Here’s a smart, portable bit of tech, the Yamaha THR guitar amplifiers. All the benefits of modern technology, nicely wrapped in something of a retro package.
The THR amps have a digital heart, but Yamaha’s Virtual Circuitry Modeling (VCM) technology attempts to push out an old-school valve amplifier sound. Play around with the amp types – stuff – and also download the free THR-Editor software, to further play with sound via a noise gate and a compressor. The THR’s USB port, along with the Steinberg Cubase AI 5 software, allows you to record your music.
This isn’t a concert amp, this is one for practice. The two amps, the THR5 and the THR10, are small, and portable, as they can be either powered by mains or AA batteries.
For a preview of the THR’s amp types – Clean, Crunch, Lead, Brit Hi, Modern, Bass, Aco, Flat – visit Yamaha’s THR Sound page.
Sadly, both the THR5 and THR10 only turn up to 10.
Yamaha THR specifications
THR5
- Amp type: Clean, Crunch, Lead, Brit Hi, Modern
- Effects: horus, flanger, phaser, tremolo, delay, delay/reverb, spring reverb, hall reverb, *compressor, *noise gate (*only available in the THR editor)
- Controller switch: Amp, Gain, Master, Tone, Effect, Dly/rev, Volume, Tap/tuner Switch
- Connections: Input (Standard Mono Phone), Phones (Standard Stereo Phone), Aux In (Stereo Mini), USB
- Speakers: 8 cm Full Range x 2
- Rated output: 10W (5W + 5W)
- Power sources: AC Adaptor (included), or AA alkaline batteries (approx. 6 hours) or Nickel-hydride batteries (approx. 7 hours)
- Dimensions: 271 x 167 x 120 mm (W x H x D)
- Weight: 2 kg
THR10
- Amp type: Clean, Crunch, Lead, Brit Hi, Modern, Bass, Aco, Flat
- Effects: Chorus, flanger, phaser, tremolo, delay, delay/reverb, spring reverb, hall reverb, *compressor, *noise gate (*only available in the THR editor)
- Controller switch: Amp, Gain, Master, Bass, Middle, Treble, Effect, Dly/rev, Guitar Output, USB/AUX Output, User Memory Switch x 5, Tap/tuner Switch
- Connections: Input (Standard Mono Phone), Phones (Standard Stereo Phone), Aux In (Stereo Mini), USB
- Speakers: 8cm Full Range x 2
- Rated output: 10W (5W + 5W)
- Power sources: AC Adaptor (included), or AA alkaline batteries (approx. 6 hours) or Nickel-hydride batteries (approx. 7 hours)
- Dimensions: 360 x 183.5 x 140 mm (W x H x D)
- Weight: 2.8 kg
Videos
Here’s two videos from Yamaha, offering a closer look at, and more importantly a listen to, the THR amps.
