A Strat-Shape That Actually Made Us Stop and Look Again

The Yamaha Pacifica Standard Plus has been turning heads since its debut, and the Sparkle Blue finish on the PACS+12 is a big part of why. That shimmery gloss finish — developed jointly by teams in Hamamatsu and Los Angeles, inspired by Japanese city pop art and the Southern California coast — sits on a chambered alder body that looks as good on stage as it plays in the studio. This is not your typical entry-level Pacifica.

Under that eye-catching exterior is a seriously well-thought-out guitar. Reflectone pickups co-developed with Rupert Neve Designs, Gotoh locking hardware, stainless steel frets, and a Graph Tech TUSQ nut — these aren't compromises dressed up with good marketing. They're genuinely player-focused choices from a company that has been refining this platform for decades.

Whether you're chasing glassy single-coil shimmer, a snappy quack in position two or four, or a thick bridge humbucker voice, the PACS+12 has it in one guitar with one push-pull knob to unlock even more combinations.

This item is a B-Stock guitar sourced directly from the manufacturer. It is new and has never been previously owned. The photos shown are of the exact instrument you will receive. Before shipment, our licensed technician will inspect and professionally set up the guitar to ensure it is playing its best. During our inspection, we noticed One dent and one paint drip on heel. (see pictures) Please note, these may not be the only cosmetic imperfections. As a B-Stock instrument, there may be additional minor blemishes that are small in nature and do not affect playability or performance.

A Body Built for Tone AND Comfort

The PACS+12's alder body is strategically chambered using Yamaha's Acoustic Design technology — a 3D-modeling-guided process that routes specific channels into the body to increase resonance and improve vibration transfer between the neck and body. The result is a guitar that's noticeably lighter than a typical solid alder S-type, without sacrificing sustain.

The body is also beveled along the lower bout for playing comfort, and the neck heel is smoothly contoured to let your fretting hand reach all 22 frets without the usual awkward reaching sensation. Little ergonomic details like this add up to a guitar that's genuinely comfortable for long playing sessions.

Neck, Frets, and Feel

The bolt-on maple neck wears a slim C-shape profile and a satin finish — smooth and fast without feeling sticky. The nut width comes in at 42mm, fitting comfortably between a narrow vintage spec and a wider modern feel. Down the neck, a rosewood fingerboard with a 13.75" (350mm) radius and 22 medium stainless steel frets gives you a playing surface that's flat enough for easy bends without fighting the fretboard, and stainless frets mean less wear over time and a notably slick feel under your fingers.

Scale length is the standard 25.5" — familiar territory if you've played any Fender-style guitar. The carved neck joint heel makes upper-register access genuinely comfortable rather than a feat of contortion.

Rupert Neve Pickups and Versatile Electronics

This is where the PACS+12 really earns its price of entry. The Reflectone pickup set — a Reflectone HH7b humbucker at the bridge, HS7m single-coil in the middle, and HS7n single-coil at the neck — was co-developed between Yamaha and Rupert Neve Designs. Reflectone pickups use carefully controlled winding gaps and specific front/back magnetization to produce clear, articulate tones with strong lows and detailed highs.

The 5-way selector covers the standard HSS positions, and the push-pull tone knob adds coil-splitting to the mix, giving you single-coil tones from the bridge humbucker without swapping guitars. That's a genuinely useful range of sounds without requiring you to dig into a menu system or tap-dance on pedals.

Hardware duties are handled by Gotoh — locking tuners and a 2-point tremolo bridge — which keeps things stable even with active whammy bar use. The nut is a Graph Tech TUSQ, another detail that contributes to tuning stability and clear open-string tone.

Product Features:

• Body: Chambered alder with gloss polyurethane finish (Sparkle Blue)
• Neck: Bolt-on maple, slim C-shape profile, satin finish
• Fretboard: Rosewood, 13.75" (350mm) radius, 22 medium stainless steel frets
• Scale Length: 25.5" (648mm)
• Nut: Graph Tech TUSQ, 42mm width
• Pickups: HSS — Reflectone HH7b humbucker (bridge), HS7m single-coil (middle), HS7n single-coil (neck), co-developed with Rupert Neve Designs
• Controls: Volume, tone with push-pull coil split, 5-way selector
• Bridge: Gotoh 2-point tremolo
• Tuners: Gotoh locking tuners
• Finish: Sparkle Blue gloss polyurethane

Brand: Yamaha

Model: PACS+12 Pacifica Standard Plus

SKU: PACS+12 SB-2ND|IKJ203019

Condition: B-Stock

Since 1872, C.A. House Music has been helping musicians across the Ohio Valley find the right gear -- with real advice from a team that actually plays. We're your authorized dealer of all the big names in guitars, keyboards, band instruments, drums, pro audio, and more. With four family-owned and operated locations in Ohio and West Virginia (plus a full online store), you don't have to go far for instruments, lessons, rentals, and repairs. No matter your musical needs, our team of musicians wants to help you Play Music for Life.