I’ve been playing guitar for 5 years the katana was the first amp I ever bought. I’m so glad I went for it and spent more then I wanted too then because it has served me so well for the last 4 years.
Two years with my MK2 Katana head. I hated it at first. Now with my 212 loaded with two 1986 G12K-85'S and wow! I also fudge a little with my HX Stomp running into the clean channel, set very clean with a REVV Purple amp/no cab and I do use the HX effects as well in front. Seriously damn good. People get shocked when I come to jam..
I switched to the Artist MK2 as my main amp last year and haven't looked back. Reasonably light, incredibly loud, and sounds great. I still use my pedalboard with it because I love my pedals :)
@@bsquare6809 It takes them very well. Very tube-like reaction to boosts etc. I usually just use a single channel set to very light/edge gain and use a couple of overdrives and a compressor to gain stage to where I want to be for a particular song or part. The Studio Rats channel has several videos on how the KTN's take pedals.
@@allanb1402 Thanks good to know. Im ready to buy the artist and a 2x12 cab, I just cant decide if i want the head or for $30 more, the combo. Either way, im getting the 2x12 cab, its just that with the combo i have options. Any differences between the head vs. Combo?
@@bsquare6809 I don't believe there is any difference between the Artist Head and Artist Combo. The differences between the Artist head and normal head are also minimal and aside from aesthetics may be an alternative. Both heads have MIDI and the same amount of channels/fx. The Artist has some contour controls and a separate footswitchable solo boost. What I think sets the Artist apart most from the other KTN models are the Waza speakers. They sound much better to my ears for higher gain.
Cool vid. those are cool amps! I have standard 1x12 katana combo and its been great in many local gigs. The convenience, simplicity, and reliability while still having good tone that can easily fit well in a band mix are things i like. Purely tone-wise i do have other amp's that i prefer but i can't do what i can with the katana without significantly more more gear, cables and set up time. The way i use it is i have all 4 channels (bank 1: Clean, light crunch, moderate gain, and higher moderate gain with some delay). Bank 2 (I use way less with my current band): Rockabilly Strat Cat's type tone with slapback echo, higher gain one with flanger (barracuda like), high gain with more moderate delay mix, and one with phaser (evh inspired). I do have some effects set that i can kick on on each of channels like a tremolo for example on channel 2) and some light gain boosts can kick in if whatever channel i was in felt like needed just a little more gain/sustain. The overall levels on all channels i dial in to be close to even as possible since i use expression pedal for level boosts. I use boss ev-5 expression pedal directly into the GA-FC foot-switch (no extra cables to the amp) and set the min level knob to general ordinary level for most playing and toe down is with level boosted for full on guitar solos regardless of what channel i'm on. The great thing is have the in between available for lead lines that need some level boost but don't need to be the level of guitar solo, or quiet parts of song where if there is a solo perhaps don't need as much boost) vs a fixed solo boost.
Just bought myself a used Katana 100 combo for band practices. So far I've been really pleased and impressed with what it can do. I still need to get familiar with using the editing software with it and also need to get a footswitch. But if it works great for me, I can see myself upgrading to the Artist version and gigging with it. I don't use many pedals, and I can see this amp allowing me to travel with very few or no pedals at all.
Great video. I just bought one. I had the Mk2 2 x 12 and was a little leary of whether going to the 1x12 Artist would give, that full, rich sound but amazingly, it does. I love the front panel as opposed to having it on the top of the amp. I also like that they have the partially open back so I can put the amp on a stand while performing and the front panel is staring right at me if I need to make any adjustments. With the 2 x12 I had to sit it on top of a gear case and I could step back and look down on it which worked but this is a much better setup. Overall I have gotten some great live patches and I have NOT even hooked it up to the Tone Studio yet. Thanks alot
@@jameslugo To add to all of the above, Fender has a 1 year warranty while the Boss Katanas all have 5 years! This speaks volumes { no pun intended } in the manufacturer's confidence level regarding the build quality of their amps
I've got both the MKI and MKII version of the artist. Only thing I think they should have added to the MKII is an IR loader in the software. Man... if they could have done that, it would have been truly lights out for the competition. I run mine into a Universal OX Stomp that sits on top of the amp.
I cant decide on the head or the combo. Either way, I want the 2x12 cabinet as well. But for a difference of $30 at least I'd have options. Is there any differences on the head vs. Combo (other than built-in speaker)?
Ya know, i appreciate the demo, and Ive owned this amp for kicking around the house or as a backup amp. But i just guess I don’t understand when people complain if a gig takes you more than what you can carry on stage in one trip.What’s the hurry? Does your gig mean that little to you that you only will put in to your setup the amount of energy it takes to check the mail? I’ve been gigging 25 yrs and I actually thoroughly enjoy setting up my gear, its part of the fun for me. I use a head, cabinet, 4 space rack and pedalboard, and I’ve streamlined it to be set up in literally 7 minutes. When it comes to my craft, i just don’t care about the extra 5 minutes it may take me to set up. I guess we are all different but i just don’t understand the hurry up attitude. Touring guys I understand they need to stay light for air travel. Im genuinely curious here.
The thing in Nashville is parking downtown is brutal and multiple trips is almost impossible because you can't load half the gear in the club and then go back to the car and it's not optimal to leave a chunk of gear in the car. One trip is the ticket.
@@jameslugo I see. Thanks for the response. Every show I’ve played the venue has supplied a load in/out dedicated space, and i have no experience playing churches, so maybe thats the element im not aware of. In your case at a church I would say the Katana or a fractal floorboard straight to front of house would fit the bill. Thanks for the explanation. Good luck! Ps. The Hughes and kettner Grandmeister 40 deluxe is a great tube alternative to the ss Katana, but you would need a cab.
Good to hear different opinions. I'm in the less is better camp. Setting up doesn't seem to be too much of an issue. It's the tearing down. At the end of a gig I really enjoy hanging with the staff at the bar and the audience. I use to have a solo acoustic gig and my regular show was like 10:30 to closing - real late. I wasn't good enough to get the regular weekend slot so my weekly gig was during the week. And my regular day job the next morning. Playing usually ended just after 2am. Then hanging out a for a while. Then tear down. Then the 40 min drive home. Work started at 8am the next day. I think I'm scarred from all that and its left me with a preoccupation to always minimize my gear.
I think its just different, convenient and useable enough to warrant having in lieu of tubes, but tone wise, it cant replace a good tube amp. Having said that, not everyone needs tube amps and these do the job for good tone really well.
By setting up my Kat Artist side by side with my tube amp and tweaking the Kat via the Tone Studio I’ve got them pretty close. Close enough to gig with.
There is no way you could come close to hearing what this amp is capable of at a local music store unless you hogged the amp for a few hours LOl Like anything else, you need to spend a lot of time with the amp learning ALL of the effects and spend time tweaking each sound to your liking. You would get all the warmth you need IMO It's a beast
I’ve been playing guitar for 5 years the katana was the first amp I ever bought. I’m so glad I went for it and spent more then I wanted too then because it has served me so well for the last 4 years.
Awesome.
Two years with my MK2 Katana head. I hated it at first. Now with my 212 loaded with two 1986 G12K-85'S and wow! I also fudge a little with my HX Stomp running into the clean channel, set very clean with a REVV Purple amp/no cab and I do use the HX effects as well in front. Seriously damn good. People get shocked when I come to jam..
Good to hear that.
I switched to the Artist MK2 as my main amp last year and haven't looked back. Reasonably light, incredibly loud, and sounds great. I still use my pedalboard with it because I love my pedals :)
Great to hear!
How is it with pedals?
@@bsquare6809 It takes them very well. Very tube-like reaction to boosts etc. I usually just use a single channel set to very light/edge gain and use a couple of overdrives and a compressor to gain stage to where I want to be for a particular song or part. The Studio Rats channel has several videos on how the KTN's take pedals.
@@allanb1402 Thanks good to know. Im ready to buy the artist and a 2x12 cab, I just cant decide if i want the head or for $30 more, the combo. Either way, im getting the 2x12 cab, its just that with the combo i have options. Any differences between the head vs. Combo?
@@bsquare6809 I don't believe there is any difference between the Artist Head and Artist Combo. The differences between the Artist head and normal head are also minimal and aside from aesthetics may be an alternative. Both heads have MIDI and the same amount of channels/fx. The Artist has some contour controls and a separate footswitchable solo boost. What I think sets the Artist apart most from the other KTN models are the Waza speakers. They sound much better to my ears for higher gain.
The layout on the front panel is just great on the artist models, big selling point to me!
I think so too
What’s cool is if you had a second amp they hook up in stereo really easily.
That's awesome.
Cool vid. those are cool amps!
I have standard 1x12 katana combo and its been great in many local gigs. The convenience, simplicity, and reliability while still having good tone that can easily fit well in a band mix are things i like. Purely tone-wise i do have other amp's that i prefer but i can't do what i can with the katana without significantly more more gear, cables and set up time.
The way i use it is i have all 4 channels (bank 1: Clean, light crunch, moderate gain, and higher moderate gain with some delay). Bank 2 (I use way less with my current band): Rockabilly Strat Cat's type tone with slapback echo, higher gain one with flanger (barracuda like), high gain with more moderate delay mix, and one with phaser (evh inspired). I do have some effects set that i can kick on on each of channels like a tremolo for example on channel 2) and some light gain boosts can kick in if whatever channel i was in felt like needed just a little more gain/sustain. The overall levels on all channels i dial in to be close to even as possible since i use expression pedal for level boosts.
I use boss ev-5 expression pedal directly into the GA-FC foot-switch (no extra cables to the amp) and set the min level knob to general ordinary level for most playing and toe down is with level boosted for full on guitar solos regardless of what channel i'm on. The great thing is have the in between available for lead lines that need some level boost but don't need to be the level of guitar solo, or quiet parts of song where if there is a solo perhaps don't need as much boost) vs a fixed solo boost.
Nice. I’ll circle back to this reply Friday when the pedal shows up. Thanks man.
Just bought myself a used Katana 100 combo for band practices. So far I've been really pleased and impressed with what it can do. I still need to get familiar with using the editing software with it and also need to get a footswitch. But if it works great for me, I can see myself upgrading to the Artist version and gigging with it. I don't use many pedals, and I can see this amp allowing me to travel with very few or no pedals at all.
Awesome man.
Great video. I just bought one. I had the Mk2 2 x 12 and was a little leary of whether going to the 1x12 Artist would give, that full, rich sound but amazingly, it does. I love the front panel as opposed to having it on the top of the amp. I also like that they have the partially open back so I can put the amp on a stand while performing and the front panel is staring right at me if I need to make any adjustments. With the 2 x12 I had to sit it on top of a gear case and I could step back and look down on it which worked but this is a much better setup. Overall I have gotten some great live patches and I have NOT even hooked it up to the Tone Studio yet. Thanks alot
Awesome man.
@@jameslugo To add to all of the above, Fender has a 1 year warranty while the Boss Katanas all have 5 years! This speaks volumes { no pun intended } in the manufacturer's confidence level regarding the build quality of their amps
I've got both the MKI and MKII version of the artist. Only thing I think they should have added to the MKII is an IR loader in the software. Man... if they could have done that, it would have been truly lights out for the competition. I run mine into a Universal OX Stomp that sits on top of the amp.
Nice.
I cant decide on the head or the combo. Either way, I want the 2x12 cabinet as well. But for a difference of $30 at least I'd have options. Is there any differences on the head vs. Combo (other than built-in speaker)?
I think the combo is probably the best for gigging.
Cool! ⚡😎⚡
Thanks
Its a great amp !! I use pedals with the panel on the clean channel 😊
Nice!
What kind of pickups do you have in that les paul??
WCR American Steele set.
Ya know, i appreciate the demo, and Ive owned this amp for kicking around the house or as a backup amp. But i just guess I don’t understand when people complain if a gig takes you more than what you can carry on stage in one trip.What’s the hurry? Does your gig mean that little to you that you only will put in to your setup the amount of energy it takes to check the mail?
I’ve been gigging 25 yrs and I actually thoroughly enjoy setting up my gear, its part of the fun for me. I use a head, cabinet, 4 space rack and pedalboard, and I’ve streamlined it to be set up in literally 7 minutes. When it comes to my craft, i just don’t care about the extra 5 minutes it may take me to set up. I guess we are all different but i just don’t understand the hurry up attitude. Touring guys I understand they need to stay light for air travel.
Im genuinely curious here.
The thing in Nashville is parking downtown is brutal and multiple trips is almost impossible because you can't load half the gear in the club and then go back to the car and it's not optimal to leave a chunk of gear in the car. One trip is the ticket.
@@jameslugo
I see. Thanks for the response. Every show I’ve played the venue has supplied a load in/out dedicated space, and i have no experience playing churches, so maybe thats the element im not aware of. In your case at a church I would say the Katana or a fractal floorboard straight to front of house would fit the bill. Thanks for the explanation. Good luck!
Ps. The Hughes and kettner Grandmeister 40 deluxe is a great tube alternative to the ss Katana, but you would need a cab.
@@Boogieplex thanks for the reply,.
Good to hear different opinions. I'm in the less is better camp. Setting up doesn't seem to be too much of an issue. It's the tearing down. At the end of a gig I really enjoy hanging with the staff at the bar and the audience. I use to have a solo acoustic gig and my regular show was like 10:30 to closing - real late. I wasn't good enough to get the regular weekend slot so my weekly gig was during the week. And my regular day job the next morning. Playing usually ended just after 2am. Then hanging out a for a while. Then tear down. Then the 40 min drive home. Work started at 8am the next day. I think I'm scarred from all that and its left me with a preoccupation to always minimize my gear.
Hook it to your computer and use the Boss tone studio and it’s 1000 times better after tweaking everything through the software.
I have
The tube has been superseded
I still love tubes.
I think its just different, convenient and useable enough to warrant having in lieu of tubes, but tone wise, it cant replace a good tube amp. Having said that, not everyone needs tube amps and these do the job for good tone really well.
Hell no
Is it true that the Katana simulates the tube sound as it says?
I didn’t really get along with the katana.
@@jameslugodoes this mean you sold it?
By setting up my Kat Artist side by side with my tube amp and tweaking the Kat via the Tone Studio I’ve got them pretty close. Close enough to gig with.
I tried one in a local music store, It simply doesn't have the warmth, presence, or punch of a tube amp to me.
It seems ok to me. For me it’s for cover band work. I’m not bring my vintage Marshalls to a bar. It’s fine.
@@jameslugo I ended up getting a 15 watt tube amp. I like it so much I bought a 2nd for my 2nd home.
There is no way you could come close to hearing what this amp is capable of at a local music store unless you hogged the amp for a few hours LOl Like anything else, you need to spend a lot of time with the amp learning ALL of the effects and spend time tweaking each sound to your liking. You would get all the warmth you need IMO It's a beast
All Katana amp sounds like an empty can in dirt mode
lol, I get that