Yamaha THR10 which one

eldarvanyar · November 2016

Hi everyone,
(or whoever is reading this)

I am looking to buy a Yamaha THR10 practice amp for home use as I relearn guitar again after many years..

I was a shredder in my teens and twenties but 50 next year and so looking to learn a bit of country, classic rock, maybe a bit of jazz or fusion, (try not to judge me

djspecialist · November 2016

I have a THR10C which I'm happy with. I mostly use it to play Americana / bluesy noodling - for which it's great and there is a lot of variety between the models.

For classic rock you might find it a bit short on gain. You can get pretty close with the Bluesbreaker model, if you use the PC editor to add some compression (which isn't available via a physical knob) - but I haven't managed to get a full-on rawk sound out of it.

I tried both the regular 10 and the 10C before I bought mine. I felt it would be a compromise either way I went, but ultimately decided the range of tones on the 10C gave me more of what I wanted. YMMV.

Beexter · November 2016

I can only speak for the standard THR10 (as that's what I have) but I think it has the best balance of amp styles, particularly if you want to cover a variety of genres. If you don't need the preset options, I believe the THR5 offers a lot of similar sounds for less cost.

I'm really pleased with mine as a low volume practise solution.

Alterlifeson · November 2016

djspecialist said:

I have a THR10C which I'm happy with. I mostly use it to play Americana / bluesy noodling - for which it's great and there is a lot of variety between the models.

For classic rock you might find it a bit short on gain. You can get pretty close with the Bluesbreaker model, if you use the PC editor to add some compression (which isn't available via a physical knob) - but I haven't managed to get a full-on rawk sound out of it.

I tried both the regular 10 and the 10C before I bought mine. I felt it would be a compromise either way I went, but ultimately decided the range of tones on the 10C gave me more of what I wanted. YMMV.

I agree with this. For slightly heavier stuff I've found the 'mini' model paired with the 2x12 cab via the editor to do a pretty good job. It still is slightly to compressed for my exact liking however.

Jack_ · November 2016

I had the standard one, I figured it had the broadest spectrum from low gain to high, rather than all low or all high.

However, if I were in the market right now I'd be considering things like the Boss Katana and the new ID Core Blackstar amps. The lower end of the modelling market is still progressing very quickly, and it's been a while since the THR10 came out now, and so others should be offering a similar if not better product for less money.

Beexter · November 2016

Coda Music have a sale on with ID Core's starting at £65 - that's a lot cheaper than a THR. I've never played one (err, 'cos I have a THR) but they often get mentioned in the same breath....

stimpsonslostson · November 2016

I have the standard one & it covers a LOT of ground- I play classic rock stuff usually & it has FAR more gain than I ever need.
I'd expect you could play virtually anything you wanted through it (especially with judicious use of a pedal or two).

For my full thoughts on the THR, I posted in the reviews section. I can summarise it by saying that it's the one piece of guitar kit that I've never even considered parting with.

DiscoStu · November 2016

I reckon the standard 10 will suit you best. I have one and it covers all the bases from clean, through twang and crunch to full on metal.

Sassafras · November 2016

I've never understood why they're so expensive.
Are they really that good?

bingefeller · November 2016

I have the normal one too and really like it. For clean the Bass channel is my favourite. I would recommend the standard for sure.

AndyR · November 2016

I have the 10C and love it to bits - it got me actually PLAYING again rather than noodling around. I got the 10C because of the colour (the missus prefered the black, and it still lies around in our living room without getting "ejected" to my broom-cupboard of a studio), and because I'm a blues-rocker.

If I was going again, I'd probably get the standard one, it probably covers more ground and provides a bit more gain. But, like djspecialist, I use the bluesbreaker model on the 10c with the studio compressor engaged as a clean boost - it's gorgeous without drowning out the telly (most important if the missus is trying to hear it!)

Strat54 · November 2016

Sent my standard one back after three days, it was great for clean tones but beyond that I was most disappointed. Replaced it with a used Pod 2.0 through an active set of stereo speakers. Bought the speakers and the Pod for half the cost of the THR new. The old 2.0 is great, no need to hook up to a laptop plus all the variables can be physically adjusted like an amp!

richardhomer · November 2016

Sassafras said:

I've never understood why they're so expensive.
Are they really that good?

Not a popular opinion - but definitely not in my view. Playing through one feels nothing like playing through a 'real' amp.

I genuinely don't get their popularity.

Philly_Q · November 2016

I had the standard one for a while and although it sounded OK, it didn't knock me out and I sold it fairly quickly.

Since then I've seen so much praise for them I've assumed it was my rotten shitty playing to blame and I've seriously considered buying another one.

But maybe that's the equivalent of sticking your finger in the electric socket a second time to confirm you really do get a shock...

Sassafras · November 2016

I must try one to see what all the fuss is about.
Is it just that they're small, manageable and easy to have lying around?
I've often heard that they don't take pedals very well.
Does that mean you're restricted to the onboard sounds?

AndyR · November 2016

I've found that they're VERY sensitive to environment. I tried mine in a shop on a carpeted floor in a corner - I was sold. Got it home, plonked it on the coffee table in front of me... and it was "er... tinny". Took me a week or so to notice what was going on - sometimes it was gorgeous, other times... meh

For my tastes, it MUST NOT be stood on a reflective surface when I'm using it as a guitar amp (it's fine for using it as laptop speakers).

If its on that table, it sits on cork table mats - not too bad then. Otherwise it's on the end of the sofa, either on the arm, or in the corner created by the arm. That's when I love it.

With the "is it anything like playing through a real amp?" well, yes and no.

Years ago I used to gig with a Laney that was like a 50W JMP MV clone. That only sounded good with master above 3, and that was too loud for anything but the biggest gigs. It felt and sounded fabulous then.

Since then I've acquired POD 2.0 (OK, but don't really like it), POD XT (much better), Vox Tonelab LE (even better) ... I use them all through my studio monitors. They all need the desk's master cranked to sound/feel "good" like the old valve amp did live. And none of them can really do that just "breaking up" thing.

Then I got a Laney Cub 12R. That sounds FAB at a much lower volume than the old Laney did. But it's still a touch loud for domestic use.

When I got the THR10C, and figured it out, it was "oh yeah, this is what I wanted...".

To me - and I appreciate it won't to others, we all use amps differently - the THR10C gives me the impression and feel of that old amp when it was p1ssing off the sound engineers and putting a smile on my face... BUT... at an absolute whisper sat on my sofa watching the tv. None of the real amps I own (including a THR100HD) can even remotely manage that at that volume.

It's NOT so much a "guitar amp" in my mind, it's more a thing that impersonates a "guitar amp" going "woof", loudly, recorded through something, and then played back through your stereo.

It works for me, probably the best musical purchase I've ever made.

Philly_Q · November 2016

^ Great post. @AndyR. You've almost convinced me to buy another one now!

AndyR · November 2016

I accept no responsibility for any disappointment, distress, etc, Philly!

eldarvanyar · November 2016

Thanks Andy that's really helpful.

I just want something to use at home for relearning the electric again at a suitable volume and have some fun. The youtube videos I have watched have sounded great to me. I wish there was something like this 30 years ago when I first started playing. I remember all the rows I would have when my dad came home from work telling me to turn it off or down.

I used to have a Galian Kruger 100w amp thing which was very portable but used to get blown away by the other guitarist in our band with his 100w Marshall head. I sold that and bought a big Riverra valve amp head that I bought from Chandler guitars (£1250 in the 1990s), and bought a 2x12 cab with Celestion Sidewinders. Ended up selling it to save my back, and when I realised that I didn't like the tone.

I now have a Mesa Boogie Studio 22+ and a Marshall 50w Acoustic guitar amp.

I know that Yamaha call it the third amp which makes sense to me, it is what it is. I have looked at some videos on youtube for the Blackstar and Boss amps recommended in the thread. I think I would rather go with the Boss than the Blackstar out of the two. However, from what I can see the Boss one is 50w unless I have missed something.

I suppose I will need to see if I can find a dealer to try out the Yamaha.

AndyR · November 2016

If you're near London, there's a Yamaha shop in Wardour St. They have all three ready to rock.

markblack · November 2016

I had the THR10, and sold it and went for the THR10C.

As an allrounder the THR10 was great, but I wanted the more 'vintage tone' of the C so I went for that.

Both were great.

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