Head to head

Fender Standard Stratocaster HSS vs Yamaha Pacifica PAC611HFM

The short answer is that the pickup layouts differ (HSS against HP90), and the bridges work in fundamentally different ways. Below, every specification we hold for both instruments is lined up, with the 25 rows that actually differ marked out.

Fender

Standard Stratocaster HSS

Black, laurel fingerboard

The Standard Strat with a humbucker, which is the version that covers more ground

8.3/104.9 (16)

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Yamaha

Pacifica PAC611HFM

Translucent Black

Seymour Duncans, Grover locking tuners and Graph Tech hardware, on an alder Pacifica

9.0/104.2 (36)

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Score profile

Six editorial axes, overlaid. Where one shape sits outside the other, that is where the instrument gains ground.

Fender Standard Stratocaster HSS8.3
Yamaha Pacifica PAC611HFM9.0

Scores are Fretline editorial ratings on a 1-10 scale. They are our own assessment and are not supplied or endorsed by Amazon or by any manufacturer.

Specification by specification

Fender Standard Stratocaster HSS compared with Yamaha Pacifica PAC611HFM
	Standard Stratocaster HSS	Pacifica PAC611HFM
Brand	Fender	Yamaha
Model	Standard Stratocaster HSS	Pacifica PAC611HFM
Finish	Black, laurel fingerboard	Translucent Black
Instrument	Electric guitar	Electric guitar
Fretline score	8.3 / 10	9.0 / 10
Value for money	8 / 10	9 / 10
Amazon rating	4.9 / 5 (16)	4.2 / 5 (36)
Price	$500 - $1,000	$500 - $1,000
Type	Electric guitar	Electric guitar
Body	Stratocaster solidbody	Pacifica double cutaway
Body wood	Poplar	Alder
Top	—	Flamed maple (laminated)
Neck joint	Bolt-on, four-bolt neck plate	Bolt-on
Neck wood	Maple	Maple with tinted finish
Neck profile	Modern "C"	—
Scale length	25.5" (648 mm)	25.5" (648 mm)
Fingerboard	Indian laurel	Rosewood
Radius	9.5" (241 mm)	13.34" (339 mm)
Frets	21	22
Fret size	Medium jumbo	Medium
Nut	Micarta	Graph Tech TUSQ
Nut width	1.6875" (42.86 mm)	—
Bridge	Standard two-point tremolo with satin chrome steel block saddles	Hardtail with Graph Tech String Saver saddles
Tuners	Fender Standard cast/sealed with hex buttons	Grover locking
Neck pickup	Standard single-coil Strat	Seymour Duncan SP90-1
Bridge pickup	Standard humbucking	Seymour Duncan Custom 5 TB-14
Configuration	HSS	HP90
Electronics	Passive, ceramic magnets	Passive
Controls	Master volume, tone 1 (neck/middle), tone 2 (bridge)	Volume with push/pull coil split, tone
Switching	Five-position blade	3-position pickup selector
Orientation	Right-handed	Right-handed
Skill level	Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced	Intermediate, Advanced, Professional
Styles	Rock, Blues, Metal, Pop, Funk, Indie, Punk	Rock, Blues, Indie, Funk, Pop, Punk
In the box	—	—

A marked row is one where the two differ. A highlighted cell is the stronger figure where one can be judged objectively. Empty cells are specifications the manufacturer does not publish — never estimates.