Over the Katana

[Alex_C]

Funny to read this, I've had a Katana 100 1st gen, and a Yamaha THR10C and both have moved on. I don't like using the PC to tweak things either. Now I have a Laney L5 Studio (2-channel tube amp with built in XLR and USB for recording) and a Headrush MX-5 (which is a modeler but they don't even offer a PC editor). I almost think you might want something way simpler. My bedroom rig uses a Hotone Mojo Diamond but I don't know what using phones sounds like.

For low volume mostly clean playing, I don't plug in at all.

I also have the Laney L5S running into a 1x12. It is such a great sounding amp! It sounds like a big amp without being loud and it is very responsive. I also have a modeler, the Hotone Ampero 2 Stomp (similar to the MX5), which I mostly use for effects. Finally I use the effect send of the Laney into a Baby Boom 30 watt amp powering a 2x12 cab. Getting the best sounds of my life with this setup.

 

[AquariumRock]

I'd honestly use that on a good usb audio interface, install a Digital Audio Workstation (odds are Ableton will come bundled with your new interface, it's a good one and very easy to use) and some good WYSIWYG amp Sims for your computer or iPad. These things are made to sound good on records, which need to sound good on phones. Voilà, good to amazing tones, as many effects as you like and infinite practice material!

This is really intriguing. Is there a resource for finding “WYSISWYG” amp sims? Last time I recorded onto a computer was through a ****ty mix into Audacity back in high school. So I’m way out of the game here.

 

[Beachbum]

I had the first version of the Katana 100 for a few years and it was OK but being a fan of Fender amps I was never really satisfied with the amps tone or the available effects so I recently picked up a Princeton Reverb and the Katana went on Craigs List for quite awhile without even a nibble. No big thing because you can't get much for them anyway. Then I came across these videos. For $40 bucks I figured I'd give it a shot and to my surprise it turned the Katana into a very credible Fender amp. They also have Marshall and Mesa Boogie versions.

 

[Doutorfunga]

This is really intriguing. Is there a resource for finding “WYSISWYG” amp sims? Last time I recorded onto a computer was through a ****ty mix into Audacity back in high school. So I’m way out of the game here.

By What you see is what you get, I meant an amp sim with an interface like an amp. Something like this:

This is the Fuchs Overdrive Supreme, by Brainworx, which I really like. There are many of these, by a bunch of companies and even some solo developers in a lot of price ranges, from free or inexpensive on. Happy hunting!

 

[Guitarteach]

I was subjected to one at a gig. Awful spiky old school transistor tone.

 

[stratoman1]

I took my Katana 50 watt back to the store in 2 hours. Mark me down as another one thar doesn't want spend to spend hours futzing around for hours on a computer to find tones I like. I wasnt having much luck straight from the amp like I was hoping for. Got a Blackstat HT5 MKII. Nice little amp to take on the balcony

Other than that I use Mesa, Hughes and Kettner and a 20 watt Blackstar.

 

[Maguchi]

Sold mine after a few months as well. I found myself plugging pedals into it for the tones I was looking for and the whole point of getting one was I wouldn’t need pedals. It was going to be my living room amp.Then it died so I had it fixed under warranty and sold it immediately after getting it back. Haven’t thought about it since.

Funny to read this, I've had a Katana 100 1st gen, and a Yamaha THR10C and both have moved on. I don't like using the PC to tweak things either. Now I have a Laney L5 Studio (2-channel tube amp with built in XLR and USB for recording) and a Headrush MX-5 (which is a modeler but they don't even offer a PC editor). I almost think you might want something way simpler. My bedroom rig uses a Hotone Mojo Diamond but I don't know what using phones sounds like.

For low volume mostly clean playing, I don't plug in at all.

That Katana sound is so played, I'm so over it!

 

[marc2211]

There is a Katana 50 at our rehearsal space. I really don’t care for it.

Initially I was thinking I’d use it just to not have to carry my own amp there, but after the first time, I really didn’t like the tones on any of the presets.

I now just bring my own amp instead, regardless of the hassle.

 

[bobio]

Still loving mine.
Deleted the presets ages ago and created my own.
There are also tones of great presets in the BOSS Tone Exchange

BOSS TONE EXCHANGE

BOSS TONE EXCHANGE is an online platform for sharing original Livesets created with compatible BOSS products and BOSS TONE STUDIO with users around the world.

bosstoneexchange.com

I have also gotten a few from The Studio Rats and Juca Nery...great stuff

Juca Nery distributes his through his website.

Juca Nery Guitar Patches Juca Nery Guitar Patches

Custom Guitar Patches

jucaneryguitar.com

The Studio Rats have many of theirs on the BOSS Tone Exchange.

BOSS TONE EXCHANGE

BOSS TONE EXCHANGE is an online platform for sharing original Livesets created with compatible BOSS products and BOSS TONE STUDIO with users around the world.

bosstoneexchange.com

Also thoroughly enjoying the BOSS Nextone, another great BOSS amp
Again, deleted all the presets and created my own through BTS.

 

[Burlington Dave]

I have a Katana 100 first generation. I use the clean channel and the acoustic channel, and simple dial ins or with pedals. A great amp for gigs where you’re playing both an acoustic and an electric and can only have 1 amp.

 

[NoTeleBob]

I took my Katana 50 watt back to the store in 2 hours. Mark me down as another one thar doesn't want spend to spend hours futzing around for hours on a computer to find tones I like. I wasnt having much luck straight from the amp like I was hoping for. Got a Blackstat HT5 MKII. Nice little amp to take on the balcony

Other than that I use Mesa, Hughes and Kettner and a 20 watt Blackstar.

For me, the fiddling is the fun part. Those amps have huge libraries and tweak possibilities. I like that. But I don't like the sound.

I think that one of the biggest shortcomings is that they didn't give you any way to tweak from the console with no computer. Even if it had to be cumbersome like with their modeling pedals. Huge library of amps and effects and no field access.

Marketing probably thought that they were catching a whole demographic who wanted a simple amp with "some" flexibility but no complexity on the panel - and then "oh look!" if you wanted it there was complexity behind the scenes.

But I think what they did instead was missed two demographics: the people who wanted a capable amp and also the people who wanted a flexible modeling amp.

 

[chris m.]

For me, the fiddling is the fun part. Those amps have huge libraries and tweak possibilities. I like that. But I don't like the sound.

I think that one of the biggest shortcomings is that they didn't give you any way to tweak from the console with no computer. Even if it had to be cumbersome like with their modeling pedals. Huge library of amps and effects and no field access.

Marketing probably thought that they were catching a whole demographic who wanted a simple amp with "some" flexibility but no complexity on the panel - and then "oh look!" if you wanted it there was complexity behind the scenes.

But I think what they did instead was missed two demographics: the people who wanted a capable amp and also the people who wanted a flexible modeling amp.

The only way they could hit the price point while offering more features and tweaking was to do it via a usb computer interface. That kept the on board controls simple and cheaper.

 

[bobio]

The only way they could hit the price point while offering more features and tweaking was to do it via a usb computer interface. That kept the on board controls simple and cheaper.

I prefer keeping the amp simple and fine tuning the effects via the computer.

There is an even easier way. Get the Xsonic Bluetooth footswitch for the Katana. You can use the Boss Tone Studio for the iphone over Bluetooth rather than hooking up a computer via USB. You hook the Xsonic to the amp via USB and then you connect your iPhone to the Xsonic via Bluetooth.

 

[Blrfl]

I think that one of the biggest shortcomings is that they didn't give you any way to tweak from the console with no computer. Even if it had to be cumbersome like with their modeling pedals. Huge library of amps and effects and no field access.

@chris m. beat me to the price point argument, but that's a lot of it. A full-featured front panel would push the price of a K50 up by about 20%. Keeping the price low gets the product into the hands of people who are just getting started while still giving them an opportunity to get more out of it later with a computer they probably already own.

What baffles me is why there's no Tone Studio for Katanas on mobile devices. I'm sure Roland has its reasons, but it's all just MIDI third parties have stepped in and developed apps like Katana Librarian:

 

[bobio]

@chris m. beat me to the price point argument, but that's a lot of it. A full-featured front panel would push the price of a K50 up by about 20%. Keeping the price low gets the product into the hands of people who are just getting started while still giving them an opportunity to get more out of it later with a computer they probably already own.

What baffles me is why there's no Tone Studio for Katanas on mobile devices. I'm sure Roland has its reasons, but it's all just MIDI third parties have stepped in and developed apps like Katana Librarian:

You can use BTS mobile for Katana Air with the Xsonic footswitch. Willing to bet as this option gets more popular, BOSS will take note...

KATANA Ultimate Footswitch | AIRSTEP Kat Edition

It can switch channels and toggle effects of KATANA 50/100/Head/Artist MkII & I. Modify Amp sound with BTS App for iOS and Android, Wirelessly!

xsonicaudio.com

 

[Blrfl]

You can use BTS mobile for Katana Air with the Xsonic footswitch. Willing to bet as this option gets more popular, BOSS will take note...

Thaaaaat's really interesting. Since getting the PGT, I've had the suspicion that everything was done over MIDI -- including enumerating the amp's capabilities -- and BTS just goes by that. I think there's an experiment in my future where I run BTS for something else and see if it works with my PGT.

 

[NoTeleBob]

Thaaaaat's really interesting. Since getting the PGT, I've had the suspicion that everything was done over MIDI -- including enumerating the amp's capabilities -- and BTS just goes by that. I think there's an experiment in my future where I run BTS for something else and see if it works with my PGT.

What's a PGT?

 

[NoTeleBob]

I prefer keeping the amp simple and fine tuning the effects via the computer.

There is an even easier way. Get the Xsonic Bluetooth footswitch for the Katana. You can use the Boss Tone Studio for the iphone over Bluetooth rather than hooking up a computer via USB. You hook the Xsonic to the amp via USB and then you connect your iPhone to the Xsonic via Bluetooth.

That's 50% of the amount I paid for the Amp! LOL.

 

[Strat Jacket]

It’s like the engineers at Boss went to the brass and asked “So do you want it to be as piercing as a glass seagull’s death rattle, or as muffled as a walkie talkie at the bottom of a pot of mashed potatoes?” And the big shots said “yes.”

People are looking at me funny...'cuz I'm howling like a chimpanzee that just found an unopened bag of Doritos. That's the funniest description of anything I've read in ages, and the funniest description of a bad amp I've seen anywhere! Thanks for making my day!

 

[Blrfl]

What's a PGT?

Sorry, Pocket GT. It's a GT-1 in a very-small box. Discussed here.

That's 50% of the amount I paid for the Amp! LOL.

Bingo. Setting aside the percentage, is having the extra control worth a hundred bucks to you and is the whole package still cheaper than the next thing up the ladder?