Talk me out of a Katana head
- Thread starter DankStar
- Start date
That absolutely was not my experience with it. At the time I was running it into an iso box and monitoring through studio monitors. I didn't hear any power tube simulation or saturation. Maybe that changed in a later fw update.
The GT100 was boss' last flagship multieffect before they added IRs. The preamps are great, but it doesn't have a great speaker simulator. They refactored that tech into several products. The GT-1 and later the Katana amps.
When played through a speaker and real amp, the GT100 preamps are quite good. As is the katana. But the point was that the katana power section doesn't do the amp any favors. If you already have a tube amp, you could find a used GT100 and get a similar experience plugging directly to the FX loop return.
IMENATOR
Well-known member
How flexible is the FX loop? I want to try virtual overdrive from the Katana into a tube preamp pedal I could insert in the FX loop, that also means I want to "remove" the head's preamp from the signal chain.
How good is it for mild overdrive? I know crystal clean and high gain stuff sounds great but I like to roll back the volume of the Strat to get a breakup clean.
How good is it for mild overdrive? I know crystal clean and high gain stuff sounds great but I like to roll back the volume of the Strat to get a breakup clean.
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donaldr
Well-known member
I got a Katana 50w to replace my Roland Micro-Cube. For that purpose (on the 1w power setting) it's brillant. Going at 25w it's a good hi-volume practice amp.
If you already have a 1x12" or 2x12" cab then give it a go for the Katana Head. The sound is usable, the dynamic is good, the power option is brillant and it's good overall for the price.
But my Atomic Ampli-Firebox, thru my EV ZLX-12P power speaker, is sounding better at low-volume, at hi-volume and direct to FOH/recording interface. Just as portable as a 1x12" combo IMO. I'm waiting for my TC BAM200 to arrive (it's a bass amp I know) and will use it + AFB + 1x12" cab for when there's no FOH support or when to jam at my friend drummer house. This will be the end of the Katana for me.
If you already have a 1x12" or 2x12" cab then give it a go for the Katana Head. The sound is usable, the dynamic is good, the power option is brillant and it's good overall for the price.
But my Atomic Ampli-Firebox, thru my EV ZLX-12P power speaker, is sounding better at low-volume, at hi-volume and direct to FOH/recording interface. Just as portable as a 1x12" combo IMO. I'm waiting for my TC BAM200 to arrive (it's a bass amp I know) and will use it + AFB + 1x12" cab for when there's no FOH support or when to jam at my friend drummer house. This will be the end of the Katana for me.
larryguitar
Active member
I got the Mk I 50 watt combo, and really, REALLY tried to like it. Downloaded all the 'secret' settings and bent over backwards, but just never got on with the gain sounds.
I'm pretty easy; I need a chimey clean, a Marshall/Soldano/Friedman style gain and a boosted version of the gain channel, and I could never quite get that from the Katana. I really did try, because it's an insane value, and I've heard them sound great, but for me, in the room and with my guitars, it didn't click.
Not really all that negative, but I tried.
Larry
I'm pretty easy; I need a chimey clean, a Marshall/Soldano/Friedman style gain and a boosted version of the gain channel, and I could never quite get that from the Katana. I really did try, because it's an insane value, and I've heard them sound great, but for me, in the room and with my guitars, it didn't click.
Not really all that negative, but I tried.
Larry
Just found this interesting article about hidden amps on the Katana. I have to try this!
Masta' C
Well-known member
Most of you guys already know that I really dig the Katana series.
My fandom started when I got a first-gen KTN-50 in a trade and decided to use it as a practice amp alongside my big-boy Peavey 6505+. I liked it more than I thought I would, but I found it a bit boxy and lacking features, so I quickly upgraded to a Mk.I KTN-100, which offered incredible bang-for-the-buck.
However, once I heard the original Artist combo in person, I knew it was worth the price of admission. So, I found a deal, traded up and got the Artist, which ended up replacing both the KTN-100 and my 6505+ half-stack.
Eventually, I sold the Artist for a small profit and picked up a Mk.II KTN-100 after realizing that Boss' second-gen updates really started to close the gap between these 2 models. The only thing I found lacking on the Mk.II KTN-100 compared to the original Artist was a slightly larger cab, the Waza speaker, and the front-facing controls, but the KTN-100 held its own tonally despite these differences.
If I was buying another Katana model today, a used Mk.II head would be my first choice, followed by the second-gen Artist combo (not the Artist head).
From what I understand, the brand new Artist head dumps the internal practice speaker of the regular head and most of the "extra" knob-controlled features on the Artist head can still be accessed and tweaked through the computer software on the regular head, making it less of a value. Thus, I think the Mk.II head is really the sweet spot, especially if you already have a cabinet of some type to pair it with.
The new KTN-50 "EX" and Artist heads are really just minor updates of existing products, signaling that the generation is probably nearing its end. I bet we see the first Mk.III Katanas hit the shelves in the next 12-24 months.
My fandom started when I got a first-gen KTN-50 in a trade and decided to use it as a practice amp alongside my big-boy Peavey 6505+. I liked it more than I thought I would, but I found it a bit boxy and lacking features, so I quickly upgraded to a Mk.I KTN-100, which offered incredible bang-for-the-buck.
However, once I heard the original Artist combo in person, I knew it was worth the price of admission. So, I found a deal, traded up and got the Artist, which ended up replacing both the KTN-100 and my 6505+ half-stack.
Eventually, I sold the Artist for a small profit and picked up a Mk.II KTN-100 after realizing that Boss' second-gen updates really started to close the gap between these 2 models. The only thing I found lacking on the Mk.II KTN-100 compared to the original Artist was a slightly larger cab, the Waza speaker, and the front-facing controls, but the KTN-100 held its own tonally despite these differences.
If I was buying another Katana model today, a used Mk.II head would be my first choice, followed by the second-gen Artist combo (not the Artist head).
From what I understand, the brand new Artist head dumps the internal practice speaker of the regular head and most of the "extra" knob-controlled features on the Artist head can still be accessed and tweaked through the computer software on the regular head, making it less of a value. Thus, I think the Mk.II head is really the sweet spot, especially if you already have a cabinet of some type to pair it with.
The new KTN-50 "EX" and Artist heads are really just minor updates of existing products, signaling that the generation is probably nearing its end. I bet we see the first Mk.III Katanas hit the shelves in the next 12-24 months.
Mikelamury
New member
I've got a 50 watt katana mkii combo that I used extensively before I started buying tube amps. Nothing to complain about, most of the effects are even solid. I liked the gain on it and everything else it had to offer. Easily the best SS amp I've ever had.
larryguitar
Active member
Those are the 'secret settings' I referred to a couple posts above. I didn't find them compelling, but folks rave about them.
Larry
NegativeEase
New member
I mean, I dont believe there are any downsides if the features meat your requirements.
It's a first choice amp in my mind
It's a first choice amp in my mind
