YAMAHA PAC 311MS

  • Yamaha Pacifica PAC 311MS electric guitar
    Yamaha Pacifica PAC 311MS

Overview

Brand name: 

Product: 

  • electric guitars

Series name: 

Dates of manufacture: 

1999 to 2003

The YAMAHA PAC 311 MS was made in Taiwan from 1999 to 2003. It had one Hot Rail pickup and one conventional humbucker. It had a Maple fingerboard, an Ash-veneer top, body binding, and a choice of Natural, Vintage Blonde or Orange Stain finish. It was perhaps modelled on the more expensive Mike Stern signature model the PAC 1511MS. The PAC311MS controls are slanted rather than on a telecaster style chrome plate like the PAC 1511MS. Within Yamaha's naming convention for Pacificas the "MS" stands for maple fingerboard single cutaway (not "Mike Stern"). There is some debate as to whether it was actually officially approved by Mike Stern, but Yamaha certainly advertised it as a Mike Stern Pacifica guitar on their website in 2000.

Source: Yamaha PAC311MS web page (archived 2000)

Specifications (13)

Electronics

Pickups brand and modelSeymour Duncan Hot Rails pickup(s)
Pickups configuration2 humbucker pickups

General

Finish colorsblonde finish, natural finish, orange finish
Made inTaiwan
Number of strings6 strings

Body

Body materialalder body
Body styleTelecaster style
Body top materialash veneer body top
Pickguard materialblack pickguard

Hardware

Bridgefixed bridge
Hardware colorchrome hardware

Fretboard

Fingerboard materialmaple fingerboard

Neck

Number of frets22 fret

Prices (7)

DatePriceConditionNameComments
2014$699excellent
1998$499good
2016$200good
2017$299good
2012£150good
2003£80good
1999﷼150goodann

Reviews (1)

YAMAHA PAC 311MS reviewed by Alan H

5
Average: 5 (1 vote)
This is a really excellent instrument with flawless build quality. Naturally, I have had the guitar set up the way I prefer, also removing the scratchy screws from the saddles (a recommended mod). I use D'dario 10's and play this guitar mainly through my American Peavey Bandit. So happens that our lead player also has one of these guitars, bought 4 years before we had even met up! He has replaced the pickups with Seymours which is a mod he does on every guitar he has, and hes says it improves the output considerably. I am not likely to do this as I mainly play electro acoustic for much of our sets, whilst the 311 works fine. The action and feel is great, balance across strings all good, and the tone is very good. A great looking instrument that I look after. I have had it 8 years and it still looks new.

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Players (0)

2 Comments

No Mike Stern.

The 'MS' does not mean 'Mike Stern'. MS means Maple (fret board) Single (cut away).

His signature model has a Fender type control panel. Just go and look for yourself the difference between a signature model Mike Stern and regular MS model.

Simply coincedence, that's all