Yamaha might be one of the biggest names in the musical instrument world, but it is a company that tends to plough its own path – almost, it seems, avoiding the fickle world of musical fad and fashion by design. As we report, for example, Yamaha’s only current artist signature electric guitar model is the 1611MS Mike Stern, a guitar that was conceived back in the mid-90s and that, aside from a relatively recent refresh, has stayed exactly the same.
It’s not that Yamaha doesn’t do the artist thing. There have been a great many over the years – Ty Tabor, Frank Gambale, Sammy Hagar, Wes Borland and Troy Van Leeuwen to name a few – but as Ken Dapron, the founder of Yamaha’s LA’s custom shop, or Yamaha Guitar Development (YGD) as it was originally known, comments, “A lot of signature models – and this applies to many companies – don’t actually last very long. That might be due to genre changes, but guitar players do seem to shift around more than bass players.”
Unless you’re Mike Stern, of course, a signature guitar player who’s been happy with his Yamaha for over 20 years. Based on the very early Pacifica models (specifically the USA1) that were originally conceived by the small YGD team of Ken, ex-Ibanez designer Rich Lasner and luthier Leo Knapp, the Telecaster-inspired style of Mike’s signature also remains a rarity – it’s the only single-cut Pacifica in the range and has been for a long time.
Famously, the design of the Pacifica was more of an exercise: Yamaha wanted to see what YGD could do, remembers Ken.
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Denne historien er fra Summer 2020-utgaven av Guitarist.
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Sonic Shaper
Electro-Harmonix revisits the effect that launched the company with the LPB-3 Linear Power Booster and EQ
Platinum Blonde
PRS has updated its Texas-voiced David Grissom signature amp with more features, lower wattage and a more approachable price tag
TAN LINES
Many of us regard straps as a bit of an afterthought, but to find one that matches the quality of a custom or vintage guitar, Rod Boyes of Pinegrove Leather can help
ELECTRIC STRINGS
Your tone starts with your strings - strike a balance between sound, tuning and durability with six of our favourites
DIFFERENT WINDS
While there's no end to repros of all the classic pickup styles, more and more pickup makers are mixing things up to move forward - Cream T is a good example
Long termers
A few months' gigging, recording and everything that goes with it - welcome to Guitarist's longterm test report
Top Guns
Chapman's new factory move coincides with a bit of a rethink. We track down the key players all around the world
the Wishlist
Dream gear to beg, borrow and steal for...
Reach For The Star
Earlier this year Guild reorganised its 70s-era Polara range. We spent some time with this mid-range 2024 model: a modern pawn-shop prize or a copy too far?
HIGH FLYER
Adrian Thorpe of ThorpyFX remembers the flight path - and turbulence behind Chris Buck's Electric Lightning overdrive/boost, named after a fighter jet and packing a bona fide valve