"THE BOSS KATANA SUCKS!" - Someone has to say it.

[@Guitarnivore]

Sorry about the click bait, folks. I try not to do it often, but I felt it was appropriate, especially to get the haters to click and maybe learn why they're wrong.

[@Ivan_obregon]

😂 eit man, you’re are making the haters to come and see your video, I got a Katana 50 mkii and I love it, boss is a company that makes great effects and has built this amp with tons of effects that can be tuned up, actually I am willing to use only the amp panel with a foot control and a exp pedal, we also can control this amp with katana tone studio and katana librarian with Mac and PC as well as android and iOS, boss is a Japanese brand that makes good quality products 🎸🦾 P.D. Great video, pla keep on rocking uploading your cool videos

[@beegeewhy]

I kinda thought that clickbait was BS, so I bit to see if you could convince me one way or the other. And you did, Thanks !

[@tidesrollin5343]

Your video got me connected!!! Thanks man!!!

[@SamBerbatov2010]

Fooled me… I was at the ready to send you a torrent of abuse… clickbait works 😅😅 love my katana! :)

[@greg6162]

Dude… I just joined a band. I’m a new player that caught on pretty quick. However, my Yamaha THR10II can’t cut through our drummer. I don’t have a working PC so I guess the Katana MKII 50 is out. I wish Yamaha would release a 100w THRII. Any suggestions for a modeling amp that can cut through a drummer that’s also not super heavy… any suggestions would be greatly appreciated 🙏

[@DBroce]

I’ve been playing for forty years, I own multiple amplifiers and I have two Katanas running in stereo and I’m as happy as I’ve ever been with a rig at any price. All my musician friends couldn’t believe the stereo sound, it’s so great. F@ck the haters. Your channel is solid.

[@j.p.7708]

My band mates keep telling me how good my Katana sounds in a room full of Marshall and orange amps.🤷‍♂️

[@Guitarnivore]

That right there says a lot!

[@SmokeWithMeInCT]

They lying to you

[@bendover7152]

​@@SmokeWithMeInCTKatanas rock. The popularity of the amp speaks for itself. The versatility is absolutely key for someone like me who plays every genre out there.

[@aesric]

Sympathy

[@rscrevolutionpking7143]

And thats why no one knows your band.. 😂

[@brian91145]

I’ve gigged my 100 katana for 5 years straight. Always reliable and sounds great!

[@ernestdameron7505]

You’re videos have been a Godsend. You have saved me hours of me trying to figure this out myself. I initially intended on using the panel, but you are 100% correct that tone studio opens up many more possibilities. Thank you.

[@Guitarnivore]

Glad I could help. I can't imagine using this amp just from the panel.

[@canadianintheukbrian]

I'm 57 bud worked as a IT Service Engineer for over 20 years , my experience for the most part user's where too lazy to read the instructions or take to the time to learn, we live in a society today people expect a quick snap of the finger its there, no, with any modeling amp there is a learning curve, I had years ago a VOX VTX 20 great amp people moaned its too hard to understand , well I read the manual looked on various resources to understand how to program the tones, in fact I found it fun discovering what I could do with the amp, BOSS Katana is a brilliant amp as you said for what you get for money it's incredible , personally now I own BOSS Katana Mini I shake my head the technology in this little box is incredible the tones from this little 7 watt monster suits my needs, its very basic no pluggins just your ears, but its so stupid and really sad, this is a great channel tremondous free resource, on how to program the amp, just blows my mind how people have nothing better to do but get on a channel and moan , if you don't the like the fecking amp or the channel why the feck you watch it, I love your channel I think it would fun to get into the studio software create your own tone , and the library tones you can get from other users is brilliant , in terms of driver's and updates, again there is so many resources online You Tube etc on how to do this , maybe their too damn fecking lazy who knows, the other things I find many of the older generation users can't be arsed to find tones and all that, we came from a generation you turn it on and that's it, but again , maybe because being in IT for over 25 years it doesn't bother me, but stop bitching have some fun push yourself to learn keep the brain moving their is plenty of great resources this channel is a gold mine, I was thinking of going with interface and plugins , but cost analyis cheap interface , plugins etc, and my PC is a older Dell XPS 2nd Icore 5 12 Gigs of Ram its getting long on the tooth I record my practices on OBS sometimes there is some strain there , I would feel better with bit better more up to date specs running a studio more added costs , I'm cheap bastard I guess the PC is great for what it does and just swapped over to ssd so its fine mabye not for a studio pc anymore so that's another reason why the Katana 50 makes sense, I would just have to get a good set of headphones but it you can throw it down to .5 watts , anyways just ignore these trolls , you have a great channel that's why I subscirbed , if I do get the Katana 50 this channel will be a great resource so cheers bud !!

[@Guitarnivore]

Once you plug headphones into the phones/rec output, it drops the wattage down. You can actually have it on standby and it will still produce sound out of that output. I love the Katana mini as well. I have a couple speakers from an old stereo that I'm thinking about building to use as a sort of mini-stack to plug into the Katana mini like the mod I've seen people do.

[@canadianintheukbrian]

@@Guitarnivore I have 3 P 90's Stock Strat from Vintage here in the UK type guitar I love cranking the gain up on Mini lower the volume you get some serious dirty tone , great for the blues

[@prism223]

IMO people are willing to work around the well-known blemishes with tube amplifiers because it's part of guitar lore. The fact that e.g. plugging a guitar straight into a tube amp will lead to specific issues that every recording studio will have to deal with before the guitar is worth listening to on a good stereo system (bass & treble cuts, specific nasty mid frequency cuts for distorted guitar, e.g. 2.5-3.5 kHz) means that either you ignore the issues and pass them off to the sound tech or you deal with them through a chain of EQ pedals in the FX loop.
I went from a Marshall whose tubes were needing replacement to the BOSS Katana Artist and instantly found it more useful for the simple reason that the amp comes with good EQ tools. So I went from needing to give the guitar special processing outside of the amp to just plugging in a guitar and instantly getting great tone that I could play live or record.
The difference in tone that I can hear between the Katana and my old Marshall is not of the "Better/Worse" type, but rather just different tones of similar caliber, but with the caveat that the Marshall really only got Marshall tones, whereas the Katana gets Marshall-esque tones in addition to tones that are totally foreign to the Marshall (and all tube amps really) due to the excellent clean amp models on the Katana.

[@Rushtallica]

I've been using the mark I 100 Watt 112 combo for years and easily got tone I like within a few minutes on the panel. But I'm also used to practicing with very little effect other than gain/overdrive. Sometimes I'll turn off the overdrive and throw an SD-1 in front and a GupTech Pd Eq in the loop and make it sound even more alive and tube-like. For me it's a great practice amp that sounds very good at practice volumes but starts to sound more obviously like a modeler when turned up decently loud, which gets into territory it can't compete with other amps I have, e.g. '78 Marshall JMP 2204, 6505+ head, modded Rocmkaster pre/Classic 120 power all through various Celestion/EVM-loaded cabs. I tried the sneaky amps out years ago when it was being talked about a lot and really wasn't getting tones as good as it seemed I was getting from just the front panel. I'll likely try out the apps again for tweaking effects and saving patches.

[@MrStephenlederle]

I just bought the MKII Artist Head 3 weeks ago and it's killer! After I used the EQs to filter out the harshness, now I have my favorite gigging/bedroom amp. All I need is my trusty tuner and Boss SD-1 going into the front end, the Crunch and Lead channels and a simple delay/reverb and I'm set!. I did buy the matching cabinet and it's good but my old Bugera 2x12 (Eminence loaded) is better. I've only ever needed to put it on the .5 watt mode and turn it to 6-100 for bedroom use and 100-100 for live use (small bars and coffee shops). I put it on 100 watt mode with the volume on 18-100 and my wife nearly divorced me on the spot...JK... it is stupid loud.

[@Guitarnivore]

I had the 212 cabinet and I didn't care for it much either. I don't know about the Waza cabinet though. Those Waza dealers are fantastic.

[@jasonwojcik]

That is awful people give you flak when you try to help. I am really thankful for your videos. I have a better understanding how to make good tones. I am still working on MY tone, but it isn't so embarrassing 🤣
I have an artist mk2 and the gt1000. Not gonna lie, reading the docs makes a huge difference in the whole experience.

[@Guitarnivore]

Sometimes they think I work for Boss or something. I can sense their frustration and sometimes I have had to repeat myself multiple times because they simply didn't follow the step-by-step instructions I've given them. It makes you want to just ghost them.
I still haven't found my own tone. I thought I did. Maybe I need to start laying down more tracks and seeing how certain things sound played back.

[@valueofnothing2487]

Yes, it is too complicated. I plug my Spark in, choose the American Gain amp, move the EQ 2k up near the top, add a bit of delay and that's it. All on my phone. Very easy.
On the Katana, the 'lead' channel is too fizzy. Now I have to choose a pedal that works with the crunch setting after figuring out that all the pedals on the clean channel don't sound good with lots of gain. And there's an EQ, which is more difficult to use. Then there are treble/bass and mix of EACH pedal. There there is a global EQ and a contour switch which in itself has three different settings.
It's a little ridiculous. The popularity of stripped down amps like the Spark, Orange amps, the Catalyst, the THR, Tone Master are really dominating the market.

[@Guitarnivore]

Everything in this amp is the same as it would be if everything were in separate units in a studio, stage, rack, etc., but it's all rolled into one. You don't have to use all that and many people are happy just using it from the panel. The Spark is great. I've got one and I love it, but they're two totally different animals.

[@axslinger99]

The first time I heard a Katana live, I was blown away! It was just a small 5-piece band in a small club. He was playing a Charvel through it and it just sounded so organic and warm. I was blown away. I have a Boss GT1K-Core and couldn't be happier with it. I run it through an Orange Crush 60 pro. I plug directly into the return loop. If/when I ever get another stand-alone amp, it'll be a Katana.

[@CoffeeConversationMusicGear]

I've had the Katana MKI 50 watt and it was great! Plug and play was great without using software. But the software unlocked a lot of features if you used it for recording. This amp was great for playing live gigs too! I played small to medium sized venues and it kept up with drummer.

[@robgushue6646]

Same here man I got the 100 watt head and the mk2 and never used the programs for it just panned and as a pedal platform

[@TG_Sealey_Entertainment]

I own both the 100w & the 50w Katana models… I have used the 50w for years now just as a clean pedal platform… It’s only 25 pounds, sounds great, and for small to mid size rooms it’s plenty loud enough… I just ordered a Line 6 Catalyst 60 that also weighs only 26 pounds… It has a FX Loop that the 50w Katana doesn’t and a few other options that are different than the Boss amps…I’d enjoy seeing your review on it sometime… Really like your channel and useful information on the Katana’s from North Wilkesboro NC 🎶🎸🎵🤘🇺🇸

[@rockguitarist931]

I just bought a 100W MkII head to replace my Sonzera 50 head, it's no tube amp but for all intents and purposes it's close enough. The only thing I'm unhappy with is the fact you have to buy a $125 foot switch to go with it. Overall it was a good purchase.

[@Guitarnivore]

Search around and you might be able to find a used GA-FC for under $100. There is also the Air Step Kat option and I think they're only lik $60 or $70. I don't know anything about them but I've heard good things.

[@ka4sxi]

Amen. Great advice. I have a Katana 100 MK2. I will say that it is louder than I need. Tone Studio has way more than I understand. I like going on the clean channel and playing with the different pedals that I can put before the amp as well as the ones that would be used through the effects loop. Allows me to learn without buying pedals. The part that I don’t understand is the global EQ, etc. that are changes that you don’t do if you have your Vox AC30 tube amp with a pedal board. I have watched your videos, The Studio Rats, and Juca Nery and I don’t even know where you learn how to know what decibels or frequencies to tweak to get a certain sound. That is the complicated part to me. Thoughts? And thanks.

[@Guitarnivore]

Man, I'm still trying to understand a lot of it and sometimes I'm just turning knobs until it sounds right. Some of those effects with all the different frequency settings I don't hear a much difference when I play with them and I leave them be. Sometimes I wonder if you need to be a dog to hear the differences in some of them. I'm going to do some studying up on EQ's some more and see if I can't simplify it into a video for everyone to understand.

[@voodootattoo9057]

it's a fantastic amp for what it is. I call it the Bandit of the New World. Solid tones, good and plenty of FX and easy to use. It's a perfect gigging amp. I have a MKII head after gigging a MKI and using it as backline for a few years. Everything factored in, nothing in it's class beats it.

[@Oralepedro]

I bought a Katana Artist 100 Mkii. I was on the verge of returning it but after this video I will give it another chance with the tone studio. I did research before buying but when playing the high gains it’s just to loud and to much base even when lowering it..Even with my noiseless pick ups. Thanks for the video. Will spend more time with it. Thx 🙏

[@Guitarnivore]

Check the global EQ and see if it's on and if so, it might be set on an eq setting with the bottom end a bit high. I had the artist for a couple years and loved it.

[@akasgsvirgil9503]

I needed a good practice amp that could fit in the way I do things. My recording setup is a hybrid computer rig with the interfaces for the line level inputs as well as mic level for the old school recording sound. In that mode, it hits an analog mixing board where the tracks shed that "digital glow", I like to call it. Primarily, I use this for drums and acoustic guitar when I need them.
This amp fits perfectly within that scheme: direct or mic level, it works very well both ways.
I have to agree. This amp is not for everyone. Yes, you can get a good sound out of it from just the panel controls. But, if you really want a stunning sound, the amp's software is where its at. Its simple. Easy and flexible. But, the key to really opening this amp up and getting good tones out of it is two things: 1) 100w setting, crank the master volume and open the channel volume just enough; and 2) the parametric EQ's that are in the AMP's digital effects chain. Not the EQ with the linear faders. The parametric EQ.
You'll be surprised by how many musicians either overlook or don't know about a good parametric EQ. If they do know about it, chances are pretty good they have no idea how it works or use one. If you're one of those players, learn. This amp really shines when the parametric EQ is set properly.
Other than that, its a good practice amp and a good amp for casual gigs etc.

[@thylacine1962]

Your right, who deserves greif while giving free advice. I appreciate your straight to the point approach. Excelent video. Im subscribing.

[@Guitarnivore]

I appreciate you!

[@curtisdelawder6928]

I just bought the artist mainly due to the front panel.. I think the concept of loading patches that others have figured out from your favorite songs to the amp is a very cool idea.. Time saver as well.. Especially to someone like me who has mainly been an acoustic player and just getting into electrics.. Thanks for the in depth videos man..

[@calbraid3328]

Hey Scott, I just asked a question about the firmware on that video and then watched this one. I'll say this: if it weren't for your 'how to' videos, I wouldn't still be playing the amp and using tone studio. Thanks very much, man!

[@nedim_guitar]

I'm perfectly fine with using the Katana with just the panel. It's fun to mess around with effects on the Katana, but I prefer my pedalboard with it. I actually sold my Blackstar Artist 15 and bought the Katana 100 MK2. The Blackstar amp is great, but I don't like how it sounds with my overdrive and distortion pedals. The Katana feels more transparent. It's cool.

[@Guitarnivore]

I like that you can customize the panel in tone studio for the FX you want, as well as EQ's, noise suppressor and contour. Then you have those defaults in your panel at your disposal when you're disconnected.

[@nedim_guitar]

@@Guitarnivore That's a great tip! I'll check that out!

[@EC-ol8nz]

Pre 2000’s trying to get a good sound out of a cheap sub $300 amp was impossible... Unless u went Used or knew musicians who’re were hard up for cash 💰 I think a lot of my friends suffered hearing damage because they had to turn up their amps to get dynamic range of sound they needed to play.

[@Guitarnivore]

Right?!? My first amp loud enough to play with a drummer was a Crate 120 watt 212 that I bought used for about $ 300 and that thing was LOUD!!

[@MatthaeusEbonah]

I used to love this amp. And it's still a good grab when I have a gig with limited floor space for my pedalboard. But since the last update I've been having some weird tones when using dirty channels. But after about 3 years I'm still using it basically as a cabinet for my pedalboard. Just plug into the "power in" section and it sounds great!

[@Guitarnivore]

Have you tried backing up your presets and doing a factory reset. A lot of us have found that if things start to sound a little out of whack, a backup and factory reset helps.

[@rsmetalguitar]

I just started using a boss katana. Getting the tone studio to work was a bit interesting but I was able to get it. Personally I use cakewalk, only drawback I can see is the tone studio works besides the daw instead of through it. So I can't put tones to existing tracks or change tones of one I'm working on. Would need re-record it. Unless my setup isn't correct, still figuring it out.

[@Guitarnivore]

Yeah, tone studio isn't meant to work like that, like a plug-ng like Amplitube. I wish it did. That would be great.

[@nellayema2455]

I think part of the "problem" are the default channel settings from the factory. The disparity in volume from one channel to the next is jarring. I bought a MKII 100W head for my brother. We connected it to his cab, and I was trying to demo it using the GA-FC EX Foot Controller and factory settings. I broke out in flop sweat 'cause the sound was so bad, or so loud. We fiddled around with the knobs and set the channels to his preferences and all was good, but the out of box experience was not a good one. I have a MKI 100w cab that I really like.

[@Guitarnivore]

I agree 100%. It's been awhile but I think I may have mentioned the factory settings in the video. Might have been another video. If I hadn't done any research and just played the factory settings in a store, I probably never would have bought this amp.

[@jhvuvnik65s24]

I have a Katana mk2 artist, and my take on the amp is that it's a lot of bang for your buck if you like using effects. You actually get pretty decent clean tones, a fair amount of headroom to play around with, and some pretty solid time based effects for under $600. You also get a good amount of your basic effects like chorus, ocatave, pitch etc. The dirty tones on this amp can be acceptable if you have the right set up and learn how to EQ the thing in the tone studio, but the in amp boosters aren't as good as legit analog drive pedals to my ears. I would recommend this amp for anyone using a bunch of effects that doesn't want to use a pedal board or a multi effects processor along with a more traditional solid state or valve amp to haul around. It's a nice compact set up for live performance. What I would not recommend getting it for is to record with for the reasons stated in this video or to use for more traditional tones without a bunch of effects. I mean, If you play in a classic rock cover band, you'll probably be happier with the simplicity of a Fender blues jr or a Vox AC-15 and a tube screamer. You'll probably be happier with the tone as well. It's hard to beat the sound of small valve amps like that in your typical smaller venue.

[@Guitarnivore]

I agree with the boosters. I think the basic ones sound way better than trying to use the high gain ones like the ML-1, MT-2 and HM-2.

[@slaytanic]

I love your channel! Hands down I've learned more from you than anywhere else. I've even got a few of your patches. Yes there IS a LOT to this amp that I don't know and hope to learn. Cuddo's to you for all your work and knowledge! Thank you very much!

[@Nadertoboul]

I love my 100 MK2, Easley i connected it to the computer, downloaded many presets, in 2 days i knew every effect and booster how it work, i think its not that complicated, and the sound is just amazing.

[@frankh6051]

People are just too lazy to learn something. The amp is worth the money 100%. Also how can ppl not get it connected to their PC lmao

[@Guitarnivore]

I agree!

[@odourboy]

After mastering Helix and FM3, Katana tone studio is trivial. 😊

[@TheMattJacks]

I've been playing 32 years. I've live played through Mesa, 5150s, Soldano, Marshall, Randall, and Roland JC120. The MK2 Artist 100W WITH the GA FC EX can make every sound you could buy for $1000s if you know how to use the Tone Studio and the GA FC EX. That footswitch is INTEGRAL.

[@Guitarnivore]

Hell yeah!!! That's what I like to hear.

[@andrewmaciag1736]

I just got the Katana Artist MK 2 100 w a few weeks ago love the Amp and The tone studio is easy to use But most of the time I have it hooked up to my pedal board

[@Guitarnivore]

I had a board hooked to mine a long time ago. Now I exclusively use the foot switch and the only pedal I have is a Boss tuner.

[@montygore1200]

I have had every amp under the sun. After I retired I wanted a small amp and called my salesman at sweetwater. He sent me a katana 2x12 100. I Love this amp and I bought it. I use the software and can get any sound I want. NEVER WOULD HAVE BELIEVED IT.

[@shadowminister4090]

Scott, I don't have a Katana, but I'm aware that you have so many videos on the product, that if I were to buy one, your channel would be where I'd go.
(Yes, I'm already a subscriber).

[@crmolnar1]

Just got a Mk ll Katana 100. I frustrated myself for hours trying to connect to my laptop. I kept trying and trying to install the driver. But that was not the issue. Roland told me to follow the installation instructions for the FIRMWARE update. I did that and the issue was resolved. Merely downloading the update won't work. Follow the instructions carefully and it'll work!

[@Guitarnivore]

Yup. Firmware has top match the tone studio version. I tell folks that all the time. Unfortunately Roland/Boss is not very clear about that and they surely need to be.

[@joshuaray2657]

Everyone says every modeling amp sucks simply because they aren't good at tweaking amps and pedal chains.
Most of the modelers have more than enough to get the job done for any style.
You just have to put in that time to learn how to use them.
Once you do, they are very powerful tools for music creation.

[@keithspillett]

my band hosts weekly jam sessions in the uk, for which We have to supply the backline. I actually supply Roland Cubes for the guitars, which are very much the predecessors of the Katana Range. My personal experience with Katanas is that their sound is characteristically very similar to their older cousins, and both are incredible pieces of technology!

[@antneyfatts665]

I don’t gig what so ever and am a bass player by nature.
I have the Katana 50w and after two years, when turning it on now, there’s a hum. Never had it on 50w because I live in an apt complex.
No complaints, but I’m thinking about trading it in for the Fender GTX. Many vids will be watched and some have already and the foot switch, looper is what has me leaning toward the fender

[@Guitarnivore]

Sometimes it's the cable. I was having a hum in mine this morning too and I had a cable that was noisy. But there is nothing wrong with looking around. I've heard good things about the GTX series. Id like to try one some day, along with a Line 6 Catalyst or a Black star ID Core.

[@Gk2003m]

I just spent an hour with a Katana 50 MkII and a hollowbody jazz guitar. And it is a great jazz amp! A few keys: a) use the Clean or Acoustic variation. Both work, but have different characters. Switch back & forth til you find the one for you. b) Turn the Volume and Master controls full up. Use the Gain knob as your volume control. c) start with the Bass and Treble at 9 o clock, and the Mid at noon. Play with them til you find what works for your guitar. d) dial in reverb to taste, or not at all.

[@Guitarnivore]

Whatever you find that works for you is all that matters. You'll find even more goodies within Tone Studio. Glad you like it.

[@kevinderksen5553]

I rejected the Katana initially because I tried the Line 6 products, the Marshall Code and others and was convinced emulation was versatile but didn't do anything particularly well. Someone convinced me to give the Katana a fair shake, spent some time in a booth in a shop with guitars similar to my own on a Katana 100/212 Mk2, and walked out with the amp the same day. But I did spend some time in Tone Studio to dial in like 4 tones I want to use in a live set, and assigned those to the footswitch. So now I get exactly the tone, real tone, that I want, in a configuration that is dead simple to use, daily.

[@tims001]

I had the boss katana 50 mark 2, amazing amplifier. I used it for rehearsals with my band for about a year.
I used it live once and it just didn't live up to my expectations. I sold it after that.
But all in all, a great amp. Just my experience 😊

[@Guitarnivore]

In my experience, there is a big sound quality difference between the 50 and 100 watt models, especially when you start cranking the volume.

[@tims001]

@@Guitarnivore yeah there would be a lot of difference. I did have it micd up and had it in the foldback speaker though... There was just something missing from the amp, I cant put my finger on it. But it was enough for me to move it on, If I had the room I would probably have kept it as a reliable rehearsal amp 👍

[@Addict2FX]

I agree regarding firmware, but with some research its easy to update. Once I got Tone studio sorted, my Artist MKII is a beast!

[@rickygclef1611]

I use mine mostly with a pedalboard for small gigs and pretty much jammy , blues and classic rock tones .., go figure. I’ve found it to be versatile and was used to tube amps in the past. I utilize the tone studios and onboard effects at home but it works for me with his, it’s loud enough and really light

[@flouisbailey]

There are people who started when valves/tubes were made of wood. Bossessses need an 11 and the knobs should be on front. Truthfully I lay mine on side power button up and it sounds so much better, lol

[@Guitarnivore]

The front knobs is what sold me on the Artist Mk2. I wish they all had them because nwo Ihave the 100 and I have it on a stand that tilts back a bit and front panel would be great.

[@iancurrie8844]

Hi Scott.
I noticed that you call the Katana a 100 watt amp.
I was hoping to discuss that with you.
We can see just by reading the regulatory stickers on the unit, that the amp only draws 77 watts from the wall. So how can it be a 100 watt amp? It can't. Boss is using some "creative marketing" showing the power the amp could theoretically put out for a microsecond using banked power stored in its capacitors.
Since all speakers are rated by RMS, and so are all reputable amps, we can call this a little shady, at best.
According to my oscilloscope, the AB power amp in the Artist "100" head, puts out 64 watts and 8ohms and less than 50 watts at 16ohms.
Now, at 8ohm, that's only a 1.9db difference or about 20% louder. Does it really matter? Only if being lied to bothers you.
I've heard some people opine that the reason their Waza cabinet uses their own version of greenbacks rather than simply using real greenbacks is because real greenbacks in a 2x12 16ohm cabinet can only handle 50 watts RMS. However, we can see that the Katana 100 can actually only output less than that 50 watts at 16ohms.
So, it's not that they needed speakers which could handle more power in actuality, they needed them to obfuscate the fact that their amp cannot, in fact, output anywhere near 100 watts.

[@Guitarnivore]

I don't get into the extreme technical side of it because I know little to nothing about it. I don't call it that. That's literally what it's marketed and labeled as. I'm sure there are plenty of amp makers that inflate their wattages as well.

[@iancurrie8844]

@@Guitarnivore There really aren't, I'm afraid.

[@gildersleeve5228]

I just found your channel last week, and while I've been using Tone Studio, Floorboard (Linux), and updated my firmware day 1 and just last week - I gotta say I've already learned a ton from you. Great channel, insanely well done videos, and you nailed it - people would rather hate something they don't understand than sit down, slow down, and read the damn manual. Keep preaching brother.

[@Guitarnivore]

Thanks and I'm glad you're enjoying it!

[@-WolfMan-]

Yep !!
Look a little ... And you'll Find ALOT

[@jakeritter2317]

I understand the frustration. I've had mine a couple years, and it has always had that kick to the sound and have loved it to death until lately... idk. Recently, I too am suddenly having a frustrating time finding a setting that doesn't sound like lo-fi hissing through glass shards. Prior to recently, I had a hard time finding a setting that *didn't* sound amazing to me. I plugged in a 20 year old fender amp I was using before my Katana... it just sounded amazing and heavy compared to the Katana as of late. I am no way an equipment specialist, just like to plug in and shred. That was always easy for me on a Katana, was actually why I bought the thing. But now, I feel like I've turned the knobs every which way i would have had them set up before... no sauce, only hissing white noise that's as loud as the notes I'm trying to play.
I might just need a break... Again, I've always loved the product, but I'm really starting to feel for those who have found this thing frustrating.

[@Guitarnivore]

Try backing up your channel presets and do a factory reset. Then reload the patches. It seems like these things need a reset now and again.

[@jakeritter2317]

Thanks for the reply bro, will def get at it this week and see what i get. Definitely have not downloaded any patches i didn't even know it was a thing with these.@@Guitarnivore

[@musiklyfe7683]

I love my katana. But I am one of those ignorant folk who hasn't spend enough time on it to really unlock the power of it. Mainly because of lack of time. But thankfully I stumbled upon your channel so hopefully it will help me further understand it more. Because I may have a band reunion and I would like to be able to get the proper tones out of it that I'm looking for. Especially since I'm more metal. But I have a feeling I won't have too much of a problem with that.
I have the hundred watt head, I'm looking to get a different cabinet for it because I'm playing out of JCM 800s. Those cabinets work great for my Sunn Enforcer. But I really think getting a different cabinet solely for my katana is the route to go for the next live gig.

[@barcham]

If people think a Katana is hard to set up, they need to try a Peavey Vypyr. They will go completely insane with one of those. LOL

[@tedeisner822]

I have the fender mustang V head and have for years. Loved it. I just bought the peavey vypyr x2 and it was a hard choice between that and the boss katana. I liked the boss had the outputs and that functionally and the peavey doesn’t. But the sanpera was tempting and I have always been a peavey fan …those 6505 tones. I think I may have to get the boss also and see what happens. lol.

[@Guitarnivore]

I had a Peavey Vypyr VIP 2 awhile back and I didn't care much for it. I think the speaker in those models weren't very good. I would get a lot of feedback anytime the volume was over 4.

[@tedeisner822]

@@Guitarnivore I decided I’m taking it back tomorrow and getting the katana combo and saving my money for a vypyr pro 100 head or even just wait and get a real tube amp and some pedals. 6505. Just get it for that metal tone I want. My decision was honestly based on the lack of an effects loop. I like to use my Roland rc 30 loop station and the x2 doesn’t have a loop, so I can’t layer my loops like I want. I like to plug all my instruments in and loop stuff and drum to that at my house. I’m on a budget, and got it at a used gear store, so I only have the option of exchanging it and the katana is the only option at that store right now.

[@caleshtcincredibles]

I have a Katana 50 MK2 EX , I have connected to Tone Studio with no issues but I prefer to use my Android Galaxy Tablet and connect the Katana using an app called Katana Librarian . I can tweak parameters , create and save patches quickly . I also use it with the GAFC EX footswitch . I have a expression pedal in front to the footswitch and that is my rig that I use to play live with . I have 4 channels to use depending on the song it serves me well . The Katana never ceases to amaze me with what it can for such a small price .

[@Guitarnivore]

Sounds like you're doing everything right. I wish I worked with the Katana Librarian more with my android app, but most of the time I use tone studio because I make the tutorials here and it never leaves the house. Always good to hear good things about the Katana!

[@caleshtcincredibles]

@Guitarnivore yeh man I don't have any complaints just a ton of tone satisfaction from that little beast .

[@dustin2901]

I just bought a boss katana mk2 50 and i love it. I don't have a laptop so i haven't played around with all that stuff but it works for me. I just play in my house by myself and it sounds great to me. I haven't owned many amps so there are alot i would like to try but the katana definitely sounds better than the little 30w Marshall gfx i had been using.

[@TheCyberMantis]

Everything you said in this video is spot-on.
I have a Katana Mk-1 head. I use it with a 4x12 cab. It sounds really good.
I also have the Roland GA-FC footswitch. I also use a few pedals with it. It works great.
I agree, if you don't use the ToneStudio software, you are not getting the full performance of this amp.
If you want to get kicked off a guitar gear forum quickly, post how much you like your Katana.
The tube amp snobs will cry their asses off until a moderator boots you. LoL! 😆

[@stevegibb8780]

On my first trip to the States I spent some real happy time down on Broadway in Nashville, bar hopping and living the vibes.. I soon noticed that the jobbing guitarists amping choice was the Boss Katana, they all sounded amazing.. that was it for me, no doubt I was gonna get one of them back of an Uber tone monsters that a 10 year old could carry ! No regrets , I love mine ❤

[@KimniptionKarnes]

I love my katana.! I can create an awesome metal tone, blues tone, and jazz tone. All in one amp. The trick is to have patience and spend some time in tone studio adjusting the tone to your liking.

[@Guitarnivore]

Exactly. Gotta put the work in!

[@KiLLJOY1056]

lol I freaking love my 50 Mkii, first I was blown away with all the options in the Tone Studio, And then I just learned that you can use the USB connection as an audio interface for recording in DAW

[@Bret_Sanor]

I've had 2 Katana anps. Both of them lasted exactly 1 year and started crapping out in the digital section. I just don't think they're reliable. I also didn't like needing the tone studio to get access to things like noise suppressor. I had trouble with it live in different rooms and spaces having to adjust presets to accommodate. It kind of defeated the purpose. So I got rid of them and hope they fix the reliability issues and make a menu on the amp instead of needing a computer.

[@raflanna]

I agree, it’s complicated! Haven’t had the patience to learn how to configure. But the possibilities are unprecedented! Installed windows just to use it. Thanks man!

[@Guitarnivore]

I've got a bunch of videos that can help you learn your way around it.

[@ChrisPuckett]

So true, anybody that criticizes the amp, obviously doesn’t know how to fully dial it in, and it’s not easy to someone that’s not computer literate. I love the katana so much that I bought the Gen 3 head, even though I love my MKII head.

[@jamesgarcia1033]

The Katana does suck. My pre-amp went out. It's about one year old. So, I bought an Orange MD 20. So far, it works great. And for an 8" voice of the world speaker, it really gets it. Finally got a vacuum tube 😊

[@Guitarnivore]

Maybe YOUR Katana sucked, but every one that I've owned has been good to me. Enjoy that Orange. They are great amps too. Even the solid state ones sound amazing.

[@brubakersflatcakes9755]

I'm still a bit lazy with my recently aquired Artist MKII. I did update it, and install Tone Studio. I bought the GA-FC pedal and I've downloaded some patches out there. It's an absolute blast. I just need to get off my ass and make my tones. I love the amp and I'm sure it'll cover everything I need from jamming/recording at home to gigging the cover band.

[@Guitarnivore]

You'll get there. I was the same when I first got mine. It took me almost three years to really dive deep into Tone Studio and start learning things better.

[@denmar355]

I’ve got the Artist Mk 1 with the GA-FC foot control and love it! Never a glitch. Imagine what the next generation will be like. It’s going to be amazing! Can’t wait!

[@Guitarnivore]

I'm excited for Gen 3 too!

[@raykuipers8340]

I absolutely love my Katana and the tone studio is easy to use in my experience. My bandmates like it as well, the other guitar player is seriously considering buying one himself!

[@jimhagler3716]

for some the glass is always half empty. that''s why they act like assholes when your helping them.

[@titans2720]

Honestly I hated the katana before using the tonecloud and making some edits myself, found a killer 5150 tone someone made up tweaked it to my liking and it sounds godly. My biggest gripe which I’m sure is a problem with every amp is i use a maxon 808 overdrive pedal and when I switch to clean channel the pedal stays on because it’s analog not digital, so I have to awkwardly step on both switches. In my old band the guitarest didn’t even have a foot switch and had to press the clean channel on the amp head itself so it’s not that bad compared to what he had to do, still I wish the pedal would turn off with the channel switcher, but I understand that’s not how it works.

[@Guitarnivore]

Can you put the 808 in the loop, set the send/return to post amp and then in your clean channel, just turn off the send/return in Tone Studio?

[@titans2720]

@@Guitarnivore hm interesting I might have to try that, I have a useless noise gate not going into the fx loop as well I’ve been meaning to buy some cables and get that sorted out so I’ll look into the overdrive pedal in the fx loop as well although all my career as a guitar player I’ve been told overdrive and distortion is supposed to be in the front of the amp not the fx loop, gonna experiment a little

[@Guitarnivore]

@@titans2720 Yeah, that's where I'd normally put it too. It might make it sound muddy in the loop. Have you tried just using the Tube Screamer in the boost section, or are you stacking the 808 with a boost already?

[@adam5744]

Installing can be an issue, especially if you're not computer savvy and make sure you're usb cable is working I had a issue Installing only to find out I needed a new cable lol

[@lenni-hazels]

I'm pretty sure there was something wrong with the speaker of the Katana 100 Gen 3 unit i bought (and returned).
I had to push redonculous amounts of highs and lows with several EQs just to make it not sound like a radio.
Now I'm not saying all the people having great experiences with Katanas are wrong, just that I had a hard time just dialing in one good tone.
I could kinda hear the hint of the pushed channel having nice distortion and that was the one I was closest to a good tone cause it naturally had a lot of highs.
I now settled for the Fender FR-12 flat response cab so I can go in there from my Audio Interface with the Tonex modeler.

[@Guitarnivore]

Bummer. I'm sorry the Katana didn't work out for you, but as long as you're happy with the Fender and Tonex, that's all that matters. I've heard and see some amazing things about Tonex.

[@lenni-hazels]

@@Guitarnivore Yes! It should arrive today so i'm hyped. I prepared some sounds in my DAW these past days. And yes the Tonex is the real deal to me. Most of the popular amps on ToneNet sound and feel authentic to me. Especially the clean to mid-gainy stuff. I'm fiddling more with cab sounds to get one i am satisfied with than any of the actual amp profiles themselves. Basically the more high gain the amp has, the more tweaking I generally need to do.

[@TDeane]

Hey Scott, I've been looking into buying my first amp (well, first amp in a long time, since I recently got back into guitar) and I'm currently debating over whether to get a Boss Katana amp (one with tone studio) or a Spark Go. Thing is: 99% of the time I'll be playing on headphones¡ and the rest of the time will be to close friends and family at home, so I have no need for volume. In this video you said "if you bought a whole amp just to play it to an interface or a DAW, just save your money and buy a plugin like Amplitube" - do you think that applies to amps like the Spark Go or Boss Katana Go?
Your reviews are the best, have a nice weekend!

[@Guitarnivore]

If you want portability the Spark and Katana Go are your best options. Although the Spark Go offers a speaker and connecting bluetooth audio, I think the Katana go has a lot more FX, although patches are easier to apply to the Spark app. If you can live without the speaker (which I don't think sounds very good), I'd go with the Katana Go if you can find one. Rumor has it that they're discontinuing them because of a manufacturing issue, but Boss has yet to officially say anything.

[@TDeane]

@@Guitarnivore I'm worried that the plans for compatibility with Boss Tone Studio will be scrapped now that the Katana Go has been discontinued. It makes me think the Spark Go may be a safer choice - what do you think? Regardless, I don't think I would be able to get my hands on the Katana Go where I live.
With my budget I could also go for the Katana-50 mkII, but I truly only plan on playing with headphones. Would it make a noticeable difference (headphone-wise)?

[@Guitarnivore]

@@TDeane I would imagine the app is going to work with the Go unit regardless whether it's discontinued or not. They're still going ahead with syncing the Tone Exchange with the mobile apps, especially now that the Gen 3 Katana has a mobile app. It's tough to say what the future is with the Katana Go, because Boss has yet to officially announce it. It's only been rumored because of letters sent to retailers. I can't tell if Boss means they're discontinuing the unit all together or they just meant they were discontinuing them temporarily until they work out the problem with manufacturing. Maybe that's just me being hopeful, but it was a very successful product when it launched and the demand is there. We'll have to wait and see. The Fender Mustang Micro, Nux Mighty plug and Mooer P1 are also great products around the same price.

[@aa.mirezZ]

I’ve just been lazy to download everything and connecting it haha so I just use the panel and I make it work and I love it. I imagine my love for it would increase ten times more by going on there and downloading the different presets but I make it work with the panel until I get the drive to get off my ass and explore what it has to offer haha

[@DonMDirty_Mind_Detroit]

I Love My Katana 1oo I unplugged The Speaker And tried True My 4 !2 Messa Bottom Man It sounded Awesome Lots Of Great Sounds On It and Light

[@opvikes7599]

I was gonna say you havent played a trash practice amp till you play the little peavy amps in the early 90's. I wish we had a katana back in those days.

[@Guitarnivore]

Yeah, I owned a few of those little shitty amps. Everything is so much better and cheaper these days.

[@opvikes7599]

@@Guitarnivore So True.

[@94SexyStang]

SO true...Peavey made some Good solid stuff, but they also made Garbage, just Cannot take Any real Gain, and just falls on it's face....Crate is another one.

[@rensb9214]

Setting up tone studio was a pain in the ass, not sure if its because my computer sucks. Spent hours doing it, only to need to update it 2 days after, which was an even bigger pain in the ass

[@Guitarnivore]

Yeah, Boss could really overhall that entire process. Best thing to do is get all the latest files and then run the process.

[@GothicXlightning]

i had the 50 and the 100 till decided to traded for another Digi Fender
i say there's something that truly bothers me about katanas
and is that it seems to get glitchy with the audio quality and also there was a massive inconsistency issues .. it just feels like it will sound good but Only when it feels like
but maybe is just me who did never learned how to use it proper??
but truly wander if more people out there felt what i felt with it ?

[@Guitarnivore]

I use mine a lot with the rec/phones out when dialing in tones, but I will say, this amp sounds better when pushed. It took me almost three years before I was able to really dial in tones and get them consistent. It can certainly be a fickle beast if you just load tones into it that other people have made and expect them to sound exactly as described. Where I feel that it can all be fine tuned is in the parametric eq. However, some people just like to select an amp up top, throw some gain, simple eq and fx and go to town. If you're happy with what you have now, then that is all that really matters. I had a Fender Mustang awhile back and it just wasn't for me, so I traded it in for something else. I like the "It's just not for me" approach as opposed to ragging on someone else's gear preference. Not accusing you of that. Just making a statement.

[@Kevin20ftw]

I had an old beringer 212 modeling amp, huge but cheap, and it had the best tone, I had multiple tube amps, only amp I had that matched the tone was an old mesa boogie, it was a mark something. Moral of the story is. Just because it's inexpensive doesn't mean it doesn't kick ass

[@Guitarnivore]

That's right!!!

[@ivanchooa.7054]

I've been using for the past several years a spider iv 75. Now, I want to make an upgrade to the Katana or the Catalyst, but is it worth it, or should I just stay with what I've got ?

[@Guitarnivore]

I had a Spider III 75 and while that was a long time ago and I was a far worse player than I am now, I would say it's definitely worth it. I've heard good things about the Catalyst too. If you are thinking about a Katana though, I would go with the 100 over the 50. It sounds better. See if you can find a used one.

[@christianescobar7618]

I use the 100 watt artist head with an orange 2x12 and man I almost had second thoughts on it but after gigging with it and practicing with different tones it just sounds so damn good, I’ve been able to get a good Mesa sound and a good EVH sound

[@Guitarnivore]

I bet that sounds awesome with those Orange speakers!

[@umeshpatel3606]

Scott you opened up new horizons as i never knew how good these amps were. These amps are like 1000 pound amps!

[@sh4rkbyt3]

Scott thank you for all of the band sounds you've created so far. Any chance you might do Audioslave anytime soon? Please.

[@Guitarnivore]

There's a pretty good chance I can do one. I'll put it on my list.

[@CanadianRockerGuy]

I have 3 Katanas, started with a Mk1 50, moved up to a Mk1 100, then a Mk2 100, and they're all great amps especially with the Tone Studio enhancements, they're extremely versatile and very loud if needed, really great value for the money, have found your videos to be very helpful for improving overall tone quality, very thankful for that, killer tones! And once you get all the different tones dialed in and saved, you're good to go and don't need to keep fussing with it, does help to be somewhat computer savvy, but it doesn't take a genius either to figure out how to get the tone studio up and running which makes a huge difference in what you can get out of the Katanas

[@finishin.my.coffee8780]

I bought my Mk1 100w in 2017. Never did any of the firmware updates, never used the Tone Studio and it still sounds awesome. It gets a little warm on top sometimes but so far, so good.

[@aodhanodonnell2148]

I recently tried out my new boss katana and I was.impressed by the clean channel and the sheer loudness of it, apart from that it's nothing special

[@Guitarnivore]

If all you've done is "tried out" and used a clean channel, you haven't even scratched the surface of what this amp can do.

[@michelvondenhoff9673]

Even if you'd set up the banks and channels once (set & forget) it still could be a very nice amp to have.

[@Guitarnivore]

That's my goal. Find 8 patches that I really like, load them up and have maybe a handful more I can swap out every now and again.

[@bassface5983]

It took me 2 days (after work) of downloading and updating software and drivers, and I had to update the firmware of the amp itself to get it to connect, but it's worth it....soo much versatility. I'm learning all the bells and whistles it has and right now I'm tackling recording off of the 1/4....

[@seekndestroygaming]

Hated my 50 because the speaker and cab sim was crap. Then I traded it in for the 100w head and what a difference a cab or an IR has made. I think the 50w combo is lacking and for some reason I could never get the boomy, boxy bass to go. Maybe I had a defective one.

[@Guitarnivore]

Did you have the 50 before the last updated? I don't think the 50 had the global EQ before and that makes a big difference in getting that bottom end that it really needs.

[@seekndestroygaming]

@@Guitarnivore after. I tried all the eq settings and while it helped a bit nothing could get rid of this boom I had. So much happier with the head and a good cab or recording with IRs now.

[@davidkelter8379]

I love my Boss Katana Mk 2. Got the artist about a month ago, and I'm just in awe of the sound quality and options. Nicely done Boss.

[@Guitarnivore]

The Artist is awesome. That waza speaker makes a world of difference. I'd like to try a speaker swap with my 100 some time. I just have to find the right speaker.

[@craigd.gadwah6731]

I just bought the Boss Katana 50 MKII EX.
I had no problem hooking it up to my PC, running Windows 10, 64bit, and using Tone Center.
I'm still learning everything it can do.

[@Guitarnivore]

Good to hear you didn't have any problems. It's really not that difficult. I have a bunch of other videos that might help you along the way and dial in some great tones. Thanks for watching!

[@-WolfMan-]

Luvin' my Katana 212!! Especially after I upgraded the speakers to 200watt Eminence Legends!! Sure, the amp sounded great before I changed 'em out ... but Now my Katana is Absolutely LEGENDARY!! (see what I did there?)

[@Guitarnivore]

I've been thinking about the Eminence Red Coat. Seems to sound great for metal and affordable.

[@-WolfMan-]

The Reaper was in Very High Contingency for a while... but the Legend by Eminence just had that Smoothness about it - I couldn't say No.

[@Guitarnivore]

@@-WolfMan- Eminence seems the way to go. I loved the Celestion A type that was in my Fender Hot Rod and I think it would sound great with the Katana, but everything is telling me to go with Eminence..

[@-WolfMan-]

@Guitarnivore Very strong consideration towards doing the same to my Marshall's - A & B cabs ... but I'm also a Fan of the Celestions - Tough Decision here....

[@angusorvid8840]

I remember testing out an amp in the late 80s made by a company called Pearce. All I knew about them was that Ronnie Montrose was endorsing them with a series of ads in Guitar Player and Guitar World. I didn't realize at the time it as solid state. It blew away every amp in the store where I tried it. THEN I found out it was solid state. And you know what? I didn't care. I never had a hangup about tube vs solid state because by the time I started playing guitar in 1985 we had amps hitting the market that were kickass and solid state like Randall and Gallien Krueger and Crate and the Peavey Bandit and other amps. And solid state has only gotten better. Yes, there are a lot of crappy solid-state amps. Most guitar amps are not that great, tube or solid state, and as the vast majority of guitar amps are produced, the vast majority are solid state because they are cheaper to produce and don't have the shipping costs of heavier tube amps so they can undercut tube amps as well and sell at a much higher volume. It's like that argument over ceramic vs alnico pickups. The vast majority of pickups are ceramic because they are cheaper to produce since ceramic mags don't cost as much. But that doesn't mean there are no ceramic pickups that sound absolutely great and give a lot of alnico pickups a run for their money. There are a lot of shitty sounding alnico pups out there. But given that the vast majority of guitar pickups simply aren't that good due to design flaws and poor assembly, etc., there is this undue focus on the ubiquitous ceramic mags. The mags are not the problem, just as the solid-state design of most amps is not the issue either. It's other things, like the speakers, and the design of the pre and power amp section, and perhaps the transformer which has an enormous impact on the sound of any amp, solid state or tube. It took a long time, but guitarists are finally moving away from the needless worship of tube amps.

[@glennmccormick8661]

Boss Katana, fantastic amp, and it's AFFORDABLE!!!! IMO nothing in it's price range comes close.

[@algrundau9441]

One thing thatthey could have done differently?.....Make the Noise Gate accessible from the panel.
Needing to get your computer just to get to the maybe most important effect is fumbling on the 1 yard line.
Chorus,Phase,Flanger, Tremelo, Auto Wah, 3 Delays. 3 Reverbs, 3 OD/Boosts......X 2 when you go to the "Bank B".....But NO Noise Gate? Unless you go to tone studio? ....Other than that I love my MK 1 100 Watt head.
Just saying, you shouldn't need a computer to run your amp. It should be the icing on the cake. Not a pre-requisite.

[@Guitarnivore]

This amp was designed to be used with a computer though. There aren't many amps like this that have a built in noise gate, no less accessible on the panel, but I can agree that even a simple preset button for the noise suppressor would have been nice.

[@algrundau9441]

@@Guitarnivore That is true. It was "meant to be used with a computer." You can use it without obviously, but you get the most out of it with one....My point is why give us ALL those effects right on the panel but no Noise Gate? It is critical when you start using Lead and Brown with the Boost.....As far as not many amps without Noise Gates. I agree, far too few....I have no idea why they do not...Still though....The Vox Valvetronix does. (I own 3.) So did the Johnson amps. (I own one)...The JS Peavey Joe Satrianni does. ( I WISH I had one)....The Fender G-Dec and Mustang have them....I think the Kerry King Marshall has one.....Considering these days, a lot of High Gain guys will even use 2 of them, it is nice to have at least one built in and ready for immediate access.....Same goes for Distortion/OD pedals. MXR Fullbore Metal, EHX Metal Muff, EVH 5150 Overdrive......It seem's so obvious, why not more? ....Thanks for listening, Cheers.

[@BataraKado]

i own a boss katana mk2 and without tone studio the amp is so boring and limited, with tone studio i can make my amp do pretty much anything. i also hacked my boss amp and added fender amp clones etc, i get only good compliments at my gigs, every guitar player foams out the mouth when they hear my amp, its about the person playing first then the equipment..

[@scouser2230]

I recently got the Boss Katana Artist Mk ll and I love it. I did have difficulties connecting Tone Studio and I asked my son for help, and he got it connected in about 20 minutes (obviously saying something about me). I do however think Boss could do a better job of making this process more idiot proof. About a year ago I purchased a Fender Mustang LT25, and though it is not nearly the amp that the Katana Artist is, it was a breeze to connect it to it’s equivalent computer site (called Fender Tone LT Desktop), as it automatically connected to my amp when I went on the site. Boss should simplify their process and make the experience of connecting to Tone Studio as pleasant an experience as possible. If they fix this weakness then no solid state amp will be able to compete with them.

[@Guitarnivore]

I agree. Why can't everything be controlled and upgraded from the app. Install the core app and let it detect the amp, update the amp system software and update the tone studio software all from the app. While they're at it, why can't they integrate the Katana Air mobile app into the Mk2?

[@Mega_trav]

I hate to be a hater on gear, because I think most gear can sound good in the right hands. I bought the Boss Katana head (version 1) a few years ago and tried it through several cabs and I could not bond with it. The clean was quite flat (eq-wise) and I didn't bond with how it distorted. I used the Tone Studio and even tried Sneaky Amps. I don't think its a bad amp, it just wasn't the amp for me.

[@johnstewart1266]

My only grip about the Katana is the MK II 50 or MK II 50 EX doesn't have a effects loop. Otherwise I love my MK II 100.

[@tomstegall1346]

I just use what it has out of the box and it kicks butt, very happy with it. I’ll probably buy another one

[@Guitarnivore]

That's great! As long as you did it, that's all that matters.

[@TheTactical6string]

wow, when you said 7 years i cant believe its been that long. i never got my mk I connected and took me yrs until last week to get the mkII connected, seems easy now but... I hated the panel only tone, takes nothing to get good stuff once the studio is open.

[@JonDeth]

*It is the worst amp I own lol. I am an electrical/electronics engineer, a shred and sweep player and own well over a dozen amps. I'm posting because I own one and the guys praising them are primarily channels that Boss sent them out to for free.*
I can get okay sounds out of it but it's still incredibly limited and you can never scoop out enough of the nasally texture primarily due to the speaker and digital preamp's A/D D/A converters.
The sound editor is also terrible. I have a Valeton, Zooms, Line 6 etc. and it's a mediocre GUI that lacks intuitiveness and I can use it perfectly fine, I'm just used to much better.
*For a beginner, it's an amp they can accel greatly on for any style including shred and sweep instrumentals and metal, but it's lacking in many respects right down to every model I have heard at about 60% it turns to muck.* I have Class-A/B solid-states I can put to 100% volume and it's perfectly useable.
I perceive it as a recording amp and beginner's amp, primarily someone under 18. It's literally the guy with 5 inches telling me with my 8 that size doesn't matter! *lmfao*

[@Guitarnivore]

Wow, how did it turn into a dick measuring contest at the end? It's usually the guys with 3 inches telling people they have 8. 🤣

[@JonDeth]

@@Guitarnivore it's a fair analogy for the amp and how the entire product line is being misrepresented by channels that are paid for making their videos.
For 50 to $100 more, and especially if you build a used rig, you can get quite literally 100x the rig.
Much better sound quality, a lot more models of pedals, amps and speakers and the ease of stomping through dozens of patches. *Everything about the Katanas is mediocre and disingenuous hype from cheap bought and paid for whores.*

[@Guitarnivore]

@@JonDeth Boss doesn't even know I exist. I guess that just makes me a bottom shelf groupie. 😁

[@yaboiflats6986]

@JonDeth You're compensating man. We all know you have tiny wiener, that's why you need a big boy amp to feel above regular people who are content with what they have. Everyone with boss katanas have foot longs with nothing to prove.

[@user-xd7rc9mj3x]

My one question - monitoring the mix through the headphone jack using mkii 50 and Ableton Live, I find the DI signal (USB) is pretty loud versus the rest of the mix. Wondering whether that is something I can control in Ableton or in Tone Studio? Have not seen anything written about it.

[@Guitarnivore]

Sorry, I haven't, but I have heard of other people having the same issue.

[@vernhanna4399]

I must admit I get overwhelmed with mine, I will admit that I am not very technical but I still think it’s a better amp than I am a player

[@Guitarnivore]

No doubt. It seems just when I think I've learned everything, I find something new or they add more to it.

[@richardbiederman5115]

I really appreciate your videos. I’m a new user and you have helped me. I do have a question? How do I save my original panel to tone studio librarian? That way I can put some other life sets and then always go back to the original panel set up that I had. Appreciate everything

[@Guitarnivore]

Just create a new live set in your library and then drag the tones over to it. All else fails, you can do a factory reset of the amp and that should restore the original channel.

[@richardbiederman5115]

@@Guitarnivore Thank you for your help on this.

[@Guitarnivore]

@@richardbiederman5115 Any time!

[@alfredski007]

I agree. Most amp reviews on youtube don't mention the negative aspects.
Go to a shop is still the best.

[@Guitarnivore]

I think a lot of the "reviews" you see on the big UA-cam channels are more or less paid advertising demos and not really reviews. When I researched this amp, I looked at more than the reviews to learn about it and hear it. Guitar Center is just going to try to sell you an amp whether they think it's great or garbage. Due diligience is always best and it's too easy these days. I'm going to be reviewing the Katana Air EX in the coming weeks and while it's fun, Boss missed a lot of opportunities to improve it over the original Air.