The BOSS Katana Artist Amplifier Review (2018)
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- Опубліковано 5 жов 2024
- The BOSS Katana Artist Amplifier Review
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Is it good? You bet! This might be the best modelling amplifier I have ever played. It sounds easily as good as my Peavey Bandit and it's super loud!
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The days of tube amplifiers sounding better have long gone. I used a tube amplifier for around 7 years. I har a fender blues junior and a Marshall DSL country and western. Recently purchased a Roland Jazz chorus (I know they were made in the 70s) but I was blown away by the quality of tone and how consistent it is each day. I found that the tube amplifiers would have a great tone one day but the next day even with the same settings would sound different to the day before.
This Boss sounds incredible and it's not even expensive. Its reliable and you will not have to worry about damaging a tube when moving her around.
I know people will always say tube amplifiers sound better for various reasons. And after all, tone and sound is very subjective. But from my personal experience, I really can not hear it. From my experience, I dont think I will use tubes again.
Thanks for your videos. Always entertaining and your playing is very nice. Good day to you, sir.
Andertons UK said they sold about 1000 Katanas in 2017. Can't imagine how many worldwide were sold. Owner couldn't come up with an amp line that's ever had this much exitement. I gig locally a Katana 50 that takes a regular two button footswitch. Stunning how something so inexpensive is so good. You couldn't give me a tube amp if I had to give up my Kat.
Recently upgraded from the V1 100 watt to the Artist and I have to say, the Waza Craft speaker was worth the change. Add the cab` resonance switch and an extra 4 memory channels and it`s bye-bye to my pedal collection, all I have on the floor is the GA-FC and my Boss tuner. Like Shane states, these sound amazing straight out of the box, the clean channel is insanely good. Great review!
I have the MKII 100 then I heard the MKII Artist people were asking why did you buy the artist it’s the same amp!? And no it is not!! Side by side the difference is amazing!
Versatility!!!! I’ve got to have versatility and consistency. When I play shows, doing both covers that go from country to stone temple pilots back to country to southern rock, you’ve got to have the amp that you can plug and play with versatility!!
You mentioned that amp plays itself and it does! The Waza speaker is true to how you play. That’s the one thing that grabbed me. This is a professional amp without a doubt. Tube snobs will scoff but I was a scoffer, I am no more.
There is a lot of amp here!!! And tone is it’s heart and soul.
Boss knocked it wasaaay out of the ball field with this amp. It’s not a step up from the MKII 100 , it’s a complete leap!! Massive difference. I’ve played professional for 35 years. Tube amps solid state, modeling, I’ve got them all. They all have their spot. This amp though covers ALL those spots!! I love it! I can grab it and go!! No pedals no bs just set the master where you need it and roll!!! I use the onboard effects for certain songs, but I want the crowd to hear my playing, and they do with this monster. Plenty plenty plenty of volume. It will peel the paint. I’ve noticed they upgraded some internal components as well, since 2018 , it’s 2023.
Great review of this amp. I know your a lefty player, I’m left handed but play right handed, I dig watching a left handed player.
Thanks for the videos, I’m late coming around to this one BUT it was this video that first turned me onto the amp! Oh those cabinet settings are killer as well. They do make a difference in my opinion, and if you don’t want to use them, just turn them off!
Blessing from the USA keep playing…..it’s what we do!
Peace
This is a bit of a long video but I kind of felt it was warranted because there's a lot to test and try. This might be the nail in the coffin for all other modeling amps! Let me know what you think. 😃
I agree! Those were some hypnotic tones you summoned from that amp. Nicely done, great review.
To me, it definitely is. Boss listened to complaints about the 100 and offered an amp with pretty much nothing to complain about. Saving my pennies.
The only shortcoming it may have is its price. It sits right with the most popular gigging tube amps... we'll see how it does.
I haven't tried one in person yet. I would like to give it a shot. :-)
Yeah I don't think it's the nail in the coffin just yet for others. The save settings on Blackstars are a bit better function wise I think. But yeah, not too far off.
Will you test the recording output? I have a small child at home, and my Super Champ X2 does not have the silent playing option, so i wonder, get something like this, or torpedo captor for my fender? (also does it have some noise gate? for single coil guitars)
It's not a "modelling" amp....it's a "non-valve" guitar amp that sounds just perfect! The valve has finally been superseded....hurrah!! After over 40yrs I'm sick of changing valves so I for one welcome this wonderful development!!!...😎👍🎸
Joe Bloggs huzzah!!!!
Agreed!!!
Same here
I'm in love with mine
Got my Artist, so happy with it. Play it till my face is sore.Thanks for the review.
I've found that my Katana sounds best when the "volume" knob is maxed and the "master" knob adjusted as needed. That way it simulates an amp gunned to 10.
I've seen one person saying that's what BOSS recommends, and another saying that BOSS recommends doing the opposite. No clue which is right, but your way is what I would have done first.
I have the Katana 50 1x12 & it's ridiculous! My early 80's Peavey studio pro 40 is very close to my guitar heart, but the Katana is the best amp I've played through. Without question. My purpose is for room/house volumes, so I don't need anything huge. Just the opposite. I figured I'd upgrade the speaker later on but then realized that's not necessary as soon as I played it. The effects are crazy... the quality is just stupendous. And for $220 delivered. I honestly feel it's one of if not the best SS amp out there. Great review! Great demo too. Glad to hear you put it up there w/ your Peavey as well! Thanks!
I would love to see Boss port it's Tone Studio to the iPad!!
Every time I hear someone play a katana my brain goes “great but still a little different than a tube amp”. But then I realized valves or no valves, this has some the fullest and most refined tones on the market. I have had my katana 50 a few weeks now and still can’t believe it! Great playing btw
I have the Artist and I love it. The clean tone realy remind me of my Roland JC 120 but with all the bells and whisle of different tones efects.
You give good reviews. This one really showed what this amp sounds like as you play the same riffs with the different settings. Listening through good headphones I could not tell much difference in the three settings with the cabinet resonance feature. It's so subtle as to be nonexistent. Anyway, a good review. Kudos.
My Version 2 is on the way. Great Demo. Thanks, Shane!
I got my version 2 Katana 100 6 months ago and totally love it. I couldn’t justify spending extra on the artist for what I do. Killer tone on most settings but you do touch on one important point and that was the foot switch. Boss needs to add one as I was back at the shop the next day shelling out another $150 for the GA-FC which really opens up the potential and playability of this great amp. I would not have any issue paying extra for an included foot switch and it would still be priced fantastically.
Awesome vid and playing Shane ,love the katana's, I have the 100212 version and love it, would love to see someone do a comparison between the artist and the 212 just to check out the differences .
A great review Shane and the extended video is warranted, thanks for sharing!
One of my friends from work just ordered one and the dealer included the footswitch. He said he will let me try it out soon after it arrives. Woohoo! :o)
I bought this amp after watching your review. I do hook mine up to my Mac with Logic Pro x. Serious love this amp. Thanks for your honest review !!
Roland/BOSS has never included footswitches. I love Roland/BOSS products but not including the footswitch kinda really stinks.
I agree. It should be a given to get a footswitch with an amp. Having said that, for them not to include one is just stupid. It should be a standard thing.
Yep...
They are used to selling foot switchs for$89.00 !? Maybe that's why !?
The amp is so well priced that paying for the footswitch is still an excellent deal.
Arminius I aggree!
I bought one for my birthday. Will be here in 6 days. cant wait.
The Katana Artist sounds great straight away. Boss did a wonderful job with this one. I would recommend this to anyone.
Totally agree about the footswitch ! For the price of this amp, Boos could include it !
Shane, I have benefited greatly from the thoroughness of your reviews! I am tired of dragging around my HEAVY boutique amp to gigs and need a more convenient option. After watching hours (days?) of videos, I keep coming back to your reviews of this and many other amps. Just super helpful. Thanks and much happiness to you! P.S. Where do you get the fantastic posters you have up? I need to get me some!
Hey Shane! I had to drop by and say hi. I'm also pretty overwhelmed by the Artist. It's going to really change a few lives and open some minds to the sold state world.
I concur! :)
I've been looking for a new solid state amp and your review has convinced me to buy a Katana. Thank You!
I've had a Katana 100 combo for over a year and think it's a very good amp. I'd like to see a direct comparison between the original and this Artist. I would be surprised if there was a significant difference in tone. I'm waiting to be proven wrong. :-)
At this price point ($600) Roland should have included the GFAC footswitch. I think they are really screwing their customers on this amp combo.
I agree and also boss roland was never really price friendly until the original katana came out.Just check out the boss Dr880 drum machine that came out many years ago maybe around 15 years ago and boss still wants $500 for it!The price should have been lowered to about $350 by now!This is just greed at the highest level!
It’s been my experience that pricing is based on what the market will bare. If they are not selling their product at a certain price point they would lower the price.
AMS and I think ZZSounds sell the amp/switch for around $600.
JohnnyG I’d say this is the only one that’s not ridiculous cheap. But you are right
Had one. They are nicely built and have a lot of room to dial in tones with the on board effects/amp models. But it sounded too digital to me. So I returned it. Nice review and playing. Cheers.
Hi Shane- love your channel and this is another good review. However I just wanted to say that I don't feel the Katana series are "modelling" amps; a modelling amp by its very definition is designed to closely replicate a specific make of amp. An example would be a SuperChamp X2 modelling a bunch of different classic Fender designs. Or the Fractal having all its particular amp designs such as the Rectifier or 5150. The Katana is not designed to do that; it is simply a solid-state amplifier, in the same way a Peavey Bandit or a JC120 is. None of the channels on the Katana are designed to sound like any specific amp. I suppose the argument could potentially be made for the Brown channel- although it is designed to have the characteristics of a type of sound, but not a specific amp. The effects circuitry in the Katana IS digital modelling- those effects are named as being models of specific pedals. But the actual amplifier signal chain (preamp, power structure, etc) outside of the effects is not digital- it is analog, same as the Bandit or JC120 mentioned above, or countless other non-tube based analog amps over the years. So the Katana creates its tones in the same way that most overdrive pedals do- analog circuitry. It strives to have good overall representation of each style of channel, but I don't believe it is meant to be a modelling amp on any level.
Great stuff as always mate!
They have about 50 effects built in so technically it's modelling those pedals and patches. :-)
The pedals are certainly "modeled" however the amp itself isn't, as it has it's own core sound. The effects are in addition to the amp, much like external pedals. Just my two bobs worth ;)
@Ben Hackett There is certainly digital wizardry available for those who wish to use it. I was referring to the normal amp settings.
Great review Shane! I use mine with an ME-80. 36 Presets is enough for me in a cover band, so i dont need the footswitch. Fabulous amp and playing. Cheers from the UK.
Just bought one on the back of your review. Cheers.
Great vid :) According to Boss, the master volume should be on full (thus turning it into a non-master volume amp) and then use the channel volume and gain for control. This allows the class AB power section to breathe and have a full tube-like tone. Great amp. I'm seriously thinking of getting one!
That's very good information. Where you get that from.?
I heard it was recommended to do it the other way around. Is this stated in the owner's manual or elsewhere? I'd really like to see for myself what BOSS recommend.
@@ClassicalPan I like to know what's the best way to set it up. I too was under the impression to set channel volume 100% and adjust the master as you like.
Not advisable at home, but valve amps work the same
Sounds great, no doubt. What I don't understand are the "power attenuation" and master volume features given this is solid state. Surely you should have a reproducible tone with solid state at any volume, with one volume knob? I understand that 0.5 watts will drive the valves of a tube amp harder at lower volumes but I cant see how this translates here.
yeah I recently got the 50 watt version & love it. At $360 Aussie dollars it is cheaper than the Vox adio & you get a lot more for your dollar in my opinion.
this definitely sounds better than the regular katana. the problem is the price point puts it in firm competition with real tube amps and other digital amps like blackstar id tvp. In that price category it doesn't crush the competition like the 50 w katana does at 219 us.
i think so too. Very similar sounding amps. My point was simple though. at 219...the 50 watt katana has little in the way of competition. at that price point....it crushes everything else you might find. and that's why its so popular. I feel like the artist model isn't quiet in the same situation. its not that's not a good amp...that it's not a good option. its just not obviously without a doubt the best option
@Lucas Robinett I'm between the Katana Artist and Blackstar TVP. I really dig the KA, but it's quit big for what I want now. That's why I am towards the TVP 30. Do you think it's worth it? Or maybe I should throw everything up and pull the trigger on the KA? I also heard that the TVP engaged doesn't work so well with pedals in front. I mean... We read too many things on forum and it's hard to know the truth though. You're my best option now! Hah... You tries both, (KA and TVP 60). What do you suggest me, my friend?
Thank you for the detailed video review. Great evolution in the Katana series. What I like especially is that the amp has its own character (it is no modelling amp). If you are not in a studio (where you would use e.g. a Kemper) I do not see the point of a modelling amp at all. Important to mention that this amp has Midi-in what opens up a lot of options. It looks like that Boss is on the way to get a market leader with amps. The future for tube amps is looking bleak ...
Thanks for this fantastic review of the new Boss Katana Artist, Shane! You nailed it and by the way really good playing!
Thanks and best wishes
Markus
Shane, I have to add to your comment that the amp gets better after your played it a bit and loosen up the new speaker. After playing it now regularly for the 3 weeks it does sound much warmer. Thanks and Cheers!!
Do an original 100w Katana VS Katana Artist comparison.
Please. This is what I need. Going to get one but need to justify the extra for the artist version.
Great job, Shane - as always 😁
Yeah that would be great
I loved my 100 W Katana. A lot. I plugged into an Artist today. It's home with me now. No comparison. Worth the extra bucks. Esp the overdrives and distortions. But in the end, tone is subjective. Now back to the video. lol
Kurt so does anyone else agree? I'm on the verge of buying one of them
@@TheDunateen77 After watching several more vids, and speculation that the only change was the speaker and cab...I can't remember which video but one guy ran the 100 w Katana through the Artist cab and there wasn't much of a difference in tone! So, I decided it was worth it for me, personally, because I like the front control panel, speaker outs, and overall package. I.e I don't want to get my old Katana combo, build a speaker out box, and then add a cab. Just not convenient. I'm happy w/ my purchase even if the only change was speaker and cab. I hope this helps!
I'm gonna make Boss give you commission for this. I've been on the fence about this amp for two months and you just sold me.. I'm buying one now..
Amen!!!
Great job Shane!!
The intro again was inspiring.
Playing and tone of it was excellent. The features ,tone , versatility and size of this amp seems to set the bar really high. I will definitely take a second look.
Thanks for another in depth and unbiased review.
Another great review, Shane, and watching a fellow lefty run it through it's course somehow makes these reviews feel more personalized and catered to my eyes and ears. I'd love to hear a comparison between the Artist and the new Nextone amps soon.
Thanks Shane. Great review as always. I agree with you that any amp in this category needs to be able to have tones right out of the box. Thank God, no LCD screen…. Have been vascillating between the artist and the 100. I’m going with the Artist because of the options that were added, the upgraded speaker and having the controls right in front.
It's not a modelling amp!!... Got mine on order...can't wait!!
I really like the Little Crow - Never heard of them before and it's not usually my cup of tea (transparent black), but that looks stunning with the fingerboard timber.
Thanks Shane for the review, I own the 50 watt Katana and love it. It takes pedals really well also. I don't like to tinker too much with the computer to get good sound, it's good right out of the box.
This amp sounds amazing over my Klipsch speakers! I am sold. Great review intheblues
Great video and review! Just ordered the my Katana Artist. Thanks!!!
Congrats! How are you liking your Artist 100 these days?
Excellent review, I've always used
Old Marshalls (to heavy) I think the artist is my new amp
Man ! There are some Sick Tones coming out of this Baby . And the Price is Great . Needless to say ...i'm off to the Music Store .
This guy is a real good guitarist , he plays easy . With soul and the heart. Any chance of getting some tips on your playing ?
I have a katana air and recently I hooked it to a solid state fender dsp just using it as a power amp to serve the katana air. The sound is amazing. I'm thinking of ditching my victory valve amp its that good! I imagine the differences in the katanas are in the speakers. Speakers make a big difference.
Just as a side note, I have the original Katana 100 and I can switch between 2 channels with a simple A/B box plugged into the “sel ch1/ch2 expression” jack. It would be nice if they included a foot switch with the amp, but this is a “small” fix if you have one laying around and want to switch between 2 channels.
I completely agree. I was going to buy a Peavey Viper and all those crazy settings made me look elsewhere. Although it did sound good. I don't have time to learn all that stuff. I just want to play. Lol.
Great tones. This has to be a game-changer.
OMG Shane, the intro sounded amazing. Everything sounded good to me. I don't have the best hearing anymore but it sure sounded like a tube amp to me. I have the older Katana 100 1x12 which like a lot too. The price for the Artist is almost double of the older Katana 100.
I love my Katana 50 and the sound it has compared to other modeling amps. I wish I could afford the Katana Artist. Maybe after I pay off my Explorer.
I just got one and love it. What I like it has a acoustic setting.
Shane is a class ear, and sounds he has found, are tasteful, w/class.
Excellent review. Thank you for your attention to detail.
To fix the week speaker in the first generation I had choose the head and plug it in the Randall 4x12 with vintage 30. Sound amazing
i treated myself to the boss artist for Christmas only thing I would gripe about is I wish it had 2 12 inch speakers instead of 1 that's my only gripe I only play at home for pleasure so I'm happy with it I got the cover and footswwitch as a package oh a in built tuner would have been a nice touch but that's it and I would recommend it
Shane, did you notice much difference in tone between the V1 and these new versions? I use the lead channel for crunch on my V1 Katana! Boss obviously took note of people's gripes with the top controls and moved the controls to the front - awesome. The thing with Katana's is you don't need to spend a lot of time to get some good sounds out of it - plug in, quick settings and you're rockin. I still haven't even scratched the surface with what they can do. BTW looks like they knocked the price up on these from the V1's by a few hundred as well (probably the speaker).
One thing I love about your videos is that you don't treat the Tele Neck PU as if it doesn't exist.
I used it right at the start on the finger picking bit? Not sure if that was sarcasm but I try to balance out what I use on the videos.
Not sarcasm. It's just that I feel like a lot of players hate the Tele neck PU and never use it, therefore don't know HOW to use it. I use it as much as the bridge, myself.
Straight talking review..absolutely spot on...well done and yes it does sound really good with the Strat.
Shane, it has EIGHT CHANNELS, and you can program each for instant recall.
Fantastic
I love the amp such that I am going to order one. Every review I have seen of the Artist rave about them.
Pre ordered this weeks ago, can’t wait to get it in the UK. Awesome review
Dammit Bobby!!!!!!! Has that king of the hill poster always been there? Lol great video Shane. 😁✌🎸
Really DIG the intro clip. Could listen to 4-5 minutes of that groove for sure! Amp sounded great on all settings IMO.
Thanks man :-)
Denada
Great review Shane! I've got the 112 100w Katana and am thinking about changing the speaker in it to a Celestion Neo Creamback, wonder how much better it'll get. Another quick question, I missed the last livestream, will it be up on youtube at any point? Cheers!
In the blues, i love your videos. Thanks
I love this amp and if I hadn't have purchased the Katana 50 back in November, I would run out and get one. I really don't need 100 watts, though. I wonder if there is a 50 watt version out there somewhere? Good video!
Very good playing
Liking the different licks. Great playing, bro.
fantastic playing at the beginning... yeah
Really appreciate your reviews. I've been doing research on modeling amps, trying to decide on one. I love your honesty. I don't agree that the foot switch should be included because I know Boss would have to raise the overall price. I don't want to pay for it if I don't need it or I'm not ready to use it. That's my perspective. Also, I have to say, you missed out not trying the acoustic amp type, even with your electric guitars. It sounds excellent.
Nice in depth demo and review. Im torn between getting one of these for gigging or just micing my Princeton everywhere we play.
great tones!!!! you make me fall in love with the blues again
The footswitch is extra and compulsory for rehearsal and stage. but the tone studio is free so are the updates , and it's very comprehensive. I think boss have definitely voiced this better than the cheaper kats, your strat sounded brilliant, one thing I've found when using the tone studio on your laptop is you have to be on line to save any changes through the computer, but who wants to take a laptop to a gig you'd look like the petshop boys!!
Yes, that's a strong review of this amplifier. Nice and thank you
Damn it, Shane, I don't need to go buying any more stuff.
They finally listened and made the amp we all want
Great sounding amp and great demo.
Having a metalhead review this as well really shows the versatility of this thing
Hi Shane. That's a super smooth lead tone on the tele in the intro. Can you remember anything about the settings you used as I have a Katana and i would like to get close to that tone. Great review. I had one of the first deliveries of the katana and i have gigged it regularly, used it for teaching, recording and jam sessions and the amp consistently sounds amazing. Best amp i have owned in 30y gigging (and i have played through a lot).
Great amp.
I think I want the 100 watt head and then just get a Harley Benton Cabinet
Just sent my katana back! Nothing tube like about it. You tube demo's are misleading. We need to hear the amp with a mic out front. A room mic. Putting a mic right on the speaker is not the way most listen to an amp.
If you’ve got plenty of money and don’t have to work for a living so you have lots of free time to fiddle around plugging into a computer to get this thing to give you a good sound go ahead and fill your boots.
I got to try one of these the other day while out buying a new guitar and it was the most uninspired amp I’ve ever used for the price. You might as well save your money and buy the regular Katana which performs just as well.
Or if you want a higher end digital/solid state amp for blues then get a Roland blues cube.
I got lucky. Mine came with a foot switch. Makes things nice. Keep up the great work.
modelling amp that sounds better than the bandit!? Will it make you retire the bandit?
Tested one at the local GC for some time today. It does not really come close to the feel, punch and smooth musical texture of my sfpr and sfdr. It's ok but has a granular quality that is just not there.
For those of us who don't live and breathe acronyms, what's sfpr and sfdr?
@@chrishyde1216 silver face deluxe reverb and Princeton reverb I assume
I remember when amps came with a cover
and a tuner
my next amp for sure great tone I cant wait
That Little Crow SOUNDS AMAZING!!!
I would like to see you test out one of the Boss Katana-100/212 MkII 100W 2x12 in stereo mode currently you can plug these in in stereo with one cord between two of them at least on the big one you can that sounds awesome I agree with you about dialing in stuff from the front of the amp but I have watched some videos on this and the guy is a dead here to do computer are really getting unbelievable results I can understand why there’s so many options you can do and then you can put them right into it so they’re in there all the time change my mind I’m getting a fender champion 100 now I think I’m going to get one of these maybe I’ll get the champion 100 later I did really like your test with that with the clean tone seems like the fender just seemed the nail them clean tones. These are also supposed to have some good acoustic molds on there we try to be pretty interesting I don’t mind complicated stuff if I can just pick about 10 or 15 good things to do on it and leave it at that I don’t like doing like 200 different thingsBecause then you need a book to sit there and remember it all lol
I want the sound but want the size of the Katana Air. In the UK there is less than £150 difference between the two. If I will only ever use the amp at home at low(ish) volumes, should I just go for the Air or will I regret the sound versus the Artist? You make it sound beautiful and a steal for £469 in the UK. Help!
I already put a down payment on one. Thank you for the video, it really confirmed my thoughts on this amp.
Great sounding amp with lots of on board stuff for the money! Without the foot switch, it definitely negates some of the money you’d save on effects pedals, but it’s still a bargain for the tones!
Old comment, I know, but if you order from Zzsounds (I did this morning) the footswitch is included for $30. Much better than buying the footswitch separately and paying 4x more for it.