Thanks for the GAS Mike.. I want this thing! Much cooler than the new Fender one coming out... I think.

My Uncle Gary used to have a space heater just like that in his workshop.

--Crispy

I'm more intrigued by the Fender Excelsior.
http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/Excelsior/
It has actual tubes and not some fake space heater glow.

Paul
Atomic Mosquitos
Bug music for bug people is here!
Killers from Space

I'd forgotten about this lil' guy.

Cool of them to think to bundle the free iPhone app "THR Session". That should make those Tascam gizmos obsolete too. They've apparently not only do the tempo reduction (no pitch loss) thing, but also an attempt at instrument isolation/muting.

They definitely got their "practice" thinking caps on - rather than just a low watt inexpensive amp, make it a tool kit. Sounds pretty cool!

Fady

El Mirage @ ReverbNation

Last edited: Mar 21, 2012 08:03:08

"Virtual Tube Illumination"... So that's what they call amber LEDs now?

Old punks never die... They just become surf rockers.

LHR wrote:

As amp modeler, it seems awfully primitive compared to the Pod, etc. As an amp, how could this thing possibly sound any good with two 8cm speakers? Anyone play one? I would be curious to read a review.

They're stereo hifi speakers, well more hifi than your usual amp speaker. The idea being you get more of a finished studio sound. You can plug it in to your PC/MAC/ and use it as a sound system, then when the urge calls slot in your geetar and play or record. It has a twin reverb model amp which can be tweeked to produce gain with separate reverb and delay controls. I notice in some video demos a nasty buzzing noise, particularly when the hand is near the contols (power adapter problem?). Treble sounds a little harsh maybe? - Dear Santa...

This thread was the first i'd heard of the Yamaha THR5/10 - big thanx for the heads up Morphball. I think there was some British involvement in the project so we might well have got it first.

This is advertising i guess.. but it's so well done i can't resist.

I've had a THR10 for a few months now, bought it the day it was released in Japan. I absolutely LOVE this amp. My best gear purchase in a long time. The sound quality is amazing. It has kind of a Bose Wave Radio-type voodoo going on where the sound seems like it is coming from outside of the amp. Amazing technology.

It's true that it doesn't have 50 billion presents and stuff, but instead it has a few nice quality amp models. The simplicity makes it a real pleasure to use. Plus, it looks sharp, and using it with batteries means one less cord to deal with. Some people might be turned off by the fake glow, but I think it looks pretty cool, particularly if you are playing in a low lit room at night.

The only thing I am not really all that happy about are the reverbs and tremolo. They don't sound bad per se, but they are not really the sounds I am after. I can get a decent 50's vibe going with the reverb/delay setting set with a slap back delay, but it's not really surfing 'verb. With that said, it takes pedals well so I tend to use my Spring King or Carbon Copy in front of it, and it sounds great.

I have played both the THR5 and THR10, and I think the 10 is the much better deal. Although they have the same wattage and speakers, the smaller cabinet somehow gave the THR5 less presence. It felt more in your face as opposed to the awesome stereo sound on the THR10. Plus, you lose some key features on the THR5 that kind of cripple the software capabilities IMO.

Last edited: Mar 25, 2012 04:24:44

Thanks for the assessment, Skjold! Those are about the same shortcomings as my Roland, despite the effects on the micro-cube being designed by Boss. I guess putting in a drippy-sounding reverb isn't a popular request these days. The thing about the THR10 model is that it puts it at the same price point as the Fender Excelsior, hmmm. (For those considering either, the 10 is essentially the same wattage/speakers and is a little bigger, but also has extra bass, acoustic and flat sounds, five custom presets, a three-band EQ instead of a tone pot and has some additional output controls, I believe.) I might really have to try one of each in a GC first, and maybe talk them down if I still like it.

Mike
http://www.youtube.com/morphballio

I like the microcubes. I still have a bass one, but IMO the THR's are a big step up.

Not sure how the Excelsior will sound. I want to try one, but now that I live in a condo, my limit on a tube amp is 1Watt. I'm in the process of selling off my 5W Tweed Champ because I think the tone doesn't really start to open up until you are at least half way up, which is pretty darn loud. I also have a little Blackstar HT-1R. It's nice but really excels at dirt rather than clean tones. At 1Watt even that can be loud enough to piss off the neighbors.