Hey! I'll be moving into a small study flat in october and I can't bring my rockerverb there since it will be too loud... I'm in search of a nice practice amp, preferably a modeling amp so that I can play around with different sounds. I've watched a couple of video reviews and so far the VOX VT20X and yamaha THR5 & THR10 have caught my attention. Has anyone had any experience with any of them? If so which one would you recommend? Any other amps that I might have missed? Thanks!
Have you considered VST's for your computer (BIAS FX, etc.)? This is, in my opinion, the best choice for quality tones at reasonable prices (of course an interface is also required, but you can get good ones for relatively cheap). This makes recording easy and playing along to music even easier.
I play my Yamaha THR10 almost every single day! Absolutely love it, and now I'm a Yamaha fanboy (use their studio monitors and have a Yammie trumpet too). Takes pedals like a champ too. I went for the "regular" version and I'm glad I did over the more style specific versions they have of it. I use the AC30 and JCM800 models the most, but I like the versatility of the range of amps they chose to model. It's also surprisingly loud and big sounding for it's size. I usually play with volume around 12 o'clock which is just about the volume I play music through my computer at so I can jam along anytime. If you're considering it, just go with the THR10 over the THR5, and you can find them used easily. I actually used it quite a bit over the summer while grilling out haha. The battery power option is nice. I'd bring it out just for music while cooking and would usually end up grabbing a guitar anyway.
+1 for the THR10. I also have the regular version and love it. I use pedals with it all of the time too. It loves the Xotic mini pedals, the SP compressor into the EP booster on the yamaha's Fender Twin model sounds amazing.
Another THR10x user here, love it! I haven't tried one in person yet, but the little Blackstar ID amps sound like a good competitor for the Yamaha. Cheap too.
Thanks for the suggestions so far! Any reason to go THR10 ober THR5? Has anyone tried recording with one (ideas and such, not actual songs haha)?
I had the ID100 head and I can say its features were great, but its tones only sound decent when its paired with either the specific Black star ID cabs or if you buy one of the smaller combos. I paired it with a Laney IRT 2x12 and it just didnt work through that cabinet whatsoever. However, I ran it through a mic'd up, high end Blackstar Cabinet at Bloodstock Festival, and it sounded fantastic so.
one of my favorite bedroom amps is a roland cube. To me they are just a really fun amp and very easy to dial in tones.
The Yamaha and the Peavey modelling amps definitely take the cake here. Both are able to play and sound great at lower levels.
Personally I don't think there's any reason to go with the THR5, unless budget is your main constraint. The 5 has single knob EQ, which I just don't like. I also use the THR10 sometimes for my bass or acoustic-electric nylon string and the 5 doesn't have models for those.
