andrew00 wrote:

Aye the v.2 firmware is really interesting. I know it's super new but there's not a whole lot of info out there so far, just what Yamaha are talking about.

The good thing is it's a firmware update to the existing models and not a brand new v.2 unit, i.e. if it was a new one you know it'd come with a price hike heh.

Full credit to Yamaha for listening to their existing customers and reacting to some of their criticisms. I would hazard a guess that new stock from here on will be marked v.2 on the packing box. I know they do stuff like this because the first THR10s had poor quality power adapters and Andertons checked the box code label to see if had the upgraded adapter.

Well! v.2 is wonderful and I'm grinning from ear to ear. The clean channel sounds like a Fender and the gain is far more attractive, gone is the crisp wrapper crunch, it reacts to sweet-spot finding much more like a true valve amp. Deeper sounding throughout I'd say. I no longer have to use the bass channel and I'm no longer interested in the THR10C!

Just back from a nice shopping day in Guildford Surrey, first stop Andertons music shop where I managed to share a soundproof booth with a THR10C and an American Standard Stratocaster. It didn't take long to evaluate the C version because it sounded and reacted very much like my own THR10 with the latest Firmware v.2. For me to understand the differences in full I'd need to know my own amp a little better, so for the moment I'd say the differences are reasonably subtle. Deluxe mode sounded much like Clean on the THR10v.2, Class-A, US Blues and Brit Blues all gave beautifully authentic blues tones but then again I'm sure I could find similar tones on the THR10v.2 also. With setting titles like US Blues and the slapback delay effect it is naturally directed to the blues/rockabilly crowd but for me the differences are not so great I'd favour one or the other. The firmware update has blown me away, it's like I've just bought a brand new amp! But.. as far as I'm aware there is no going back to the old version once you've upgraded.

Yeah you were perfect timing for me too!

THR10 delay is more U2-ish I'd say. Sorry I couldn't answer some of your questions early on, some of the surf crew use an AC30 plus Fender for the midrange punch (Bambi Molesters, Madeira)so I kind of knew what you were after, but I hadn't used the other amp models enough to comment.

The problems with v.1 firmware as I see it was the clean amp was treble boosted and there didn't seem any way of calming it down. The gain came on far too quickly and sounded pseudo 8-bit crisp wrapper. That gain sound ran through everything, even through DAW effects and other software amp modelling. I suffer tinnitus so I can be sensitive to certain frequencies (12 years using a 36 inch diesel powered circular saw bench doesn't help!) perhaps that's why Raito and I have differing opinions.

THR5/10 v.2 is so much better, they have pretty much nailed it. The Fender clean is so deep and lush, gain is far more detailed and progressive across the board. All the other amp models start their journey reasonably clean, their individuality has blossomed and react perfectly. It's seems less of a jack of all trades and more of a good general purpose amp now.

Last edited: Jan 26, 2014 07:52:08

raito wrote:

At the moment, I'm agonizing over the V.2 firmware. I'd try it in a second if there were a way to revert back, but I'm not sure I want to jump off the cliff just yet. There doesn't see.m to be much in the way of reviews yet.

You mentioned keyboards back there. This time last year I was looking at the Waldorf Blofeld keyboard, fantastic piece of kit which they launched into the market quickly with bugs and unrefined software, they even included hidden built-in samples which they had the nerve to ask extra licence money! It's just the way things are these days. It takes these software guys months to perfect the programming. It's still the same old THR10 but with greatly refined quality, go for it!! I'd love to know what you think even if your opinion is wildly different to mine

Last edited: Jan 26, 2014 16:41:40

Ad since I forgot to include it in my last post, here's what I've been abel to glean about the THR series and its models:

THR-5/10 (V1)
Clean = Fender Deluxe
Crunch = VOX AC30
Lead = Marshall Plexi
Brit Hi = Marshall JCM800
Modern = Mesa Boogie

THR-10C
Deluxe = Fender Twin Reverb
Class A = Matchless DC30
US Blues = Fender Blues Jr.
Brit Blues = Marshall Bluesbreaker
Mini = Dr. Z Mini-Z

THR-10X
Power 1 = Engl Powerball
Power 2 = Engl Powerball (lead channel)
Brown 1 = early Van Halen?
Brown 2 = later Van Halen?
Southern Hi = Dimebag Darrell?
(toward the end they weren't referencing particular amplifiers, or maybe I was getting bored after close to an hour of video reviews)

I didn't really take it as a serious attack, so there's no problem. But there's a lot of people who don't much know how the sausage is made. And I was feeling garrulous. Don't worry, I'm enjoying the conversation.

It certainly could be that I got the clean and deluxe channels switched around. Some of my notes from Friday didn't make sense this morning, but that's not surprising.

andrew00 wrote:

Either way the 5 v.2 Clean sounds pretty good to me, a lot harder to break up, it is actually clean and stays that way for a good while.

Have you bought one or are you still trying out in shops.

Agreed the v.2 clean has bags of headroom and also very controllable. I really like the crunch setting too.

Last edited: Jan 29, 2014 05:32:33

Saw that today looking for more info on the upgrade.

Surfin' Yamaha THR)

Waikiki Makaki surf-rock band from Ukraine

https://linktr.ee/waikikimakaki

Lost Diver

https://lostdiver.bandcamp.com
https://soundcloud.com/vitaly-yakushin

I’ve got usual TRH as it sounds more versatile for me, surf, blues, hard rock or thrash metal are ok with it) yes, it can be loud but you may find sweet spots without turning it past 11-12
It takes pedals surprisingly well, overdrives, fuzzes, reverb, tremolo, whatever but I like playing it as it is mostly, cause it’s just a nice sounding all in one plug and play box)
I play it home all the time so may answer your questions I guess)

Waikiki Makaki surf-rock band from Ukraine

https://linktr.ee/waikikimakaki

Lost Diver

https://lostdiver.bandcamp.com
https://soundcloud.com/vitaly-yakushin

Last edited: Aug 07, 2018 00:24:24