Boss Katana 50 MkII vs Yamaha THR30-II - Which One Is Best For Home Use?

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Lee & Rob partake in a shootout like no other! Can the Katana MkII and the THR-II really be compared? When it comes to low-volume jamming, recording and home practice, they have more in common than you might think...
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[@lewisjones4158]

I bought a Yamaha THR for making music and a Katana for self-defense

[@JuicyLeek]

If you live in America that's probably legal.

[@yogieyo9935]

@@JuicyLeek wait, there's country where 'physical' weapons are ilegal?

[@bullfrogboss8008]

Good choice, that amp is so heavy you can easily hurt someone by just dropping it on their head

[@jo971000]

Buying the weapon, no, there is no place that is illegal. But using for self defense (walking in the streets with one) yeah, absolutely.

[@G_Demolished]

@@jo971000 The only thing that can stop a bad guy with a Katana is a good guy with a Katana.

[@commissioner1969]

I think Andertons has studied every KZbin comment of a dad and husband at home that's played guitar since he was a kid. Finally they've put together an amp review that matters for us lol

[@xr8fairmont]

Agree!

[@Mr.Wu.]

😅😅😅😅😅 true!

[@JoKerTheFirst]

2022 and this is still a relevant video, good job captain!

[@mdowney14]

Rob nailed it: “most people don’t gig”. That’s why I was super interested in this comparison. Also, I ended up buying both. 🤣

[@GuitarLover]

Me too!

[@alexandert696]

Yeah but which is better. Boss is more versatile but that doesn't mean it's the better choice

[@GuitarLover]

@@alexandert696 there's no better. It depends on your needs. Both sound great. Like Lee said, if you mind having a big black thing in the middle of the way, the Yamaha is a better choice. If you don't mind - the Boss can be a better choice (because it's cheaper). If you want more modern connectivity, the Yamaha... If your want to have all the pedals boss made inside your amp, the katana.... If you are short on money, the Katana... and so on and so on :) Either way - you will be happy while playing - both are user friendly and sound great at low volumes.

[@Ovoran]

People! Go play gigs! What else is the point of being a musician?? Sheesh... ;)

[@waynebrown1394]

@@Ovoran Well Rainer I am not as good as you..I picked up a guitar after getting injured as a cop. Because I got my eggs scrabbled when this person almost ended my life my doctor told me to pick up a hobby that would work my mind. I have always wanted to play guitar so I picked one up at the age of 44 2 years ago and I am still taking lessons. I have come a long way specially since that first day that I held a guitar and said theres no way. I live in an a apartment and I had the first boss and now that I got better electric in my new apartment I am thinking about getting anther one because it sounded good and did not bother my family. I play 1 to 3 hours a day I love it (I even got in to building guitars and not kits) and maybe one day I will be as good as you on guitar. Then I can call myself a musician and I still don't think I will gig it is my theory man it is better than any dumb ass medication that they gave me for being depressed over I loosing the job I loved. This is one man reason...but you rock on I go see people like you play and get pumped up.

[@Paschendale2]

That lentil joke blindsided me. That was great lol

[@thomasstretton8574]

Paschendale2 I have been mulling it over and still don’t get it. Please help!? 🤯

[@Rudrakshstf23]

@@thomasstretton8574 didnt have lentil on his face. But he did have a chick pee (pea) on his face

[@thomasstretton8574]

Rudraksh & Nishil's oh ffs how did I not get that?? 🥴

[@pulaski1]

@@thomasstretton8574 You've led a sheltered life? :-/

[@dandarte4062]

@@thomasstretton8574 mulling! Not too far away.

[@JedNadin]

The Yamaha can live on the kitchen bench after you tell your wife you bought a new Bluetooth speaker for the house that looks like a boutique toaster. And, you’re kinda not lying.

[@eranmontiel]

Rob nailed it. I don't think the majority of us gig.

[@jayrodm643]

Yep, hit the nail on the chickpea

[@eranmontiel]

@@jayrodm643 right on the Cap's face

[@Rafaelguitarplayer]

Exactly. I dont gig, just jam on my office.

[@sordel5866]

Yeah, we don't gig, but we have that dream that if we ever did we'd need a proper amp! Considered the THR but opted for the Katana II head instead. I'm sure that my wife would have preferred me to choose the other way.

[@eranmontiel]

@@sordel5866 Agreed. I have my THR for when I play quiet, and a Bassbreaker 15 for when the kids are awake 😁

[@Driftuner]

dont know about the Katana since ive never played one, but i owned the original THR10 and loved it to pieces...the way the amp responds to dynamic playing and guitar volume knob changes is absolutely amazing..

[@miguelmattos6430]

I have the 1st gen Yamaha THR10 and I swear it is the best investment on gear I've made in my life. it has all sorts of effects that you would otherwise only get from pedals, you can save up to 5 different effect configurations in case you want to get your favorite tones by only pushing a button, and you can play with headphones. Best way to get perfect sounding effects and play to your heart's content without bothering your neighbors and family

[@DriveCarToBar]

One nice thing about the THR, is you can use it as a head for little pedalboard amps. Take it from the headphone out, use a little DI box and then you can run it into whatever you want, a mixing console, a pedalboard amp, whatever. You could grab one of the Quilter 200w amps and drive a pair of 412s without issue and have all the benefits of the THR's flexibility. Of course, the Katana can pull this trick too. Moral of the story: DI boxes are wonderful things.

[@27needles1]

@@DriveCarToBar Thanks for that info, Mike! I was always wondering if there is a way to plug my THR out to a Cabinet . Thing is, the Yamaha THR already sounds so good without a cab ! Freaking little speakers are crazy. Till now I'm contemplating if I ever would need a tube amp again, not like I'm able to turn it up real loud, until I get a bungalow in the future. lol

[@stephane406]

@@DriveCarToBar on most amps headphones outs are really unusable, sound bad, I though it was the same with the THR, just tried recently connected to a mixing console with monitors ... sounds excellent !

[@davejl79]

Honestly, I'm going with the THR because it will also look great on a shelf in my living room. It looks like a broken 1940s radio that a middle class couple would spend £500 on in an antique store just to stick it under an art-deco mirror on the mantlepiece.

[@HerrMeier007]

An important comment about the stand by modes of the wireless systems: They do not shut down when they stop moving, they do shut down, when no sound goes through it anymore. So as long as you play, it will stay on and if you stop and start again, it will take 2 seconds to restart. The Boss system shuts down after one hour, the Line6 (Yamaha) system after 5 Minutes. So one is more focused on long battery life, the other one therefore doesn't turn off by accident that fast. So basically you can use both systems with pedals and it won't be an issue at all, just for those out there wondering.

[@raf_the_riffer]

5:09 Ah that riff takes me back watching Rob and Lee back when I was buying my first guitar.

[@enthused7591]

I bought the Katana 100 2 years ago and really enjoyed it until I tried a small Bugera G5 tube head with a V30 cab and it blew the Katana out of the water. I recently found a steal on the Yamaha THR 10 II locally and it's absolutely blown my mind. In terms of sound quality and effects in a practice setting, it's MUCH better than a Katana, but that retail price is still hard to get past for an amp with 3-inch speakers. Just understand that if you're considering one of these, Yamaha makes up for the small speakers with absolute top-level high-fidelity technology in those speakers. Playing through one of these is like listening to all your favorite songs through the best-sounding bluetooth speaker you've ever heard. It has to be experienced to be believed.

[@comeback1827]

Thanks for the sharing. I have a katana 50 and i tought it have much better sound in a room due to its 12" speaker, and at 0,5 watts it was the best practice amp even if it takes more room. But thanks to your comment, i think i have to try the Yamaha ! Really more wife friendly ! Lol

[@enthused7591]

@@comeback1827You're gonna love it. I just recently tried my tube amps again and they sound muddy in comparison to the little Yamaha. It just has pristine highs. It doesn't have the low-end thump like the big speakers, but flawless treble and mids. It fools me into thinking I'm a better player than I am lol.

[@comeback1827]

@@enthused7591 thank you very much ! ^^

[@balderfanini]

I did something just for the hell of it, took my celestion black shadow speaker out of my gathering dust 1x12 mesa cab and put it into my mk2 Katana 1x12, the result was incredible! Absolutely killer sounding.

[@billyhellmaker]

I just bought the THR10II wireless. The initial cost was high but man does it sound good. I had my pedal board plugged in just to hear it that way and soon realized I was digging the tone from the THR with just the onboard effects. I think it is a great purchase and am looking forward to more time with it.

[@enthused7591]

Same. Had the Katana 100 a couple years ago and while it was good for the price, the THR10 II that I just found locally for a steal is a MUCH higher quality sounding amp. I can't believe how good they sound. Unlike the Katana, the Yamaha leaves nothing to be desired from not having a tube amp head through a Vintage 30 speaker, and that's what surprised me the most.

[@hepgeoff]

I tried both amps, and I prefer the Yamaha THR. If I did gigs, maybe I'd get the Katana. But I just play at home and the THR is so much more convenient, smaller, lighter, and sounds great at low volumes. It takes up less space in my living room, too.

[@wonderz_808]

is it good for pop punk tones

[@greg6162]

@@wonderz_808yes… I have the Yamaha THR10II and it’s amazing for pop-punk tones! I just started jamming with a drummer and a bass player from work when they heard me say I started playing guitar. I wish I got the Katana MKII 100 or even the MKII 50 now lol, because playing Greenday with a live band outside… especially the drummer, I learned you don’t bring a THRII and expect to cut through the drums. It was fun experience for a new player like men that’s only been playing for six months and to play standing up and learning to play in time as a band was fantastic. We’re going to play again except I’ll have a Katana MKII and it will sound better. If you’re looking for a practice amp the Yamaha is easier to dial tones using the app interface but the Katana is louder with a bigger speaker and has more options but you need a computer to adjust the tone

[@vivekisontrack]

While from one perspective it may seem like these amps serve completely different use cases, where I think the comparison is most valuable is in comparing the tones for recording. I would have loved to have seen a comparison of the tones of both amps' clean sounds, crunch sounds, and brown sounds through the USB output directly into a recording/mixing setup, completely bypassing the differences in speaker size.

[@Marley999888]

Gotta say the tone Rob got at the beginning on the Katana was unbelievable.

[@yourstrulytruly2897]

this is by far my favorite guitar channel. the mood of the ppl and the honest reviews are just great

[@Bluenblack17]

I own the Katana and I think it’s great. So many options with the software that comes with it.

[@MK-Xazrith]

So all we need now is for BOSS to bring out a similar sized, wireless and cheaper Katana.. that would be AIRmazing!

[@AbdullahDamluji]

WAZAt all about?

[@thisguy2973]

The THR is more expensive, and they make the Katana Air, but I don’t think anyone is buying it

[@pawedragan6769]

I think Lee suggested quite strange use of wireless system with Katana and effect pedal. I'd put transmitter into guitar, receiver in pedal input, and pedal connected to amp with cable. That would be more logical, would let you move around with guitar and no problem with auto switching off.

[@reikoshea]

As a guy who's office is next to his 3yo's bedroom, I can totally relate with Lee's struggle. You're either plugged into headphones or you have an amp with tiny speakers that can be somewhat passable at low volumes. Neither of which is ideal. The other alternative is to have tons of gear in a living room, which'll get you wife aggro, also not ideal.

[@patfix]

Yes, also my situation. I have a KT100 and always use the 0.5watt mode and still have great sounds.

[@christopher7310]

Exactly. I live in an apartment with my two kids. So being loud isn't an option. I run the THR10C and THR10X on work/school nights, or I just play my acoustic. On the weekends I have a Marshall Code 100 2x12 that I can crank up.

[@davedavem]

Same issues here. I play my son's Yamaha Guitalele and still get told to turn it down 😂😂😂

[@imacashew.]

If you can, get a separate space where you can play to your hearts content. When I play at home I don’t use an amp because all my gear is at my practice space.

[@davedavem]

@@imacashew. sound proof man shed?

[@tonynoon8693]

I think the Katana air would have been a better comparison. I know people asked for this one, but I agree it's like comparing Apples and Oranges.

[@Myhallko]

I need to see the THR 30 vs Boss Katana Head MK II using only it's internal 5 inch speaker comparison!

[@NoWayOut55]

Just played mine today...pick a tone, pick a sound. My Amp Rocks. My Mustang was competing with Twins, 100w Marshall's. But my lil ol 60 w was tough as it comes. She'll go as an extra. I have an studio 60 12 I'm going to cannibal that and use the speaker in a real cab.

[@BDX212]

There’s a huge mistake at least for the Line 6/Yamaha transmitter: It’s not going to sleep if you don’t move it, nor is it activated by movement. It only depends if there’s noise going through it. Turn your volume knob on the guitar all the way down and it will go to sleep, roll it up, play and... there is the G10T on again. So you don’t have to kick it when using with pedals. Didn’t read all the comments... sorry, if that was pointed out already.

[@napalmhardcore]

I was kind of interested in a THR but no built in looper or effects loop to use a looper makes it a no go for me. A looper has become absolutely essential for me and the way I like to practise. I'm a little disappointed they didn't add either feature with the second gen update. I personally don't mind using headphones. I just make sure I have a bit of reverb to make it sound more natural. I'm still using the Zoom G5 and it's served me well for years. Having a built in looper just makes it so convenient for the way I practise. I bought an Amplifire 12 due to all the hype, but I've barely used it. While I'm pretty sure I could insert a looper in the effects loop, it's just more cumbersome and less convenient than the G5 and I don't want to have to worry about potential noise issues due to connecting up multiple pieces of equipment. If I really feel the need to get away from using headphones, I also have the Blackstar Fly and the extension cab. I can run out of the G5 in stereo to the auxiliary input of the Fly and spread the speakers out as wide as the connecting cable allows. Unfortunately the loops are mono only. I'll be getting a Waza Tube Amp Expander soon. The prospect of using a real amp might just be sufficient incentive to trump the convenience of the G5. If I miss the convenience of the G5 I can always revert to using that for everyday practise and use the TAE when I want to get serious, or I could even upgrade from the G5 to a different modeller with a stereo looper for everyday practice and integrate it with the TAE whenever I use it.

[@Burtronic]

I bought the THR30II and bug, my only gripe is when the bug has run out of battery, but that’s my fault anyway. It’s a stellar amp and the added tonal functionality from the app is superb, it’s easy to plug and play and it gets loud when you want it to. Looks great sat on my shelf, great in my garden in the summer, my wife likes it, it’s just great all round and has a pretty small footprint. Not too sure how they could make it better, maybe a looper, I think an effects loop would be pointless, maybe the option to link to an extension cabinet would be cool. By far the best small practice amp I’ve ever bought. Edit: but yes, it’s expensive, certainly for what it is, you can get great tones for less, but this works for and fits me perfectly. Mainly because it’s quick, easy, out of the way on a shelf and sounds and looks great in my wife’s vision of a perfect home!

[@sinfirma23]

The winner, of course, is the Gibson reissue 59

[@ardiris2715]

I solved the volume problem by buying my own house.

[@andertons]

I guess i could get divorced & buy my own house, but the THR30 worked out quite a bit cheaper than that.

[@ardiris2715]

@@andertons How do you solve the problem of a spouse who says, "No more guitars"? Start collecting pickups.

[@drovoseg]

@@ardiris2715 I collect used strings, it's even cheaper.

[@robbah9939]

Tim Volk only buy black guitars and never keep more than 4 visible (the rest at work) then swap them around

[@dash4786]

Or have an apartment with a awesome landlord who has loud muscle cars and bikes and doesn't give a damn ha. Literally tells me to turn it up lol.

[@johncecilia4517]

You left out the stereo advantages of Yamaha and that the delays, reverbs, and chorus effects wil sound better. That's one of the main points of the Yamaha

[@Laxcoach1574]

I don't think this was pointless at all. When it came down to my choices for a low volume home amp, these are the 2 I looked at. I liked the size of the THR, but at the end of the day went with Katana. I can still get really quiet sounds, but there is way more versatility for less money.

[@NoWayOut55]

I discovered the same, just playing it for the 1st time today. This Amp will be fun to play with.. I'M pretty damned excited!

[@JLindebergful]

I have both and I honestly can't stop playing the Yamaha. Just the simplicity of using the Yamaha phone app and Bluetooth interface with it make it a game changer. I'm just SO tired of having to plug in the laptop, boot up, deal with that clunky Boss interface, and the accompanying line noise. It's also so much more clutter to have to futz with. I sold my other THR units and made my money back (and then some) in order to acquire the Thr 2-30 and I have ZERO regrets.

[@87JRox]

Completely agree with this, great tones without any fannying about changing patches with your computer. Drives me insane, I just want to play guitar not fiddle about with gear.

[@timbeaton5045]

@@87JRox Surely you don't actually need to use the computer with the Katana? Doesn't it have enough controls on the top for most tones shaping?

[@87JRox]

@timbeaton I just find the THR standard tones to be better to my ears. But thats just me.

[@timbeaton5045]

@@87JRox À chacun son goût, as they say here in France! No-brainer for me, though, as I do do occasional gigs, have a recording studio, and like to have an amp for noodling on. So it's the Katana for me. Does all that I want it to, and of course, I do have a (large) room where I can make as much noise as I want. It also means that I have an alternate amp to my Carvin V3M to satisfy those who "require" a real tube amp.(That does go pretty loud, though), so the Katana would have it's uses there. And it is also useful as an input to Logic, via it's USB output which means I can track guitars without worrying about mic feedback. And I am quite happy with the sound of the Katana But hey. Whatever makes you happy!

[@87JRox]

@@timbeaton5045 good mate that's what this is all about finding the stuff you like to play through and running with it. Trouble is its never ending haha.

[@andreborges2881]

It is a spectacular pleasure to listen to you, mates. These times when laughter is much needed, I reckon watching your show is a must in my days...

[@Nikoo033]

People don’t realise/know that with a Katana on 0.5W mode, the Katana can be really loud, but with slightly less head room and pushes less air. So at 0.5W, with a bit of boost and increasing gain, volume and master, it still sounds amazing and you can play right in front of it. Move to 25W, then you have to step back 2 meters, 50W just stand 3-4 meters away, perfect.

[@seanc.5310]

I use mine on 0.5w almost all the time at home. Still gets plenty loud

[@comeback1827]

And this is THE way to make it sounds like a valve AMP ! I was about to buy a Orange superCrush 100 for his clean valve AMP like sound ! But finally, since i have discovered the technique on the Boss, its not even necessary !

[@Nikoo033]

@@comeback1827 I love it, but got myself a VOX-AC30-S1 anyway 😂

[@comeback1827]

@@Nikoo033 😁😁😁 sure it's better !!! I would like to have one ! But... too heavy, too much valves, too Big, and too loud to crank it in my appartement 😅😅😅. I have a 10 inch 5watts home made fender vibro champ like, and it's a bit too loud but possible in the day 😁. And i have the add-on of a Master pot, so it helps !! But better without using the Master pot ! Keep Rocking ! 😁

[@Nikoo033]

@@comeback1827 yes, my VOX is a bit loud, but the clarity is exquisite. Hard to describe. The BOSS Katana is excellent still.

[@shannow95]

Managed to find a THR10 iiw in the store today and try it out compared to my katana. One thing that I noted is how different the sound stage is. Basically the THR sounds amazing when at chest level just in front of it. Take a few steps sideways or away and the sound quickly fades away .The katana is the opposite it sounds better as it gets further away (and thus louder to compensate). In someways the biggest way I can explain the volume difference between those two amps is that the THR is like a torch lamp : very bright in one direction (combined speakers are 14 sq inch). Whereas the Katana is a ceiling light bulb that you can dim. It can be dimmed by quite a lot but the lamp torch is the one that will disturb the least other "listeners" when not pointed at them . The katana comes at 113sq inch (8x more than the htr !) and on top of it is opened back so you can almost double that sound radiant surface area.

[@JHKNVY02]

Have both, got rid of the THR. Can't be the 12" Boss is a permanent addition.

[@LukeCausley]

I tried both the THR10II and the Katana 50.....then immediately ordered the THR30II to get the wireless and line outs. For me the tone at a low volume and the ability to quickly dial in a great sound without the app sells the Yamaha over the Boss. I tried on the Boss Katana with just the amp interface to dial in a few sounds and found that same process on the Yamaha so much easier and ultimately satisfying. The THR30II taken to a P.A. via the stereo outs is awesome if you need to have more volume. The stereo effects are stellar both stand alone and to the P.A. I have other amps and effects, so the Katana was more of the same....but the THR is an entirely different tool.

[@chipchiperson679]

You must not mind having shitty tone if you went with Yamaha just to have the blue tooth function that katana also has with Bluetooth accessories

[@LukeCausley]

@@chipchiperson679 Chip, my main reason for going with the Yamaha was ease of use compared to the Katana. For me the Yamaha has excellent sound at low volume. They make all kinds of amps for all kinds of people. The Yamaha fit my needs more and 7 months later I still feel the same. I've since added the Line 6 relay to take advantage of the built in wireless. It is a nice feature. Cheers.

[@chipchiperson679]

@@LukeCausley yamaha owns line 6 and they all sound like digital shit compared to the katana

[@LukeCausley]

@@chipchiperson679 Chip, sounds like you really enjoy your Katana. Enjoy! Cheers.

[@LukeCausley]

@@The_Invisible_Self The Yamaha sounds good on headphones. I haven't compared it to Katana with headphones though. The Yamaha does sound good at a low volume.

[@hesch-tag]

I only play at home and I love the THR (10X) and I prefer it to the Katana (I also have a Boss Katana).

[@Nessiechomp]

I own a katana and I find myself primarily using the headphone feature. I like the privacy of not always having the members of my household listening while I practice, it discouraged me from practicing. I like that when I get a hankering to riff at 12 am, I can do it

[@JunkBondTrader]

haha I can't do that with my hollowbody Casino. Thing is basically an acoustic unplugged.

[@Gummmibaer]

Why didnt you compare the THR with the Katana Air? That would make much more sense.

[@marcopatrussi1754]

@@michaeleaster1815 KT 50 - 219 KT AIR - 330 TH 30 - 499

[@chrishyde1216]

@@marcopatrussi1754 KT Artist £465

[@suapy2888]

Yeah its kinda unfair.

[@redlkb]

VOX ADIO will beat them all!

[@otaviofenderstrat4220]

@@michaeleaster1815 closer is your a$#@@$...Katana air is much more closer to ThR than 50.

[@santseghotmail]

Just for reference Lee got it wrong when he wanted to use the pedal with the Katana, the receiver would go into the pedal and the pedal would use a cable into the amp and the transmitter would go in the guitar. That's the whole point of the wireless, to make the instrument wireless

[@cresshead]

I have the 100w Boss katana mk1 with fx loop - perfect result for me at home. low volume, works with looper ( i have a digitech jamsolo), record out, usb record out.

[@emm1855-q6n]

I got Thr10 and it is a great little amp. The only thing missing is the habilily to have a loop. I think the K100 is the only one in this range of amps which have it?

[@rob28781]

Love to see a Katana-100 Mk 2 v Fender Champion XL 100. Pete and Rabea raved about the tone in the 50 watt version. MAKE IT HAPPEN!

[@frankie4321]

The Boss katana head price point sits between these two offerings, plus it has a built in speaker so it can do THR flex, plus when you are ready to jam out plug it into a speaker cab. Best of both worlds.

[@rickpearce9239]

Correct. That would be the correct comparison.

[@wonderz_808]

wow thank you . I thought i needed a cab for that so i never looked into it. Thank you sir

[@EamonBJWyse]

Live in an apartment. I have a Boss Katana Mini in the living room and a Yamaha THR10X in the study (For playing and recording). Love both of them for what I use them for. Haven't bought a Katana combo yet.

[@jonathankvex]

I agree with Lee that this is a strange comparison. I recently just tested the THR30II vs the Vox Adio Air, and I returned the THR. Adio to me was still the better product at a lower price point. THR has more of a tube feel, but I preferred the amp models, effects, and audio streaming quality from the Adio. That’s the comparison I’d love to see here!

[@TheEchelon]

It's because these two products are currently the most wanted models that are ideal for home/bedroom use.

[@ronnysuarez3257]

Does it sound a lot better?

[@JunkBondTrader]

People often narrow their choice down to these two amps, they're the people's choice when it comes to low/mid priced modelling amps, that's why I think it's useful.

[@gparadis01]

Lee is spot on with his explanation of his use of the THR30. Liked mine too BUT sold it when my Positive Grid Spark arrived. NICE !

[@brendangray]

You think the positive grid one is much better? Thinking of returning my thr30ii. The positive grid one is so much cheaper.

[@gparadis01]

@@brendangray for what it is worth, I have had all three, and the only one I kept/still have, is the Spark. I prefer it. The flexibility and the tones I can create with it.

[@bluesfusion18]

Funny i sold my Spark for the THR as the Spark app is really wonky sometimes and mostly relies on the app for the good tones

[@Po1itica11yNcorrect]

"I think it sounds better louder." Spoken like a true rock guitarist

[@astewart9410]

Update in 2023: I got both of these amps. And a THR5. They are all great, in their ways. I even got the wireless for the THR30. And I ended up selling both THRs and keeping the Katana. The THRs were cool, and all, but Katana was more for me. Could be bigger cabinet, could more options. The wireless was ok but I didn’t use it much. So, with some of the money from selling the Yamahas, I got a Radial Big Shot and connected my old Katana 50 MkI and my new Katana 50 MkII for ABY wet/dry glory. Home playing bliss.

[@mrshiney2]

I have the THR 10 on my desk top and it is so damn convenient. As far as tone goes , with the THR the eq knobs are very interactive, you do have to adjust for each amp style and guitar being used. But for me thats great cause I can get the sounds I am looking for. Cant jam with a live drummer though

[@flobeeonekinobee2353]

The Katana head is great at home with it's little speaker, I also take it a to my mates house and we do rehearsals in his shed with v drums and little practice amps with no PA required for vocals I gig it with a Marshall 1936 cab it's a brilliant alrounder, I bought the ammoon wireless bugs for £26 Work great, but a pain when the charge runs out,( buy two!!) as you can't change batteries, also the head has a switchable loop and midi the best piece of gear I've bought for years

[@davidbaron8330]

The comparison should have been to the wireless Katana Air, though I'm sure it sounds similar to that Katana.

[@PhillipBeauchamp]

As an owner of a THRii 30, it fills the exact need that I had. I have several students still at home and also have a family member who works midnight's. I am very sensitive to anything with a 10 or 12 inch speaker as it seems to really reverberate through the floors and walls. They sound great...but I needed something quieter. I tried the whole modelling through a pc route and while it sounds great through headphones, I wanted to have something where I could play and not be stuck in headphones all the time or in front of the PC which is near where homework is being accomplished. I can grab the THRii30 and my guitar and run into any room in the house where people aren't hanging out and get more than usable tone with minimal fuss and no need to find an outlet. I know it is a "first world problem" but the THRii 30 makes it really easy to be mobile and play without disturbing the masses. I also threw in an AirTurn BT200-6S foot switch and I can switch presets and toggle an effect very easily. It's a great little setup (although somewhat pricey).

[@urbaniteproductions.4391]

The yamaha sounds mint i think, I'm rating it highly

[@Big_Uncle_Randy]

I love the features of the Yamaha thr10x but still at 299.00 5 years later I still love the sound and feel of the Katana...my preference is the Katana 100...perfect for home and gigs..effects loop .that doesnt come on the 50 watt version...for 349.00 the Katana 100..is still 150.00 less than the price of the THR 30...shoot you can get the 2x12 Katana 100 at 449.00 and still 50.00 less than the thr30

[@jakejuntilla1752]

I always get excited every time somebody takes a sip of coffee HAHAHAHA

[@Hello_there_obi]

Missing the vids with rob! I love vids with both pete and rob on separate occasions

[@worldwide_will]

Yamaha THR 8:33, 10:30, 11:25, 17:51 Boss Katana 4:12, 16:19, 18:30 end note 18:53 I actually was considering these two bad boys so it's not pointless really.

[@joquaint1437]

Will W c

[@TheMickyAngus]

I own a THR10C (that I will sold to a friend and buy a THR10 IIW) + Helix. Lee what you need to try is monitor speakers with the helix, the result is amazing. Of course it's not as mobile and living room friendly than the THR. That's why I like both :)

[@Alison-LoveAndUnity]

THR sounded sweet. So versatile for anyone on a budget who only plays at home.. Im definitely planning to get one.

[@lilseal7524]

On a budget?? It's triple the price of the katana 50....

[@wickeRstick]

Finally I waited all week for this thank you!

[@TubetakerBHV]

I still think the Katana 50 is the best home amp ever. It sounds great under any condition, its really affordable (in comparison to other amps) and you dont need to buy extra pedals (cause many of them are already build in). So if you are living in an apartment und you are looking for a new practice amp.. go for the Katana. The 50 is more than enough for that AND if it needs to be its surprisingly loud. So gigging in a small bar f.e. with your band is absolutly possible.

[@yesac101]

but at the same time i personally believe that the 100watt is worth the small price increase

[@greg6162]

@@yesac101 most people won’t need the extra 100w so it all comes down to what you’re looking for IMO. I have a Roland Micro Cube GX and I just bought my first real guitar (playing $170 Epiphone LP special ii) yesterday… the newer Fender Player Plus Strat in Olympic Pearl w/red pick guard! Easily the best guitar I’ve ever played and I think it’s just beautiful. I’ma beginner so take that for what it’s worth… but I’m looking to upgrade my amp to either the Yamaha or Boss Katana 50w MKII. Leaning towards the Yamaha THR30 due to portability and form because function wise I think they’re comparable for a beginner like myself and I’m even considering the THR10 model. If they have the same specs I don’t think I would need the volume of THR30 tbh. I’m still on the fence though…

[@davidharding200]

One thing I’ve learnt is never really on these videos, never get caught up in the hype, enjoyable as they are. I was disappointed in both the THR and Katana when I actually tried them in terms of volume and breadth of sound. Now that’s not surprising since they are very small amps. But watching this video you’d be forgiven for getting sucked into the sound which is mic’d and not at all representative of what it’s like in person.

[@SuperWeedPower]

I fell for it and ended up buying both without trying them 🤡

[@lucasbelloni]

I'd have THR as my practice amp. Katana to small rehearsal or gigs.

[@djt6546]

I think the Katana 0.5w mode is very impressive for the guys in the room to think the sound is much the same as the THR. I mean given the amps are clearly designed for different use cases. I’m looking forward to trying the THR30 and comparing with my own amps at home. The THR is starting to look just like an expensive eye friendly, quality small package convenience , but hey if that’s what you want, then it might be perfect...

[@karimpardayev]

have you tried the THR, how is it ?

[@djt6546]

Not yet got my hands on one. The 1st batch sold out and I have one on back order to try. If I stick with the delayed order I’ll revisit this post and give my verdict.

[@kevinkrohn6916]

They both have USB connectivity. One deciding factor would be, which one uses this feature best for recording. Also, they both have app-based editors; which one provides the best results? The Yamaha's tuner is quite handy also. If the wireless times out after two minutes, it will do that plugged into the Katana.

[@arthurdduda63]

That was hysterical..... how about a video with best guitar, amp, mixing and recording board , ..a whole home studio set up.

[@Se7eNiToS]

Chappers and Lee is all I need!

[@renepetersendk]

… And when you mention Apple - I am actually using GarageBand as an “Amp” for home use, and for almost 10 years now. I just plug the guitar into to my Mac and put on my wireless headphones . And for about 6 months now, I have listened a lot of Polyphia. So a few weeks back did a little research on KZbin, to see what I needed to get the Polyphia sound. Which is a Orange Amp with some distortion, and the 5-way-switch in the middle/neck position, and then adjust it from there.

[@brpadington]

The Yamaha sounds so much better than the Boss in the room. The Yamaha has a surprisingly wide stereo field that sounds huge. The boss sounds great and if it had better speakers it would be pretty even.

[@toastymuffin4153]

Purchased a Katana MKII a few days ago and oh man is it great

[@StudioMYJ]

Except you can also unplug the Yamaha and take it with you to play anywhere on the battery. That was the major selling key for me.

[@FunkyELF]

Wow, was this video made just for me? I have a Fender Mustang LT25 and like it okay, but it's missing ability to have foot pedals. I may give it to my brother for Christmas. Now I'm in the market for either this Yamaha or Boss. I like the idea of the Yamaha to have it be wife-approved, could also use it as a general purpose speaker on our shelves, but also the ability to take it out camping or on vacation. Downside there is lack of footswitch support. The Katana looks to have great footswitch support but have to go 100W to get the fx loop. Maybe Katana MK3 will have a portable version or maybe Yamaha THR-3 will have pedal support.

I have crappy sound insulation in my building. And I'm very self-conscious that I'm not too loud as my neighbors sometimes can be. Recently I got a Chapman ML1 and I've been playing it with some VOX amPhones (amplified headphones) but it's just not the right thing. I plan to get the BOSS Katana MKII 50. I think that way I can play with a nice enough volume to enjoy the guitar sound but not to be too loud to bother the neighbors.

[@mattjc]

Seems like THR vs katana mini/air/head would be a better comparison for small form factor. I have the head, and the 3" speaker is fine for noodling at home, and then you can take it to a jam space with cabs and you got your 100W to overpower a drummer.

[@jamesevans7968]

I use a Marshall DSL20 at a similar volume and it sounds awesome, it’s also nice to have the extra 95% of the volume knob just in case

[@doomerius1300]

Have you tried to record with it?

[@jacobbockover1628]

You know what. Im interested in the thr10 for late night at home. Also I don't know that many people with a garage that doesn't have someone living in it here. When it was young jamming with people was much more accessable to people now a days its for people with money

[@obivaughan6069]

I would love to see Rob do a Marshall DSL vs Fender Bassbreaker.

[@metalliholic]

I had both, they both rock!

[@bluesfusion18]

Obsessed with my THRii wireless. Sounds very tube like. Light to carry and versatile

[@wonderz_808]

is it good with pop punk tones?

[@driftergrey]

So I've finally figured out what you've done with this Andertons TV concept...it's basically posh Wayne's World without all the "party on" banter

[@ClintsCrypt]

I think you missed the main difference that the Yamaha THR30 II can do that the Katana can't. You can charge the Yamaha amp and transmitter and go play anywhere for several hours without any other power source for either. The Katana requires a full time power source.

[@progressivas]

13:03 is edit gold!

[@ondmon818]

the yam's stereo , that's a biggie for me , just sounds amazing, really immersive.

[@greysuit17]

11:57 & the beach ball = excellent editing! Lol

[@troykelso]

Whoever edits these videos is a genius.

[@msgn8i11s2]

I would like to see the New THR30-II vs the Positive Grid Spark...

[@bluesman7119]

I still like my VOX VTX 20 series, it just seems more organic sounding for me, and for the money £160 quid or so you are getting a great sounding amp, without breaking the bank, and to me it's the perfect home amp, but everyone has their own preference , But before all the Katana Fan's jump on my comment I did test the new Katana it still has not convinced me to get rid of my VOX as for Yamaha I love the size of it, which makes it great for travelling ,

[@canadianscraggledog]

Canadian in the UK same here. Vox VT20 sounds great with the modelling it does

[@enriquejaimes3368]

I traded my v1 katana for a v1 THR10c and have to say that for home use and clean surfy tones the thr is A LOT better amp, that deluxe reverb model is amazing. I am very happy with it and never would go back to a katana for home use. I would only pick the katana mkII If I was on a very tight budget or had plans to gig with it

[@NoWayOut55]

ROGER THOSE SURFY TONE HERMANO!! I got into a solid Surf Band in 2010 we're now the local go to. I was playing a Mustang ll. My MKll came in today. I'll be studying, I'll tell you that!! 🤣🤣🤜🤛👍

[@JROD082384]

My 2x12 MkII Katana is coming in today. I so excited to try out all of its fancy features!

[@Big_Uncle_Randy]

And is still $50 less than the thr 30 LOL

[@JROD082384]

@@Big_Uncle_Randy Don't get me wrong, I still would like to buy a THR one day because they are aesthetically pleasing, but the Katana has been really good to me so far.

[@Big_Uncle_Randy]

@@JROD082384 yup same here...

[@rexsolomon6325]

Thank you for the 'pin drop' to stop Rob's noisy noodling on command Lee!!! We needed that years ago. Sheesh, Chappers is clearly struggling to play anything melodic over Pete's backing tracks. Lee is a better guitarist than Rob is now and Lee's playing is getting better and better every week!

[@williamb4652]

rexsolomon Ooooooooh Controversial

[@hayleyhooper7523]

I think that the video was super useful. If you are a hobby guitar player, and you want an affordable modelling amp you would seriously consider either the THR102 or the Katana 2.

[@cabforwardooo9983]

I was smiling through the entire video. I'm also just in my underwear.

[@fantasymusicinmiddleearth]

Regarding the looper, I hope it helps to someone, if you have a line out and an aux in then you do have an effects loop. WinkWink

[@topnug7626]

How does that work? Line out is the return and the aux in is the send?

[@sveinunghamre324]

I've got the original THR10 and it's great. I do wish the eq was more responsive through as it can get a little to much low end.

[@Xenious]

Worth the price of admission to see Rob take a Zak Wylde stance and play one handed!

[@Pedrof1990]

Loving the return of the beach balls. Have seen a lot of videos that missed a lot of opportunities for that. =]

[@angrypickle]

Watching this in 2022, after having just watched the video of American Ultra vs Player Plus... This reinforces the Captains comment in that video of "my eyes overrule everything else" in regards to the THR :)

[@RockstarBridge]

Why would you go pedals to amp wireless ???? I’d go guitar to pedals then it wouldn’t shut off

[@alexaraya2018]

THR VS POSITIVE GRID SPARK ....those are pretty similar How bout pitting those against each other.

[@firstlast6565]

These were great videos, love all three of these options, personally I use an old Blackstar ID Core to jam at home, and a Fender Excelsior for every gig (1 or 2 a week) with a few pedals. That easily handles the 100 person rooms we play, but man, the Katana is just... fun! But its like a scooter (or a large lady)... fun to ride til your friends see you doing it.

[@rumiranda3048]

You should’ve demoed with the katana head and the THR

[@andrejgregoric1324]

exactly

[@SeatOfMercy]

Even better would have been to compare the Katana HEAD with the THR (instead of the 50 watt Combo) because they are more similar in size and form since both have small-ish internal speakers. I requested this last week when they announced this comparison - to no avail. Sigh

[@rumiranda3048]

SeatOfMercy that’s what I meant not air .. lol .. I fixed it tho