New Amp Day -- Boss Katana 100 Gen 3

[Masta' C]

...but you need an extra pricey Bluetooth dongle...

FYI...it's only like $40 right now on Amazon, Guitar Center, etc. Seems like a reasonable price for the added flexibility.

 

[Mincer]

FYI...it's only like $40 right now on Amazon, Guitar Center, etc. Seems like a reasonable price for the added flexibility.

Is this a special Boss dongle for the Gen 3 Katanas or is it just a generic USB to Bluetooth thing?

 

[Animal]

Heck yeah! Glad you like it!
BTW, as you likely know already, the Katana takes pedals wonderfully. Definitely try an overdrive in front of it (I actually like the EQD Special Cranker myself).

I've read somewhere that as a purely clean pedal platform, the acoustic channel works best as it has the most headroom and transparency.

Have you tried using a Katana this way?

 

[weepingminotaur]

FYI...it's only like $40 right now on Amazon, Guitar Center, etc. Seems like a reasonable price for the added flexibility.

$40 USD for a dongle is not cheap IMO for a technology that is almost becoming standard these days. But I may still spring for it down the line...

Mincer I believe the dongle is proprietary to Boss. At least on the gen 3, it mentions the BT-Dual in the manual.

 

[donaldr]

Honestly, I didn't know that...you think a 2nd Gen would work with a USB/Lightning dongle?

I have the 1st Gen and it's working BUT it's with an Android tablet.

The iOS version is not working with USB (I have a usb-c iPhone 15), only bluetooth.

Wait before spending money on an adaptor for your iPhone.

 

[Mincer]

FYI, earlier Katanas cannot be edited on iOS with a usb-to-lightning connector. The iOS isn't class compliant, and doesn't recognize the Katana's USB output. You can get a $70 Airstep pedal, which can send a Bluetooth signal to an iOS device, and buy the Katana Librarian app from the app store. Otherwise you have to use a USB to laptop connection for edits.

 

[Masta' C]

$40 USD for a dongle is not cheap IMO for a technology that is almost becoming standard these days.

Name a 100W 1x12" modeling combo amp with factory Bluetooth from a respectable brand that sells for what the Katana does. I'll wait...

Ha ha! :lmao:

Most guitar "amps" currently available with built-in Bluetooth are lunchbox/tabletop units like the Katana Air or Yamaha THR30II and, even then, those aren't exactly cheap.

At least with the external BT-Dual dongle on the Gen 3, you can replace it if it ever fails.

 

[weepingminotaur]

Name a 100W 1x12" modeling combo amp with factory Bluetooth from a respectable brand that sells for what the Katana does. I'll wait...

Ha ha! :lmao:

Most guitar "amps" currently available with built-in Bluetooth are lunchbox/tabletop units like the Katana Air or Yamaha THR30II and, even then, those aren't exactly cheap.

At least with the external BT-Dual dongle on the Gen 3, you can replace it if it ever fails.

Fair enough. I may grab that dongle at some point...

 

[weepingminotaur]

I've been testing out the Pushed voicing on the Katana, and IMO it is really great. Exactly the sweet spot between Crunch and Clean. As always, you have to tweak the settings to your taste, but this voicing alone makes it much easier to get the coveted edge-of-breakup tone without specific pedals. The voicing is very responsive to volume and tone knob adjustments, which I appreciate.