Yamaha first released the Pacifica in 1990, designed in the company’s then-new R&D centre (Yamaha Guitar Development) in Hollywood. Named after a city above San Francisco, the Pacifica and its sibling the Weddington – the less-successful, more Les Paul-inspired model that was named after the street address of the facility – were the fledgling team’s attempt to show Yamaha HQ what they could do in the USA.
Ex-Ibanez designer Rich Lasner had joined Yamaha. “He was only with us for about two years,” said Ken Dapron, who managed the facility, back in 2003. “He was also the original designer of the Pacifica. I wouldn’t say [the model was] sole-designed; it was a group effort,” something that also included luthier Leo Knapp.
“The Pacifica and Weddington were designed alongside each other – the two mainstream sides of the guitar spectrum,” said Ken. “Our plan was to stoke up the market with these high-end prototypes and show them to artists, but they were such an instant hit.” And they quickly led to numerous production models: “The Pacifica 1412 set-neck, tone chambered with a retail of $1,999. Then the 912 was the next model down at $999, then the 712 at $699, then the 412 came later at $599. Then the 500 series
