I’ve become quite tired of pedals recently and sold all but two of my favorite ones. I got tired of power supplies, so many connectors, tone mismatching and so on.It was thus that I started looking at “all in one” modeling amps as a way forward into my 40th year (yikes) of performing.
I have had Roland’s Microcube in two incarnations ( original and gx) and found them to be a really useful kind of everything you need in a small box. I’m waiting for a possible upgrade from that to come out this year.
But the other amp that has my attention recently is the Yamaha THR5. I’ve got to say, for feel, the THR has the Microcube beaten by a long shot. The amp models feel and sound like a real amp, no digital tizz or runaway gain. The interface is simpler, with everything laid out in a horizontal line. The only thing I can fault it on is the tremolo setting, but Yamaha gives you free software to access that and some hidden features, as well as recording software to make use of its USB output.
So what can I say? I’m set on the THR5. I’m not even advertising for them. This is, to me, the best small amp available. I’ll miss the Microcube’s acoustic emulation setting. Maybe Yamaha will have that in the software. Anyway, I hope to play it for you at a show soon.
randy lin guitar 