Boss Katana 100 Watt Amp Head Review
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- Опубліковано 15 січ 2017
- Tom Quayle reviews the Boss Katana 100 watt Amp head for issue 46 of Guitar Interactive magazine.
Has Roland's Boss division finally managed what amp designers have been promising us since the 1960s - finally made a solid state amp that can do everything a tube amp can?
Check out the full review here bit.ly/bosskatana
It is so enjoyable to watch a good, thorough, informative review and have the reviewer be a great player with good ears. Well done!
I have to compliment you on your superb playing Tom, you make it look effortless! Bravo!
Me being a skeptical person, I thought I was taking a chance buying a Katana head because I thought tubes was where it's at. Almost a month later after buying one it is probably the best amp I ever owned.
Jay McDermott tubes might be overrated at this point.
Did you get a cab too?
I've had some nice tube amps before. That said, I have 2 Katana Mk1's. The head and then I bought the 1x12 for kickin around. Incredible amps!!! I doubt I'll be going back....
I am actually plugged into my boss 100 W katana MK 2 Head with matching to 212 cabinet as I am texting This response, I own two marshals DSL 100 W tube amps, One a full stack the other a half stack, I also have an orange crush 120 W pro with the 412 matching orange cabinet and an EVH EL34 50W tube amp with matching 212 EVH cabinet besides a few other things like head rush gig board with power speaker , Micro dark terror orange, positive grid spark amp , Fender champion 100, Peavey6505+, line 6 100W 212 100 and a few others and I have to say this boss kicks ass… I am right now waiting on an order of a set of 4 EL34power tubes for the second time this year for one of my Marshall DSL heads because I play every single day for several hours a day, and I seem to burn through these power tubes once every six months or so, never have to worry about that with the solid-state amps and this boss Sounds as good as my Marshall Super lead, I can’t even tell you why I don’t play the boss all the time instead but I just guess I am a Marshall man at heart but you cannot go wrong with this boss katana because it kicks ass. Lol
I can't take this video seriously because Tom can probably make a plate of beans on toast sound amazing.
Sub-par guitarists will make good equipment sound bad, while a great guitarist cannot make inferior equipment sound good.
Man, solid state has come a long way. This little guy sounds great...and I am not even a Boss fan
Rick Feith i
Best review of the Katana, concise, thought through!
About time someone shows us how to use this amp!
Outstanding review! And the very unique looking guitar sounds phenomenal!
Great, thorough review. Thanks Tom!
Thanks, this is the best review I've seen of the amp and I think it's finally convinced me to buy one.
Excellent demo Tom...you play great...I just discovered this amp head - a friend who is also a gear-head has one and gave it to me to mess with while he's touring ( he's a FOH engineer)...after watching you put it through it's paces, I can't wait to plug it in...the 5" speaker is also impressive...this is a very interesting, quality product from Boss, and you can find them for $250 used...I've been a big Fender Hot Rod Deluxe fan for years, but now........thanks.
As always,good review Tom!
I've recently bought a second hand Katana Head amp and this video is more than useful to me. Also it's a pleasure watching and listening to a review by a guitarist I admire a lot. Thanks GIM and Tom Quayle!
Great to hear!
Very informative, thank you very much. I'm a beginner and I appreciate the in-depth and thorough explanations.
It's quiet(bonus - noise gate before reverb), it's loud, it's very versatile, it can do everything I want, it's portable, it can be a great Di. to FOH (pre master volume), standby for silent recording and checking of monitor levels, it can amplify my acoustics - even with the built in speaker, it can be a poweramp for my Helix and BOSS ME-80,I can 4CM with my pedalboards, perfect pratice level on a 4x12 on the 0,5 watt setting, it can cover a lot bases alone exept tuning (grab a Snarc), and the price is soooo right. Well done BOSS.
The built in speaker made me by it immediatly.
Is it that good? I also am considering this as an option for a stereo rig thats 90% there.
I'm sorry, is what good? the speaker?
The amp? You seem to be a fella that likes great tone and gear, and its been 2 months since your post. How are you getting along with it?
I really dig the amp. I'll say it doesn't take pedals like my tube amps, so I'm getting used to that. By that I mean, My marshall BB1 takes on another character through the Katana. For now I'd say the Clean sound is the absolute strongest point of the amp. I have not been able to use it live yet, since I mostly use a Helix for the moment (in ear), but it's nice to know that I can gig with a pedalboard and the katana and choose my options; FOH, low level monitoring, add a 4x12 or whatever I'd want. For homerecording it is very nice. There is NO noise from output transformer and the like, I have a lot of that from my Marshall 6100 head, so I've actually retired it!!! I have got a GA-FC now, and it opens up the amp even more. It's a litlle fiddely, but with practice switching get's easier (you have 2 layers). A very cool feature is the option of injecting an exp. pedal into the footswitch (shorter cable, less cable around your feet) I use a modded Dunlop wah for volume (100k) and it works great ;-) you can patch it pre or post delay to your liking :-) To make things better, I have a Ditto2 looper in the loop - it's so cool. In a live situation I'd use the Ditto for soundchecks, it's so great to stand beside the sound engineer and check if the level and balance is right - highly recommended ;-) Hope you like the answers
If you want, I could give you my current presets, if you have the amp yourself. As a cabinet I use a ca. 1990 Marshall 1960A (greenback 25's), so the presets are of course tailored to that cab.
Wow, I was looking for a tub amp, but now I'm sold. Next one is going to be a Boss Katana. Great review, and nice to see a reviewer that actually now how to play. Great work.
MegaCrasherMusic you've been on nearly every fucking video about thr katana complaininng. Get a life mate.
Sound is one thing, how it feels is another thing which is as important but most don't mention this. Thanks for mention this.
great review , im sold on this
Great video guys, I have the Katana 100W 212 Combo and am in the process of acquiring the head version at the moment. One thing to note is that the amp, by default is set to "Bank A" mode, if you hold the "Panel" button down for two seconds or so, it unlocks another four channels, putting into "Bank B" mode, giving a total of nine channels. Great video nevertheless, just another thing they included that wasn't really advertised enough!
Why are you getting the head version? Also did you know you can hook the leads up to other speakers and it’s technically a head if you want. Cheers🥂
nice review, sweet playing 🙂
Holy smokes! Great licks dude
Your chops are an inspiration
Finally a real rewiev on Katana Head. Thank You so much, great playing 🤘🏿🤘🏿🤘🏿
Thanks for watching!
Great review!!
Love that guitar amp and guitarist!
I have this amp & concur with Tom. Without spending much time at all, I was able to design nice sounding, convincing blues/rock, fusion sounds. For the money, you can not beat the value! Also, the GA-FC footswitch is a MUST!
it doesnt matter what you think of the guitar it matters what he thinks.I think the guitar sounds amazing, and tom you rock, i like your reviews, keep it up. i bought the katana head because of this review, thanks tom i love this rig
New firmware update allows saving four patches on the Kat 50 instead of two. The 50 unlike the 100 uses any old 1/4" footswitch. Easily keeps up with drums. $229 they're a steal.
That guitar is wicked sweet, wish I had the dough for one.
great review
Boss is my go to. Reliable and strong.
Great playing 👍
8:00 where's the dreams that I've been after? ;)
I LOVE my Katana 100, particularly Crunch channel, Gain on full, Volume at 1 o'clock, Blues Drive at 10 o'clock, Bass MORE than 12 o'clock, mid & treb LESS than 12.... bit of delay and reverb.... check out "Paul Stafford Cook plays Cause We've Ended As Lovers" to hear an example of that tone.
When there`s Mr. Tom Quayle , Anything has to sound great ..
You could put pickups on a pair of buttplugs and he could make them sound good..........
Great Job!
Sounds fantastic without a doubt- Are there definitive voicing differences between the crunch, lead and brown? I feel like they’re just different gain stages?
Hands down best guitar player I’ve ever heard!
one thing the head version has over the combos is MIDI - I wish the combos did as well. There are a lot of similarities with th Boss GT-100, but it's nice to have the amps dialed in with real knobs.
If it had a real-time app, I would make the small combo (maybe even the mini) my new living room amp
I'm not sure which is more impressive, the amp or Tom's playing! Both are kind of mind-blowing.
Great demo, I have a Celestion green back 25 watt loaded cab can If i use this boss 100 W head with this cabinet or will I blow the shit out of the speaker ??
with a pedal board that would make a shoegazer happy, I still might buy one. My current go-to if I have to rent back line is jc-120, but sounds like I could carry one of these, could be carry-on, and my baby pedalboard for small gigs.
Hello Tom...Excellent video and musicianship! What are those chords and voicings at 18:47-18:49? Thanks.
that guitar is awesome, look a lot like a carl thompson bass tbh
what a badass intro. damn
I walked in on a used MKII head for $250, and despite not being in the market for an amp, I had to bring it home! The thing can *push air*!
dear tom what kind of licks are you laying down my brother.
Hello thanks for the video ! question did you plug it to any cabin ? or all these sound come from the head amp itself ? I have mooer ge200 and I cannot use properly with my present amp which is blackstar id core 10 v2 stereo amp. Since there is no fx loop return on my amp or I do not know what is the problem exactly that my ge200 sounds horrible with my amp, I am planning to get head amp with fx loop return. In that case can i just plug my ge200 to this one since it has fx loop return and use it properly ? I practice at home and I play for myself just to have fun. I believe it will be loud enough for a room. Thank you
Question: Could you use a Pod Go into the Katana and utilize all the sounds and effects from BOTH?
pretty sure i'll buy one of these and a marshall code head
I've never been a tube snob but I do have some nice tube amps. They all sound great but it seems only at a particular volume and then the venue you are playing them in has a massive effect on the sound also. I got the katana head and it is truly the most usable amp out there. If you can only afford one amp the head and a one twelve cab with a 70/80 celestion is the way to go. Need more go foh. Go to global eq settings when you get it and set to taste. It can do it all maybe not perfectly but close enough. I don't know of an amp that can do as much as well. I can even run my fender mustang floor thru the power amp and I'm Shure you guys using newer multi units will find it a great amp for your units. It's a great amp on its own but will do so much more .
Well, i'm sold! I am gonna buy one.
Great review. Wish one of the "boost" options was a "clean boost."
It is - it's the first option in the drive section of Boss Tone Studio.
since they are available only 4 channels I did not understand if I can recall using the foot controller recall the presets with liveset (using tone central boss)
This head and 4×12 Marshall cabinet is good idea?
Great tutorialll.....👍👍👍👍
if your switch channels, will it change volume? would not be ideal for gigging if you want a clean crunch lead etc
QUESTION: Can you run TWO Boss Katana 2x12 cabinets off of ONE Boss Katana MKII 100Watt head? Can you connect the two cabinets safely together and to the head via a y-split speaker cable? - i.e., a speaker cable Y-splitter out of the back of the head, with two speaker cables from the Y-splitter connected and one speaker cable to each cabinet. Is this a safe connection that will not harm the head or cabinet speakers; and, that will not void the Boss warranty on any of the units...?
Given this is a solid state amp head, versus a tube amp, I would think the above described connection would work fine, as long as the Ohms impedances are within spec for the head and both cabinets combined...?
Any help to understand this issue is greatly appreciated. I know the Katana MKII can run in stereo with two combo amps (one as a slave to the main). But,...I understand the question above is a different scenario than a master-slave stereo setup.
Can anyone tell me if this head can handle a high gain tone as, for example Dying Fetus would have?
Asking since those kind of tones are hard to judge when you're hearing them through cheap speakers.
He did say that what you're hearing is a high quality 4x12 cabinet mic'ed in a different room. I'm 3/4 way thru so I'm not sure if= he dimes the gain to get what you're asking about.
Wow,..He dimed the gain on the lead channel at one point. The amp answered with what I consider very high gain tone and a fantastic high gain chord tone and lead tone.
But to each his own. Perception is reality.
i love how they get the best player possible to do these reviews, id like to see it with the regular shmo thats gonna buy this amp
Changing how good the player is won't change the sound of the amp. Tone has nothing to do with playing skill. It's pickups. amp, and speaker.
These are just some really good amplifiers....I have been playing the guitar for 45 years and have played thru just about everything....as far as solid state goes these guys have gotten really close to that tube response...and I'm really picky about my tone...do yourself a favor...get one of these...I'm playing mine thru a 4×12 marshall 1960 cabinet and it is just a monster.....🎸🎸🎸
Hey, thinking of picking one of these up, whats it like at 0.5w bedroom volumes, either through the onboard speaker or the 4x12?
I owned the 100W 1x12" combo for about a month and a half. It's super loud, and being Boss, the built-in (and software accessible) FX are top notch. But...the amp is *ridiculously bright*. I had to run the Presence and Treble knobs at one quarter (9 'o clock) and the Mid no higher than 40% (about 11 'o clock) to get a dark enough tone through any of the gain settings! There is a nasally high-mid range snarl that is nearly impossible to dial out, even when you go into the software and try to shelf frequencies through the expanded parametric and graphic EQs. Personally, I think it has to do with the full-range speaker they use to accommodate the Acoustic preamp setting. If you're a fan of darker-voiced amps (Marshall Plexi, Jubilee, Mesa Mark II, Vox AC30TB, Carvin Legacy etc.) *stay away* from this amp. Way too bright/snarly, even with humbuckers...pay attention as Tom plays with the booster tones and higher gain settings (Lead, Brown); you'll hear exactly what I'm talking about.
JazzzRockFuzion same thing happened to me as well. The amp is just way wayyy too bright. I feel like they are trying to overhype/overmarket theze amps. Good features, great aesthetic but it's just too bright.
Speaker swap? That may help. Don't know about the quality of the stock speakers.There are a few videos running the katana with v30's.
JazzzRockFuzion personally i found that was true when you first get it , but as the speaker wears down and softens and the mids start to stop being so massive
JazzzRockFuzion personally i found that was true when you first get it , but as the speaker wears down and softens and the mids start to stop being so massive
JazzzRockFuzion personally i found that was true when you first get it , but as the speaker wears down and softens and the mids start to stop being so massive
I haven't heard ONE yet in the "LIVE".. BUT WOW..
Is the sound we're hearing plugged in to the computer for the video or the actual speaker on the unit? I'm wondering if this model would be best for me wanting something small with cool options or if I'd need the 50/100 instead? (wanting bedroom volume, not gigging)
jillo357 he said in the video a Marshall 4x12 is mic'd
please slow down when talking so we can follow you more easy as your opinions are so good thank you
How do I activism the 5in speaker to play it through the head itself?
Helpful
Why is everyone out there saying it's Boss' 1st series of solid state amps when we all know that Boss is Roland and they've been making them for many years.
If this has already been asked, I apologize. How can I hook my Katana to 2 (4x12) 's ?
It there any way of getting sound through the line out without having sound coming out the speaker? For recording.
I believe on standby it will still produce sound via the LO.
Well... if mister Quayle likes it, i might have to get it now
tom is terrific at the reviews, much better than nodding off michael caswell
You can use the settings editor through the USB but I haven't read where you can actually RECORD through it. Am I wrong?
i have read and heard you can record via usb
funny how japanese people wrote katana means sword... it’s actually “medium size sword”. sword in general is ken. if you think of ken-do in fact it means way of the sword
Yes, that is weird they dumbed it down for easy consumption. Good shout. I do like use of the Chikara character meaning power or force. Probably would have preferred them calling it the Boss Chikara, maybe that’s what it’s called in Japan!
Is the Katana a solid state amp or a digital modeling amp? Like the line 6 spider or the blackstar ID core series?
Nick Lazarus if you don't know that, you're not a guitar-player, now are you...?
@@martijnvandenakker803 You're an asshole
Personally I like the guitar and I'm very picky about that stuff. I don't think I'd use it...but still. It looks very nice.
awesome amp boss is stlll BOSS !!
What speaker are you playing through? I like these sounds.
This or the Blackstar id60tvp head?
If running at 100 watts do I need to run thru a speaker cab that can handle 100 watts?
only if you crank it
I'd be more wary of these since everyone is saying they are proper volume/power
Yes but a nice 100 wats its not that expensive; but are you really gonna need those 100 wats? thats loud as hell
Can do 100, 50 and 0.5 I think
is it just my boss katana 100 or does everyone experience this at the 50 or 100 watt setting on crunch and above if you let go of the strings it feedbacks really bad is this normal
So is mine. Use a PC to set the built-in noise gate
No XLR out?
I think this Tom Quayle dude and another cat on UA-cam named Shawn Tubbs have similar playing abilities.
I don't get it, in all the videos I've seen it seems to have a very harsh tone..
Th1 amp *LEAST* 2avoid?
*I TEACH THWORLD HOW 2BUILD A GUITAR AMP.*
Thank me later.
The1 I designed. In 1984 or so when I played a Boss DD2 &th horrific boss HM2Distortion, which in the end i kinda liked.. Boss is now MAKING "my amp" so i went head bought it.
Warning.
"i have purchased my 1st amp."
Wellp, i took it d'plunge friends, i did me a spare no xpense move 2day lol.
Thats right i bought it thbest I didnt b>(uy) me buy a junk Sregio guitar amp.
BOSS MK II in 2x12. (2 12" speakers.)
I used 2play lousy BOSS delay, HM2.
So anywaymost I heard 2many scary things about other amps breaking.
This1 bit more solid.
Been writing manufactures and countless you tube vids teaching them how equipment should be designed = guitar amps should be in stereo.
EVERY TIME.
Now stereo amps leading thworld. Where I am is ALWAYS where people will be.
Example, Seraphim shimmer pedal, &we need *SURROUND SOUND ALSO.*
Most popular guitar amp now = a stereo Positive Grid Spark. But mine maybe 3times th amp that is.
Normally $500 plus I found it $354 shipped after tax with cosmetic damage back &sides.
Boss Katansa 2x12 100.
Shrugz. I was not shopping 4it. Just happened stumble on2 it $333 shipped. Immediately it totally resonated as amp i really wanted. U know, after intense researching cheaper much lower grade packed with bells &whistles amps.
Oh no this 1 is more old school vintage no computer apps but late model cutting edge amp.
Not that those computer apps arent attractive &genuinely useful.
Thinking i can circumnavigate those inadequecies with bluetooth adaptor &phone circumnaviapps.
Well, u always lose SOMETHING right?
I dunno i just decide hit buy button wtf now gethis overwith. My potato, (i mean my "amp") she breaking. Note BOSS no where near on design parameters I epicentered 35 years ago.
Super high quality, biggest 12" speakers, BOSS caliber best sound in class&stereo.
Has "variation" knob thsounds, cabinet resonance...
These BOSS used as a reliable more amps by teachers &such.
Monster 100watts but has antenuator. (Dial that goes all thway down to .5 watts from 100 watts4 using max volume in a little room setting.)
AB class engineering circuits = super efficient of electricity compared2 A class. Cant stand stupid innefficient appliances i doing low as 52 kilowatts a month electric bill.
Yes Boss it needs work. But just had 2many pluses in best I could do. Boiling all that down it should be a premium sound but also being in stereo thsound will be no comparison goes right thru u &your 10k tube amp with no stereo. You know vs havimg car speakers only 1side lol 😅
God only knows what planet u people are even from.
Who in they right mind would make d*mn sure that dreadfull switch on they stereo HiFI is in mono...
This what i keep preaching 2guitar players& companies alike.
I will have 2dissasemble it >re assemble CORRECTLY PERSONIFIED lol.
Gonna pull 1speaker put it left side of throom either side my head.
Hello???
Amps should NEVER be sold with single speakers. OR stereo speakers butted against each other like batsh*t Grid Mini.
I said TRUE stereo circuitry. Not psuedo.
My last amp, a Blackstar, had 5 buttons stopped wrking. Turning it in2 a pricey paperweight. So i didnt want 2have that happen again.
I wonder if his wife gets ideas with that guitar when toms not at home lol ;)
This guy blows me away every time I hear him, his chromatic and outside playing licks specifically. Cool guitar too, Strats and Les Paul's are ok but they are so cliche, I was sick of them before I started learning to play :-D The "magic" is in the players hands, not some brand name stanped on a headstock
I still have my good old Dean ML. Greatest neck playability imo. They can take a beating
Jesus this guy's playing
what brand of guitar is that? havent seen it and cant figure out what the brand name is
nvm, found it, Ed DeGenaro Eroticmodel Fibenare Guitars
That one should be called 'The Rectum'
It’s called THE TURD
I'm afraid you are mistaken. It is a digital amp. Sneaky amps lets you load in more models. You can't add amps to a SS amp without modding.
It is not a digital amp or a modelling amp- it's all analogue components in the preamp and power amp signal, same as any older solid state amp. The digital sections are the effects and USB applications.
can't believe I bought a marshall code, i'm an idiot.
give me a rack version \m/
Justin Gomes the katana head is great... if u r looking for a rack version
Crikey! All this for $349? What an age we live in.
IShldHavBghtaSqrl £200 in uk amazing value amazing amp buy 1 wet 1 dry then you will have fun wow!
I have Boss Katana 50 amplifier and yeah eeh what did I wanted to say? 🤔 Eeeh
Hmmmmm there's no reason for me to be a healthy and happy new man for the first time today. This leads to nothing. I actually pushed some words into the air. Katana Air. 😂It's just another awesome amplifier from Biss no Boss. I'm a bit drunk. (new years eve party) I am shutting up now guys!! I LOVE BOSS KATANA AMPLIFIERS, I know because I have one a whooole time!! And don't swap speakers!! That's just wrong. 😂🍒🎸🎼✨✨🎸🥃🥂
why is the head much more expensive than the 100w combo?
Its only 20 bucks. $329 combo, $349 head. I would much rather use this with a real guitar cab than some FRFR type clean PA speaker built in to the combo.
@@rickfeith6372 and the head had a 5" speaker, so there's no worry about it not being under load.
@@Anjohl Solid state amps are WAY different than tube amps. They don’t need any load. They still have to play by the rules of physics, you can’t run em em too low on the impedance, but they can even do mismatched loads. The 5” speaker is there so you can leave your 4x12 at the rehearsal spot and just bring your head home and still play. The Katana series is definitely targeted at younger players who might only have one cab. Once you’ve been around the horn a few times you start to accumulate good gear. I now have four 412 cabs, and two em are Boogies. But back when I was only 4 years in, I just had a single Peavey MS412 that I still have. It’s okay…but it definitely doesn’t hold a candle to the Mesa cabs.
Great review! Love the playing!!! But must boycott until tabs provided...;)
Goddamn this guy is good!
He is an elite player.
is it decent for metal/djent?
Classic metal yeah, but forget about Recto/5150 tones.
Yes. the brown channel on it's own might not be enough but you can stack a booster on top for that extra tightness...awesome amp
aravis123 if you want something way better get a Blackstar TVP amp. select 6L6 tubes and American ISF and you're home
aravis123 oh god yes it is. Lead channel, gain on 10 o clock, all channel volume, dime'd controls with all the presence, put a Guv DS in the front with the tone and bottom around 15, full effects Level and low gain, acts like a tightener and a tube screamer, gives a great snarly midrange.
Who cares what his guitar looks like? That's like me complaining about his glasses. The video is about the amp.
Head
you can't stick his glasses into a butthole in any satisfying way so idk if that's the same actually