Amp Advice: Kicking out the Katana

[Mononoaware]

Long story short, about a year ago, I sold my full-sized amps due to living circumstances, and went with a Yamaha THR10. I've really enjoyed it, and it's been the perfect amp while moving around. Now, though, I'm ready to add another amp back into the mix.

Unfortunately, I have to rely on online reviews where I'm at -- no big-box stores in driving distance.I ordered a Katana 100 based on the overwhelming praise it gets. After many, many hours of tweaking and playing, I'm sure it's not the unit for me. There's something inherent in the voicing that gets on my nerves -- this nasal, bricky, unorganic feel -- that persists regardless of EQ or gain settings. I'm convinced that no amount of tweaking or speaker break-in is going to change the amp into something I find inspiring to play like I do the THR10 or certain amp sims like S-Gear or ReValver.

I explain all that because know that there's a lot of love for this amp, and despite all that, it clearly isn't going to work for me. So it's getting traded out. I'm interested in finding something more organic, and possibly simpler, for home studio practacing and recording. I don't see myself gigging, but a portable pick-up and go type (smaller than the Kat) might be nice.

Anyone have recommendations based on personal experience for something a little less complicated and a more organic in the 8"-12" speaker range?

Parameters: Home use mainly. Guitars are HH Ibanezes and a Tele. Really looking for just 3 good sounds at non-deafening levels: chimey cleans, a nice blues crunch, and something that can do up through 80s hair gain (or takes pedals well on the front end). Budget tops out around $650 for the whole thing.

Stuff I'm Considering/Have Researched:

• Vox (VT-X or AV series)
• Fender Champ X2 (I had a 70s Champ I LOVED, even if it was a one trick pony)
• Blackstar TVR series or HT5R
• Peavey Valveking II mini head
• Ibanez TSA15 (have played it, and loved the cleans)
• Marshall DSL series (seems like too much amp for home play)
• Peavey solid-state options (Envoy, Bandit, etc.) with pedals
• Laney Cub 10 or 15

Thanks for your advice -- it's all great and good to listen to endless YouTube videos, but y'all are a great resource of personal experience.

 

[VinceT]

Re: Amp Advice: Kicking out the Katana

Fender Bassbreaker?


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[ehdwuld]

Re: Amp Advice: Kicking out the Katana

That Bandit would do what you want and built like a tank

 

[dave74]

Re: Amp Advice: Kicking out the Katana

The Express and Studio-Pro are just the perfect size portable 112 for next to nothing, like a single bill or less.

I paid $100 local for my studio-pro and the knobs are all quiet and smooth feeling, plus the speaker was upgraded to a 1230 like comes stock in the Express.

Studio lacks the presence and dynamics knob, maybe an effect-level control also IIRC. Express for $100-$150 is just a great little pedal amp with some kick.

The Studio also has an 8ohm speaker-out that cancels the 1230, so you can sit it on a cab and just hear the cab's speakers. (I put some large soft-rubber feet on mine to protect the cab-tops)
The Express probably powers both a cab and it's own speaker like the Bandits, but I'm not sure. Ace Bob would know.

 

[shupe13]

Re: Amp Advice: Kicking out the Katana

I had the Katana 100 and I really liked it. A crazy deal came my way and the Katana went away. Because I was without an amp I grabbed a new Fender Mustang GT 100 because that was what was immediately available.

I prefer the Mustang hands down. Better amps, better effects and easier to tweak (you can visualize every tweak from effects parimeters to where the effect is in the chain. Multiple amps can run in parallel too). I love it.

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[Mononoaware]

Re: Amp Advice: Kicking out the Katana

Fender Bassbreaker?


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Oops, forgot to list that one. I've been side-eyeing the 007, too. So many choices!

The Peaveys are really tempting. They seem solid and straight forward. I'm just wary of pure solid state, particularly with overdrives and distortions. How do they sound with something simple in front -- say, a RAT or SD-1?

Mustang is another good recommendation. I had a V2 for a long time. Loved the cleans/near breakup, but the high gain sounds didn't do it for me (kinda lacked punch and that "singing" thing the THR10 can do so well). Are the GTs that much improved?

And thanks! Keep 'em coming.

 

[Mincer]

Re: Amp Advice: Kicking out the Katana

The Peaveys work well with pedals in front. Another option is a Tech 21 Trademark series..the 30 or 60.

 

[aiaosu]

Re: Amp Advice: Kicking out the Katana

I have a Fender Bassbreaker 007 Head with a 12" Fane in a cab I made. I love the natural overdrive and it's a great amp. What it doesn't do well is sparkly cleans like you said you wanted. There's very little headroom...it does have a clean sound, but not much.

It's possible the Bassbreaker 15 has more clean headroom, but I don't have personal experience with it though. Highly recommend the 007 for everything else though.

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[FuseG4]

Re: Amp Advice: Kicking out the Katana

Valveking ii feels a little cheap like the headbox is small and thin and looks a little dinky and has kinda a flat bland tone but on the other hand it's inoffensive and versatile.
The super champ x2 is a little limited by the boxy farty speaker but the deep editing possible with a computer makes it extremely versatile and has nice times for the fender models and the 5153 setting, but the British models are lacking. But the Princeton and champ models on it are worth the price of admission to me if that's your price bracket

 

[Mononoaware]

Re: Amp Advice: Kicking out the Katana

Just pulled the trigger on a red stripe Studio Pro with a Scorpion speaker. About 1/2 the price of the Katana and hopefully it'll be a good bread 'n butter amp with pedals and my Zoom unit. I'll want something more down the road, I'm sure. But for now, this'll fill a need, and it sounds like a solid basic amp.

Good points on the Champ. I had the first generation version, and kind of forgot the boxy aspect to it. I like the editability of the new version, but I'm not sure I wouldn't rather just save up for a Princeton recording amp or something else.

Bassbreaker 15 might be in my future, though. Just so sexy all around -- maybe when I've got the cash and a little more space to open it up.

Thanks for everyone's input.

 

[dave74]

Re: Amp Advice: Kicking out the Katana

Much better speaker than the blue marvel IMO. I think I looked at that one on Reverb from Durham NC. Sweet deal.

 

[Mononoaware]

Re: Amp Advice: Kicking out the Katana

Much better speaker than the blue marvel IMO. I think I looked at that one on Reverb from Durham NC. Sweet deal.

Yep, that exact one. Seller seems like a good guy, and the amp should have a short trip -- I'm only about 4 hours from Durham. Considered driving to pick it up, but I don't have a day to spare right now. Still felt like a decent deal with shipping.

 

[Aceman]

Re: Amp Advice: Kicking out the Katana

Can't wait for the Peavey review!

 

[Demanic]

Re: Amp Advice: Kicking out the Katana

Clips please.

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[dave74]

Re: Amp Advice: Kicking out the Katana

Clips please.

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Hey you shouldn't clip someone's Peavey!

 

[Mononoaware]

Re: Amp Advice: Kicking out the Katana

Just a quick update. The amp arrived in great shape. I'm not particularly fond of honeymoon gear reviews, so I might post something down the road once I've had some serious time with this amp. But I'm very pleased with what I've found so far:

• Seems indestructible. Since I got one made in Mississippi, it's probably doubly solid.
• Wonderful SS cleans, both in the modern and vintage modes. I eyed the Roland JC-series earlier in my search, and though I'm sure they're fantastic sounding, I'm very happy with what the Peavey produces. Better (more lively and sweeter) than the Katana's cleans, imho.
• My multiFX zoom unit works great in the loop for time and mod effects. That will save me buying individual pedals for now.
• The Vintage setting on the Lead channel has some serious warmth to it, and it's growing on me. The other settings might satisfy metal guys, but I probably won't spend a lot of time there.
• No Master volume, only channel volumes. I missed this detail. I can work around it, but it's the one thing I kinda would like to have.
• Still dialing in a good drive sound. My SD-1 works best into one of the clean settings, and I've ordered a couple cheapie ODs to play around with. Considering trying a Joyo AC or British into the FX return to see how a different flavor of preamp works.

Thanks again for the recommendations. I think I've got a winner here! If any Peavey Bandit/Studio Pro/Envoy users have drive pedal recommendations to try, let me know. I've got a Rat and an SD-1, but feel like I could do better for Marshally blues/rock/solo sounds.

 

[ehdwuld]

Re: Amp Advice: Kicking out the Katana

I have used my Joyo Ultimate Drive pedal into my Laney GC80A SS amp with success
But it absolutely loves my Carvin Belair tube amp

 

[dave74]

Re: Amp Advice: Kicking out the Katana

As a cheaper simplified distortion for a clean channel I really like the OpAmp BigMuff. It also does very well getting pushed by a clean boost, actives, compressor,od-boost ect,.
https://pedals.thedelimagazine.com/ehx-big-muff-op-amp-vs-original-diode-muffs/
It's not a pedal I'd use as a dedicated preamp since it only has a tone knob, but if you already have the clean channel's EQ to dial the tone then who needs all those extra knobs on a pedal anyways.

Also when you use the clean channel (especially with distortion pedals) you might see if the gain channel's pregain knob has any effect as you roll it up near max. It shouldn't have any effect on the clean channel, but on several older silver-stripes I've tried it actually rolls-off the presence abruptly once you get past 3:00. Maybe it's just that all the silver-stripes are getting up there in age now.

 

[evan47]

Re: Amp Advice: Kicking out the Katana

I gave up on BOSS gear earlier this year.
In the past I owned a GT 6 and loved it but let it go when I gave up playing guitar for about ten years.
Last year I picked up the guitar again and got hold of the THR 10 C and a boss ME 80.
The THR was ok albeit limited in its amp tones but I found one or two tweaked models that I liked.
The ME 80 just did not have the amp sounds to suit me so I moved on to the GT 100 which I found to be a little better in this respect but it still did not hit the spot for me by a long shot.
On a whim I popped into my local music store and tried out the Blackstar ID15TVP and finally found what I was looking for.
It took me no time at all to dial in the sounds that I wanted on the day I bought it and, six months on I have barely tweaked it.
The Yamaha and boss gear remained unused for months so I moved them on to buy an ltd ec1000 asb with a JB/59 pickup set and have not looked back.
I can get the classic thin lizzy, boston and skynyrrd tones which I love with the advantage of getting a great sound at whisper level for late night playing.

 

[Diego]

Re: Amp Advice: Kicking out the Katana

I ordered a Katana 100 based on the overwhelming praise it gets. After many, many hours of tweaking and playing, I'm sure it's not the unit for me. There's something inherent in the voicing that gets on my nerves -- this nasal, bricky, unorganic feel -- that persists regardless of EQ or gain settings. I'm convinced that no amount of tweaking or speaker break-in is going to change the amp into something I find inspiring to play like I do the THR10 or certain amp sims like S-Gear or ReValver.

You just described the exact issue I had with my old Roland Cube 60. It just felt fake.

Glad you went with that Peavey. Hardly anything wrong with them. The definition of workhorse amps.