm with vintage soloing tones
Number of Frets
22
Same maximum octave
Neck Thickness at 1st Fret
0.823'' (20.9mm)
Same neck comfortability
Neck Thickness at 12th Fret
0.902'' (22.9mm)
Same neck comfortability
Nut Width
1.614'' (41mm)
Same string separation at the nut
Paint Finish
Poly
Resistant paint that ages well
Scale Length
25.5'' (647.7mm)
Same string tension and fret separation
Fretboard Radius
13.78'' (350mm)
Same fretboard comfortability
Pickups Power
Passive
Cleaner sound and no battery needed
Decorative Top
Flame Maple
Finished with beautiful natural wood patterns
Neck Profile Type
C
Comfortable neck that works for most people
Neck Joint
Bolt-On
Allows you to detach and swap the neck
Type of Frets
Medium
You'll feel the fretboard when pressing down the strings

Common Strengths

  • Pickup Alter Switch/Knob
  • Locking Tuners
  • High-Quality Nut
  • Top Pickup Brand
  • 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 both instruments scored 72 out of 100, which makes them similar in terms of quality.

The Yamaha PAC611VFM wins when it comes to build quality. On the other hand, the Yamaha PAC611HFM has the upper hand when it comes to playability.

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?

Both meet 6 out of our 8 criteria items for beginner friendliness. 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. If you're looking for your first guitar to learn how to play, you can't go wrong with either of them.

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

Yamaha PAC611VFM
  • Comfortable shape
  • Easy-to-use bridge
  • Locking tuners
  • Tall frets
  • Narrow nut
  • Comfortable neck
  • Comfortable fretboard
  • 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 >

Yamaha PAC611VFM Overview

  • From Yamaha's 2013 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
  • Wilkinson VS50 6 bridge
  • Pacifica C Bolt-On neck
  • 22 Medium frets
  • Grover locking tuners
  • Weight between 8lbs (3.6kgs) and 8.2lbs (3.7kgs)
  • 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.

Winner: Tie.

Pickup Configuration

Both pickup configurations are HP90. 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.

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 PAC611HFM's and use them on any guitar:

We found the same or similar pickups to the Yamaha PAC611VFM's online:

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

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

Both offer you the same type of pickup mod: 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.

They both share the following switching options:

Yamaha PAC611HFM and Yamaha PAC611VFM pickups switch and push knobs diagram
Yamaha PAC611HFM and Yamaha PAC611VFM'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: Yamaha PAC611VFM.

Final Sound Quality Scores

Yamaha PAC611HFM
Pickups 90
Sustain 75
Versatility 59
Tuning Stability 80
Sound 76
Yamaha PAC611VFM
Pickups 90
Sustain 70
Versatility 69
Tuning Stability 75
Sound 76

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 Yamaha PAC611VFM.

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.

In this case, both have Ivory Tusq nuts. 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.

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 Yamaha PAC611VFM'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
Yamaha PAC611VFM
  • Locking Tuners
  • Expensive Wood
  • Ivory Tusq Nut
  • Top Brand Pickups
  • Coil Split Pickups
  • Tremolo
  • Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
  • Made in Indonesia
  • No Neck-Through Build
  • 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
Yamaha PAC611VFM
Quality of materials 70
Features 70
Quality Control 70
Build Quality 70

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
Both Guitars Have The Same Nut Width

The nut width will affect the separation between strings at the nut. In this comparison, both have a nut width of 41mm (1.614'').

This is considered a narrow width for a 6-string guitar. This means that this guitar will have a narrower string separation at the nut, which will affect your fretting hand.

If you are a player with big hands, you might find it difficult to play chords without muting strings. However, this is good for players who have smaller hands, as it will allow them to reach each string more easily at the nut.

Scale Length

Yamaha PAC611HFM and Yamaha PAC611VFM'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
Both guitars have the same 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 PAC611HFM and the Yamaha PAC611VFM 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 PAC611HFM Fingerboard Radius
Both Guitars Have The Same Fretboard 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.

Both the Yamaha PAC611HFM and the Yamaha PAC611VFM have the same fretboard radius of 13.78". It's closer to the 12'' that most Les Paul guitars have, but it's a bit flatter. It'll make it easier to play single notes than chords, but it's still relatively comfortable for chords.

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
Yamaha PAC611VFM:
Big Hands
Small Hands

Fret Size

Yamaha PAC611HFM and Yamaha PAC611VFM Frets Size
Both have a similar Medium fret size

Both have a Medium fret size. If you like feeling the fretboard when you play, but also appreciate some easiness to press down the frets, this size offers a good balance for that.

Final Playability Scores

Yamaha PAC611HFM
Bending & Vibrato Ease 75
Chord Playability 70
Solo Playability 70
Playability 72
Yamaha PAC611VFM
Bending & Vibrato Ease 70
Chord Playability 70
Solo Playability 70
Playability 70

Specs Side-by-Side

Yamaha PAC611HFM vs PAC611VFM
General Yamaha PAC611HFM PAC611VFM
Brand: Yamaha Yamaha
Year: 2015 2013
Configuration: HP90 HP90
Strings: 6 6
Made in: Indonesia Indonesia
Series: Pacifica Pacifica
Colors: Black, Red, Purple, Orange Burst Sunburst, Black, Red, Red Burst
Left-Handed Version: No No
Body
Type: Solid Body Solid Body
Body Material: Maple/Alder/Flame Maple Laminated Maple/Alder/Flame Maple Laminated
Bridge: Hardtail Bridge with Graph Tech String Saver Saddle Wilkinson VS50 6
Neck
Neck Joint: Bolt-On Bolt-On
Tuners: Grover locking Grover locking
Fretboard: Rosewood Rosewood
Neck Material: Maple Maple
Decoration: Dots Dots
Scale Size: 25.5" 25.5"
Shape: Pacifica C Pacifica C
Thickness: 1st Fret: 0.823'' (20.9mm) - 12th Fret: 0.902'' (22.9mm) 1st Fret: 0.823'' (20.9mm) - 12th Fret: 0.902'' (22.9mm)
Frets: 22 Medium Nickel Silver 22 Medium Nickel Silver
Fretboard Radius: 13.78" 13.78"
Nut: Ivory Tusq Ivory Tusq
Nut Width: 41mm (1.614'') 41mm (1.614'')
Electronics
Bridge Pickup: Seymour Duncan TB-14 (Humbucker / Passive) Seymour Duncan TB-14 (Humbucker / Passive)
Middle Pickup:
Neck Pickup: Seymour Duncan SP90-1n (Single Coil / Passive) Seymour Duncan SP90-1n (Single Coil / Passive)
Switch: 3 Way 3 Way
Knobs: Dome Dome
Pickup Mods: Coil Split Coil Split
Volume Controls: 1 1
Tone Controls: 1 1