That is an easy fix actually, If you have a company Like "Parts Express" take off the front cover and remove a speaker and find out the specs and order a couple, might be able to make it sound slightly better with better speakers.(depending on how cheap you got it you might make out better for it or end up paying a little more for a better sounding product) I wouldn't call it the best practice amp, TBFH - Fender Mustang GTX100 probably would be a better option in the price range(at least personally as it kind of handles going from Beginner to probably intermediate players, and can be gig worthy due to 100 watts and gives you the barebones of digital pedals and soundscapes even if they aren't perfect) or Boss Katana MKII if that is more your label. I would call it probably the best mobile battery amp until the Grid Spark 2 hits the market in the mid to upper price range of $300-$550, but its rather limited in capabilities and seems like a real niche product and you are really paying for that Yamaha logo and the Software basically. Ideally the Fender Tonemaster Pro would be the lower of the upper end of these kinds of things with some of the crazier options out there that can totally cost $1200 to $10k(professional equipment like racks and such). IDK there is nothing like analog but at the same time the convenience of digital and is it good enough is a separate argument many people will diverge on opinions and such and the rabbit hole can go pretty far and deep. I think its an important discussion but for a separate video and time.
This thing certainly has its sonic limitations, but I'm a small-space player and have had one of these for 3 years with zero regrets. The wide range of sounds even at very low volume; the onboard controls and ease of use (NO APP or COMPUTER NEEDED!!!); the portability; the build quality -- all made it worth the money for me. Your mileage may vary.
Within the first 30 seconds you explained exactly why I chose the Yamaha over the new Positive Grid Spark 2. You can dial in some fantastic tones right from the Yamaha amp without using the app. Whereas you absolutely need the app to get great tones from the Spark 2. I want to spend my time practicing not staring at a phone or tablet.
I have the THR30II, provided you take the time to pair it with the app (I hate using apps for this kind of stuff but anyway...) and dial some presets you can get quite good tones from this amp. Just a common issue with the android app: you probably need to enable the gps before turning on bluetooth and pair it, otherwise it would not connect (Yamaha: please fix the app, this is a bug, not a feature!!!) after a few minutes/hours fiddling with cab sims, gainmastercompression interactions, I could get some interesting and decent clean/blues/rock/crunch tones and save them in the 5 presets banks. Yes, you definitely need some time/research to dial some settiings in that amp because the default presets that you can hear out of the box are (in my opinon)...not the best you can get (the default cab sim has way too much spongy bass sound) and that's a pity. Using the volume pot on my guitar, the amp sim is quite accurate, it does clean up even using a decent amount of overdrive/gain. As I had a Line6 G10II wireless transmitter, I could keep it and use it directly with this amp. Would this compete with your vintage 4x12 cab+JCM800 or your 4000$ Friedman of course not, and if you are into djent/death metal, I suspect it would not fit your requirements. If you are into blues,classic rock, fusion jazz, etc... and need to practice, busk, play at low volume in a bar or at home, it does the job.
Thank you for showing how much it can do! I'm new to guitar and THR30ii is my very first amp (got it from eBay). I can only play very limited songs and THR30ii seems like a regular amp for me. But your video shows me how much potential it has, and how various styles it can play. I'm so much more motivated in playing guitar better ❤
I purchased a THR 30II (black) and I am so Impressed with the Sound Quality = Fender Princeton-like "Cleans" and also the Zeppelin & Van Halen sounds. You really need to use-the-app to Unleash the Full Potential. It's the Perfect low-volume Amp for a NYC apartment.
@@MrPolevaulterimho it's a must for the compressor and also fine tune the effects. I find the amp knobs are very much on or off (like the Micro Cube) and I like so little reverb, delay or tremolo when I use them. And if you are a poor b*** and could only afford a Thr10 😭 you need it to try the amp variations.
But there are effects you can't access on the device. All the different reverbs and delays for example. And load multiple factory and user presets. Conclusion: it's worth using the app. @@MrPolevaulter
Actually the THRs MK1 are better sounding (but the standard one needs some tricks with the delay filter and phaser trick to open and thicken the sound), also accepts nice pedals
I have had the old 10 watt version for close to 8 years now, and it is pretty much always on as my computer speaker/practice amp and it is still kicking. It also probably tripled the amount of time i spend practicing just by the ease of use. The 30 watt version has many more amp versions and the wireless, but if you are going to use it only as a bedroom practice amp I think it is an overkill, even the 5 watt version is enough for that. You could probably use the 30 watt as a very portable rehearsal amp, so that is a big plus. I highly recommend any version of these.
The THR30 does not compete with a drummer, I'm afraid, I've actually tried it just for fun :) In my use case, I have this in my office and it's always on it as iPhone speaker for that space and it's nice to be able to grab the guitar and just play along with something when you take a break. it's just a very nice and practical thing to have around and sounds good no matter what I am using it for.
I have a flamenco, crossover and steel string acoustic guitars. I also have an electric guitar that was collecting a lot of dust until this amp came along. I purchased the Relay G10TII with it and can't believe how much more time I spend playing guitar. Once charged there is no need for a lead- it's portable and loud enough for my home. Mission accomplished. Love this amp!
I had the same exact rattling noise from the THR10II. It was a shame, because apart from that issue, I loved the amp. But, I just couldn't unhear it, which forced me to return it. Do a lot of you fine folks have this same problem? Thanks in advance.
Once you get the THR app dialed in the interface is one of the best in my opinion Running it just off the dials isnt even 10% of the amps true tone Theres alot of other practice amps and interfaces out there,one for everyone Ive tryd most of them The Yamaha just flat out works and sounds amazing,,,,,,after you get the app dialed in its,,,for me the best practice amp out there Live the stereo live the wireless and easy of app use If you want easy it might not be for you,,,if you like really getting into dialing your tones in and practicing with a great mix of backing tracks I suggest putting the time into dialing in the THR I wish Yamaha would bring the THR 100w head back out!!! Everyone is different but i enjoy the THR and anyone whi has come over to my place and played and took the time to go thru the tones and set ups has been blown away I have atleast 3 good friends life long time players and gig’n musicians who have biught there own THR’s after spending time in mine
Hey Elmo, great video as always. As a die-hard Yamaha THR30ii user myself for teaching, I have to agree with you on price - it is far too much for what it is. There are plenty of s*** guitar sounds in the THR30ii as I find myself avoiding many of the Crunch/Lead options and only using the Clean(red - cab sim turned off) and Hi Gain (Green) modes that seems to work really well for me. I also teach bass guitar so it does that quite well too! As a teaching tool it is perfect for me due to its volume, weight, fantastic track play-back (it sounds great to listen to music on) and doesnt require me to use the app to tweak what I want on the go (like the Spark Mini). I never bother with the wireless stuff but two of my students have the same amp and use the Line 6 dongles. It is definitely not the perfect practice amp that the marketing will lead you to believe, as I believe the competition is catching up at a lower price point! - Gabe
I own the THR10X from the previous generation; it simulates some high gain amps. Bought it 10 years ago and still use it to this day. Lets me play high gain at neighbour-friendly volume. The onboard tuner is rather inaccurate and the amp comes with no blue tooth, but other than that, no complaints. I would say it sounds way better than this new version... at half the price. If you really just want it for practice, try a THR10, not a THR30. And if you're lucky and the store has some old new stock of the gen1 model, try that instead of the THRII. Just my two cents, though.
My two cents : the extended stereo may be activated. Press and hold the tap tuner button for 4 seconds and if you see a # in the led window it is turned off. If you don’t see one it is turned on. Way more organic and less compressed to me when it's turned off (it's on by default).
I agree totally with Elmo’s review. I originally owned a THR 10 Il and didn’t like the sound at all, also the app was problematic and I often couldn’t get it to work well. I upgraded to a used THR30ll as I needed something small. Like Elmo, I think it’s ok but not great like the many reviews suggested. I’ve given up on the app and now mostly use the Amps in and out to DI into a DAW.
That's $499 right now, during a sale, normally $550. Bundle is $610 on sale right now and $660 normal. LOOKS like all the US retailers recently reduced prices to similar (THX 3 soon?)
@@justmehere6094 They might be struggling against the better priced Katana Air (or other small Boss heads that small practice speaker built in) and it's gig season...I mean yeah it's a 5 year old model but it comes with the wireless puck and there's really nothing to improve on it, so why upgrade - they'd have to charge more and lose their edge in that space (list has dropped to $429.99 which is just stupid cheap for an end to end wireless system AND the Boss tone library/circuits). Firmware updates, yeah, but they're never going to update the hardware or release a Mk 2, 3, etc version. I still don't know how they make money on it. They're gonna have to do better. That's a good question to ask the Yamaha rep at a NAMM thing this year (summer NAMM is July in Nashville, they just rebranded it as "NAMM NeXT").
That’s nutz you can get a Boss Katana Artist combo amp with Waza Speaker 🔈 Generation 3 for a hundred bucks more. Why would you spend it on this little practice amp🤦🏽
Same here. Went black from 0:54 to 1:16. It looks like it was just an editing goof, and not TH-cam censoring something (this time lol). I don’t think we missed anything, fortunately. 🤘🏻👍🏻🎸🔊🎶😎
I have a THR30II and it’s not B-stock item btw but this thing, when dialed in properly can sound like anything from VH1 to Megadeth and anything in between. I’m using an XSonic Bluetooth foot controller and it’s perfect for rehearsal or recording. Would not trade it for any other amp in same price range! I’m about 13 mins into your demo and it sounds pretty nice so far considering that one is prob broken lol but u could prob play a stick w rubber bands on it thru a cardboard box Elmo and make it sound Amazing 😅 bc the Tone really comes from your fingers anyway rt? 😉if u really wanna tailor your tone adjust the cab sim and choose a 4x12 w greenbacks and def Use a guitar w a good Humbucker (not stacked single or any single coil for that matter) *there’s a reason EVH did what he did as far as pickups! IT IS THE BEST PRACTICE AMP! Full 🛑
Mine has the same "flubby" sound sometimes. I depends a lot on the settings, and a lot on the guitar and how it's set up. Some of my guitars sound amazing with it, others like garbage. The app doesn't do much, but I think it tweaks the right things if you know exactly how to use the them. Yamaha specializes in sound, it seems like they assume that you know as much as they do and what to do with it (Not always the case). I have a THR 10, and a THR 10-2 so I'm pretty brand loyal. I always get a lot good comments on both of them from other players. If they ever come out with a THR10 - 3, I'll buy it too :)
i would go for spark, way more options, better app, tons of presets, better deeper sound. it even looks better lol. order both, test, turn back the one u dont like
thr 30ii if you want quality soundings, Spark Mini (and not 40 as it is quite muddy) for the "online features" and app, and Hotone Pulze if you are a geek and like touched screens rather than knobs which the Yamaha has which means, if you don't want, you don't need to use their app and that's a real "plus" ... I definitely would go for the Yamaha even if more expensive ... that I own since it came out 😉 (I also own the Spark mini and Spark Go and Boss Dual Cube ...)
Audibly you can easily tell the speakers are small. Just has that sound. Seems unable to handle any sort of low end chug riffs as well, but that's understandable. For what it does it sounds nice - a high end practice amp.
A lot of subjectivity in reviews. I have a Blackstar ID core which I hate. I have Vox pathfinder 15 which isn't particularly my cup of tea. I have a Spark 40....aggh...don't get me started. I have some small Boss thing which has classic wasp in a jar distortion. I have a Marshall MG10 ...it basically gives me one sound but it suits me the best and has a better basic rock sound than my Marshall AVT 50.
You do not need the Line6 transmitter, that plugs into the guitar. The amp will connect to phone or laptop without that. You can use a stage lead instead.
Just wondering which would you pick over this or the Hotone Pulze? Looking for something for practice and jamming with a friend/coworker/student. Which is more dynamic and “t00blike”? Quality of models etc. And just in case, let’s say you wanted to possibly busk for 10-20 people at a coffee shop, which would you take?
Hotone seems really great , I have that yamaha and love it. I'll take the Hotone because it seems also to be a great amp. Only thing I regret is not having effect loop on any of these amps ... And I need an effect loop 😔
i have both, in my personal opinion the Hotone pulze doesnt just have more features, it also sounds better, in both cleans and with more drive. however it doesnt have a battery, or build in wireless so if you want wireless ud have to buy a wireless bugset, where as the yamaha ud just have to get the line 6 bug. i use the hotone pulze more than my THR30IIW. if posible go try them both out and see which you like more
....and BTW two years ago I turned my Spark 40 into a battery powered amp(external accu, no mods) and couldn't be happier. Not to mention the wireless transmitter/receiver . ...all for some 90euro
I always liked them but always thought too pricey. But in 2024 was able to score a vintage Yamaha THR10C about 8 years old..still working 100% and sounds fabulous fir $130. Keeping it forever
The Yamaha’s are way too expensive. You can get the Spark 40, the Spark Mini, and the Spark Go for the same price as the Yamaha. Think about that! Love your videos 👍🏻
Well ... the Spark has got a less favorable woofy sound and does need some EQing ... Yamaha has the built quality + and some ... but its getting outdated a little BUT still one of the best there is as an office desktop noodling and recording device
With the earlier non-wireless version which I have, you have to plug in to a laptop to get at some of the FX e.g. Compressor, Room Reverb. That USB connection also allows for multi-track recording and playback; that can now be done by wireless and a fondle slab. Using the trailing cable to the laptop to get at the extra controls can be irksome, and there is no line-out for a simple PCM recorder. The tone controls are quite sensitive and usually need fiddling with for every guitar you use.
Just because I don't want to upset my neighbours to much, I use a mini AC 30 headphone amp from Vox. It works quite well. Then, just for fun, I didn't plug my headphones in, but instead my Nikkei speakerboxx 100. Which is a small portable speakerbox. So, now I don't have a lunchbox amp, but I do have a breadtoaster amp and it sounds nice! But it allso has some problem with the tiny speakers (two). They sound very nice, but they can't take to much volume. As I have all this for home use, that isn't a problem for me. If you are playing in the garage with your rockband; ofcourse it will not do. Get a real amp.
Maybe I should be happy that no one was interested in my Laney TI 15 on blocket. I was planning to buy this to play at low volume. There are some dishonest reviews on various gear on TH-cam unfortunately, but you are not among those. This is really a trustworthy channel.
With this kind of money I bought katana 100 2x12 and I am more than happy. And with the 1 watt setting I play easily at home with lots of bass and presence without annoying anyone. And if I wish I rattle the place 😊
Overall It's a good amp expecially for clean tones. In my opinion it lacks some character with heavier stuff, but it is also important to set the controls right (gain, master and tones) before turning up the volume: it can make a lot of difference. Lastly, I agree that it is expensive but II would say that with Yamaha you pay also for the excellent build quality, which is not garanteed in cheaper alternatives...I had to return my fender mustang gt40, which I loved, for build quality issues, on the contrary I never found a defective Yamaha product in my life (maybe I am just lucky).
Thanks Elmo! I used to have one of these guys, and a Spark 40 too. IMHO, the only issue with these amps is the speaker, not their technologies. Just sounds small - I'd recommend a Boss Katana 50 Gen 3, nicer speaker, can go really quiet, and less $ than the Yamaha.
@@RomainG6409 IMHO = In My Humble Opinion. Yes, Boss does not have wireless power but Gen 3 has a Bluetooth adapter. A 50-watt Katana has a larger speaker and infinitely more tone-shaping possibilities than the THR. If wireless is the most important factor, than it's not for you. Personally, I don't like any of these modeling amps over tube amps myself but that's me.
@@Smart-Alexyes, the katana 50 is a great practice amp! Not that heavy or big. Just right. And it has that handy “power amp in” jack that can take your other stuff and bypass all the katana settings like the Headrush MX5. The guys even use it when they band practice in the garage. It’s mine, but they all want to borrow it all the time..😂😂
I bought one a few years ago. The one with the battery. It's decent. I prefer the Fender Mustang GTX. You can get the 100 watt for the same price as the Yamaha. I haven't used the Yamaha software. I just don't like digging into software for amps.
Sounds good (but Elmo can make anything sound good), but spennndy. I have the Spark, which is woofy without EQ, but sounds good after that and with the foot switching, is usable live.
Yamaha without any hesitation ... I own a bunch of practice amps ... the Yamaha is from far the best ... almost incredible the quality of the sounds. Spark 40 like the Nux Mighty Space are muddy ... if I had to keep a Spark it would be the Mini which I own ... great little practice amp but not as good as the Yamaha when it comes to quality sounding. Yes Yamaha is expensive, too expensive but it is worth it ... I can sell most of my amps, I won't ever sell my Yamaha 30wii ...
Great vid Elmo - thanks! I got the THR10ii wireless version a few years ago and it cost me £299 with another £60 for the wireless transmitter. It was great then but I think the competition has moved on a lot and the Yamaha is starting to show its age. The app is clunky and the firmware updates have not improved anything so maybe there’s a new version in the pipeline? Anyway, it’s still an OK bedroom amp but there are better options out there now.
Could you give us some examples of the other choices out of the Sparks, Boss and Hotone (own the Spark and Boss and I am hesitating to take the Hotone as it is quite similar than the Yamaha sound wise) I am looking for something even better than that Yamaha but can't find it. Maybe I missed something. Thanks
@@RomainG6409 hard for me to comment on the Hotone or the Spark because I don’t have enough experience of either. My go-to practice amps are the Blackstar HT5R MkII and, my current favourite which is the Boss Katana Air EX. The Boss is similar to the THR but with much better speakers and effects/modelling. They are both quite pricy, but no more so than the Yamaha, and I feel they deliver what they promise.
Elmo, for busking, how do you think it'd compare with a Cube Street? And another downside of the THR you forgot to mention is very limited and cumbersome compatibility with a foot switch. No chance of a traditional one, and MIDI is complicated.
Ive been playing a thr10 for years and its amazing for bedroom level playing. but its really expensive. Since they debuted on the market, the quantity of great practice combos and modelers, at the same price or less, has exploded. Hard to vouch for it at that price. For practice, everyone has a PC. Grab some good monitors and dowload Neural Amp Modeler.
Not really a buskers amp if it doesn't have any Mic input, also 2 channels is needed for the Mic and Guitar to keep them seperate otherwise you get feedback problems as I have found in the past
I bought the 10ii about 4 years ago and it sounded great (cleans and high gain). Then after a couple of firmware updates, it just never sounded quite the same. Especially the clean tones. The app was never really updated and felt buggy; almost as if Yamaha stopped supporting this product any further. I ended up selling it last year and have been very happy with the blackstar ID core instead.
You’re wrong. The app does heaps. For example you can switch between reverb types, tape or digital delay, change feedback etc and much much more. But yes without the app you can still get a good sound.
I preordered the Katana Air when it was announced because I understood what it was, even though it was about 100 USD more than the other "lunchbox" amps; when it finally dies, I might check this out - wireless built in is just so nice, I'm almost a little mad when I have to actually plug stuff in with a cable. That KA is so dented and crusty lol it's been hucked into so many places an amp really doesn't deserve to be thrown but it keeps coming back for more. The Yamaha ones I've tried (other people bring them to jams) always sound great, though. All things equal, a good wireless system with low latency and decent fidelity will always make the choice for me, the way I am spoiled now.
Had it. Sold it. Stuck with the Katana mini for convenience. I think Yamaha should make Dedicated electric guitar THR, no one cares about acoustic and bass if you are buying an electric guitar amp. They need to upgrade the tones and the interface. I absolutely dislike the 3.5 mm speakers and the metal chassis might have something to do with the tone suck.
@@damo3088 Its about making one strictly for the guitar, so that all the attention to detail and sound quality go into just one thing not a multy radio-bass amp- truck station device.
I had a lot of several amps, but the Yamaha THR30II (the non-wireless) is one of my favourites; regret I sold it. Now I have a Fender Champion 100 amp, which is great!
I’ll stick with my Marshall Code 50. Although it gets a lot of bad reviews, with a little tweaking and patience it rocks. I have say Elmo, you can make any amp or guitar sound awesome by your playing.
Ive tried them all and the Yamaha thr30II is the only one i kept . Its the best desktop practice amp bar none. The spark is a muddy mess and the vox was thin sounding and the katana Air lol nope . Yeah its a little more money but sometimes you get what you pay for.
In US, Sweetwater had them at $499 right now, during a sale, formerly $550. Bundle is $610 on sale right now and $660 before. LOOKS like all the US retailers recently reduced prices to similar (THX 3 soon?)
The kings have not yet been dethroned. The Positive Grid and the Hotone remain far superior to the Yamaha, and even more so when you connect them to an audio system with quality speakers-they are killers. Even the Fender Mustang GTX remains an excellent choice, even though it is bulkier. The original presets are excellent, and the app for phone and tablet is intuitive, easy to use, etc. Modeling is clearly the future. With eyes closed, no one can hear the difference; musicians these days listen too much with their eyes. Yamaha, for me, is like the Boss Katana: synonymous with quality. But the apps or software on PC are not at all intuitive-you really have to understand the logic, and even then. Don’t forget, the amp its not the most important thing. The most important thing is the speaker-that’s what makes all the difference. If you take good modeling and connect it to a quality system, it will always sound good.
Yeah hard to compete with the spark mini…. BT, wireless , intuitive app, and loud enough to busk . Battery life also for me at least last is over 6 hours play time . More than enough. Th30 looks like if Darth Vader had a signature amp which is awesome but priced a bit much .
I have a Yamaha THR10C and THR10X Combo Am I have had it for more than a few years, I love it Never needed anything else for home use. Add a few pedals and what more could one want? "Best" I never use that wrd "Best" For music or music gear.. Or even the arts in general. there are no bests
I'm a huge fan of Darth Vader and Dark Troopers..is the ONLY reason I want this amp.. it's color Black. But I have this same wireless amp already, but the 10 watt version in the sandy beige color, so it's missing the "cool factor".. But I really hate the $499.99 price tag...
Ive got a Spark mini and for me, it's a great little practice amp if ya know how to set the controls... Only thing Id do to improve it would be to double the power to 20 watts instead of 10..... Spark 40 is too big for what I want in a practice amp & the Yamy is wayyyy too pricey
I played through one of those Yamaha practice amps and walked away without thinking twice. Just not my thing. When I think of a practice amp I think of an amp with a speaker that's at least 8". I have the Katana mini but that's more for just taking outside to noodle and not upset my neighbors. A good practice amp should move some air. You have to hear and feel it, especially when you're starting out. You've got to hear and feel the mistakes or you don't learn. Always a genuine pleasure watching you play Elmo.
@Notes-de-l-autre-monde katana mk2 50w combo, blackstar debut 50r, orange crush 35rt. The katana will grow with you and you can really do a lot with the built in effects. The debut 50r and the orange 35rt are really solid practice amps that make fantastic pedal platforms on the clean channel. If you want tube you can't go wrong with the bugera 5w combo or for a bit more money on the used market the v22 head and bugera cab. If you a bugera cab, set aside a little money to upgrade the speaker. They put Turbosound speakers in their cabinets and I have yet to hear a good Turbosound speaker. Very muffled. Stage Right on Amazon has a killer little 5w tube amp with an 8 inch celestion speaker that sounds just dynamite and it's under $200. Monoprice, Stage Right, and Harley Benton are all the same, they just change the logo depending on where you are in the world.
Too bad about the speaker. Thought about buying this THR30II Wireless but wasn't convinced for my use case. The new Katana Air "EX" might be a better desktop option with two 5" speakers instead of 3.5", a proper wood cab, works with BOSS BT pedals, and has battery compartment. But it's $150CAD more than the already pricey THR. Neither THR or EX have an FX loop. The Kat Gen 3 100w head, with the fx loop and one 5" speaker, might be even more practical (and much cheaper). Gen 3 has stereo headphone out and bluetooth capability, but you have to buy a BT dongle for another $120CAD. I recently went with the Katana GO cause I enjoy a good headphone for cranked guitar tones, given the GO's cab sim is half decent.
I had this amp, and did not really care for the sounds at all. I am glad I am not the only one who feels it doesn't live up to all the hype! Even music playback did not sound all that good through it. For similar form factor amps, the Spark 40 and Mini sound better in every way, hands down. Although my favorite desktop amp, which I know you were somehow not impressed with, is the Vox Adio Air GT. That thing impresses the hell out of me for what it is. Some people hyping these things up need to keep a grip on reality though. When I hear people saying things like, "OMG, it is as good as any tube amp!", I just want to know, how bad is their hearing loss, OR what horrible tube amps, or more importantly what horrible cabs/speakers paired with those amps, that they are comparing to. Are any of these even in the same realm of existence as my Friedmans, Marshalls, Bogners, Mesas, or my Wizard? LOL... No. But those are more difficult to play at night while my wife is sleeping :)
Moin, ich habe den gleichen Verstärker und meiner hat das gleiche Problem mit dem Klang. Beim ersten mal war es ein Garantiefall, habe dann ein neues Gerät bekommen. Aber jetzt habe ich schon wieder das gleiche Problem. Er funktioniert, hört sich aber irgendwie dumpfer und übersteuert an.
Got a NUX MG 30 for 175 Euro’s and a Katana50Mk2 voor 150 Euro’s. For less than the price of this Yamaha, I’m sure I’m having more options and better sound as well.
I have the same setup ... Nux mg30 + Boss nextone but is similar than the katana ... Quite good home studio cheap solution. Still for both you need electricity ... Not quite the same usage
Pulze in my personal opinion, i own both and the Pulze has more features while sounding better. HOWEVER if you want a desktop amp that has a battery and can be used without being plugged in to power, i would recommend the THR30IIW instead.
@@RichardLuna2025 if you got the spark mini, hotone for sure, i find myself playing with it for hours on end in just sheer joy. while it is pricy i have no regrets buying it. and yea the THR30IIW is just an upgraded version of its older brother.
They're way overpriced, but I scored the 20-watt THR10-II a couple years ago for $100 and the one thing I can say is that the speakers really do deliver a crystal clear sound that no tube amp I've ever played delivers. Every last note rings out individually with no muddiness. That said, they don't sound good at high volumes and they have very little bass due to having tiny speakers. For low volume situations, I don't think anything compares to the clarity of the tone you get, especially with a little reverb and some high gain. Again, definitely agree they should cost 30-40% less.
Finally you did a review of that fantastic amp ! 😉 Thanks for that 🙏 I own that one since it came out and I did not find a better one so far. But I have to disagree with you and can see you're definitely not a fan of Yamaha's products ... it does not make the top 10 ??? Really ??? 😉 Yes you are right it is expensive, too expensive but I own the Sparks Mini and Go, I own the Boss Dual cube, I tried the Nux Mighty Space (and was so disapointed by the quality of the sounds, same with the Spark 40 .. awful, muddy ...) and own the Nux mighty air and I am looking for the Hotone Pulze you've reviewed as it sounds to having great soundings ... The main drawback I see on all these amps is that none have an effect loop and that's a shame ... 😉 other than that, yes for me, that Yamaha is the best of all "practice" amps I have tested so far ...
Sounds like one of the speakers is blown. I have the exact same model and it does not make this sound. I have been all the way down the parctice amp, Nux, Fender lt25 and many others, Roland Cube (not the Micro). I now have the Fender, Spark, A Kartana Air EX and THR30 like the one you have there. If you like playing with apps, the Spark a lot of fun. I don't play with a ton of distortion, and I prefer a little reverb and only use Deley occationally, so my tone is quite different from yours. But the Katana and the THR sound way better IMO. Both are fantastic but, I tend to use the THR more. Now I witt try the Hotone you tried the other day to see how that compares :) But for the more budget, conscious beginner I think you can't go wrong with a used Fender Mustang which you can pick up for wery little money.
"It can give you all sorts of all sorts." 😂 BTW it would've probably been better to rotate the overhead camera image 180 degrees ;) Otherwise a great video as always!
Hi Elmo. I thought for that kind of price (a great very versatile second hand Fender or Marshall combo could also be bought!), I don't care if the guy that got it first time around kicked the absolute shit out of it at max volume, it should not have been an issue. I'm fed up with amp manufacturer's putting out so called loud amps where the speakers are clearly not up to the task! Go on Yamaha spend some dough and configure this thing with the hardware needed to deliver the goods - utter nonsense and anyone who buys this has obviously more money than sense. I own both the Harley Benton 5 and 15 amps and collectively they are half the price of this little beastie - go figure. They are great and this is not, period. I guess that's my rant over (Phewhhhh). As ever wild guitar skills and demonstrative and informing play from your good self with no bias or favouritism, how refreshing in this age of hype and bullshit! I am as ever your servant. Kindest regards Alex the K
You just need one… get the Yamaha. If you had both, like i do, then you will only play the Yamaha. It sounds better than my other amps… And Getting your phone involved kills the vibe with the sparks and other “smart” app crap.
Check out the BEST practice amps in the world: th-cam.com/video/giuHVTZvUgY/w-d-xo.htmlsi=Ap7S6D1RAEWn0lVR
my new OA-H05 MODS #2 video is up.
That is an easy fix actually, If you have a company Like "Parts Express" take off the front cover and remove a speaker and find out the specs and order a couple, might be able to make it sound slightly better with better speakers.(depending on how cheap you got it you might make out better for it or end up paying a little more for a better sounding product)
I wouldn't call it the best practice amp, TBFH - Fender Mustang GTX100 probably would be a better option in the price range(at least personally as it kind of handles going from Beginner to probably intermediate players, and can be gig worthy due to 100 watts and gives you the barebones of digital pedals and soundscapes even if they aren't perfect) or Boss Katana MKII if that is more your label.
I would call it probably the best mobile battery amp until the Grid Spark 2 hits the market in the mid to upper price range of $300-$550, but its rather limited in capabilities and seems like a real niche product and you are really paying for that Yamaha logo and the Software basically.
Ideally the Fender Tonemaster Pro would be the lower of the upper end of these kinds of things with some of the crazier options out there that can totally cost $1200 to $10k(professional equipment like racks and such). IDK there is nothing like analog but at the same time the convenience of digital and is it good enough is a separate argument many people will diverge on opinions and such and the rabbit hole can go pretty far and deep. I think its an important discussion but for a separate video and time.
This thing certainly has its sonic limitations, but I'm a small-space player and have had one of these for 3 years with zero regrets. The wide range of sounds even at very low volume; the onboard controls and ease of use (NO APP or COMPUTER NEEDED!!!); the portability; the build quality -- all made it worth the money for me. Your mileage may vary.
Agree completely , have never had a regret …. Never had that fart either
Within the first 30 seconds you explained exactly why I chose the Yamaha over the new Positive Grid Spark 2. You can dial in some fantastic tones right from the Yamaha amp without using the app. Whereas you absolutely need the app to get great tones from the Spark 2. I want to spend my time practicing not staring at a phone or tablet.
I have the THR30II, provided you take the time to pair it with the app (I hate using apps for this kind of stuff but anyway...) and dial some presets you can get quite good tones from this amp.
Just a common issue with the android app: you probably need to enable the gps before turning on bluetooth and pair it, otherwise it would not connect (Yamaha: please fix the app, this is a bug, not a feature!!!)
after a few minutes/hours fiddling with cab sims, gainmastercompression interactions, I could get some interesting and decent clean/blues/rock/crunch tones and save them in the 5 presets banks. Yes, you definitely need some time/research to dial some settiings in that amp because the default presets that you can hear out of the box are (in my opinon)...not the best you can get (the default cab sim has way too much spongy bass sound) and that's a pity.
Using the volume pot on my guitar, the amp sim is quite accurate, it does clean up even using a decent amount of overdrive/gain.
As I had a Line6 G10II wireless transmitter, I could keep it and use it directly with this amp.
Would this compete with your vintage 4x12 cab+JCM800 or your 4000$ Friedman of course not, and if you are into djent/death metal, I suspect it would not fit your requirements. If you are into blues,classic rock, fusion jazz, etc... and need to practice, busk, play at low volume in a bar or at home, it does the job.
Thank you for showing how much it can do! I'm new to guitar and THR30ii is my very first amp (got it from eBay). I can only play very limited songs and THR30ii seems like a regular amp for me. But your video shows me how much potential it has, and how various styles it can play. I'm so much more motivated in playing guitar better ❤
Your playing makes this demo/review immensely enjoyable! Shows what the product is capable of putting out. Thank you !🎉😊🎉
I appreciate that 😊
I purchased a THR 30II (black) and I am so Impressed with the Sound Quality = Fender Princeton-like "Cleans" and also the Zeppelin & Van Halen sounds. You really need to use-the-app to Unleash the Full Potential. It's the Perfect low-volume Amp for a NYC apartment.
Fair enough, although I did try the app with the THR10, and it didn't do too much to improve things imo.
@@MrPolevaulterimho it's a must for the compressor and also fine tune the effects. I find the amp knobs are very much on or off (like the Micro Cube) and I like so little reverb, delay or tremolo when I use them.
And if you are a poor b*** and could only afford a Thr10 😭 you need it to try the amp variations.
But there are effects you can't access on the device. All the different reverbs and delays for example. And load multiple factory and user presets. Conclusion: it's worth using the app. @@MrPolevaulter
Got a THx10 second hand, and I love it. Hi gain stuff sounds amazing.
no idea how hi gain from that plastic box could be amazing.
@@zbigniewiksinski maybe because it's not plastic, it's metal 🤘
@@zbigniewiksinskiI don't know.. Maybe Try one before talking. 🤷♂️
Actually the THRs MK1 are better sounding (but the standard one needs some tricks with the delay filter and phaser trick to open and thicken the sound), also accepts nice pedals
@@zbigniewiksinski not made of plastic 😉 try them you'll be surprised
I absolutely adore this amp!! It sounds incredible and is easy to use. Well worth it in my opinion
I have had the old 10 watt version for close to 8 years now, and it is pretty much always on as my computer speaker/practice amp and it is still kicking. It also probably tripled the amount of time i spend practicing just by the ease of use. The 30 watt version has many more amp versions and the wireless, but if you are going to use it only as a bedroom practice amp I think it is an overkill, even the 5 watt version is enough for that. You could probably use the 30 watt as a very portable rehearsal amp, so that is a big plus. I highly recommend any version of these.
Fair enough.
The THR30 does not compete with a drummer, I'm afraid, I've actually tried it just for fun :) In my use case, I have this in my office and it's always on it as iPhone speaker for that space and it's nice to be able to grab the guitar and just play along with something when you take a break. it's just a very nice and practical thing to have around and sounds good no matter what I am using it for.
I have a flamenco, crossover and steel string acoustic guitars. I also have an electric guitar that was collecting a lot of dust until this amp came along. I purchased the Relay G10TII with it and can't believe how much more time I spend playing guitar. Once charged there is no need for a lead- it's portable and loud enough for my home. Mission accomplished. Love this amp!
I had the same exact rattling noise from the THR10II. It was a shame, because apart from that issue, I loved the amp. But, I just couldn't unhear it, which forced me to return it. Do a lot of you fine folks have this same problem? Thanks in advance.
Not on mine thankfully.
Once you get the THR app dialed in the interface is one of the best in my opinion
Running it just off the dials isnt even 10% of the amps true tone
Theres alot of other practice amps and interfaces out there,one for everyone
Ive tryd most of them
The Yamaha just flat out works and sounds amazing,,,,,,after you get the app dialed in its,,,for me the best practice amp out there
Live the stereo live the wireless and easy of app use
If you want easy it might not be for you,,,if you like really getting into dialing your tones in and practicing with a great mix of backing tracks I suggest putting the time into dialing in the THR
I wish Yamaha would bring the THR 100w head back out!!!
Everyone is different but i enjoy the THR and anyone whi has come over to my place and played and took the time to go thru the tones and set ups has been blown away
I have atleast 3 good friends life long time players and gig’n musicians who have biught there own THR’s after spending time in mine
I love mine. The app is very useful actually. There are about 30 factory presets hidden in there when you check the profiles
Exactly!! This was missing
Yes! Now i can remove my purple Hendrix stack from my livingroom! Thanx for posting bro! Yamaha still deliveres! 🙏
Hey Elmo, great video as always. As a die-hard Yamaha THR30ii user myself for teaching, I have to agree with you on price - it is far too much for what it is.
There are plenty of s*** guitar sounds in the THR30ii as I find myself avoiding many of the Crunch/Lead options and only using the Clean(red - cab sim turned off) and Hi Gain (Green) modes that seems to work really well for me. I also teach bass guitar so it does that quite well too!
As a teaching tool it is perfect for me due to its volume, weight, fantastic track play-back (it sounds great to listen to music on) and doesnt require me to use the app to tweak what I want on the go (like the Spark Mini). I never bother with the wireless stuff but two of my students have the same amp and use the Line 6 dongles.
It is definitely not the perfect practice amp that the marketing will lead you to believe, as I believe the competition is catching up at a lower price point!
- Gabe
I own the THR10X from the previous generation; it simulates some high gain amps. Bought it 10 years ago and still use it to this day. Lets me play high gain at neighbour-friendly volume.
The onboard tuner is rather inaccurate and the amp comes with no blue tooth, but other than that, no complaints. I would say it sounds way better than this new version... at half the price.
If you really just want it for practice, try a THR10, not a THR30. And if you're lucky and the store has some old new stock of the gen1 model, try that instead of the THRII.
Just my two cents, though.
My two cents : the extended stereo may be activated. Press and hold the tap tuner button for 4 seconds and if you see a # in the led window it is turned off. If you don’t see one it is turned on. Way more organic and less compressed to me when it's turned off (it's on by default).
Helpful … never knew that !!
I agree totally with Elmo’s review. I originally owned a THR 10 Il and didn’t like the sound at all, also the app was problematic and I often couldn’t get it to work well. I upgraded to a used THR30ll as I needed something small. Like Elmo, I think it’s ok but not great like the many reviews suggested. I’ve given up on the app and now mostly use the Amps in and out to DI into a DAW.
$499.99 USD at Sweetwater. Great video. Thanks
Thanks!
That's $499 right now, during a sale, normally $550. Bundle is $610 on sale right now and $660 normal. LOOKS like all the US retailers recently reduced prices to similar (THX 3 soon?)
@@justmehere6094 They might be struggling against the better priced Katana Air (or other small Boss heads that small practice speaker built in) and it's gig season...I mean yeah it's a 5 year old model but it comes with the wireless puck and there's really nothing to improve on it, so why upgrade - they'd have to charge more and lose their edge in that space (list has dropped to $429.99 which is just stupid cheap for an end to end wireless system AND the Boss tone library/circuits). Firmware updates, yeah, but they're never going to update the hardware or release a Mk 2, 3, etc version. I still don't know how they make money on it.
They're gonna have to do better. That's a good question to ask the Yamaha rep at a NAMM thing this year (summer NAMM is July in Nashville, they just rebranded it as "NAMM NeXT").
That’s nutz you can get a Boss Katana Artist combo amp with Waza Speaker 🔈 Generation 3 for a hundred bucks more. Why would you spend it on this little practice amp🤦🏽
@@betojara9773 I wouldn't. But to be a fair comparison add the cost of the Bluetooth dongle to the Kat Artist Mod 3.
For me the THR30ii after Spark40 was as fantastically better as Spark40 was after the Katana50mk2. But Is Pulze better than THR?
Some of the video went black on me.
Same here. Went black from 0:54 to 1:16. It looks like it was just an editing goof, and not TH-cam censoring something (this time lol). I don’t think we missed anything, fortunately. 🤘🏻👍🏻🎸🔊🎶😎
@@MashaT22 Yeah, editing goof. Fixed it now in the TH-cam editor, but I don't know when the changes will come into effect.
As of now, it still shows the black video.
With that price BEING THE BEST PRACTICE AMP IN THE WHOLE UNIVERSE AND ITS NEIGHBORHOOD will be an understatement
I have a THR30II and it’s not B-stock item btw but this thing, when dialed in properly can sound like anything from VH1 to Megadeth and anything in between. I’m using an XSonic Bluetooth foot controller and it’s perfect for rehearsal or recording. Would not trade it for any other amp in same price range! I’m about 13 mins into your demo and it sounds pretty nice so far considering that one is prob broken lol but u could prob play a stick w rubber bands on it thru a cardboard box Elmo and make it sound Amazing 😅 bc the Tone really comes from your fingers anyway rt? 😉if u really wanna tailor your tone adjust the cab sim and choose a 4x12 w greenbacks and def
Use a guitar w a good Humbucker (not stacked single or any single coil for that matter) *there’s a reason EVH did what he did as far as pickups! IT IS THE BEST PRACTICE AMP! Full 🛑
Mine has the same "flubby" sound sometimes. I depends a lot on the settings, and a lot on the guitar and how it's set up. Some of my guitars sound amazing with it, others like garbage. The app doesn't do much, but I think it tweaks the right things if you know exactly how to use the them. Yamaha specializes in sound, it seems like they assume that you know as much as they do and what to do with it (Not always the case). I have a THR 10, and a THR 10-2 so I'm pretty brand loyal. I always get a lot good comments on both of them from other players. If they ever come out with a THR10 - 3, I'll buy it too :)
Between positive grid spark 40 thr30ii and hotone pulze?
i would go for spark, way more options, better app, tons of presets, better deeper sound. it even looks better lol. order both, test, turn back the one u dont like
thr 30ii if you want quality soundings, Spark Mini (and not 40 as it is quite muddy) for the "online features" and app, and Hotone Pulze if you are a geek and like touched screens rather than knobs which the Yamaha has which means, if you don't want, you don't need to use their app and that's a real "plus" ... I definitely would go for the Yamaha even if more expensive ... that I own since it came out 😉 (I also own the Spark mini and Spark Go and Boss Dual Cube ...)
Audibly you can easily tell the speakers are small. Just has that sound. Seems unable to handle any sort of low end chug riffs as well, but that's understandable. For what it does it sounds nice - a high end practice amp.
A lot of subjectivity in reviews. I have a Blackstar ID core which I hate. I have Vox pathfinder 15 which isn't particularly my cup of tea. I have a Spark 40....aggh...don't get me started. I have some small Boss thing which has classic wasp in a jar distortion. I have a Marshall MG10 ...it basically gives me one sound but it suits me the best and has a better basic rock sound than my Marshall AVT 50.
I see we hate the same stuff
wasp in a jar lol xdd
Of course reviews are subjective.
Have you ever tried the vox ac4tv?
I tried some version of it. Good amp.
@@MrPolevaulter kiitoksiä ☺️
I love this amp...master at max for that tube feel and set bass to control the attack for high gain tones 🤘🏻
You do not need the Line6 transmitter, that plugs into the guitar. The amp will connect to phone or laptop without that. You can use a stage lead instead.
Just wondering which would you pick over this or the Hotone Pulze?
Looking for something for practice and jamming with a friend/coworker/student. Which is more dynamic and “t00blike”? Quality of models etc. And just in case, let’s say you wanted to possibly busk for 10-20 people at a coffee shop, which would you take?
Hotone seems really great , I have that yamaha and love it. I'll take the Hotone because it seems also to be a great amp. Only thing I regret is not having effect loop on any of these amps ... And I need an effect loop 😔
i have both, in my personal opinion the Hotone pulze doesnt just have more features, it also sounds better, in both cleans and with more drive. however it doesnt have a battery, or build in wireless so if you want wireless ud have to buy a wireless bugset, where as the yamaha ud just have to get the line 6 bug. i use the hotone pulze more than my THR30IIW. if posible go try them both out and see which you like more
Solid vid. I had the non wireless version and got rid of it. I prefer my Spark 40
Yeah, I prefer the Spark as well.
....and BTW two years ago I turned my Spark 40 into a battery powered amp(external accu, no mods) and couldn't be happier. Not to mention the wireless transmitter/receiver . ...all for some 90euro
I always liked them but always thought too pricey. But in 2024 was able to score a vintage Yamaha THR10C about 8 years old..still working 100% and sounds fabulous fir $130. Keeping it forever
The Yamaha’s are way too expensive. You can get the Spark 40, the Spark Mini, and the Spark Go for the same price as the Yamaha. Think about that! Love your videos 👍🏻
Yes. They are just awfully expensive.
I like yamaha guitars, but these amps... Not so much.
Because the price.
Well ... the Spark has got a less favorable woofy sound and does need some EQing ... Yamaha has the built quality + and some ... but its getting outdated a little BUT still one of the best there is as an office desktop noodling and recording device
You can get the Katana with a 12" speaker for hundreds less too. Some people don't like those, but then some people don't like ice cream.
Cheers!
@@daniellarson3068No app config necessary to sound goood. U can use the same tone for home and live shows (using a cab).
With the earlier non-wireless version which I have, you have to plug in to a laptop to get at some of the FX e.g. Compressor, Room Reverb. That USB connection also allows for multi-track recording and playback; that can now be done by wireless and a fondle slab. Using the trailing cable to the laptop to get at the extra controls can be irksome, and there is no line-out for a simple PCM recorder. The tone controls are quite sensitive and usually need fiddling with for every guitar you use.
Just because I don't want to upset my neighbours to much, I use a mini AC 30 headphone amp from Vox. It works quite well.
Then, just for fun, I didn't plug my headphones in, but instead my Nikkei speakerboxx 100. Which is a small portable speakerbox.
So, now I don't have a lunchbox amp, but I do have a breadtoaster amp and it sounds nice! But it allso has some problem with the tiny
speakers (two). They sound very nice, but they can't take to much volume. As I have all this for home use, that isn't a problem for me.
If you are playing in the garage with your rockband; ofcourse it will not do. Get a real amp.
Maybe I should be happy that no one was interested in my Laney TI 15 on blocket. I was planning to buy this to play at low volume. There are some dishonest reviews on various gear on TH-cam unfortunately, but you are not among those. This is really a trustworthy channel.
Thanks!
With this kind of money I bought katana 100 2x12 and I am more than happy. And with the 1 watt setting I play easily at home with lots of bass and presence without annoying anyone. And if I wish I rattle the place 😊
Or a katana gen 3 artist for a hundred bucks more. I don’t get people just because it’s small and fits on a shelf 🤦🏽
@@betojara9773because it’s super easy to dial with. It sounds better than the boss katana at lower volume. I have both amps.
Overall It's a good amp expecially for clean tones.
In my opinion it lacks some character with heavier stuff, but it is also important to set the controls right (gain, master and tones) before turning up the volume: it can make a lot of difference.
Lastly, I agree that it is expensive but II would say that with Yamaha you pay also for the excellent build quality, which is not garanteed in cheaper alternatives...I had to return my fender mustang gt40, which I loved, for build quality issues, on the contrary I never found a defective Yamaha product in my life (maybe I am just lucky).
Thanks Elmo! I used to have one of these guys, and a Spark 40 too. IMHO, the only issue with these amps is the speaker, not their technologies. Just sounds small - I'd recommend a Boss Katana 50 Gen 3, nicer speaker, can go really quiet, and less $ than the Yamaha.
yep but it is not working on battery and is big ... 😉 and you need to buy the Bluetooth option ... Boss ? Really ?
@@RomainG6409 IMHO = In My Humble Opinion. Yes, Boss does not have wireless power but Gen 3 has a Bluetooth adapter. A 50-watt Katana has a larger speaker and infinitely more tone-shaping possibilities than the THR. If wireless is the most important factor, than it's not for you. Personally, I don't like any of these modeling amps over tube amps myself but that's me.
Katana Gen3 review coming up. It's already filmed. Don't know how soon it will be edited.
@@MrPolevaulter sounds good, thanks
@@Smart-Alexyes, the katana 50 is a great practice amp! Not that heavy or big. Just right. And it has that handy “power amp in” jack that can take your other stuff and bypass all the katana settings like the Headrush MX5. The guys even use it when they band practice in the garage. It’s mine, but they all want to borrow it all the time..😂😂
I’d love to know what you think of the new Laney Lionheart analog combo.
That looks cool aesthetically too.
Haven't tried it.
I bought one a few years ago. The one with the battery. It's decent. I prefer the Fender Mustang GTX. You can get the 100 watt for the same price as the Yamaha. I haven't used the Yamaha software. I just don't like digging into software for amps.
Sounds good (but Elmo can make anything sound good), but spennndy. I have the Spark, which is woofy without EQ, but sounds good after that and with the foot switching, is usable live.
Cheers!
Great review Elmo...Tube amp"like" my bottom!.
Can I ask, spark 40 or the Yamaha.?
The spark looks and sounds pretty cool.
Yamaha without any hesitation ... I own a bunch of practice amps ... the Yamaha is from far the best ... almost incredible the quality of the sounds. Spark 40 like the Nux Mighty Space are muddy ... if I had to keep a Spark it would be the Mini which I own ... great little practice amp but not as good as the Yamaha when it comes to quality sounding. Yes Yamaha is expensive, too expensive but it is worth it ... I can sell most of my amps, I won't ever sell my Yamaha 30wii ...
Spark every day of the week. The Spark was muddy until they added the EQ which sorts that out.
@@MrPolevaulter Spark 40 it is then..Thanks bro.🤝
@@davidjones6218 test both ... Then chose 😉
@@MrPolevaulter absolutely YES....And thanks for all the wonderful reviews.
Great vid Elmo - thanks! I got the THR10ii wireless version a few years ago and it cost me £299 with another £60 for the wireless transmitter. It was great then but I think the competition has moved on a lot and the Yamaha is starting to show its age. The app is clunky and the firmware updates have not improved anything so maybe there’s a new version in the pipeline? Anyway, it’s still an OK bedroom amp but there are better options out there now.
Could you give us some examples of the other choices out of the Sparks, Boss and Hotone (own the Spark and Boss and I am hesitating to take the Hotone as it is quite similar than the Yamaha sound wise) I am looking for something even better than that Yamaha but can't find it. Maybe I missed something. Thanks
@@RomainG6409 hard for me to comment on the Hotone or the Spark because I don’t have enough experience of either. My go-to practice amps are the Blackstar HT5R MkII and, my current favourite which is the Boss Katana Air EX. The Boss is similar to the THR but with much better speakers and effects/modelling. They are both quite pricy, but no more so than the Yamaha, and I feel they deliver what they promise.
Have you ever tried the NUX Mighty Space? I think It's pretty cool!!
Its going for $490 US at Sweetwater, Demo Model for $450
Hmm, And I just bought a Spark 40. Is the Yamaha better,?
No.
@@MrPolevaulter yes it is .... Test it you'll see ...
@@MrPolevaulter tack för svaret Elmo
@@RomainG6409 He just did it
@@JONNIE_ROCKER with your hears in your room 😉 i was answering to your question not to Elmo 😉
Elmo, for busking, how do you think it'd compare with a Cube Street? And another downside of the THR you forgot to mention is very limited and cumbersome compatibility with a foot switch. No chance of a traditional one, and MIDI is complicated.
This or Hotone Pulze? I can’t find any comparision. I will buy THR10II or Pulze
But will it chug?
Thanks Elmo - Seems like lots of stuff pick up mechanical resonances. Maybe, this amp did too. Good playing.
Cheers!
Nux Mighty Air but I didn't like the sound of that at all and returned it considering a Spark Mini.
Ive been playing a thr10 for years and its amazing for bedroom level playing. but its really expensive. Since they debuted on the market, the quantity of great practice combos and modelers, at the same price or less, has exploded. Hard to vouch for it at that price. For practice, everyone has a PC. Grab some good monitors and dowload Neural Amp Modeler.
I have the 10ii. I really like it. But these days I usually use my NUX Mighty Plug Pro.
Not really a buskers amp if it doesn't have any Mic input, also 2 channels is needed for the Mic and Guitar to keep them seperate otherwise you get feedback problems as I have found in the past
I bought the 10ii about 4 years ago and it sounded great (cleans and high gain). Then after a couple of firmware updates, it just never sounded quite the same. Especially the clean tones. The app was never really updated and felt buggy; almost as if Yamaha stopped supporting this product any further. I ended up selling it last year and have been very happy with the blackstar ID core instead.
Mine even sounded better. The updates brought a couple speaker options to choose. Open and focused.
You’re wrong. The app does heaps. For example you can switch between reverb types, tape or digital delay, change feedback etc and much much more. But yes without the app you can still get a good sound.
I preordered the Katana Air when it was announced because I understood what it was, even though it was about 100 USD more than the other "lunchbox" amps; when it finally dies, I might check this out - wireless built in is just so nice, I'm almost a little mad when I have to actually plug stuff in with a cable. That KA is so dented and crusty lol it's been hucked into so many places an amp really doesn't deserve to be thrown but it keeps coming back for more. The Yamaha ones I've tried (other people bring them to jams) always sound great, though. All things equal, a good wireless system with low latency and decent fidelity will always make the choice for me, the way I am spoiled now.
Had it. Sold it. Stuck with the Katana mini for convenience. I think Yamaha should make Dedicated electric guitar THR, no one cares about acoustic and bass if you are buying an electric guitar amp. They need to upgrade the tones and the interface. I absolutely dislike the 3.5 mm speakers and the metal chassis might have something to do with the tone suck.
Dedicated electric guitar THR might be a good idea.
What does supporting bass take away from it? Its a plus for me.
@@damo3088 Its about making one strictly for the guitar, so that all the attention to detail and sound quality go into just one thing not a multy radio-bass amp- truck station device.
I had a lot of several amps, but the Yamaha THR30II (the non-wireless) is one of my favourites; regret I sold it. Now I have a Fender Champion 100 amp, which is great!
My GF uses on of these with an Epi kind of LP Music Maker. INSANE sound.
I’ll stick with my Marshall Code 50. Although it gets a lot of bad reviews, with a little tweaking and patience it rocks. I have say Elmo, you can make any amp or guitar sound awesome by your playing.
Ive tried them all and the Yamaha thr30II is the only one i kept . Its the best desktop practice amp bar none. The spark is a muddy mess and the vox was thin sounding and the katana Air lol nope . Yeah its a little more money but sometimes you get what you pay for.
In US, Sweetwater had them at $499 right now, during a sale, formerly $550. Bundle is $610 on sale right now and $660 before. LOOKS like all the US retailers recently reduced prices to similar (THX 3 soon?)
The kings have not yet been dethroned.
The Positive Grid and the Hotone remain far superior to the Yamaha, and even more so when you connect them to an audio system with quality speakers-they are killers.
Even the Fender Mustang GTX remains an excellent choice, even though it is bulkier. The original presets are excellent, and the app for phone and tablet is intuitive, easy to use, etc.
Modeling is clearly the future. With eyes closed, no one can hear the difference; musicians these days listen too much with their eyes.
Yamaha, for me, is like the Boss Katana: synonymous with quality. But the apps or software on PC are not at all intuitive-you really have to understand the logic, and even then.
Don’t forget, the amp its not the most important thing. The most important thing is the speaker-that’s what makes all the difference. If you take good modeling and connect it to a quality system, it will always sound good.
Hello! Still, this or Pulze for higain and overall?
It is a good home amp if you live in an apartment or do not want your whole house to hear you practise.
Best thing about this amp, you can get a good sound at very low levels
I have a white one. It is expensive but worth it. A lot of good tones and sounds great. And it's very loud 😊
My friend has one white and maybe smaller wattage. Is old but man this tiny thing is and sounds amazing.
Yeah hard to compete with the spark mini…. BT, wireless , intuitive app, and loud enough to busk . Battery life also for me at least last is over 6 hours play time . More than enough. Th30 looks like if Darth Vader had a signature amp which is awesome but priced a bit much .
Yeah, it is expensive.
This amp is not perfect but it’s very good and better than most any other I’ve tried and I’ve been through a whole lot of others.
I have a Yamaha THR10C and THR10X Combo Am I have had it for more than a few years, I love it Never needed anything else for home use. Add a few pedals and what more could one want? "Best" I never use that wrd "Best" For music or music gear.. Or even the arts in general. there are no bests
I remember really liking my thr10x but not the 30 that much. Sold it
And I think it’s just something with the new black ones
I'm a huge fan of Darth Vader and Dark Troopers..is the ONLY reason I want this amp.. it's color Black.
But I have this same wireless amp already, but the 10 watt version in the sandy beige color, so it's missing the "cool factor"..
But I really hate the $499.99 price tag...
Ive got a Spark mini and for me, it's a great little practice amp if ya know how to set the controls...
Only thing Id do to improve it would be to double the power to 20 watts instead of 10.....
Spark 40 is too big for what I want in a practice amp & the Yamy is wayyyy too pricey
I played through one of those Yamaha practice amps and walked away without thinking twice. Just not my thing. When I think of a practice amp I think of an amp with a speaker that's at least 8". I have the Katana mini but that's more for just taking outside to noodle and not upset my neighbors. A good practice amp should move some air. You have to hear and feel it, especially when you're starting out. You've got to hear and feel the mistakes or you don't learn. Always a genuine pleasure watching you play Elmo.
I think you definitely should test it again ... Clean and crunch sounds without even using the app are fantastic
What do you recommend instead?
@Notes-de-l-autre-monde katana mk2 50w combo, blackstar debut 50r, orange crush 35rt. The katana will grow with you and you can really do a lot with the built in effects. The debut 50r and the orange 35rt are really solid practice amps that make fantastic pedal platforms on the clean channel. If you want tube you can't go wrong with the bugera 5w combo or for a bit more money on the used market the v22 head and bugera cab. If you a bugera cab, set aside a little money to upgrade the speaker. They put Turbosound speakers in their cabinets and I have yet to hear a good Turbosound speaker. Very muffled. Stage Right on Amazon has a killer little 5w tube amp with an 8 inch celestion speaker that sounds just dynamite and it's under $200. Monoprice, Stage Right, and Harley Benton are all the same, they just change the logo depending on where you are in the world.
Too bad about the speaker. Thought about buying this THR30II Wireless but wasn't convinced for my use case. The new Katana Air "EX" might be a better desktop option with two 5" speakers instead of 3.5", a proper wood cab, works with BOSS BT pedals, and has battery compartment. But it's $150CAD more than the already pricey THR. Neither THR or EX have an FX loop. The Kat Gen 3 100w head, with the fx loop and one 5" speaker, might be even more practical (and much cheaper). Gen 3 has stereo headphone out and bluetooth capability, but you have to buy a BT dongle for another $120CAD. I recently went with the Katana GO cause I enjoy a good headphone for cranked guitar tones, given the GO's cab sim is half decent.
I had this amp, and did not really care for the sounds at all. I am glad I am not the only one who feels it doesn't live up to all the hype! Even music playback did not sound all that good through it. For similar form factor amps, the Spark 40 and Mini sound better in every way, hands down. Although my favorite desktop amp, which I know you were somehow not impressed with, is the Vox Adio Air GT. That thing impresses the hell out of me for what it is.
Some people hyping these things up need to keep a grip on reality though. When I hear people saying things like, "OMG, it is as good as any tube amp!", I just want to know, how bad is their hearing loss, OR what horrible tube amps, or more importantly what horrible cabs/speakers paired with those amps, that they are comparing to. Are any of these even in the same realm of existence as my Friedmans, Marshalls, Bogners, Mesas, or my Wizard? LOL... No. But those are more difficult to play at night while my wife is sleeping :)
Moin, ich habe den gleichen Verstärker und meiner hat das gleiche Problem mit dem Klang. Beim ersten mal war es ein Garantiefall, habe dann ein neues Gerät bekommen. Aber jetzt habe ich schon wieder das gleiche Problem. Er funktioniert, hört sich aber irgendwie dumpfer und übersteuert an.
Got a NUX MG 30 for 175 Euro’s and a Katana50Mk2 voor 150 Euro’s. For less than the price of this Yamaha, I’m sure I’m having more options and better sound as well.
I have the same setup ... Nux mg30 + Boss nextone but is similar than the katana ... Quite good home studio cheap solution. Still for both you need electricity ... Not quite the same usage
I think you just like disagreeing with what people like. Yes it’s a little too expensive. But they sound great
Thank u
$500 on sale for amp only, bundle with transmitter $610 US dollars
I have the 10x version and to me is great
Hotone Pulze or Yamaha THR30II ?
Pulze in my personal opinion, i own both and the Pulze has more features while sounding better. HOWEVER if you want a desktop amp that has a battery and can be used without being plugged in to power, i would recommend the THR30IIW instead.
@SubutaiTuul I've got spark mini for traveling. I like it. It seems company's like yamaha are just updating old gear.
@@RichardLuna2025 if you got the spark mini, hotone for sure, i find myself playing with it for hours on end in just sheer joy. while it is pricy i have no regrets buying it. and yea the THR30IIW is just an upgraded version of its older brother.
@SubutaiTuul That's what I'm thinking. Just like boss version 3. Where the pulze is actual new tech.
Same problem with mine and its brand new
They're way overpriced, but I scored the 20-watt THR10-II a couple years ago for $100 and the one thing I can say is that the speakers really do deliver a crystal clear sound that no tube amp I've ever played delivers. Every last note rings out individually with no muddiness. That said, they don't sound good at high volumes and they have very little bass due to having tiny speakers. For low volume situations, I don't think anything compares to the clarity of the tone you get, especially with a little reverb and some high gain. Again, definitely agree they should cost 30-40% less.
Finally you did a review of that fantastic amp ! 😉 Thanks for that 🙏 I own that one since it came out and I did not find a better one so far. But I have to disagree with you and can see you're definitely not a fan of Yamaha's products ... it does not make the top 10 ??? Really ??? 😉 Yes you are right it is expensive, too expensive but I own the Sparks Mini and Go, I own the Boss Dual cube, I tried the Nux Mighty Space (and was so disapointed by the quality of the sounds, same with the Spark 40 .. awful, muddy ...) and own the Nux mighty air and I am looking for the Hotone Pulze you've reviewed as it sounds to having great soundings ... The main drawback I see on all these amps is that none have an effect loop and that's a shame ... 😉 other than that, yes for me, that Yamaha is the best of all "practice" amps I have tested so far ...
For me it's nowhere near.
@@MrPolevaulter yep, I think I got it 😉 different views, tastes and opinions and that's fine.
Sounds like one of the speakers is blown. I have the exact same model and it does not make this sound.
I have been all the way down the parctice amp, Nux, Fender lt25 and many others, Roland Cube (not the Micro). I now have the Fender, Spark, A Kartana Air EX and THR30 like the one you have there. If you like playing with apps, the Spark a lot of fun. I don't play with a ton of distortion, and I prefer a little reverb and only use Deley occationally, so my tone is quite different from yours. But the Katana and the THR sound way better IMO. Both are fantastic but, I tend to use the THR more.
Now I witt try the Hotone you tried the other day to see how that compares :)
But for the more budget, conscious beginner I think you can't go wrong with a used Fender Mustang which you can pick up for wery little money.
"It can give you all sorts of all sorts." 😂
BTW it would've probably been better to rotate the overhead camera image 180 degrees ;) Otherwise a great video as always!
Me pregunto que son esos números rojos en la zona de barrio sésamo
Decibels.
Hi Elmo.
I thought for that kind of price (a great very versatile second hand Fender or Marshall combo could also be bought!), I don't care if the guy that got it first time around kicked the absolute shit out of it at max volume, it should not have been an issue. I'm fed up with amp manufacturer's putting out so called loud amps where the speakers are clearly not up to the task! Go on Yamaha spend some dough and configure this thing with the hardware needed to deliver the goods - utter nonsense and anyone who buys this has obviously more money than sense. I own both the Harley Benton 5 and 15 amps and collectively they are half the price of this little beastie - go figure. They are great and this is not, period. I guess that's my rant over (Phewhhhh). As ever wild guitar skills and demonstrative and informing play from your good self with no bias or favouritism, how refreshing in this age of hype and bullshit!
I am as ever your servant.
Kindest regards
Alex the K
Hi, could you make Cort Source guitar review if it's possible?
I think Vox Adio Air GT the most underrated desktop amp. Maybe because of design or poor VOX marketing.
nah, just get a small fender tube amp or marshall combo
Elmo, are you not too late with this thing?
Judging by the views it's getting, no.
You just need one… get the Yamaha. If you had both, like i do, then you will only play the Yamaha. It sounds better than my other amps… And Getting your phone involved kills the vibe with the sparks and other “smart” app crap.