They were never all made in Japan. Only the high end models. And they're almost a range unto themselves. They're not all super strats in the sense one usually means.
The series, like most Japanese guitars follow an ascending number order. The PAC112 is the cheapest of the lot, going up to the PAC1421 model - some of the earliest produced and long out of production - with carved flame tops.
No flame on this one though. These guys are now highly collectible and starting to go for big money.
They were designed by the same guy who recently designed the Vox Virage series among much else.
Some are Tele shaped and others are kind of strat shaped. This is mine:
This one's (PAC904) designed to have vintage-y look and sound but with modern conveniences. And it excels in every way. This one is made in Japan. My buddy has a PAC721R which has a reversed headstock and a Floyd Rose bridge. It's been his main guitar forever. The pickups on that one were a little lack-lustre and he swapped them out. But a great guitar.
All in all, Pacificas remain perhaps the best value for money guitars out there - especially second hand. You should be able to get 600 series or even above for less than R3k if you're lucky.
The line has also just been revived with an amazing looking/sounding 600 series with a covered hum in the bridge and a P90 in the neck.
This is a sweet guitar:
I've so far in the seven years of owning a Pacifica, and the 15 years my buddy's had one, never seen a poor review of a Pacifica. It's a bit of a pity they restarted the line in a way. If they hadn't the rarer ones would probably have become super-valuable in time ?
