Bare Knuckle Pickups Forum
Forum Ringside => Guitars, Amps and Effects => Topic started by: richard on January 05, 2016, 02:18:02 PM
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Well - just ordered the Yamaha 100 Dual head and 2 x 12 cab. Should arrive tomorrow. Very excited about this. This was what finally convinced me:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9pqP7bmw2cM
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congratulations!
i've been checking those heads out and they do look good. :cool:
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I wonder if the head is loud enough to keep up with a band.
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Yep, congratulations!
That's the new THR thingy? (Can't follow youtube links at work - but I watched a bunch of them a while back and started feeling slight stirrings)
I'll be very interested to see how you get on - not sure I can justify getting one, though!
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I find the TH100 quite expensive for a non-programmable modelingamp. Standalone it sounds not bad at all, but (maybe that's the vids I watched) typical modeling. Based upon the vids I miss the punch of a tubeamp. In that pricerange you can buy a good (new and used) tubeamp.
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Looks good. The Revstar guitar range looks interesting too. Thumbs aloft to Yamaha.
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Well folks, after a few hiccupsI now have my amp. Been playing and twiddling for a couple of hours and first impressions are that it's AMAZING. My gigging amp for the past 7 years is a Cornford Roadhouse combo which basically produces the tones you wish your Marshall did. So, in an attempt to replicate it, I headed straight for EL34s, class AB with the Lead pre-amp. I can replicate the sound of my Cornford to the point that I don't think I could tell the difference. A few years back I was using a Laney VC50 (great amp) and, by switching to 6L6 I can reproduce that amp as well. I've dabbled with the Clean setting and got some great Fenderish tones. The Crunch setting is awesome and I'm going to be exploring that a lot more. Modern is also great and has tons of gain if you want it.
This is a LOT of amp and I don't consider it be overpriced. What would you pay for a top of the line Boogie, Bogner, Soldano etc ? I've never tried a Kemper or Axe FX but I really like some of the demos I've heard. The Yamaha is in the same league easily but it's a very straightforward guitar amp that's easy to use and make instant adjustments on the fly. The Kemper and Axe FZ are too complicated for me and I'm sure the same goes for a lot of players.
Volume ? There's loads of it. Tube like ? Without a doubt. Niggles ? Only that I wish the cab (I've got the 2 x 12) had side handles because it's a heavy beast.
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It looks like a well thought out, simple but versatile piece of gear. Congratulations, glad to hear you're very happy with it
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Those amps seem incredible and I'd be sorely tempted to change my amp for one but as it's not programmable I can't change channels easily between songs as I can now. To me, this makes it a great amp that I can't use for gigs unfortunately.
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You can use it like a two channel amp with footswitchable boosts on each channel plus the option to combine them with the boost on or off on each channel. That's a lot of sounds - how many do you need ?
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My apologies, I was referring to the THR100H not being programmable but I realise the dual channel version can do all that. However, that's £630 and that's an awful lot of money for a digital amp.
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Why the perception that digital amps should be cheap ? This is still a relatively new technology subject to ongoing R & D whereas most valve amps are replicas or slight variations of designs that have been around for donkey's years. The Yamaha sounds terrific - better than most valve amps I've played. Maybe a Soldano or Bogner would sound better, I wouldn't know as I've never been near one but then you're talking about thousands of pounds. The Yamaha sounds huge at low volumes whereas my Cornford needs to be cranked to reach it's sweet spots so the Yamaha is a hell of a lot more versatile in that respect.
I remember when the first Line 6 amps came out and lots of my friends were buying and raving about them as the best amp ever. I hated them - I thought they sounded REALLY bad. Same thing with the POD. I bought a Blackstar ID15 about 8 months ago and it's a great practice amp. It has quite a bit of the feel of a valve amp but, to me, falls short on the actual tones. The Yamaha nails it. Try one without prejudice. Take some time to dial it in. I've had my Cornford for about 8 years and it sounds great but I'm still finding new tones in it despite it having only 6 controls.
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You make a fair point and I suppose I am a bit prejudiced. I don't want to be but years of trying digital stuff has left me that way, Truth be told, I'd LOVE to switch to a digital amp as it's lighter, it's more reliable, it's more consistent and doesn't have the ongoing maintenance costs but I've tried floor modellers from Boss, Line6, Digitech and Zoom and I've tried digital amps from Line6, Vox, Roland etc. but not one of them has come anywhere close to the quality of tone you get from a valve amp. I have an Orange TH30 head running into an Orange 1X12 through an attenuator so I can crank it a bit more and it sounds incredible. If the Yamaha can give me the same depth, richness, punch and harmonics as the Orange then yes, I'd be interested. Under normal circumstances I'd dismiss claims it's even remotely as good as a valve amp because I've heard all that before with Line6 etc. but you have me interested for two reasons. Firstly, anyone who has a Cornford knows about tone so you're making some pretty big claims for the Yamaha and secondly, you're on the BKP forum so I'm inclined to believe you know what you're talking about.
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Slarti - I wish you could spend some time with a Yamaha because I'd be really interested to see what you think of it. I'm a huge fan of the modern Orange amps. I really dislike their 'vintage' models because they have a horrible fuzz-boxy overdrive. Last year I spent a few months using a rehearsal studio that had a deal with Orange so I got to use a lot of different Orange amps. I LOVED the Dual Terror and came very close to buying one with a 2 x 12 cab. If the Yamaha hadn't come along I would definitely have bought the Dual Terror.
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Slarti, I reckon this amp will be pretty bluddy close.
I've had one of the THR10 things for a year and a bit now. I only play in the living room or on home recordings but, since getting the THR, I've stopped using my Line6 and Vox modellors, and I've stopped using my Vox and Laney valve amps.
The little THR10 does exactly what I want at manageable volumes, and it FEELS like I'm playing through a valve amp at decent "get over the drummer" volumes - and I can still hear the TV at the same time.
It has tiny speakers and is very sensitive to where you place it. It can sometimes sound a bit meh because of the surface you stand it on or near. But shift it around til it suits you, and you easily get this fabulous "I'm playing a real amp" vibe.
I saw the ads/etc for the new THR 100 amps. I loved what I heard, but I did wonder, at first, what they were trying to achieve. The glory of the original THRs seemed to be the "third amp" idea, and pretty cheap for what it was. The new 100s seemed to be pitching itself against something else - and it seemed SO expensive to me...
...but bear in mind I don't gig, and don't intend to. If I did, or if I was even thinking "I need something for a decent jam" - then I'd probably be all over this thing. In fact, I still might be all over this thing anyway (I've got a birthday coming, and I spent wa-ay more than that on her last birthday!! hehe :evil:)(and she does keep asking, well, what do you want??).
From my experiences with the THR10, I know that these new big boys will sound and feel extremely close to "the real thing". Physically, the THR10 looks and feels like a toy but makes these amazing sounds. From what I've seen of the THR 100, it looks like it will be more of an amp you could chuck in the van and gig with. (Btw, I've heard of folks gigging the THR10 - the headphone socket doubles as a line out, it's how I record it, just chuck that at the PA/Monitors, it'll work).
Yep... I'm starting to get more envious each time I look in this thread, richard! :grin:
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I confess I am very curious about it. I love the Orange amp as it's certainly the best I've ever owned but the risk of valves failing, the size for transportation and the weight of lugging it around all count against it. The only reason I love it is because it sounds great but if I could play the Yamaha next to it and, as you have, come the conclusion that it is virtually indistinguishable from the real thing, then I would certainly look at changing.
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OK
SERIOUSLY gassing for one of these now.
And the birthday is less than a month away...
...and the missus has even asked "but what am I going to get you?" since my post yesterday...
Last night, I spent the evening checking out a load of vids and reading the manual. I'm leaning towards the Dual with the 112 cab rather than the 212. I can't really justify a 212 (spacewise) in our place, and I'm likely to use the line outs for recording anyway.
Also, at the moment, I don't see me going crazy over the "both amps on at once" setting - I've fiddled with that kinda stuff in the past, I even had an amp designed to do it, but it never really grabbed me playing-wise. I can see me getting interested in that for recording, but probably not for general playing. So I don't see a big use for the 212 for me (even though I've been assured that financially the 212 is not a problem :grin:).
It looks like a trip to the shops to try one out this weekend...
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If I got one it would be the dual amp version too and I'd be using it with my Orange 1X12 cab. For those who have used these amps, am I correct in thinking I can plug into one input and still access both amp options and can I use both amps at once into a 1X12? I'm thinking of this amp as a great home option with loads of features that I can use live in my band but I also have an eye on it simply as a home option as there's an outside chance I may be moving to the Falklands, in which case live use is unlikely or at least very rare. Like AndyR, I'm starting to get some real GAS for this. My Orange amp is no problem at the moment but even with an attenuator it ends up loud at home to make it really sing and is viable because I have excellent neighbours but that may not still be the case if I move.
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Yep, I've read the manual Slarti - it's designed to work into either cab. It has clear instructions on wiring up cabs. And one of the example diagrams is THR100HD into a single THR112. It'll do all the dual amp stuff, including two separate guitarists into Amps I and II. The results will be "mono" into the single speaker.
You can run into the 212 like that, "mono", both speakers (which are different types) taking both amps, OR you can run it like most of the demos I've seen - Amp I comes out of one speaker, Amp II comes out of the other.
If you're recording using line out - each amp has it's own dedicated line out with its own dedicated speaker simulator impulse thingie (configurable with the software, as is reverb type, and booster type, noise reduction, and the effects loop can be set to parallel or series. And, oh yeah, the effect loop has stereo sockets, it's using TRS wiring, tip is Amp I's loop, ring is Amp 2's - if you use mono cables you have an effects loop on I only, if you use TRS cables you have dedicated loops on I and II).
Richard - I'd be real interested to know how you've wired your 212 cab? Have you tried both?
I'm planning on checking this out at the London Yamaha shop, probably Saturday. I'll be asking them to run it into a 112, and I'll probs take my own headphones too.
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My interest grows!
Interestingly, I contacted Rich Tone Music in Sheffield and asked about it as an alternative to my valve amp. I've done this before and usually their response is: 'It's not a valve amp so if you want really great tone, you're better off sticking with your valve amp' but this time their comment was: 'It's seriously good and we rate it very highly indeed so well worth coming in to try out for yourself'. This seems very encouraging. Unfortunately I'm working at the weekend so I won't be able to make it there for a while. I'd be REALLY interested in what you think once you've tried it out so please keep me informed.
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Andy do you have any clips of your THR10? I'm after a low volume amp and it seems pretty decent, though I'm struggling to find many really good clips - they all seem to be covered in loads of effects!
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I got this amp mainly because I fancied having a channel switcher after years with a single channel amp but I wanted an amp with two identical channels which doesn't seem to be available in valve world. For gigs I'll be using identical set-ups for each amp but have one set for a little more gain and volume. I'm going mainly for older school Marshall-ish sounds.
Bear in mind that any setting on the amp gives you three ways to adjust the gain structure. You have normal pre-amp gain, the Master control is like turning up the power amp and you can add Boost to taste. The final volume just makes it louder without altering the tone. I'm using the Lead channel on both amps with the gains maxed but with different boost settings. You may be surprised at the limit to the gain on this setting unless you activate the boosts. It's basically a Plexi type sound that you can goose further with the boosts for the more typical hot-rodded sounds.
Basically, if you're going to a shop to try one make sure you have plenty of time to mess around. I would suggest having all controls at noon for your starting point apart from Presence which I would set to zero and than add to taste. If you haven't seen these already I think these are some of the better demos:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8W8mpCQiYVU
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9pqP7bmw2cM
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Cheers, Richard - yep seen both those. I sat through the Andertons one as well(!)
I liked this one too (not my style of playing, and it's an official Yamaha one, but it gave me a warm fuzzy feeling about the amp)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LUxozWDyDug
I like what you're saying about how you're using the Lead setting on both amps - sounds a bit like how I'm using the "Brit Blues" amp on the THR10C. There's not huge amounts of gain (even for me!) and there's no boost on the 10. I have tried a transparent OD pedal in front of it, which worked very nicely, but that kind of defeated the object of a single plug-and-play box. And then I found there is a studio compressor as a "stomp box" option in the software of the THR10 units. Switch that on, set it to no compression, and boost the result by 10db - instant clean boost, all the amp models love it!
And good suggestion for controls at noon. It looks like that's how many of the reviewers are testing it on their demos.
The main thing I'll want to confirm is can I get the "groovy" sounds (and interaction with guitar controls) out of the speaker even when I turn the final volume down. Obviously there'll be a little bit of "you need some volume to get yourself going", but I'm expecting it to be like the THR10 and other modellors - same "roaring amp" but at quiet levels. I'll be surprised if it can't, but if it doesn't I'll be thinking of getting the amp without a cab and using it through the studio monitors only.
Tom - yes I think I have got some clips of the THR10 (mines a "C" the "vintage" amps version). Let me get the missus's dinner on (well, mine, she can have some too!) then I'll dig them out and respond in your small amp thread... :smiley:
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I'd be REALLY interested in what you think once you've tried it out so please keep me informed.
Okies... we've bought one :smiley:
It does everything it says on the tin...
It's my birthday present, though - so I don't get to see it again until March 1st...
I went for the Dual amp and the 112 cab. If I was gigging I'd have gone for the 212.
I was using one of the Pacificas to try it out - had a humbucker in the bridge and a P90 in the neck, very tasty. While the guy was wiring up the amp & cab I used a THR10C next to it to dial in my "stock sound" that I'm familiar with to use as a "baseline". We discovered I could run the 100 through the 112 even quieter than I do the THR10 at home and still get some nice guitar and amp interaction.
I spent about half an hour messing about, but I knew within minutes of plugging in. I've barely scratched what it can do, but WOW...
I concentrated on the Crunch area because that's where I live most of the time for guitar sounds. I got some really cool sounds out of it. One was very close to my Laney CUB 12 running at a volume I wouldn't be allowed too often - but at barely a whisper. I also played with Clean and got some sweet "fender with a bit of hair" sounds. I can see me using Lead a fair bit, and I could see some uses for Modern. Actually, thinking about it, I didn't hear any crazy modern metal noises - maybe I wasn't trying out the valve combinations you'd need to achieve that.
It does EVERYTHING I'd need though - the three main types of Fender, Vox, and Marshall sounds I'd use for rock, blues and everything else.
I tried the "both amps at once" and, going through a single speaker, it was as I expected, OK but didn't set my world on fire. I suspect running through separate speakers could get very nice, and I intend to experiment with using it on recordings (using the line outs to separate channels).
Oh, and I tried the Boost on one of my Crunch experiments - not sure which boost it was, sounded like a clean one. That was quite tasty. I got enough from that to figure out I can have "more" on any amp setting, so I didn't bother with it too much after that.
Whether this amp really is THE "game changer" some folks are talking about, I don't know. If I was gigging and could use a loud amp, would I really go for something other than a Marshall 1974X or something? I dunno. I kinda suspect this might actually be the amp to do it.
But, no matter, this thing is really satisfying to play through and makes some truly gorgeous rock and roll sounds at manageable volumes. And setting it up feels really satisfying - the knobs feel nice, I think it looks cool and business-like. And it's REALLY easy to dial in sounds.
Over all, wow, loved it. Can't wait to get my mitts on it in March! :evil:
BIG THANK YOU to Richard for taking the plunge and posting this thread :grin:
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Well, it certainly seems to have made a big impression on you! I guess the key questions for me are:
1) Does it sound as good as valves?
2) Does it 'feel' like a valve amp but at sensible volumes?
3) Does it have the punch of a valve amp?
The thing is that I'm going to make another guitar purchase soon and at the moment it will either be a Yamaha THR100HD or a MiM Fender Standard Stratocaster in white with a maple neck. Both are a luxury for me as I currently have an Orange TH30 that sounds incredible so why change, though the wider variety of tones available on the Yamaha would be nice. The Fender Stratocaster would also offer a wider variety of tones to my current PRS and LP but then I can play everything I need with the guitars I've already got.
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Hi Andy, congratulations. I thought you'd like it. The factory setting for Boost is the MXR Microamp so, yes, a simple clean boost. With the Clean (Fender) sounds I'll try the other boosts when I get round to it (Tubescreamer and OCD). Ross (Yamaha) rep said that the amp was not really aimed at modern metal players. I've a feeling that we may see a metal model of this amp at some point like they did with the small THR amps.
I'm looking forward to my first rehearsal and gig this year (both later in the month) so I can crank it.
Slarti, yes, yes and yes. You really need to try one out and make sure that you're given plenty of time to fiddle with it.
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Yep... I think, for me too, the answer to all three questions is "yes, close enough" - and I was already getting those answers out of the THR10 myself (I haven't really used either of my valve amps since getting it).
If anything, the THR100H does it even better - was a much more "real" experience. That could just be because it's the raw amps going through a 12" guitar speaker rather than speaker emulated through the little full range things in the THR10.
In the long run, though, I'm only prepared to go as far as your guys at Rich Tone, Slarti - "it's seriously good, but I know from personal experience what valves might mean to you - you're gonna have to try it for yourself..."
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Things keep coming up to stop me getting that Strat!!! :smiley:
EDIT: Actually, that's not true. I've been looking at buying a MiM Fender Standard Stratocaster in white with a maple neck and yesterday I came across a guy selling one that is 4 months old and in mint condition for £300 so it seemed too good an opportunity to miss. Hoping the deal will go through tomorrow night and if it does, looking at the THR100 will have to go on the backburner for a while.
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A friend came round and played his Tele through my Yamaha THR100. Using the clean and crunch settings we got some totally convincing, gorgeous Fender just breaking up sounds. Pure Keef Richards. I am truly blown away by how well the Yamaha does this.
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A friend came round and played his Tele through my Yamaha THR100. Using the clean and crunch settings we got some totally convincing, gorgeous Fender just breaking up sounds. Pure Keef Richards. I am truly blown away by how well the Yamaha does this.
I'm actually dribbling...
Mine's sat upstairs in its box in the Mrs's office - a couple of weeks to wait til I'm allowed to unwrap it.
I gave it a quick test when it arrived - it all works... then I had to put it back in the box.
Are you using the dual much yet? I found with the time I've spent - half hour in the shop, 10 mins here the other day - that I'm going to be extremely wrapped up in exploring one amp at a time. The "dual" will be VERY useful for A-B checking two amp settings while I'm exploring, but I'm not sure I'll be that interested in using A+B for a while.
The thing I loved was that I wanted to play guitar. I'm used to modellors and "experimenting" - it means you end up just fiddling with settings for a couple of hours without really playing anything. In the 10 minutes I had it going when it arrived here, I was checking it all worked... but the sound was just there, commanding "OK play your geetar".
And that's what I remember a decent "real" amp was like - turn it on, plug in, start playing before you've actually set it up. You end up exploring the sound it gives you, rather than exploring the box looking for another sound that grabs you more.
Really looking forward to this.
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Hi Andy, I've played around with the Dual amp thing. It works fine but it's not the reason I got the amp and I probably won't use it that much but who knows ? Early days yet. I'm going to be using it as a channel switcher. It is easy to get really good sounds immediately but with a little fine tuning they can get even better. I've got both of my channels set identically but with a little more gain on amp 2. So I'll switch between amp 1 with no boost, amp 1 with a little boost and amp 2 with a bit more boost and maybe a little extra volumes for solos.
At the moment I'm concentrating on setting it up for my PRS Bernie with the Abraxas set. I'm leaving the tone controls at noon but find that backing off the mids a hair suits the Abraxas. I've spent a little time with my Firebird with RYs and they sound totally killer but would benefit from slightly different EQ settings.
Andy, your wife is a cruel woman - beg her to let you have the amp NOW.
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Andy, your wife is a cruel woman - beg her to let you have the amp NOW.
:grin: :grin: :grin:
I dunno, she's the one who bought it (for my birthday) AND sanctioned me spending even more on an SG at the same time... and several other of my guitars are presents from her. And I never get any grief from her for guitar purchases... I'm not complaining! :smiley: :smiley: :smiley:
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Congrats Richard! I've been looking into THR100 as well. Couldn't justify the purchase. Yet!
Andy, I'm eager to hear your thoughts on A+B through 112. Some reviews were against that combo, as they claimed (never showed) that two amp signals through a single speaker don't sound nearly as good compared to 212 (each "amp" into its own speaker)
Both of you, enjoy your new amps :)
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First rehearsal last night and first chance to crank the amp properly. I am absolutely blown away. This is the best amp I've ever played. I expected to need to do more fiddling but the settings I've been using at home worked perfectly - just BETTER. I'm going for an older style cranked British sound with the option to add a little more gain and volume when I want it. This amp delivers. It sounds absolutely huge at medium gig type levels and there is a lot of volume available. I kicked my bandmates out of the room and turned it up about three quarters - VERY loud and astonishingly clear sounds. Way more volume available than I'm ever likely to use.
In the past year I've rehearsed with a few Marshall half stacks (DSL, 900 and Jubilee) and a few of the more modern Oranges (which are very nice). This blows all of them away easily. Since taking early retirement last June I've acquired a PRS Bernie, replaced the stock pups with Abraxas and now this amp. Hands down the best tones I've ever had.
The Yamaha 2 x 12 cab is great but I've also heard this amp sound great through an Engl 2 x 12 with V30s. So, if you already own a cab the amp will set you back about £650. For this price I'm convinced that there is nothing that comes even close.
Andy, when you're allowed to play your amp take it somewhere you can crank it. Find the sounds you like at home first and then hear them at gigging volumes. It's going to LOVE your new SG. Happy to share my settings if you're interested.