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[Lucky Rathen]

Versus .

I have £300 worth of R&B vouchers burning a hole in my pocket. With which I need to buy a new guitar for gigging. I've narrowed it down to the two above - The Pacifica is £200 and the Ibanez £300. I like both of them, I prefer the Ibanez to play but prefer the look of the Yamaha. I've had a few Ibanez's over the years and I really like them, they are good solid guitars, however I've never owned a Pacifica. Generally I use the equation more money = better guitar and I would normally plump for the Ibanez for that reason, however I'm told Yamaha guitars are excellent quality instruments at "entry-level" prices. So I could blow the lot on the fine-ass Ibanez or pick up a gorgeous silver Pacifica and have £100 left over for stuff I need like cables, carry case etc. I'm sure the Ibanez is a better guitar but is it £100 worth of better? Does anyone have a Pacifica, and what do you think of it? I'm looking for something to use as my 'main' guitar - is the Yamaha up to the job?

Thanks

[Chris]

The Ibanez is the same model as I have (though mine is a nicer colour than that picture and has the quilted maple finish). It's a great budget guitar but as you say the Pacifica has an excellent reputation for it's price.

You could probably get a higher spec pacifica for the same price as the Ibanez mind you, with better pickups etc.

[Lucky Rathen]

Originally Posted by Chris

The Ibanez is the same model as I have (though mine is a nicer colour than that picture and has the quilted maple finish). It's a great budget guitar but as you say the Pacifica has an excellent reputation for it's price.

You could probably get a higher spec pacifica for the same price as the Ibanez mind you, with better pickups etc.

Sorry I meant SA260 not 160. Typo. The SA260 is below.

R&B have only got the plain black one in stock just now but if I get it I'll get them to order the pretty blue one:



The Yamaha has me sold simply because it's silver and I would feel like Marc Bolan playing it. There's a metallic orange one as well, it's fucking ace. Just look at this beast:



The specs:
IBANEZ 2007

http://www.soundslive.co.uk/product~...VS~ID~6463.asp

[Chris]

It could well be the 260 I have, whichever one it is it cost me around £300 new.

I think the Ibanez will almost certainly be a better guitar but I'm not sure if it will be £150 better.

I'm sure there are people on here who have owned a pacifica that will be able to tell you how good it is.

The only bad thing about my Ibanez is the tremelo arm, it doesn't screw in. Instead it's supposed to sit freely so it's easy to pull round but in practice this means it flies all over the place and it's easy to yank it out of the socket by mistake.

I'm quite surpised you're going for another guitar with a floating trem actually after the hassle you've had with the last one staying in tune.

[Lucky Rathen]

The one I played has a fixed bridge, I'm never buying a floating bridge again, I've had nothing but trouble from my last two.

[Jan Deal]

Personally, as I don't like Pacificas, so I'd go for the Ibanez.

What sort of selection of guitars does R & B have for £300? Out of interest.

[idol_wild]

I bought a Pacifica from a gentleman on these forums for £50 earlier this year and I am delighted with it. It's probably the biggest bargain I have ever picked up. I used to use a very bulky and expensive Dean 12-string but I actually prefer the Pacifica! It's lighter, more comfortable, and plays extremely well.

In fact, I've played my bandmate's Fender Telecaster and I even prefer the sound and feel of the Pacifica! I don't like the strat-esque shape of it as far as sheer aesthetics go, but I paid £50 for a guitar that I feel sounds nicer than a £500 Telecaster.

I highly recommend you try it out before you buy, it'll probably sway your decision. Though I get the feeling the Ibanez might suit your more rock/power-pop approach in terms of sound.

[Lucky Rathen]

Originally Posted by Jan Deal

Personally, as I don't like Pacificas, so I'd go for the Ibanez.

What sort of selection of guitars does R & B have for £300? Out of interest.

There's very little to be honest. I went in and immediately eliminated anything over £300, anything with a floating bridge, and anything that didn't have at least a bridge humbucker. Which left me with these two, and a couple by a Korean company beginning with "S" i can't remember the name of. The guy told me they were made with brilliant materials but were very lax about quality control on the actual manufacturing side, and you might end up with a brilliant guitar that will last you 20 years, or a total turkey that will break within a month and it's a bit of a gamble which one you're going to get. I decided against those. Though they looked nice. All wooden with through-body necks.

[Lucky Rathen]

Here's im I think but they don't look anything like the ones they had in R&B. Though this is a Korean guitar company beginning with S. How many can there be?
::: Shine Guitars (Saein Musical Instrument Co.,Ltd) :::

[HateEvent]

The company is 'Spear'. We have the Gladius model in stock with the fixed bridge and spalted maple top and neck thru body construction for £349 I believe it is.

Best thing to do is have a decent play of a few (our general stock, not just the Spears!) for a while and get a good feel for them.

I'm in tomorrow, friday, saturday and sunday and if ya make it obvious what 2 you were looking at I can maybe sway on price