Home guitar amps

[Mr Creosote]

Hi all,

I've been looking at desktop guitar amps for my living room, specifically the Yamaha THR series, Positive Grid and the Boss Katana Mini. It'll be replacing an Orange Micro Terror that I've never really gelled with.

Does anyone have any experience of these? My main criteria are:

- Small
- Lots of effects/modelling options would be nice
- Wireless connectivity to the guitar (so no lead) would be great - I think I may need to buy a separate wireless system for this though.

Also, it occurred to me that, as I've already got a good stereo in my living room, I could use the speakers in place of an amp. Would it be possible to link my speakers/integrated amp to a pedalboard amp or multi-FX pedal and kill two birds with one stone? Or is this a really stupid idea?

[gmaz]

I have the first gen Yamaha THR10. Very pleased with it and it has lots of options, effects and tones. Can go very loud too for the size of it.

The first gen needs a USB connection to a laptop to access all the effects, but unless you're buying s/h that shouldn't be an issue as the later ones use a phone app i think.

[littleredrooster]

I'm working my way through them...I had a THR10 - excellent bit of kit, even used it for open-mic nights in a small pub. Loved it.

Currently have a Vox Adio Air - slightly more versatile (and louder!) than the THR and with the added advantage of bluetooth input for backing tracks etc. Love it even more.

For my birthday last Saturday, SWMBO got me a Positive Grid Spark GO. What a brilliant little amp. Superb sound from something not much bigger than my phone, and - via the app - dozens of amp sims and a comprehensive pedal-chain to recreate every possible tone known to guitar.

Also gives access to hundreds of backing tracks in its library (bluetoothed to the amp), some by original artists, I'm currently playing about with Still Got the Blues by Gary Moore.

Still getting to grips with it, TBH! Effin' superb, and currently discounted to under a hundred quid. Bargain.

Just need a wireless transmitter/receiver system now...yoo-hoo Santa!!

[ATG]

Not a guitarist, but isn't the answer a bigger desk supporting a Marshal stack?

[Turn7]

THR10 user here , really thinking about a Katana v3 50EX.

THR is ok, but I find the output a little limited in variation .

[Yahonza]

ATG said:

Not a guitarist, but isn't the answer a bigger desk supporting a Marshal stack?

Not wise to crank up a 2203 in the house - has been known to crack ceilings.

[jimothyc]

I've got a Positive Grid Spark 2, and it's pretty decent. However I've recently been playing with running the Guitar through a mixer and into my mac and playing it back via some desktop speakers. I've been using a trial of Logic Pro, but I think Garage Band does exactly the same amp simulation stuff. And the sound from this blows the Spark away.

Maybe it's the greater stereo separation, but it just sounds better. So if you've got a Mac, Garage Band is free and a cheap usb audio interface would do the same job my mixer is doing.

[littleredrooster]

jimothyc said:

I've got a Positive Grid Spark 2, and it's pretty decent. However I've recently been playing with running the Guitar through a mixer and into my mac and playing it back via some desktop speakers. I've been using a trial of Logic Pro, but I think Garage Band does exactly the same amp simulation stuff. And the sound from this blows the Spark away.

Maybe it's the greater stereo separation, but it just sounds better. So if you've got a Mac, Garage Band is free and a cheap usb audio interface would do the same job my mixer is doing.

See...been there, done that...I've still got a comprehensive pedal board with a multi-effects thing, and octaver, noise gate, looper etc., etc, used to feed it into the 'pooter and mix it with Garage Band or whatever. Cables and power supplies from backside to breakfast-time and it was very effective, no doubt.
But I've got to say that for much the same result in an absolutely tiny package, the Spark GO gives at least the same result. I haven't yet tried to take the stereo output into some speakers but the simplicity and sound quality is wonderful.

[otolith]

I’ve got a Spark 2. Really like it. The only downside vs physical effects pedals is that you can only put a looper pedal on the dry side, so you can’t make a loop with one setting and then play over it with another.

[Wheel Turned Out]

I've got a THR 5 and it does the job for home use. I use the line out into a solid state Ampeg combo I had knocking around, and for quiet playing with some reasonable effects can't go wrong!

They really did knock it out of the park with the THR series.

[Mr Creosote]

Thanks all! Some definite food for thought here.

One thing I should have mentioned is that ideally i’d want to be app-free. I’m glued to a screen for most of the day, and I dont really want my smartphone seeping into my ‘me’ time . It’s not a dealbreaker though.

I think i might pop along to Anderton’s and try a few out.

[thinkofaname]

I've tried guitar amps at home but now I just go straight into the hifi from the headphone-out of a little multi-effects unit (of course this means you must use amp/cab simulation, but they are pretty good now even on cheap units.) It just sounds much better than any small amp I've used (although the last one was 12", so not that small) and stereo effects are a nice bonus. Even practice amps go ridiculously loud. I would rarely go above 3 on the volume. I just don't need that at home.

Edited by thinkofaname on Tuesday 11th November 20:47

[Mr Creosote]

thinkofaname said:

I've tried guitar amps at home but now I just go straight into the hifi from the headphone-out of a little multi-effects unit (of course this means you must use amp/cab simulation, but they are pretty good now even on cheap units.) It just sounds much better than any small amp I've used (although the last one was 12", so not that small) and stereo effects are a nice bonus. Even practice amps go ridiculously loud. I would rarely go above 3 on the volume. I just don't need that at home.

Edited by thinkofaname on Tuesday 11th November 20:47

Ah, that’s interesting. Which multi effects unit do you use? I was looking at a Line6 one that seemed pretty nifty.

[otolith]

The Spark works with my electro acoustic guitar too, but I have a Boss VE-8 acoustic singer which sounds better (and does vocal effects too).

I have got a separate multi effect pedal and amp for the leccy guitar too, but it’s so long since I used them I don’t think I can remember what they are. I had a Zoom, which eventually died, and I replaced, but I can’t remember what with. Possibly a newer zoom.

[suthol]

I've got a THR1 II (non bluetooth) that I record with either mic'd, via USB or headphone out into a line input on the Behringer UMC204HD interface.

The native presets are just OK but there are heaps to be found to download and tweak that are much more pleasing.

I did look at other options before settling on the THR and also have a number of sims in my VST folder that I sometimes use if I have recorded DI dry

JMTBW

[wombleh]

Had a first gen thr10, ok for the price but replaced with a katana air for the wireless convenience. It sounds better but has annoying limits what fx you can use. Tending to use VSTs if wanting good sound, or just a mustang micro for headphone practice.

[Mastodon2]

I'd skip these little amps unless you're getting it to supplement a proper amp. I've got a Spark 2 which I use for putting reverb on my nylon string acoustic but otherwise I think it sounds pretty crappy. Boxy and tiny compared to a real amp.

If you only have one amp, providing you have the space, budget and don't live in a flat, make it a good amp.

I've done modellers, plugins and studio monitors, solid states, combos etc. Nothing beats a tube head and a cab. There's just something about the response and feel, coupled with the pure grunt of a big amp that you can't beat.

[Mr Creosote]

Mastodon2 said:

I'd skip these little amps unless you're getting it to supplement a proper amp. I've got a Spark 2 which I use for putting reverb on my nylon string acoustic but otherwise I think it sounds pretty crappy. Boxy and tiny compared to a real amp.

If you only have one amp, providing you have the space, budget and don't live in a flat, make it a good amp.

I've done modellers, plugins and studio monitors, solid states, combos etc. Nothing beats a tube head and a cab. There's just something about the response and feel, coupled with the pure grunt of a big amp that you can't beat.

I’ve got a Vox AC30 too, but it’s far too loud for home use, and too big for the living room really.

[otolith]

I think it depends what you want to do with it. I don't want to subject the rest of the family or the neighbours to it, so loudness is unimportant, and needing to turn it up to get it to sound right is outright undesirable. Half the time I have headphones plugged into it. I don't want to collect effects pedals and spend time fiddling about with them, I just want to download a patch that has the sound I want.

[zedmtrappe]

A revelation for me recently ( and I'm 35+ years in this game ! 😁) has been Tonex.

A Tonex One straight into your hifi setup would sound fantastic.