I had been looking at this amp for a while, and finally took the plunge, in large part because I was dissatisfied with the tone of my Fender Mandostrat through an old Fender Champ 12 that has been my practice (guitar) amp of choice for years. There are a few different models in this Yamaha line, each with a different set of amp models that are aimed at a certain playing style. There's also a pair of lower-priced versions, the THR5 and 5A that are even smaller than the diminutive THR10 and have a few features left out (chiefly a bank of convenient user preset buttons; a single tone knob on the 5s replaces a more generous 3-knob EQ section on the 10s). There are reviews galore of these amps on the interwebs. Two that I found most helpful (and objective) are here and here (the latter a review of the THR10C). I will supplant those with a few additional comments.
First off, let me admit to being a tube amp snob. I have tried several of my friends' modeling amps and auditioned several more in stores, and have been uniformly unimpressed. To my ears they have sounded at best like caricatures of a tube amp. I own a Marshall and a Gibson/Trace Elliot in addition to my little Fender, and these are my reference points. That said, I also realize that in the context of a full band setting or a multi tracked recording, many of the better digitally modeled tube amp simulators can be quite convincing.
Yamaha has closed the gap substantially with the THR series. This thing is ridiculously close to the sound, feel, and dynamics of an all-tube amp circuit. Now with only a pair of 8cm speakers, it simply can't move the same volume of air as a typical tube amp with a pair of Celestion 10s or 12s. But when I'm practicing and my wife is in the next room, I really don't want to move that much air. But getting the tone and dynamics of a tube amp dialed to near-max gain - except at low volume or in headphones - is just a heluva lot of fun. And inspiring.
I should also admit that I own one other 'modeling' piece of gear - a Yamaha Magicstomp pedal, which I'm guessing has algorithms that are ancestors of those embedded in the THR series. I used the Magicstomp routinely for practice and jamming to backing tracks until I got bit by the mandolin bug. Now it sits mostly unused in a closet. It was better than most of the modeling pedals of its generation, but still not quite good enough to satisfy my ears for recording. The THR amps, I expect, are going to sound amazing on recordings. With a USB digital audio out, and Cubase bundled in the box, they are quite a bit more than just a practice amp. I feel like this review must sound like a paid advertisement from Yamaha. Truly, I have no financial interest nor benefit from offering this write-up. If you are looking for a practice amp, this one should be high on your list to audition.
Oh - and my Mandostrat sounds incredible through it.
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