My TRUTH on the BOSS Katana Guitar Amp! Enjoy ...
ฝัง
- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 22 ส.ค. 2020
- Check Sweetwater Prices on the Katana: imp.i114863.net/NLBgP
This is the wireless system I use in every video: amzn.to/3cCZgv1
Guitar stands that I use & trust!: amzn.to/2LwPyhx
Please note, links above are affiliate links. If you click on one of them and make a purchase, I'll receive a small commission with no added cost to you. Thank you for your trust & support!
GEAR THAT I USE IN ALL OF MY VIDEOS:
Computer 1 (Windows) amzn.to/3cEojh1
Computer 2 (Mac) amzn.to/3cCZkuJ
Multi-Cam Switching amzn.to/3bCZq47
Camera amzn.to/3cFEqLj
Vocal Microphone amzn.to/3bF7uBs
Amp Microphone 1 amzn.to/3cFoNU2
Amp Microphone 2 amzn.to/2z2FN8l
IR Loader & Load Box amzn.to/2WAeNpD
Stand-alone IR Loader amzn.to/369Mj9A
Mixer amzn.to/2Td60rz
DAW (multi-track recording) amzn.to/36420z3
Tuner amzn.to/2T9o5ac
String Gauge amzn.to/369PRIH
Multi-Effects amzn.to/2TcNe3F
Useful tools amzn.to/2X2v45N
Outside the USA? I trust this retailer
www.thomann.de/intl/index.htm...
Looking for USED gear?
reverb.grsm.io/reverb9364
SUBSCRIBE
th-cam.com/users/lmsjr?su...
QUESTIONS? Check out my PATREON PAGE
/ thetoneking
SUPPORT! When you buy a T-SHIRT, you are supporting this channel!
teespring.com/stores/the-tone...
WEBSITE
thetoneking.com/
FACEBOOK
/ thetoneking
INSTAGRAM
/ thetoneking
MAILING LIST
feedburner.google.com/fb/a/ma...
EMAIL - INFO@TheToneKing.com
SINGLES:
2016 - LIES: • LIES by The Tone King ...
2018 - THE MAN: • Video
2019 - MADE IN NEW YORK: • MADE IN NEW YORK by Th...
GET YOUR MUSIC ONLINE with DISTROKID and save 7%!
distrokid.com/vip/thetoneking
BACKING TRACKS
elevatedjamtracks.bandcamp.com
/ @elevatedjamtracks
#thetoneking #Boss #Katana
Please note, description above may contains affiliate links to companies like Amazon.com, Sweetwater.com, ThomannMusic.com, Reverb.com, etc. If you click on one of them and make a purchase, I'll receive a small commission with no added cost to you. Thank you for your trust & support! - เพลง
I bought the Boss Katana Artist on pure impulse. I own, perform and record on Mesaboogie Mark V:35, Mesaboogie Filmore 50, EVH 5150 III 2x12 and Friedman BE-100 Deluxe, but i play 80% of the time on my Katana. The reason is flexibility ; one amp with a super wide range of tone. Best impulse buy ever, no regrets. Great review TTK.
If your Katana is agnostic I'm pretty sure it's faulty. Mine is fully compliant with Shinto philosophy and delivers tone with ruthless clarity of mind.
Great review. You made a good point that the great tone and simplicity of this amp helps you focus on making music, I think that’s the appeal. Plus the price point makes it a very popular choice.
Thank you StationUnrest 🙏
I got my Katana Artist a week ago and it is glorious. The tone is amazing and the more I use it the more I love it.
I bought the 100w head and 2x12 cab back in 2017 when introduced for noodling in the office. Still love the dang thing, great bang for the buck and no maintenance required like all my studio tube amps. Highly recommended.
I've now been through 4 Katana amps. I started with the 50 and when I discovered it didn't have an effects loop I upgraded to the 100. Then I came into some unexpected cash so I upgraded again to the Artist. I'm so happy with it I then got the Katana Air because I'm a trucker and it's nice to have a small battery powered amp to travel with me. And the Air does have Bluetooth so I can play jam tracks through it and play along. I've owned some great amps and the Katana is as good as any of them. I'm so happy with mine. Thanks for the review.
Heh heh ... me too . A 50 mk1 first , then the Katana Artist MK2 and a 100 MK2 for stereo ... but then swapped out the 100 MK2 single 12 for the 2x12 MK2 version . Then I toobalso scooped the Air Kat as well .... annnd luvin' 'em !!
I did the same thig and ended up with the 100 head and the mini. I am also a truck driver.
I bought the MK1 when it came out during the holiday season. Thought it was a great buy and very convenient. Did a some practices for a wedding gig and prog metal project. It did the job well. Even did a wedding gig and it performed better than expected. Just bought the MKII 2x12 to take advantage of the the Boss Tone Studio and awesome patches from Jacu Nery, and I’m fully invested. Totally agree that this is to “keep guitarists focused on playing” rather than finding the holy grail of tones.
Not seen your channel before but, as new Mk2 100 Head owner - and after a HUGE amount of deliberation, 'homework' etc etc - I went ahead made my jump from tuned Blackstars.
You hit the nail on the head here as far as I'm concerned. This is - by far - the fairest and most straightforward review I have heard on the product.
Thank you.
Much thanks for your insights on this amp. Being extremely curious about all the hype on the Katana Artist MkI, I read, researched, and *waited* for the upgraded Katana Artist MkII to hopefully be announced. When it finally was announced, I felt like I could now go ahead and buy the last amp I will ever need. (my original goal) I now truly feel that my waiting really paid off for me. The Boss Katana Artist MkII is absolutely terrific for all of my needs.
It will be my first amp and will be my last for a very long time too plus I'm not buying pedals (drive or any type of modulation) so I'm really sold on the onboard effects and hooking up to a pc feature, if you could share more of your thoughts on the amp, I like to hear what a player has to say about something before I buy it, it will be highly appreciated, of coarse I'll try it before I buy one, but still I'd like to hear you out. Have a good one
What a thoughtful and well organized review. Kudos to TTK
Just found your channel and your channel is right up my alley and going to be binge watching your videos.The younger players(I'm 50)don't realize how great they got it with these affordable modeling amps.When I was young you had an amp and only as much tone as you had pedals.
The footswitch is a MUST. And not the simple one, the boss GA-FC GA foot controller for $130. You can select between 8 channels, and on each channel you can on/off control the boost/mod, Delay/FX, and reverb with one pedal. AND you have a tap control to modify the delay. It's like having a pedalboard and amp footswitch all with only one cable. No power supply and patch cables.
That’s a fact baby.
Hi, I just bought one of these... but what about the Midi in jack? I am guessing that you can also control it with a generic midi foot switch? I bought my Artist as a floor model, they gave me $60 off and it looks new, but didn't come with a manual. I guess I can download one.
@@TimsCabana trust me, get the ga-fc ga foot controller. You won’t regret it
The Xsonic Airstep is way much better.
The 50w uses the Boss FS-6 AB switch
Good to hear this, all fair comments and considerations. Owned 110w mk1 and GAFC for 6 months still learning and enjoying the potential of this . Great value for musician on a budget, there are plenty on the used market, guess some people are trading up for newer models.
Thank you very much for your review on the Katana amp. It's the most thorough, honest review I've seen to date.
I've had the Katana MkI head for a year now. I absolutely love it, and I've been able to find new tones that others have asked me about. They are always shocked when I tell them it came from the Katana. This is why I don't believe it's a modeling amp. If it were, most people would notice it sounded like xyz, but nobody ever says that to me. They just wonder how I got that tone.
Once again, thanks for a honest straightforward review or overview.
Yup, I also like hearing your opinion on gear. Cool.
I still love my trusty Katana 50 Mk1. I'm not in the market for this amp, but wanted to say well done for your clear, excellent coverage and opinions on it. Cheers!
Great video TTK and thanks for Boss for providing a sample Katana. Point of reference, I like complicated guitars with custom switching capabilities and midi connectivity for versatility at my fingertips. At the other end of the cable, I like great amp tone with reverb and no foot pedals in between. This amp gives me a dead simple, reliable and sublime tone performance. Tone King, you're spot on: pick a tone and not a model for the best sound.
I played a 50MK II a few weeks ago, not knowing all that much about Katana. Brought it home, learned more about Katana, and promplty returned it for the Artist MK II. I'm still wrestling with making presets in Tone Studio vs simply pluggin-in and playing. I think that's part of the beauty with this amp. If only I had this 30 years ago!
I considered this amp, but opted for the Fender Mustang GTX 100 due to the weight difference. My 63 year old back appreciates the difference.
I have both. They both have digital processing, so it is a modeling amp. You can't fit all the pedals in one cabinet, it has to DEFAULT to someone's model for sound.
The only real difference is GTX has the newer class D Danish ICE power section. The KAT has a MOSFET single TDA 7293 class A/B (closer to tube sound and operation) 15 pin power chip, and it is in all there amps from the 50 to 100, MKI to MKII even the Artist's. I have built MOSFET audio, IMO, much better sound.
However, lots of new amps are going to class D, very low heat in switching, lower cost.
I just wish they would have used two chips in the KAT. Noticed a few chips have had problems with heat. Discrete semiconductors better. And these amps are disposable due to very small SMDs, and integrated chips. Board replacement is how they are fixed, cost exceeds repair and cheaper to replace the entire amp.
Right now you CAN NOT get parts unless you are an authorized dealer.
I own the artist MKii and absolutely love it but like your one ask you had about the switching bank “A” to bank “B” in effects mode I think there is another feature improvement that should be mentioned. Why do we have to hold down the respective preset button for 2.5 seconds to engage the solo feature? It should only require a single quick stomp on the preset you are using because it is already set to that preset so it will not affect anything else by doing so. Just thought it was worth mentioning.
Very informative! And thank you for not wasting our time by showing off your guitar skills, like all the other guys videos do.
Glad you got the amp from Boss! I had a feeling you would like the amp! Steve
Very fair - thoughtful review. I think the only big problem I had was the need to update the firmware before I could access the amps functions.
Thank you for the great review! I'm late to the party and just bought the Katana 50 MKII. However, your views still stand true today 2 years later.. it is still the best practise amps in terms of overall package. Simplicity and superb tones are it's qualities. :)
Thanks for your honest opinion man. All the best from Australia. Stay safe. :)
This amp sounds great! Brown sound is outstanding ! Nice cleans too!
Digging my 50w mkII in lockdown! We'll see how it does when/if I go back to gigging. I haven't tried it with my pedals yet (didn't get the itch).
I just received mine today, and I’m already in love. I feel it is a real amp. Compared to my code it was night and day can’t wait till I can try out the 50 and 100 watt setting.
I was going to buy a blues cube as a carry about practice amp, then I discovered the katana head
A bit more than I wanted to pay
But my father bought it for me to cheer me up, so I did my research and bought the footswitch, downloaded the software,and I had a great little set up for jamming with my phone , the little speaker is brilliant . My main rig is a Marshall JVM 100 half stack, I decided to take the katana to a gig sit it on top of the JVM and do the first set with it, I never turned the Marshall on all night!!, The katana was incredible I couldn't believe how good it sounded and how incredibly loud it was I only used the 50w setting ! I also rehearse round a friends practice amps electronic drums and no pa required! What a tool! It really covers everything I recently picked up a mint mk1 combo for £150
Just before the mk11 came out (boo!!) I'm very impressed with it especially the speaker, Boss you really nailed it!
I have a Katana Artist and it is every bit as good as my beloved Vox amps (which will always be my main amps). The Katana feels and responds like a tube amp - I think of it as a "tubeless tube amp" :)
Ruiseart Alcorn I agree
1st or 2nd gen?
@@jessesmith2906 Mine is the 1st.
@@ruiseartalcorn i just got the 1st gen for a good price. Did you download any patches or pre settings from anywhere or just dial it in yourself?
@@jessesmith2906 Mine is the Mk1 - I didn't see the need to upgrade as I only use the clean setting. I haven't downloaded any patches, nor do I use presets. What I like about the Katana is that the bells and whistles are there for those that wish to use them, or it can be used "old-school", as a simple pedal platform. I think that the clean setting is very natural and "valve like", so I just use that with my pedal board. It works for me :)
I love my Diamond Positron and I'm happy to see you have a Diamond amp. Going to get a Assasin today
Some people were miffed at paying full price for the MK1 to have them marked down immediately when the MK2s came out. I bought both my mk1 100 and mk2 50 used. These amps are very popular so its pretty easy to find clean examples at a much lower price than new. I bought both of mine at pawn shops. Haven't seen any Artists at pawnshops. I would like to try one of those.
Really glad I found your channel. You provide valuable input and I want all of your gear. Quick question: What changed between when you compared the Katana to a Vypyr and this review? Just the jump up to the Artist?
I bought an Artist over a year ago and I'm still interested in hearing other people's opinions because it exceeds my expectations in all areas.
I have the Katana 100 1x12 and I´d like to share a tip for you guys - I play mostly jazz guitar and have it setup with the clean channel and the clean boost effect set to next to nothing - it warms and fatens the sound of my 1959 P90´s to really sound like a vintage Fender or MusicMan amp. It breaks up just a tad on strong chords, otherwise it´s really clean. I´m selling my tube amp. About the footswitch - if you only need two of the channels you can use a regular amp channel foot switch (that you already have a box full of), but the GA-FC footcontroller is high on the wishlist.
I’m really digging my Mk-II 100 head. I play sitting down so my additional LIKE is how you can turn it face down on top of a speaker cabinet and be able to SEE all the controls without having to stand up.
Have a slightly different take on the amp. I heard someone playing it in a store and it sounded great, I sat down played it, sounded great. So great I bought 3 of them over the years, then I decided to take my mk1 100 watt 2X12 amp to my classic rock back rehearsal one day. Couldn't believe it. If you could hear flat soda, that was it. The sparkle, chime, fullness all disappeared in the band as I cranked the amp up. I kept changing the settings thinking it was just not set right for the room but it didn't get better. The louder I played the worse it sounded. Even with the cheapest tube amp I own, a crate vfx5212, it sounded way better if you crank it up. I think that's the ceiling for solid state and modellers, while they sound great at low volumes, with a band they just lose that ability to mix and cut the way a tube amp would. Just my opinion but I believe there are a couple criteria one needs to keep in mind when evaluating an amp. The store, your home, playing with a band and even day to day consistency. All different environments and all different variables. This hit 3 out 4 but it didn't hit the most important : band criteria so now it sits in the background at home with all the other amps that dont cut the live test.
Use the master up full and control volume with channel volume...sounds huge
I thought that. Try the fix
An EQ pedal boosted in effects loop fixed this for me as my bass player insists on using a full on Ampeg svt 200 watt at practice???
This is spot on.
I had an issue with my relatively new Artist. It just started sounding like crap to my ears. A quick reset solved the problem.
I also like the fact you can plug in your accoustic guitar. Blues On....💙
You’ve got the new Airstep as a wired remote for the katana which lets you bridge wirelessly to the katana air app . Released yesterday. Very cool way to dial stuff in on the weekends without needing a laptop.
Quite honestly, over the years there's only been 3 ss rigs that've ever impressed me enough to commit to. The first was the gallien krueger ml-250, which around 1985 ushered in the same tsunami of hype the katana currently warrants. The second was an original sansamp stomp paired with a roland jc120, which imho replicated pt saturation at any volume as convincing as anything to date. The third - the katana mk2 head, and by me it's best of the three, and for an insane fraction of the price. The integrated practice speaker, the effects, power, tone, cleans up w/ the guitar vol, I love the practical versatility of the thing.
What do you think about the Katana Artist?
@@johnnymontero107 The direct line out on the katana was my go-to for recording until I got a flamma cab sim pedal a while back. It makes the effects send or preamp out on almost any solid state combo sound like an assortment of mic and speaker configs. I've been using it a lot with a fender deluxe 90 dsp lately. Running a joyo bantamp direct thru the cab sim sounds good too.
@@leeoffender8406 Awesome!
Is it better the line out option than the USB port for recording?
@@johnnymontero107 I probably will but I haven't got around to trying the usb yet. Just patching the cab sim analog into the mixing console sounds so natural I haven't found it necessary. You can purportedly find IR's on the net and load them in via usb, but even right out of the box it offers a very convincing array of mic-ed speaker tones. I was amazed for $89.
thanks stoneking for your honest opinion I appreciate it thank you for the content and I wonder I own the boss katana version 1 or mark one cuz you can upgrade it what am I missing I mean I can tell by the features that are mentioned in the newer one what I don't have but is it that much of a difference or I need to scrap what I have and get a mark to I don't know I'm legally blind and I find I find modeling amps with big menus and all that stuff is extremely hard for me to use seeing that I can't read it and they don't have screen touch voice on the amps yet like they do on my phone so that's another thingI really enjoy this Aunt the one I have the Mach 1 a lot to great-aunt I get a lot of use out of it without much fiddling and I'm sure they are there a katana people out there they know that there's a third party app that you can get on Google play store called I think it's called catana library and it's pretty pretty useful I mean you know it's not it's a third party app but it works well and it gives you the ability to use your phone to do a lot of things anyway sincerely yours, Bob the blind bedroom guitarist that's why this is one long sentence speech to text that I had his own take on the English language LOL
Thank for this video. It is really helpfull. I value your points and agre with them. Just 2 questions 1)have you ever had the chance to test the 2.0 version of the app and firmware, did that upgrade cover some of your inquiries? 2)have you tried Fender Mustang GTX amps? How do they compare with Katana in your opinion? Thanks!
Great presentation man.
Really enjoyed your insight, thank you. When I first received the amp, I was in love. I downloaded the software and became a little overwhelmed then fell out of love, that turned into, let us just be friends, I really like you but don't love you. After getting use to the software, I am in love again. I am a tube amp guy but not closed minded to new ideas after all I do own the Helix line 6 which I do enjoy but then again there is some aspect about all 4 of my rigs which I enjoy. Thank you again, great video
I recently picked up a Boss Katana 100 Mk2 and a Fender GTX50 used for cheap. Post Covid deals. I bought the Mustang because it could be controlled in my iPad. However, I have realized that I don’t mind connecting to the Boss with my computer. The tones I have found on the Tone Exchange make this amp awesome.
A friend of mine was endorsed by Boss and involved at the prototype stage with the original MK1 Katana's. He told me they were coming out before anyone else knew about them here in England. I put my name down for the first one that came into my local shop. It was a mkI 50. I bought it immediately. Blew me away!! I never used any of my tube amps from that moment (and I've owned them all since 1975). Sold all mine tube amps I had at the time, and now own all models of Katana except the mini...all mk1's as I prefer them. The mkI's sound valvier and warmer to me...the tube has been superseded....as I knew one day it would...yay!!!...
I own the 50 W mk1 and I almost never use it. The clean sounds boring and lifeless. Probaby it's my playing. It seems it is personal preference.
@@hawedehre I only ever use the crunch channel...cleans up great from the guitar...
@@hawedehre I know this is like a year late, and I'm sure you've figured this out by now, but try using an EQ in the loop from the tone studio or your own, with some reverb. It makes the clean a lot more dynamic and "rounded" in my opinion.
I had a Katana 100 MK-II that I sold and went to a GX-100, which is very good, but I recently traded a guitar for a Katana Artist MK-II and remember why I loved the 100. I mostly use 4 patches even though I have the foot switch, and now probably going to sell the GX-100. You are absolutely correct that the Katana focuses on Tone and not all the amp sims. I think the GX and other higher end modelers put so much stuff in that it makes it harder to find "just good tones".
The live debate was fun because none of us could really agree what the amp was but we all agreed the tone was what matters.
I thought it was an 'amplifier'?
So I am a fan of your PRS video and now I am purchasing 2 Katana Artist 100s. Thanks!
And the GT1000core for the hell of it.
@@kingfisher7960 Your rig selection sounds like it would be very flexible and fun to use!
Good stuff as always TTK - but one big suggestion: I know that you are referring to the Katana MK II here. However, there are a ton of Katana MK I amps still being sold out there as new. And while the original MK I is nearly as great, the MK II absolutely includes a bunch of new features so the distinction must be made between the 2 versions or else people may get confused....
Just a suggestion....cheers!
Got a mk1 Artist for $200 off (still new), because the newer model came out. I just wanted the Artist over the Ktn100 for the Waza speaker, which is still present in the Artist mkii
Great point I have a Mk1 Artist it has probably 1000 different flavors at least the MKll probably has an additional 500 flavors I am thinking I can get all the important tones from my Mk1 without having to update to the MKll I realize the MKll Has some more features that are convenient It’s hard for me to believe that the MKll could sound considerably better than the MK1 even though it has a few more flavors and features
PS I SUFFER FROM G.A.S
Hoping not to be tempted !!!
Thank you! This is a very well thought out review! I have a Katana MKII head and I share many of your opinions. The GAFC foot controller that you can buy for this amp is mediocre at best. I use my Line 6 helix LT to control all the amp parameters via MIDI and it is amazing! I agree that it would be cool to have an app designed by Boss, but there are some third-party apps that work great with this amp. You can look into Katana Sneaky Amps and it expands the amp "models" to include some more familiar amp themes, bur you mentioned they are never a true replica of the original. Keep up the good work!
I have had the mini for quite some time. Went for the artist combo. In the end; the head was the way to go for me! Love it. And my mini
Are you saying you can use a cheaper midi pedal?
Thanks for a well balanced review, I own the artist one... had a lot of Fun with it !
Ask Boss for a more pedalboard friendly(smaller, like two rows of 3 or 4 switches) pedal for the amp.
I have owned almost all of the Katana amps. To me the Katana Mk1 2x12 sounds the best and is still my main gigging amp.today. Plenty loud, very warm deep tone, works consistently no matter indoor or outdoor gig. I found the 50 to sound lifeless and boxy, most likely due to the small cabinet. The Artist in theory should be the best as it has more features and the better speaker. I find it to lacked sustain and sounded a bit flat especially in a live setting. Keep in mind I use the amp on the clean channel with some reverb and get my gain and effects from pedals. One last thing, the rear lowel panel on the Artist is a bit fragile and I had 2 arrive with damage during shipping. This does not seem to be an issue on the other Katana amps.
Thank you Tone King for the insights you offer.
In regards to an app for the Kantata MKII 50, As mentioned below by PTPOG,,, I found that there is an App for the android device. Because the amp does not support any form of wireless communication, If I plug the USB from the amp into my Galaxy S8, It works about the same as the Computer Software. Then if in edit mode, the moment the data is no longer the same as the saved preset, a download icon pops up next to the name. This would be considered the "WRITE button. In the Librarian section. you can then select it, and then do an Add to Group or Add to Amp (Preset channel of 4 options).
Anytime you are in a preset and you change any knob on the amp panel, The app thinks this could be a new preset. At this moment the Write button appears next to the name. If you do a tweak on the panel, then click the WRITE button, so these new settings (built from an existing preset) will be added to the list in Librarian. This is a very quick way to build from an existing preset.
In the app, there is a tab for accessing the stomp box buttons, so you can change between the set onboard presets (CH1-CH2 A and CH1- CH 2 B) as if you had a foot pedal. I do not think this option is in the computer app... I could be wrong. I have noticed something odd when trying to use the A-B switch in the app. I need to look into it, but I think there is a bug on this function. NOT SURE. :)
One final note about the Cabinet setting. There are 5, but if you press variation, then there are 10. I found a website that unlocks the secret cabinets in the Kantana, giving you access to 30 cabinets. The cabinets must be imported into the app using the import Set list function which is in the settings menu.
haveguitar.com/wp/2017/11/10/boss-katana-sneaky-amps-original-amp/
There is actually an app called the katana librarian for Android at least,its meant to work in conjunction with the tone studio software. The app is good for editing on the fly especially if your at a gig or rehearsal.
But it's not an official boss app. Why on earth did they not develop one when there is one for the katana air and the Waza headphones? Not everyone wants to have their laptop out and potentially deal with Windows issues.
@@michaeldean7220 yeah true it is a 3rd party app but least its handy for editing when your out and about.
I absolutely love these amps and will be getting one soon to replace my Marshall DSL 20 combo. I think the Katana just has way more bang for the buck, and I don't want to deal with tubes considering the shortage. I've owned lots of tube amps going back to the mid 80s, gigged a lot with them. One thing I learned is that solid-state can do the job. I gigged with a Randall RG75 combo for years, even when I owned Boogies, Marshalls and other tube amps. I loved the headroom, the power, the reliability, but most of all the tone of the Randall. It absolutely screamed. I already lived through the tube shortage of the late 80s and one is enough. I want reliability and value. And of course, ultra-high gain. So the Katana it is for me. I think these are the best solid state amps since those famed Randalls of the mid to late 80s.
I currently have a Koch Powertone II, Hand wired JTM45 clone and a Friedman Runt 50 Combo. I own an Axe FX FM3 as well. I got a Katana head MKII and Cab on Craigslist a week ago for $250. Bought a used GAFC at GC for $65. This is a killer amp for a little more than $300. I may not sell my other amps but this has it's place in my studio for sure. I've pretty much just been playing the Katana since I got it and it's a killer amp. I';d love to gig it to see how it holds up but I;m sure it will.
@@IamtheFerryMan Koch and Friedman make fine amps. Ax FX is awesome. What I love about the Katana is how much bang for the buck and more you get out of it. I've seen a lot of players around L.A. gigging with them. I haven't seen a single amp so popular for gigging since the Randall RG75 in the 80s. I mean besides various Fenders, of course. Fender is still the biggest amp manufacturer on the planet. But Boss with the Katana line is giving every amp company a run for their money
I bought the MKll 100 and real happy with it , it lives among Hughes& Kettner, Orange , Blackstar & others but it seems to be happy
I like the forgotten big brother of the Katana the blues cube , does great Fender tones
I bought one of the 1st katana 100/212 MKII available before the main shipment came from overseas. I liked it so much I bought a second one. If you’ve never heard an echo or delay in stereo. You’ve probably never taken LSD either. 😎🤘☮️
Omg I love this amp I have the Artist mk2 just got it it’s soooo versatile it can do anything ! The only amp you’ll ever need seriously
Nice non-review review of this amp. All your points spot on. 🤘
Hey Luis... great video... only wish the background music was more rock n roll... the pop disco elevator music was honestly distracting me to the point of having to repeat some parts of the video.. Love you man! 🤘😎🐦🎸
Had to stop watching myself
@@meatrocket1 I love Luis and everything he does... hope to meet the King some day... but yeah... that background music was distracting... maybe kids original music or just him jamming Is prefer over that stuff... but also know he always means well and will probably take the positive criticism. 😎🎸🐦🤘😁
I second this motion lol.
I got the MKII 50 for practice and the Artist 100 combo for gigs with foot switch and i am not disappointed in the tones i get and with the acoustic setting. My electric acoustic sounds Great through the Artist. I have owned many brand name solid state and tube amps and Katana is the closest i heard to a tube amp. But everyone has their tone they like either tube or solid state.
Great Video🤘🏻
I. Nice video. I have one question. 10 amps, 60 effects, 4 banks. How do you manage them ? Acoustic, clean, crunch, lead or do you split the effects on the 4 banks and change your amp ? Thanks
You store them in your tone library on Boss Tone Central. Super easy. 👍🏼
The Gear King! Phil Spector has the wall of sound, you have the wall of gear sir. new sub, all the best
It even sounds good when I plug my acoustics into it.
Question on the Artist mk2 combo.
Im trying to understand something here. When using the combo the way it comes. Im getting the full 100watts thru the single 8ohm speaker.
So, if I decide to connect 2 extension cabs, does it split the 100w into 50watts to one cab and 50watts to the other? And since the jacks for extension cabs are 16ohms each, what kind of power am i really getting?
I would love to have 2 4x12 cabs (like a full stack Marshall). Is it possible to acheive this?
Side question, is it possible to use 2 seperate cabs AND the built in speaker all at the same time?
Since youve read this far, im also curious about matching impedance, ive heard that matching impedance isnt that important when it comes to solid state amps. True or false?
Best 2nd hand purchase I ever made on Guitar gear, I've gigged it, got the Mk1 100 2x12, does everything a working Musician needs, I have a number of Amps, I love my Marshall, but for the Pop/Indy Band I am in at the moment, the Katana is ideal
I would like to add something I find very important. I record and have played with an EVH100 big ole monster amp love it has the great sound we all know it. Here it comes bringing in that gear the big pedalboard and with the EVH, weighing in at 75 pounds in Phoenix in the summer it's a butt-kicker not having a roadcrew like we did in the 80's I'm beat before we play a note. Now we're an all-original band on a euro label. we just completed our 2nd record. My tubes went after 5 years in the EVH. while I waited for the tubes to come in I took the Katana down to rehearsals and played it through the EVH cabs recorded it and I could tell a slight difference but no one else could the Katana stood shoulder to shoulder with the EVH. We only play a 45-minute set and I'm spoiled I believe I shouldn't move our stuff. but it's the way it is now. TTK I think Boss could have not used the word modeler because it's not. But I call it my all-in-one rig for the live gigging musician who is getting older.lol. So Great job Boss love it! My last great challenge will be taking it next year for a true flight rig. Great Job TTK quite the sales guy Thanks for letting me rant!
I got the MK1 100 and although I do like it a lot, especially the crunch and gain tones, I find i'm constantly trying to get the clean tone to sound like a Marshall, which makes me think i should probably get a Marshall. Also agree about the very carefully phrased descriptions, and the lack of info about the signal path, which leads me to believe it's probably is an analogue signal path, but with a little digital input here and there to help along the way. And the effects are all digital, but still sound great. Bang for buck though, it's unbeatable.
you are very clear...enjoyed you
I plan to buy the Boss Katana Head 100 MK2, so this honest video came out at the perfect time.
But I wonder if the 2X5 inches built-in speakers would be good enough as a practice amp as there's no IRs included.
Oilid i have the mk2 head, sure it only has 1 speaker, but it does sterio to cabs .5" speaker is, only good for bedroom practice, but plugged into a good cab youl be delighted with it. my marshall jvc sits in the corner gathering dust most of the time now. dont be afraid, pull the trigger. Im glad i did.
@@rabzo16 Thanks for you answer bro!
I'll add that tbh at bedroom volumes usually small speakers sound better than 12" ones. You have to move a 12" speaker to have it sound decently.
I bought this amp, the Artist MK2, I don't really gig or play out anymore and wanted something that is loud enough to jam with friends or quietly be played in the middle of the night. This amp has excelled at those things, not only that but sounds and feels great. I've sold my lunchbox heads, PRS MT-15, and I had a Marshall Origin 20H (pedal platform) with an Orange 112 cab. I've also had the Victory Sheriff 22, Friedman Runt 20, Marshall DSL20, EVH lbx, Peavey 6505mh, Egnater Tweaker in the last few years. It is / was way easier for me to get a great sound out of this. I don't use many effects, booster, reverb, delay are it. If a person loves their tube amps great, I love them also, they just aren't practical for me anymore.
ben acosta yeh me too, I love this amp. I have three other great expensive 1x12s that are great amps, marshal, fender, and peavy classic. It's kind of it's own thing, if you wanna sound like some other tone you may be disappointed , but for those reasons you stated, maybe all purpose and all effects. I'm upgrading to the artists myself even though I already have the mk2.
Search for "sneaky amps" you can add 29 I think, additional amp types through software that are also found in their GT-100 floor pedal. These work through software, but are not turned on by default. It gives you A LOT more amp types to play with that sound amazing.
Access to sneaky amps was disabled by patches past v2 of the MK I, I believe.
Also, to the best of my knowledge, those amps are NOT from GT-1000, but from their older floor units. While some are nice, most are sub par and have been left out of the Katana series with a good reason.
@@Stormwoken According to this link, I'm correct. I'm using a Katana-Artist MKII, latest firmware and software and they work perfectly. Also, a lot of people sure seem to like those additional amps if you know how to work with them. github.com/katana-dev/docs/blob/master/how-to/use-28-amp-types.md
@@FunkDialout I stand corrected. When I last checked, they weren't available for MK II. It seems that only Orange and Bogner amps are missing.
I use some of the sneaky amps as a base to build some of my own patches but lately those patches have not been working correctly in my katana so I completely scrapped them.. I also find that some of the sneaky amps randomly act wonky in the katana librarian as well, I've also read a few testimonies of people claiming that the sneaky amps have messed with the firmware of their amplifier... in short mine have been acting glitchy
fantastic video 😊
Thank you
I started my career with a 100 watt Marshall with 4 x 2 cab..I moved on to a transistor combo after getting tired of replacing tubes (valves) constantly. Evetually I went back to a Fender Hot Rod but after 10 years it developed some not pleasant distortion and I have yet to find someone to fix it locally. IOn search of a solution, I went through two digital "modelling" amps to see if they might provide what I needed: the Fender Champion 100 and Fender Mustang GT200. Both were hopeless with my pedalboard (half Boss/half Wampler). I finally looked at the Katana range and ended up buying the Artist. Wow...unlike the digital modelling amps, it works great with pedals, but also provides so many effects options that I am thinkling about getting rid of all my Boss pedals (they're in the amp). With the GA-FC EX foot controller I am now finally back to where I wanted to be. As an old time player (almost 50 years) I don't want, or need, bells and whistles or a phone app. I was a great basic clean tone that I can use to build what I need live with my tried and true pedals and the Katana Artist is brilliant at this. Anyone looking for a slightly used Fender Champion or Mustang GT200?
I bought the 50watt Mk2 based on reviews and video reviews. I'm not near as impressed as I thought I'd be. Kind of eh. I do use it daily. I like it, but nothing beats my pedal chain into my Crate G120 2X12 combo into a 4X12 cab.
I agree.
its not made to beat it. look at it's price. its a practice amp. and for the price. nothing beats it.
I don't know if you still have but getting the librarian app honestly opens up just how badass this thing can be.
Excellent, informative,
One very important consideration that every review doesn't mention is cost to repair. I had digital/solid state amps before and when they break, the cost to repair is the cost of buying another amp. It is a very good thing that these amps are cheaper than tube amps, since they never used to be.
Not sure if anyone has commented on this, but there is an app on the phone and tablet which I use in mobile situations. Its the katana library. its 9 bucks in play store. You can store, live sets, a bunch more presets and control the amp just like in tone studio. All you need is a go-cable.
Thanks! I am thinking of 1994/95 time frame when I was lugging around a Marshall 1/2 stack, what a jackass. Combos today are insanely useful, user friendly, transportable, and super budget friendly considering a 1/2 stack back then was about the same price....wow, the artist takes the cake for me
Thanks for the great video. I think its time to now compare the Kat Artist to the Nextone Special.
I love mine so far I just can't figure out why the 100w can't connect to an additional cabinet.
I have a katana 100 MK2 which I got for the FX loop. I used to have the 50 but didn't realize I needed a FX loop until I needed it :). Has anyone figured out how to have the same volume levels when saving presets in all 8 channels. The closest I got was going through all the channels and making them the same level and writing it as a save. Is this the right way to do it? Thanks.
I was a die hard Katana fan. I had the 50, the 100 and the 100 MKII. I play in two bands. Then the day came I wanted to spend more for an amp and get a really good one. So obviously the Katana Artist MKII it was. I have it since April and never really bonded. For me the solid state weaknesses are pushed by the fantastic Waza Craft Speaker, so now I can hear the sizzle, the lacking warmth and natural compression of the technology. I expected to love it but right now I’m selling it I can’t stand the harsh distortion. The cleans are good, the Artist has way more bottom end than the 100. but somehow I didn’t like the tone at all. Maybe it’s only me but I recently purchased a 15 W cheap tube amp (200 bucks) and I’m in love. I’m going all tube now.
hey I'm curious what cheap tube amp tickets for two hundred bucks the only one I seen that's gotten a ton of reviews on TH-cam was the amount of force monoprice 15 watt with the tree 7080 speaker nothing but good good reviews on that but I'm curious is that what you got cuz I'm looking for a cheap tube amp just to see what it's like anyway thank you sincerely yours, Bob the blind baking guitarist guitarist
Robert Sutton Hey, yes it’s a version of the Monoprice 15 which is branded as the Harley Benton Tube 15 here in Germany, sold by Thomann. It’s a fantastic little amp!
Lord knows there will never be an amp tube or solid state that will make everyone happy
People are saying the distortion on loud volume is trash and unusable for gigging. My question then is if you're micing up anyways why not reduce the volume, not max it out? And getting the 2x12 would that be better in that case? I am reluctant on getting just the head because i only have 1 cab and it's in our rehersal studio. I want an amp to bring with me without having to drag along a cab. But in that case the speakers in this combo amp need to bee good enough to use without micing up🤔
Just got mine , it is a really nice amp
Whatre yalls opinion on the thought that software-based amps will feel very outdated or obsolete in, say, 5-10 years?
I absolutely love my Artist MkII. But the software and GA-FC are must-haves, or you’re underutilizing it.
I bought an Artist MkII and i'm terribly shocked that the Boss Tone Studio App for IPAD does not work in my Amp. It just don't make any sense. Besides that, i'm very very happy with this amp.
I have the 100 single speaker combo. Bank "B" is accessible if you use the foot switch. This amp has replaced my Marshall DSL as my main gigging amp. It's all I'll ever need.
I *LOVE* my Artist Mk II but I found Boss Tone Studio to be overwhelming in the sense that you can get lost trying to find that elusive tone. I think that it is worth mentioning there are plenty of people who share their patches on the interwebs that get you closer to your tone faster than constantly tweaking. As a working adult with a child, I really don't have the time luxury to tweak as opposed to playing.
Thank you for the video and highlighting the amp without plugging in. No "check this out, this X is like the Y and if you do this, it will Z will sound less gritty than X" nonsense. Excellent video!
Just play through it then
Great video i'm a new subscriber. I've just bought an Artist Mk2 100 on impulse due to a video claiming it made tube amps redundant. I love the gain sounds but my blues junior sounds so much better on cleans. If anyone has any suggestions/patches I'd appreciate any advice. I would like the simplicity of the katana effects/drive with tube cleans/breakup of my tube amp. That might be too much ask 😊🤟
You are 100% correct about it be a modelling amp as is it "model's" other amps.....It gives you "flavours" that are based on Solid state technology, NOT digital (ie.Line 6) or Hybrid tube/Digital/SS (ie, Vox Valvetronix)......But they DID "model" their own pedals. and did that well....But even without the 55 Boss Pedal model's that you can download. Just by itself, as a Solid state amp, Acoustic, Clean,Crunch.Lead and Brown, and a Power Variable Control and footswitchable FX loop....and an awesome price. Pretty cool. I have other amps (including tube) but as a lightweight versatile, pedal platorm. You can't beat it. .....My only complaint is that you have to use a computer to get to the Noise Gate. To me, something that important should be accessed on the panel......and yes that "Bank B" thing gets confusing sometimes. (I have the MK1 version 100 Watt head)
Yes, yes, but how long do you cook it? I had mine in the over for an hour and 45 minutes and to be honest the Katana was a bit dry. I should have basted it, right? Thank you for the video. I do wish that you stated how you felt it felt and sounded compared to your many tube amps though. I am a tube guy, so...but I am solid state curious. Pretty sure that I would rather shove it in a tube amp. But the reviews and demoes sound good. Some even better than some of my tube amps.
After Tony mini tube amps myself I have to be honest that the katana makes the tones and sounds that I sometimes wish that I would have from my actual valve amps... there are differences but mainly those differences are to the purest who actually play the music, and a live setting or in recording you will be hard-pressed to know the difference when it is in a mix. I have had some of my own friends debate me when I have made recordings using my Katana where they swore up and down that I used one of my valve Marshalls. Is the only solid state amp I've ever used that definitely creates a gray area between tubes and solid state.
Thank you for a 100% MUSICIAN overview of this amp cause you would be amazed at axe effrects and fractul users say to me about it and there # 1 go to is , YOU CAN'T GIG WITH THE 100W 1/12. So thank youm for an honest view , ya know non-bias.