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Yamaha PAC612VIIFMX
Yamaha RSS20
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Playability
70
Sound
79
Build
70
Value
78
Score
73
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Playability
80
Sound
74
Build
65
Value
78
Score
73
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Show Full Spec Comparison
Yamaha PAC612VIIFMX vs RSS20 Specs Comparison
Yamaha PAC612VIIFMX RSS20
General
Brand: Yamaha Yamaha
Year: 2020 2022
Configuration: HSS HH
Strings: 6 6
Made in: Indonesia Indonesia
Series: Pacifica REVSTAR
Colors: Red White, Black, Blue, Green
Left-Handed Version: No Yes
Body
Type: Solid Body Solid Body
Body Material: Maple/Alder/Flame Maple Laminated Top: Maple / Back: Chambered Mahogany
Bridge: Wilkinson VS50 6 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: Seymour Duncan SSL-1 RwRp (Single Coil / Passive)
Neck Pickup: Seymour Duncan SSL-1 (Single Coil / Passive) VH5n (Humbucker / Passive)
Switch: 5 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 PAC612VIIFMX pickups switch selector and push knobs diagram
Yamaha PAC612VIIFMX's switch options
Yamaha RSS20 pickups switch selector and push knobs diagram
Yamaha RSS20's switch options

Reasons to Get
Yamaha PAC612VIIFMX over RSS20

Decorative Top
Flame Maple vs None
Finished with beautiful natural wood patterns
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
HSS vs HH
High output with beautiful cleans and tone versatility
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
Bridge
Tremolo vs Fixed
Simple vibratos without too much maintenance
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

Reasons to Get
Yamaha RSS20 over PAC612VIIFMX

Weight Relief
Yes vs None
Lighter Body
Fret Material
Stainless Steel vs Nickel Silver
Best fret material that will last forever
Release Year
2022 vs 2020
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
Pickups
HH vs HSS
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
Bridge
Fixed vs Tremolo
Good sustain and needs no set-up
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 PAC612VIIFMX vs RSS20

Bridge Pickup
Seymour Duncan TB-14 vs VH5b
Different Bridge Pickup
Neck Pickup
Seymour Duncan SSL-1 vs VH5n
Different Neck Pickup
Body Wood
Maple 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 PAC612VIIFMX vs RSS20

Fretboard Wood
Rosewood
Same Fretboard Wood
Strings
6
Same playing style
Body Type
Solid Body
Feedback free
Switch Positions
5
Same pickups versatility
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
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
  • From a High-Quality-Standards Country
  • Luminescent Sidedots
  • Strap Lock
  • 21:1 Tuner Ratio
  • Active/Passive Preamp

Price History Comparison

Yamaha PAC612VIIFMX Prices

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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 PAC612VIIFMX:
Big Hands
Small Hands
Yamaha RSS20:
Big Hands
Small Hands

Beginner Friendliness

The Yamaha PAC612VIIFMX meets 6 out of our 8 criteria items for beginner friendliness, while the Yamaha RSS20 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 PAC612VIIFMX
  • Comfortable shape
  • Easy-to-use bridge
  • Locking tuners
  • Tall frets
  • Narrow nut
  • Comfortable neck
  • Comfortable fretboard
  • Short scale

New Player Friendliness

Yamaha RSS20
  • 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 PAC612VIIFMX

Maple wood pattern used for guitar building
Maple

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.

Woods Used in the Yamaha RSS20

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 RSS20.

Pickup Configuration

The Yamaha PAC612VIIFMX has an HSS configuration while the Yamaha RSS20 has HH pickups.

HSS provides a great balance if you like to play with a lot of distortion, but also love to use clean tones. You'll get a lot of output at the bridge position, but you'll be able to play bright clean tones at the other positions.

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 PAC612VIIFMX'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

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

Both give you different pickup mod options.

The Yamaha PAC612VIIFMX 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 RSS20 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 PAC612VIIFMX.

Final Sound Quality Scores

Yamaha PAC612VIIFMX
Pickups 90
Sustain 70
Versatility 80
Tuning Stability 75
Sound 79
Yamaha RSS20
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 PAC612VIIFMX compares to the Yamaha RSS20.

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 PAC612VIIFMX 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 RSS20 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 PAC612VIIFMX.

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 RSS20 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 RSS20.

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 PAC612VIIFMX's brige 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.

On the other hand, the Yamaha RSS20's 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.

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 PAC612VIIFMX 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 PAC612VIIFMX.

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 PAC612VIIFMX 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 RSS20 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 PAC612VIIFMX.

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

Strengths & Weaknesses
Yamaha PAC612VIIFMX
  • 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
Strengths & Weaknesses
Yamaha RSS20
  • Stainless Steel Frets
  • Expensive Wood
  • Top Brand Pickups
  • Boost Pickups
  • Weight Relief
  • No Locking Tuners
  • Made in Indonesia
  • 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 PAC612VIIFMX
Quality of materials 70
Features 70
Quality Control 70
Build Quality 70
Yamaha RSS20
Quality of materials 66
Features 60
Quality Control 70
Build Quality 65

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 PAC612VIIFMX Nut Width
Yamaha PAC612VIIFMX Nut Width
Yamaha RSS20 Nut Width
Yamaha RSS20 Nut Width

The nut width will affect the separation between strings at the nut. In this comparison, the Yamaha RSS20 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 RSS20, 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 PAC612VIIFMX's Scale Length
Yamaha PAC612VIIFMX's Scale Length
Yamaha RSS20's Scale Length
Yamaha RSS20'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 PAC612VIIFMX has the longest scale: 25.5". The Yamaha RSS20 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 PAC612VIIFMX Neck Profile
Yamaha PAC612VIIFMX's neck profile
Yamaha RSS20 Neck Profile
Yamaha RSS20'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 PAC612VIIFMX and the Yamaha RSS20 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 PAC612VIIFMX Fingerboard Radius
Yamaha PAC612VIIFMX's Fingerboard radius
Yamaha RSS20 Fingerboard Radius
Yamaha RSS20'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 RSS20's fingerboard radius is smaller, which means it's more curved than the Yamaha PAC612VIIFMX'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 PAC612VIIFMX.

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 PAC612VIIFMX Frets Size
Yamaha PAC612VIIFMX's Frets Size
Yamaha RSS20 Frets Size
Yamaha RSS20's Frets Size

The Yamaha RSS20 has Jumbo frets, which should be taller than the Yamaha PAC612VIIFMX'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 PAC612VIIFMX
Bending & Vibrato Ease 70
Chord Playability 70
Solo Playability 70
Playability 70
Yamaha RSS20
Bending & Vibrato Ease 95
Chord Playability 65
Solo Playability 80
Playability 80