Boss Katana 50 mkII: Day two

Dan Beller-McKenna · From: Durham, New Hampshire, USA

I've been feeling the need for a relatively inexpensive, lightweight 12" combo amp as a grab and go for rehearsals, lessons, and such. I thought the DV Mark Jazz 12 would do it for me, but it never quite cut it in a rehearsal. I finally pulled the trigger on the Katana 50, and since they are selling used close to what I could get one new, I bit the bullet yesterday on a new one. My first impressions were not positive. But once I got past stupidly wondering why it didn't sound nearly as good as my $1500 tube amp (duh!), I started fresh this morning and feel like it is something I can work with.

I first set the amp to as close as I could get turning knobs (and following some pointers from various threads here on the Forum), and then did some deep tweaking in the Tone Studio program. I ended up with something that is perfectly acceptable for at-home practicing. I suspect breaking in the brand new speaker will improve the tone further. In time, if it really is a keeper, I might also try closing off the back a little as some have recommended.

If this is like, well, every other amp I have ever owned(!), playing in a rehearsal with other instruments is going to change everything tonally. And I absolutely can't be holding up rehearsal while I hook up to my laptop and digitally turn knobs. But I see there is a bluetooth app, Katana Librarian, which might make digital tweaking realistic in a rehearsal situation. I also see that one needs a bluetooth adapter to do this. Has anyone here gone this route, much less successfully?

Larry Dering · From: Missouri, USA

Dan, I use the app with my phone and tablet. It works fine. You need the OTG (on the go) adapter for Android. The app was under 10 bucks. I'm using it on the Katana 100. I'm sure you have figured out how to save your presets. It does a decent job once you find your sweet spot on the mids.

Bruce Bjork · From: Southern Coast of Maine

Dan: I use the librarian on a $30 kindle, works great. I’ve had a 100 since they 1st came out, great amp. My son and I removed the MDF cab and replaced it with solid pine dove tail joints, big improvement in sound.
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Dan Beller-McKenna · From: Durham, New Hampshire, USA

Thanks Bruce. I think I'll give it a try!

Fred Treece · From: California, USA

If you don’t have Bluetooth, or if you have a Mk1, you can adjust the gain/volume/tone knobs on the panel while using any saved patch. Just like working with any other normal amp. You can adjust effects, too, but that can get a little confusing if you cross the midpoint with the knob. The changes you make won’t be saved until you go through the physical save process with the patch buttons on the panel. If you mess things up, just change patches and then go back to the one you were working with and start over.

Virgil Franklin · From: Indiana, USA

I use a Mk2 Boss Katana 100 watt and it is amazing...
the 50 watt is fine..
change the speaker though..
TT 12 is a huge upgrade
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Virgil Franklin
Organizer: Southern Indiana Steel Guitar Show www.southernindianasteelguitar.com
2023 Justice Pro-lite 4 x 4,2020 Justice Pro-Lite 4 x 4 , Fender 400 6 x 2, Stringmaster Mk1 Clone, Gibson Console Grande 520, Boss Katana 100 Mk2 with Basslite 2012 speaker

Dan Beller-McKenna · From: Durham, New Hampshire, USA

I've been able to dial in a good sound on the Katana 50 as a bedroom practice amp, and have had success at low volume rehearsals. I had a speaker upgrade in there for a while (Celestion Copperback 250), but I don't think it improved the tone much (and there's something perverse about putting a $250 speaker in a $225 amp).

I like it enough that I just picked up a 100 on the cheap, and might even try it as a tele amp on a gig this weekend (hey: if it's good enough for Mike Borque ...).
I guess I'm now a two Katana owner: who woulda' thunk?

Bruce Bjork · From: Southern Coast of Maine

Larry Ball · From: Airdrie, Alberta, Canada

Hi Dan,

Use the acoustic setting if you are not already, then just dial the EQ to your ear. That should be all it takes. I have the 100 and have been totally satisfied with the tone I am getting. I use it for rehearsals and small venues. There is limited head room to DI into the board so I mic the amp if needed. I normally play my Nashville 112 at larger venues.
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Mullen SD10, Sho~Bud SD10 LDG, Show-Pro SD10 LDG, Peavey Nashville 112, Boss Katana 100 MK11, Telonic's F100 Multi-Taper Super Pro V/P, Wayne Brown “Custom Designed Amp”

Fred Treece · From: California, USA

I have a 100, thinking about getting a MkII and selling off everything else.

James Quackenbush · From: Pomona, New York, USA

Not owning a katana, but do a lot of reading,many forums speak highly of the 50 watt model as sounding better than the 100 watt for overdriven tones….We as steel players want a clean tone….Stock factory presets on any amp like the katana generally need a lot of tweaking….Roll your own !….I’m sure you’ll end up with something useful….Jim

Fred Treece · From: California, USA

James, I only have my Boss GT multi-fx units to compare with the Katana. The amp models in the Katana have the same basic character as the COSM simulators in the GT units, but there is a significant upgrade in the versatility and realism, for lack of a better phrase. Maybe having an integrated power amp in the system makes the difference.

If people are saying the overdrive models are better in the Katana 50 than in the 100, I suggest the grain of salt. I am pretty confident I can make any amp model in either rig sound really good or equally terrible.

James Quackenbush · From: Pomona, New York, USA

Hi Fred,
I understand what you are saying…..Just commenting on what I have read in various forums….If it were the same person commenting in different forums, I would surely take it with a grain of salt,but I’ve heard it quite a few times from different people…..Where there’s smoke, there’s fire !…There are far too many variables to really make any assumptions…Speakers, mic’s, recording equiptment, tube, solid state, power supply, etc…..With enough tweaks, one could make just about anything sound good..

Fred Treece · From: California, USA

James,
That’s the whole deal with any amp modeling system, I suppose. With the Katana, the software is highly variable and you have to be willing to go a little deeper than setting the preamp controls at 12 o’clock and then go off to effects. I think people get frustrated because their preconceived notions get challenged - “hey, this is supposed to sound like a Marshall and it sounds more like a herd of frogs!”

In this particular case, all other things being equal, I don’t quite understand how a Katana 100 with the power knob set for 50w could sound terribly different from a Katana 50 on full. I have read comments to that effect. I suppose it’s possible, but so is the fact of user ignorance and impatience.

Dan Beller-McKenna · From: Durham, New Hampshire, USA

Fred, I'm guessing you are correct, because as I've been using the 100 lately as my bedroom amp, and the 50 sits in the closet) I've turned the 100 down to 50 watts and pretty much replicated the sound of the 50.

Karen Sarkisian · From: Boston, MA, USA

Leo loves his Katana 100 ! I do not like the tonemaster twin unfortunately, sounds too digital and the taper w the vol pedal is weird to me. i played it at a rehearsal last week and it is not a good fit for the band i play with. its going back to GC this week.
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Emmons, Franklin, Mullen

Karen Sarkisian · From: Boston, MA, USA

Im also back to my Emmons. Im such a tone snob lol
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Emmons, Franklin, Mullen

Dan Beller-McKenna · From: Durham, New Hampshire, USA

What can I say, Karen. I have two TM Twins and swear by them. To each her own.

Not sure I feel ready to try the Katana on a gig. Things sound a lot different when you take them out of bedroom....

Karen Sarkisian · From: Boston, MA, USA

yeah yours sounded great at the last jam. maybe its the rock band thing when the other person is using a tubed twin lol
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Emmons, Franklin, Mullen

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