Yamaha THR10II vs Spark 2: Which Desk Amp for Writing Songs?

If the job is writing songs at a desk, the Yamaha THR10II is the better amp. You turn a knob, you get a good sound, you keep writing. The Spark 2 is the better amp when you want to jam along to a backing track, build a loop, or dig through a thousand tones in an app. I own both, they sit on the same desk, and they are not really competing for the same job.

Here is how they split up for a solo artist, and what I would buy if I could only have one.

The one-sentence difference

The THR10II is an instrument. The Spark 2 is a computer with a speaker.

That is not a knock on either. It tells you what each one is for.

Writing: THR10II

The THR10II has physical knobs for amp type, gain, master, bass, mid, treble, and a couple of effects. Five user memories. The clean and crunch sounds are good enough that I stop thinking about tone, which is the whole point when I am chasing a melody.

• No app required. Ever.
• Wakes up instantly, sound is there.
• Quiet, even at low volume the tone holds together.
• The wireless version runs on batteries if you want to write on the deck.

Jamming and practising: Spark 2

The Spark 2 is at its best when the phone is involved: the app's backing tracks, the chord detection on songs, the smart jam feature, and the looper. For practising a solo over changes, or for finding a tone that matches a reference song, nothing on my desk beats it.

• Looper on the amp itself, no pedal needed.
• Enormous tone library, and you can download other people's presets.
• A better speaker than the Spark 40 and a lot more low end than the Yamaha.
• Battery is built in.

Where each one annoys me

THR10II: the effects are basic, and if you want a very specific amp sound you are out of luck. It is a great version of a few sounds, not every sound.

Spark 2: the app. Firmware updates, logins, a feed of other people's tones. Some days I just want to play, and the Spark makes me look at my phone first. Tone edits need the app for anything beyond the front knobs.

Recording with either

Both connect by USB and show up in Logic Pro as audio devices. I have recorded demos with both. For the record itself I use the Headrush Core instead, for the reasons in can you use the Spark 40 as an audio interface, which apply to the Spark 2 too.

If you can only buy one

• You mostly write and you hate apps: THR10II.
• You mostly practise, jam, and learn songs: Spark 2.
• You want to post tone demos and use the looper: Spark 2.
• You want the thing to still work the same way in five years: THR10II.

FAQ

Is the Yamaha THR10II good for songwriting?

Yes. Physical knobs, instant sound, no app, and five memories make it the amp I reach for when writing because it never interrupts the idea.

Does the Spark 2 need the app?

Not to make sound. It has front panel controls and presets. For deep tone editing, backing tracks, and the smart features, yes, you need the app.

Can the THR10II and Spark 2 record into Logic Pro?

Yes. Both are USB audio devices and appear in Logic Pro on a Mac without a driver.

Bottom line

THR10II for writing, Spark 2 for jamming and practice. If you are a songwriter first, buy the Yamaha. If you are a player who records occasionally, buy the Spark. Both are on the rig page.