Yamaha Pacifica 112 VM Red Metallic Electric guitar

Yamaha Pacifica 112 VM RM — Maple-Fingerboard HSS Workhorse

The Yamaha Pacifica 112 VM RM is the maple-fretboard variant of Yamaha's long-running Pacifica 112V platform, finished here in Red Metallic gloss polyurethane. Built around an alder body and a bolt-on maple neck, this ST-style electric pairs Alnico V single coils in the neck and middle with an Alnico V humbucker at the bridge. A 648 mm scale length and 22 medium frets give the player a familiar, comfortable feel under the hand. For players who want one guitar that covers blues, indie, classic rock, and pop without swapping instruments, this model is a strong, well-considered choice.

What Sets This Pacifica Apart

Two design choices lift the 112VM above the entry-level ST crowd. First, the push-pull coil-split on the master tone knob turns the bridge humbucker into a true single coil, giving the player seven usable pickup voicings from a standard 5-way switch — a feature usually reserved for more expensive guitars. Second, the vintage-style tremolo uses heavy block saddles rather than folded steel. Combined with the maple fingerboard — brighter and snappier than the rosewood 112V — the VM delivers a tighter attack that suits articulate lead playing and country-style chicken pickin' as well as crunch rhythm.

Alder Body, Gloss Polyurethane Finish — Built to Play Every Day

Alder is the same tonewood found on countless professional ST-style guitars, known for balanced low-end, present mids, and clean top-end response. Yamaha seals it in gloss polyurethane, which protects the wood against sweat, humidity changes, and the small knocks that happen during regular practice and gigging. The Red Metallic finish gives the guitar a deep, dimensional look under stage lighting without resorting to gimmicky graphics.

• Body Material: Alder — balanced, full-range resonance that flatters both clean and driven tones
• Body Finish: Gloss Polyurethane — durable sealed surface that protects the wood during daily play
• Color: Red Metallic — deep, stage-ready finish that highlights the body's contours

Bolt-On Maple Neck with Maple Fingerboard — Snappy Attack and Familiar Feel

The maple neck is bolt-on, a construction that contributes to the Pacifica's bright, articulate character and keeps manufacturing tolerances tight. The maple fingerboard — the "M" in 112VM — gives a brighter, more direct attack than rosewood, with a slightly faster feel under the fingers. A 350 mm fingerboard radius is a classic ST-style curve that suits both chord work and bending without choking strings.

• Neck Material: Maple — stiff, stable, and bright in tonal character
• Fingerboard Material: Maple — snappier attack than rosewood, with a clean visual look
• Scale Length: 648 mm — standard ST-style scale for familiar string tension and bending feel
• Fingerboard Radius: 350 mm — comfortable curve for chords and lead bends alike
• Number of Frets: 22 — extends the playable range two frets beyond a vintage ST layout
• Nut Width: 41 mm — comfortable for most hand sizes without feeling cramped

HSS Pickup Layout with Coil Split — Seven Voicings from One Guitar

The HSS configuration places two Alnico V single coils in the neck and middle positions and an Alnico V humbucker at the bridge. Alnico V magnets deliver a warmer, clearer tone than the ceramic magnets found on cheaper ST-style guitars, which is why Yamaha highlights this pickup choice across the 112V family. The push-pull coil-split on the tone control adds two extra single-coil voicings, and the 5-way lever switch gives access to the classic ST-style tonal palette plus the bridge humbucker's full output. A vintage-style tremolo with block saddles handles vibrato work, and die-cast tuning machines keep the guitar in tune through long sets.

• Pickup Configuration: HSS — Single Coil / Single Coil / Humbucker, all Alnico V
• Controls: Master Volume, Master Tone with Push-Pull Coil Split
• Pickup Switch: 5-Position Lever Switch
• Bridge: Vintage-Style Tremolo with Block Saddles
• Tuning Machines: Die-Cast
• Factory String Gauge: 0.009–0.042

Who Should Pick Up the Yamaha Pacifica 112 VM RM

The Yamaha Pacifica 112 VM RM is the right choice for players who want one guitar that covers clean rhythm, bluesy mid-position tones, and full humbucker rock without compromise. Beginners moving past a first instrument benefit from the HSS layout's tonal range, while intermediate players get a platform that responds well to pickup swaps, wiring mods, and tremolo experimentation. Gigging musicians on a budget will appreciate the die-cast tuners, block-saddle bridge, and Alnico V electronics that punch above the price tag. Studio players looking for a reliable backup ST-style guitar also find the maple fingerboard's brighter voice useful for tracking parts that need to sit forward in a mix.

The Yamaha Pacifica Series — A Decade of Player-First Design

Yamaha's Pacifica series was built on a simple idea: a player's first guitar should be a great guitar. The 100-series models — including the 112V, 112VM, and 112VMX — sit in the middle of the lineup and offer a choice of pickup configurations, fingerboard materials, and finishes so players can match the guitar to their sound and style. The maple-fingerboard VM and VMX variants give players a brighter, snappier alternative to the rosewood-fingerboard 112V, while sharing the same Alnico V electronics and push-pull coil-split feature. Yamaha credits the Alnico V pickups with delivering "a warmer and clearer tone than ceramic magnets," a design choice that has helped the Pacifica line earn a reputation as one of the most respected value-tier electric guitars on the market.