Yamaha Pacifica 311H vs Pacifica 611HFM by C. Vlaminck

Comparison of the Yamaha Pacifica 311H vs the Pacifica 611HFM.

Bugera G20
Zoom G3

For those wondering what are the differences and common points between the 611 and the 311, here is a summary:

- they are made in the same factory
- with the same type and the same quality of wood
- they share the same tuners and the same pots
- they share the same build quality

In a nutshell, there is a common base for both instruments, but:

- the 611 has a glossy finish where the 311 has a satin finish (question of taste, no quality impact, but satin finish is cheaper to produce).
- the 611 has graphtech string savers saddles (yes, it is better).
- the 611 has a flame mapple veneer on its top (no impact on the sound or on the quality, but is better looking and costs a bit more).
- the 611 has a translucent finish (no impact on the sound or on the quality, but is better looking and costs a bit more. The wood is also selected based for its visual aspect).
- the 611 has Seymour Duncan pickups (yes, it is better)
- the stock bridge pickup of the 311 is "bad", or at least not balanced with the P90.

ATTENTION: the 311 often comes with a worse factory setting than the 611. This review is based on both guitars set the same way by myself, what decreases a lot the feeling of difference in playability between both models

So is the 611 "better" than the "311"? YES, the 611 is better than the stock 311.
Does the 611 worth twice the price of the 311? NO, so the 311 is the best quality/price ratio, or the best value for money, especially if you replace the stock bridge pickup.

So, I hope this will stop the "haters" writing non sense comments, anyway I will not publish them.

UPDATE on the 17th of FEB 2020
I sold the 311H as I had to free some space for a new guitar. The bridge pickup of the 611 broke all of a sudden. It's the second time I have a Seymour Duncan die like this. So I installed the Di Marzio Tone Zone on the 611. Now I have the best of both worlds : the sound of the Di Marzio and the look of the 611.

UPDATE ON 19th FEB 2020
https://www.fender.com/articles/tech-...