Head to head
Ibanez AZES40 vs Yamaha Pacifica PAC611HFM
The short answer is that they sit in different price brackets ($300 - $500 against $500 - $1,000), and the pickup layouts differ (HSS against HP90). Below, every specification we hold for both instruments is lined up, with the 22 rows that actually differ marked out.
AZES40
Purist Blue
Nine pickup sounds from three pickups, and a short scale that suits smaller hands
Pacifica PAC611HFM
Translucent Black
Seymour Duncans, Grover locking tuners and Graph Tech hardware, on an alder Pacifica
As an Amazon Associate we may earn a commission from qualifying purchases made through our links, at no additional cost to you. We do not publish prices, because Amazon prices change constantly and a stale figure helps nobody. Follow the link for the current price and availability.
Score profile
Six editorial axes, overlaid. Where one shape sits outside the other, that is where the instrument gains ground.
- Ibanez AZES408.5
- 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
| AZES40 | Pacifica PAC611HFM | |
|---|---|---|
| Brand | Ibanez | Yamaha |
| Model | AZES40 | Pacifica PAC611HFM |
| Finish | Purist Blue | Translucent Black |
| Instrument | Electric guitar | Electric guitar |
| Fretline score | 8.5 / 10 | 9.0 / 10 |
| Value for money | 9 / 10 | 9 / 10 |
| Amazon rating | 4.5 / 5 (95) | 4.2 / 5 (36) |
| Price | $300 - $500 | $500 - $1,000 |
| Type | Electric guitar | Electric guitar |
| Body | AZ double cutaway | Pacifica double cutaway |
| Body wood | Poplar | Alder |
| Top | — | Flamed maple (laminated) |
| Neck joint | Bolt-on | Bolt-on |
| Neck wood | Maple (AZES profile) | Maple with tinted finish |
| Scale length | 25" (635 mm) | 25.5" (648 mm) |
| Fingerboard | Jatoba with white dot inlays | Rosewood |
| Radius | 9.84" (250 mm) | 13.34" (339 mm) |
| Frets | 22 | 22 |
| Fret size | Medium | Medium |
| Nut | — | Graph Tech TUSQ |
| Nut width | 42 mm | — |
| Bridge | T106 tremolo with comfort round steel saddles | Hardtail with Graph Tech String Saver saddles |
| Tuners | Ibanez machine heads with split shafts | Grover locking |
| Neck pickup | Essentials single-coil (passive, ceramic) | Seymour Duncan SP90-1 |
| Bridge pickup | Accord humbucker (passive, ceramic) | Seymour Duncan Custom 5 TB-14 |
| Configuration | HSS | HP90 |
| Electronics | Passive, dyna-MIX9 switching with Alter switch | Passive |
| Controls | Volume, tone, alter switch | Volume with push/pull coil split, tone |
| Switching | Five-way selector plus alter switch, giving nine pickup combinations | 3-position pickup selector |
| Orientation | Right-handed | Right-handed |
| Skill level | Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced | Intermediate, Advanced, Professional |
| Styles | Rock, Blues, Pop, Funk, Indie, Metal | 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.
Which one should you buy?
Computed from the specifications and our editorial scores for these two instruments only. It is not a general ranking.
Most versatile
Ibanez AZES40Highest editorial versatility score, backed by pickup layout and switching.
Most comfortable
Ibanez AZES40Highest editorial comfort score: neck profile, radius and body ergonomics.
Best for beginners
Ibanez AZES40Strongest overall score among the instruments we rate as beginner-friendly.
Best for the studio
Yamaha Pacifica PAC611HFMBuild and tone scores combined, with credit for tuning-stability hardware that matters when tracking.
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.
Want a third opinion?
The comparator takes as many instruments as you like, not just two, and recomputes the whole table and every conclusion as you add them.
Other comparisons
Masterbilt Gem Archer Sheraton vs Pacifica PAC611HFM
Epiphone · Yamaha
AZES40 vs Affinity Series Stratocaster
Ibanez · Squier
X Series Dinky DK3XR HSS vs Pacifica PAC611HFM
Jackson · Yamaha
AZES40 vs X Series Dinky DK3XR HSS
Ibanez · Jackson
Pro Plus Series Signature Misha Mansoor Juggernaut ET7 vs Pacifica PAC611HFM
Jackson · Yamaha
AZES40 vs Pro Plus Series Signature Misha Mansoor Juggernaut ET7
Ibanez · Jackson