Me being a skeptical person, I thought I was taking a chance buying a Katana head because I thought tubes was where it's at. Almost a month later after buying one it is probably the best amp I ever owned.
I've had some nice tube amps before. That said, I have 2 Katana Mk1's. The head and then I bought the 1x12 for kickin around. Incredible amps!!! I doubt I'll be going back....
I am actually plugged into my boss 100 W katana MK 2 Head with matching to 212 cabinet as I am texting This response, I own two marshals DSL 100 W tube amps, One a full stack the other a half stack, I also have an orange crush 120 W pro with the 412 matching orange cabinet and an EVH EL34 50W tube amp with matching 212 EVH cabinet besides a few other things like head rush gig board with power speaker , Micro dark terror orange, positive grid spark amp , Fender champion 100, Peavey6505+, line 6 100W 212 100 and a few others and I have to say this boss kicks ass… I am right now waiting on an order of a set of 4 EL34power tubes for the second time this year for one of my Marshall DSL heads because I play every single day for several hours a day, and I seem to burn through these power tubes once every six months or so, never have to worry about that with the solid-state amps and this boss Sounds as good as my Marshall Super lead, I can’t even tell you why I don’t play the boss all the time instead but I just guess I am a Marshall man at heart but you cannot go wrong with this boss katana because it kicks ass. Lol
It's quiet(bonus - noise gate before reverb), it's loud, it's very versatile, it can do everything I want, it's portable, it can be a great Di. to FOH (pre master volume), standby for silent recording and checking of monitor levels, it can amplify my acoustics - even with the built in speaker, it can be a poweramp for my Helix and BOSS ME-80,I can 4CM with my pedalboards, perfect pratice level on a 4x12 on the 0,5 watt setting, it can cover a lot bases alone exept tuning (grab a Snarc), and the price is soooo right. Well done BOSS. The built in speaker made me by it immediatly.
I really dig the amp. I'll say it doesn't take pedals like my tube amps, so I'm getting used to that. By that I mean, My marshall BB1 takes on another character through the Katana. For now I'd say the Clean sound is the absolute strongest point of the amp. I have not been able to use it live yet, since I mostly use a Helix for the moment (in ear), but it's nice to know that I can gig with a pedalboard and the katana and choose my options; FOH, low level monitoring, add a 4x12 or whatever I'd want. For homerecording it is very nice. There is NO noise from output transformer and the like, I have a lot of that from my Marshall 6100 head, so I've actually retired it!!! I have got a GA-FC now, and it opens up the amp even more. It's a litlle fiddely, but with practice switching get's easier (you have 2 layers). A very cool feature is the option of injecting an exp. pedal into the footswitch (shorter cable, less cable around your feet) I use a modded Dunlop wah for volume (100k) and it works great ;-) you can patch it pre or post delay to your liking :-) To make things better, I have a Ditto2 looper in the loop - it's so cool. In a live situation I'd use the Ditto for soundchecks, it's so great to stand beside the sound engineer and check if the level and balance is right - highly recommended ;-) Hope you like the answers
If you want, I could give you my current presets, if you have the amp yourself. As a cabinet I use a ca. 1990 Marshall 1960A (greenback 25's), so the presets are of course tailored to that cab.
Great video guys, I have the Katana 100W 212 Combo and am in the process of acquiring the head version at the moment. One thing to note is that the amp, by default is set to "Bank A" mode, if you hold the "Panel" button down for two seconds or so, it unlocks another four channels, putting into "Bank B" mode, giving a total of nine channels. Great video nevertheless, just another thing they included that wasn't really advertised enough!
I've recently bought a second hand Katana Head amp and this video is more than useful to me. Also it's a pleasure watching and listening to a review by a guitarist I admire a lot. Thanks GIM and Tom Quayle!
Wow, I was looking for a tub amp, but now I'm sold. Next one is going to be a Boss Katana. Great review, and nice to see a reviewer that actually now how to play. Great work.
I have this amp & concur with Tom. Without spending much time at all, I was able to design nice sounding, convincing blues/rock, fusion sounds. For the money, you can not beat the value! Also, the GA-FC footswitch is a MUST!
I LOVE my Katana 100, particularly Crunch channel, Gain on full, Volume at 1 o'clock, Blues Drive at 10 o'clock, Bass MORE than 12 o'clock, mid & treb LESS than 12.... bit of delay and reverb.... check out "Paul Stafford Cook plays Cause We've Ended As Lovers" to hear an example of that tone.
New firmware update allows saving four patches on the Kat 50 instead of two. The 50 unlike the 100 uses any old 1/4" footswitch. Easily keeps up with drums. $229 they're a steal.
Excellent demo Tom...you play great...I just discovered this amp head - a friend who is also a gear-head has one and gave it to me to mess with while he's touring ( he's a FOH engineer)...after watching you put it through it's paces, I can't wait to plug it in...the 5" speaker is also impressive...this is a very interesting, quality product from Boss, and you can find them for $250 used...I've been a big Fender Hot Rod Deluxe fan for years, but now........thanks.
QUESTION: Can you run TWO Boss Katana 2x12 cabinets off of ONE Boss Katana MKII 100Watt head? Can you connect the two cabinets safely together and to the head via a y-split speaker cable? - i.e., a speaker cable Y-splitter out of the back of the head, with two speaker cables from the Y-splitter connected and one speaker cable to each cabinet. Is this a safe connection that will not harm the head or cabinet speakers; and, that will not void the Boss warranty on any of the units...? Given this is a solid state amp head, versus a tube amp, I would think the above described connection would work fine, as long as the Ohms impedances are within spec for the head and both cabinets combined...? Any help to understand this issue is greatly appreciated. I know the Katana MKII can run in stereo with two combo amps (one as a slave to the main). But,...I understand the question above is a different scenario than a master-slave stereo setup.
one thing the head version has over the combos is MIDI - I wish the combos did as well. There are a lot of similarities with th Boss GT-100, but it's nice to have the amps dialed in with real knobs.
it doesnt matter what you think of the guitar it matters what he thinks.I think the guitar sounds amazing, and tom you rock, i like your reviews, keep it up. i bought the katana head because of this review, thanks tom i love this rig
Great demo, I have a Celestion green back 25 watt loaded cab can If i use this boss 100 W head with this cabinet or will I blow the shit out of the speaker ??
Sounds fantastic without a doubt- Are there definitive voicing differences between the crunch, lead and brown? I feel like they’re just different gain stages?
I owned the 100W 1x12" combo for about a month and a half. It's super loud, and being Boss, the built-in (and software accessible) FX are top notch. But...the amp is *ridiculously bright*. I had to run the Presence and Treble knobs at one quarter (9 'o clock) and the Mid no higher than 40% (about 11 'o clock) to get a dark enough tone through any of the gain settings! There is a nasally high-mid range snarl that is nearly impossible to dial out, even when you go into the software and try to shelf frequencies through the expanded parametric and graphic EQs. Personally, I think it has to do with the full-range speaker they use to accommodate the Acoustic preamp setting. If you're a fan of darker-voiced amps (Marshall Plexi, Jubilee, Mesa Mark II, Vox AC30TB, Carvin Legacy etc.) *stay away* from this amp. Way too bright/snarly, even with humbuckers...pay attention as Tom plays with the booster tones and higher gain settings (Lead, Brown); you'll hear exactly what I'm talking about.
JazzzRockFuzion same thing happened to me as well. The amp is just way wayyy too bright. I feel like they are trying to overhype/overmarket theze amps. Good features, great aesthetic but it's just too bright.
JazzzRockFuzion personally i found that was true when you first get it , but as the speaker wears down and softens and the mids start to stop being so massive
JazzzRockFuzion personally i found that was true when you first get it , but as the speaker wears down and softens and the mids start to stop being so massive
JazzzRockFuzion personally i found that was true when you first get it , but as the speaker wears down and softens and the mids start to stop being so massive
Hello thanks for the video ! question did you plug it to any cabin ? or all these sound come from the head amp itself ? I have mooer ge200 and I cannot use properly with my present amp which is blackstar id core 10 v2 stereo amp. Since there is no fx loop return on my amp or I do not know what is the problem exactly that my ge200 sounds horrible with my amp, I am planning to get head amp with fx loop return. In that case can i just plug my ge200 to this one since it has fx loop return and use it properly ? I practice at home and I play for myself just to have fun. I believe it will be loud enough for a room. Thank you
Can anyone tell me if this head can handle a high gain tone as, for example Dying Fetus would have? Asking since those kind of tones are hard to judge when you're hearing them through cheap speakers.
He did say that what you're hearing is a high quality 4x12 cabinet mic'ed in a different room. I'm 3/4 way thru so I'm not sure if= he dimes the gain to get what you're asking about.
Wow,..He dimed the gain on the lead channel at one point. The amp answered with what I consider very high gain tone and a fantastic high gain chord tone and lead tone. But to each his own. Perception is reality.
with a pedal board that would make a shoegazer happy, I still might buy one. My current go-to if I have to rent back line is jc-120, but sounds like I could carry one of these, could be carry-on, and my baby pedalboard for small gigs.
These are just some really good amplifiers....I have been playing the guitar for 45 years and have played thru just about everything....as far as solid state goes these guys have gotten really close to that tube response...and I'm really picky about my tone...do yourself a favor...get one of these...I'm playing mine thru a 4×12 marshall 1960 cabinet and it is just a monster.....🎸🎸🎸
funny how japanese people wrote katana means sword... it’s actually “medium size sword”. sword in general is ken. if you think of ken-do in fact it means way of the sword
Yes, that is weird they dumbed it down for easy consumption. Good shout. I do like use of the Chikara character meaning power or force. Probably would have preferred them calling it the Boss Chikara, maybe that’s what it’s called in Japan!
It is not a digital amp or a modelling amp- it's all analogue components in the preamp and power amp signal, same as any older solid state amp. The digital sections are the effects and USB applications.
Is the sound we're hearing plugged in to the computer for the video or the actual speaker on the unit? I'm wondering if this model would be best for me wanting something small with cool options or if I'd need the 50/100 instead? (wanting bedroom volume, not gigging)
since they are available only 4 channels I did not understand if I can recall using the foot controller recall the presets with liveset (using tone central boss)
Why is everyone out there saying it's Boss' 1st series of solid state amps when we all know that Boss is Roland and they've been making them for many years.
I've never been a tube snob but I do have some nice tube amps. They all sound great but it seems only at a particular volume and then the venue you are playing them in has a massive effect on the sound also. I got the katana head and it is truly the most usable amp out there. If you can only afford one amp the head and a one twelve cab with a 70/80 celestion is the way to go. Need more go foh. Go to global eq settings when you get it and set to taste. It can do it all maybe not perfectly but close enough. I don't know of an amp that can do as much as well. I can even run my fender mustang floor thru the power amp and I'm Shure you guys using newer multi units will find it a great amp for your units. It's a great amp on its own but will do so much more .
is it just my boss katana 100 or does everyone experience this at the 50 or 100 watt setting on crunch and above if you let go of the strings it feedbacks really bad is this normal
This guy blows me away every time I hear him, his chromatic and outside playing licks specifically. Cool guitar too, Strats and Les Paul's are ok but they are so cliche, I was sick of them before I started learning to play :-D The "magic" is in the players hands, not some brand name stanped on a headstock
aravis123 oh god yes it is. Lead channel, gain on 10 o clock, all channel volume, dime'd controls with all the presence, put a Guv DS in the front with the tone and bottom around 15, full effects Level and low gain, acts like a tightener and a tube screamer, gives a great snarly midrange.
Its only 20 bucks. $329 combo, $349 head. I would much rather use this with a real guitar cab than some FRFR type clean PA speaker built in to the combo.
@@Anjohl Solid state amps are WAY different than tube amps. They don’t need any load. They still have to play by the rules of physics, you can’t run em em too low on the impedance, but they can even do mismatched loads. The 5” speaker is there so you can leave your 4x12 at the rehearsal spot and just bring your head home and still play. The Katana series is definitely targeted at younger players who might only have one cab. Once you’ve been around the horn a few times you start to accumulate good gear. I now have four 412 cabs, and two em are Boogies. But back when I was only 4 years in, I just had a single Peavey MS412 that I still have. It’s okay…but it definitely doesn’t hold a candle to the Mesa cabs.
Th1 amp *LEAST* 2avoid? *I TEACH THWORLD HOW 2BUILD A GUITAR AMP.* Thank me later. The1 I designed. In 1984 or so when I played a Boss DD2 &th horrific boss HM2Distortion, which in the end i kinda liked.. Boss is now MAKING "my amp" so i went head bought it. Warning. "i have purchased my 1st amp." Wellp, i took it d'plunge friends, i did me a spare no xpense move 2day lol. Thats right i bought it thbest I didnt b>(uy) me buy a junk Sregio guitar amp. BOSS MK II in 2x12. (2 12" speakers.) I used 2play lousy BOSS delay, HM2. So anywaymost I heard 2many scary things about other amps breaking. This1 bit more solid. Been writing manufactures and countless you tube vids teaching them how equipment should be designed = guitar amps should be in stereo. EVERY TIME. Now stereo amps leading thworld. Where I am is ALWAYS where people will be. Example, Seraphim shimmer pedal, &we need *SURROUND SOUND ALSO.* Most popular guitar amp now = a stereo Positive Grid Spark. But mine maybe 3times th amp that is. Normally $500 plus I found it $354 shipped after tax with cosmetic damage back &sides. Boss Katansa 2x12 100. Shrugz. I was not shopping 4it. Just happened stumble on2 it $333 shipped. Immediately it totally resonated as amp i really wanted. U know, after intense researching cheaper much lower grade packed with bells &whistles amps. Oh no this 1 is more old school vintage no computer apps but late model cutting edge amp. Not that those computer apps arent attractive &genuinely useful. Thinking i can circumnavigate those inadequecies with bluetooth adaptor &phone circumnaviapps. Well, u always lose SOMETHING right? I dunno i just decide hit buy button wtf now gethis overwith. My potato, (i mean my "amp") she breaking. Note BOSS no where near on design parameters I epicentered 35 years ago. Super high quality, biggest 12" speakers, BOSS caliber best sound in class&stereo. Has "variation" knob thsounds, cabinet resonance... These BOSS used as a reliable more amps by teachers &such. Monster 100watts but has antenuator. (Dial that goes all thway down to .5 watts from 100 watts4 using max volume in a little room setting.) AB class engineering circuits = super efficient of electricity compared2 A class. Cant stand stupid innefficient appliances i doing low as 52 kilowatts a month electric bill. Yes Boss it needs work. But just had 2many pluses in best I could do. Boiling all that down it should be a premium sound but also being in stereo thsound will be no comparison goes right thru u &your 10k tube amp with no stereo. You know vs havimg car speakers only 1side lol 😅 God only knows what planet u people are even from. Who in they right mind would make d*mn sure that dreadfull switch on they stereo HiFI is in mono... This what i keep preaching 2guitar players& companies alike. I will have 2dissasemble it >re assemble CORRECTLY PERSONIFIED lol. Gonna pull 1speaker put it left side of throom either side my head. Hello??? Amps should NEVER be sold with single speakers. OR stereo speakers butted against each other like batsh*t Grid Mini. I said TRUE stereo circuitry. Not psuedo. My last amp, a Blackstar, had 5 buttons stopped wrking. Turning it in2 a pricey paperweight. So i didnt want 2have that happen again.
this app is very overrated. My Katana is for sale on Craigslist as we speak. In a live situation it just cannot cut through the mix the tone is too thin and to digital. Save your money and buy an old crate amp if you want a solid state with some balls
Really not my experience. I play in a covers band, and our material runs the gamut from Motown to classic rock to modern pop to indie rock - just done the first gig with the Katana 100 212, and it cut through just fine. I normally play either a Hughes and Kettner Grandmeister or a Rivera R30/12, and I didn't notice any lack of cut or thinness in the Katana's tone during the gig. I have to say, I think it sounds a lot better in the mix with the rest of the band than on its own in my studio. Jury was out, but after a couple of rehearsals with the band and now a gig, definitely keeping mine.
@@sentientfootwear agree 100%. I use a Katana 100 212 for gigs and it sounds killer. I use the clean channel with my pedal board. The only on board effect I use is the reverb. We are a loud band and this amp keeps up no problem. I paid $350 used and have no complaints at all.
