Boss katana 50

[Godin15]

Yesterday went to my favorite store spent 3 hrs checking out amps. Happened to come across the new Boss Katana 50. This unit comes with 0.5 watts to 25 watts to 50 watts of pure listening power to my ears. The sounds that come from this box is impressive. Has a twelve inch speaker and has an appealing looking black cabinet, overall quality is good and is built light. Great for lugging around to gigs. Has many features Phazer, crunch, etc. just like many amps have but there is something different about this amp versus others I have played. When I asked what the price was I couldn't believe it $289 CDN. Boss has come up with a solid state amp that is sure to make the tube guys take a second look in my opinion. When I can come up with some extra cash I definitely will be picking one up.

 

[JeffB]

Re: Boss katana 50

I saw a sweetwater demo for these come up in my yootoob feed the other day. The demo sounded awful to me even through good cans. Sounded like some poorly recorded Boss pedals or something.

I guess I will have to try one in person, as I am in the market for a new practice amp.

Edit- here it is..

 

[coachc55]

Re: Boss katana 50

Yep. Need to try one in person. Sometimes videos can make sounds better or worse.


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[Diego]

Re: Boss katana 50

Chapman did a really good review of it. Two, actually. One for clean sounds and other for dirty.

I can see in a not so distant future that I'll be buying the 100 watt head. It's a total no nonsense amp.

 

[Godin15]

Re: Boss katana 50

That sweetwater demos is one of the worse I have ever seen on this amp. After I came home from checking out this amp I came home and started to look for reviews on this amp. of course couldn't find many due to the fact it is new on the market. But I did find a review from Andertons in the U.K a very good review check it out. And as I always say try one out for yourself no matter what the reviews say.

 

[devastone]

Re: Boss katana 50

I have to agree about that Sweetwater demo being bad. The reviews I've seen of the Katana definitely have my interest, although I'm not sure what it would buy me over my GT-100 into a ISP Stealth power amp.

 

[JeffB]

Re: Boss katana 50

I have such a aversion to watching Chapman anymore. His shtick got old real quick. Not to mention I rarely find his/andertons demos sound very good either.

I will wait to see if one shows up locally.

 

[Empty Pockets]

Re: Boss katana 50

We have the half stack at my store and, as a tube guy i will say, i did not give it a second look. It sounds like Boss. Good enough for a gig, but nothing special or crazy, everything kinda harsh and lifeless and buzzy and thin. I'd consider one as a backup amp if it was a ridiculous price but i don't see Boss putting Marshall, Mesa, Orange or Fender out of business with what is essentially a GT100 and a power amp in a head format. You could get the same kind of sounds out of an ME25 and a powered speaker. YMMV

 

[JeffB]

Re: Boss katana 50

It sounds like Boss.

Im a firm believer in trying things myself, but I have watched 5 demos for this amp now, including one of Anderton's, and it pretty much sounds like a Boss od/distortion pedal on top of a clean amp to me, and geared for more modern tight preampy gain sounds.

 

[Diego]

Re: Boss katana 50

We have the half stack at my store and, as a tube guy i will say, i did not give it a second look. It sounds like Boss. Good enough for a gig, but nothing special or crazy, everything kinda harsh and lifeless and buzzy and thin. I'd consider one as a backup amp if it was a ridiculous price but i don't see Boss putting Marshall, Mesa, Orange or Fender out of business with what is essentially a GT100 and a power amp in a head format. You could get the same kind of sounds out of an ME25 and a powered speaker. YMMV

That's a bummer. I had higher hopes from the demo I heard.
Did you try it through the Boss cab? Any chance you could try it through something different and give it a go?

 

[Lampy H]

Re: Boss katana 50

I have such a aversion to watching Chapman anymore. His shtick got old real quick. Not to mention I rarely find his/andertons demos sound very good either.

I will wait to see if one shows up locally.

Yep.

 

[Empty Pockets]

Re: Boss katana 50

That's a bummer. I had higher hopes from the demo I heard.
Did you try it through the Boss cab? Any chance you could try it through something different and give it a go?

I just played it through the matching cab. My shop has Orange, Marshall, Friedman, and lots of other awesome amps so i really have no interest in touching the Boss again.

 

[aleclee]

Re: Boss katana 50

Initial impressions on TGP (Zzounds started shipping 'em last week) are pretty positive and the list of available FX is staggering.

 

[Empty Pockets]

Re: Boss katana 50

TGP guys like every new piece of gear for approximately 1 month.

 

[coachc55]

Re: Boss katana 50

Speaking of these amps. Roland's cube 20gx amp models are essentially boss pedals from what I understand. 40 and 80 are COSM modeling.


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[aleclee]

Re: Boss katana 50

TGP guys like every new piece of gear for approximately 1 month.

More like two weeks, but it is remarkable when they like something that's neither expensive nor esoteric.

 

[coachc55]

Re: Boss katana 50

Here is a pretty good demo of the Katana.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e_hbGm0lWUo

 

[BloodRose]

Re: Boss katana 50

I have such a aversion to watching Chapman anymore. His shtick got old real quick. Not to mention I rarely find his/andertons demos sound very good either.

I will wait to see if one shows up locally.

I used to like his and Capt Lee's demos... were amusing and informative. BUT.... Now they carry on way too much and all the demos are 25-30 min long for 4 min worth of info..

Sadly, Sweetwater demos are usually not good. Both dull and little actual playing examples. just a rundown of specs and very little sound demos

 

[devastone]

Re: Boss katana 50

/\ Agreed on both counts... If I want a 1/2 hour British comedy I'll watch Fry and Laurie on Hulu.

 

[JeffB]

Re: Boss katana 50

Lee Anderton I like. But I prefer his interview/demos...like for the andertons 1 watt with Joe B, the interviews with PRS and Bernie Marsden. The chappers/captain I rarely bother watching anymore.

When Sweetwater let's Don Carr do his thing, the demo's are usually good. I like Mitch, but his demo's always seem rushed, salesy/scripted, and he makes everything sound like a $50.00 overdrive pedal.