Mike Stern

Born in Boston, Massachusetts, 1953. Mike Stern is one of the leading guitarists on the contemporary jazz scene. Began playing at age 12, putting down Clapton and Hendrix licks, but switches to jazz at Berklee College of Music in 1971. Plays for two years each with Blood, Sweat & Tears and Billy Cobham's Powerhouse Fusion Band, later joining the Miles Davis Group. From there his popularity soars, and he joins up with countless world-class musicians like Joe Henderson, Jaco Pastorius, Jim Hall, Pat Martino, Tom Harrell, Arturo Sandoval, Billy Cobham, David Sanborn, and the Breckers. Solo debut in 1986 with the release of Upside Downside. Named "Best Jazz Guitarist of the Year" by Guitar Player magazine in 1993, then gets Grammy nominations in 1994 and 1996. Fans love Mike Stern for a playing style displaying a variety of tones, from sensitive to hard-edged and wild.

Yamaha actively approached him, when he was using a telecaster model. He made several such requests as "no need for a long sustain" and "a beautiful sound that reverberates in a musical way." The Yamaha PACIFICA1611MS was created to answer all of his needs. Since then, Mike Stern takes his Yamaha PACIFICA1611MS wherever and whenever he plays live.