Have owned the Katana 100 head with 2x12 cabinet for years, love it! Can gig it with no pedals, all the tones I need in presets, and with the switching pedal, great access to it all! No tubes to worry about, and much lighter than a Marshall half stack! Great vid guys, thanks!
Awesome man. Always makes me laugh when forum crusaders think you can't gig with a moddler and you can only gig with tubes. Had mates in a metal band about 15 years ago that played festivals with line 6 flextone III 2x12s. Literally fine, the audience dgaf about your tone, just the quality of your songs and how you play them!
I've had mine 2 years now and I have yet to hook it up to the tone studio even though I have a ton of patches already loaded to my phone and I've already ordered the cable I need...just haven't had the time or urge to deep dive yet..same w my boss gt1 processor...those 2 are like peas and carrots..gt1 through the power amp in....pretty awesome 🤘
Thanks a lot buddy! Yeah, this was a spontaneous idea (that's why we didn't have a proper drummer, haha) but we loved making it. Now that we have this awesome studio with enough space, we'll definitely do more "full band" videos. I can't express you how excited we are about this. :) Cheers //Kris
Tried the 212 Mk2 in my local music store and left with it 20 minutes later. These amps are the real deal. 2 years later I still love it. I use it for clean and that "edge of breakup" crunch and it sounds fantastic. It is LOUD on 0.5 watts. 100 watts would probably shatter the windows lol
I’ve seen people said they got the 212 for home practice, almost made me pull the trigger lol. Still does the 212 sounds much better with two speakers? (Assumed you’ve tried the 100 out at the store) Do you recommend the 100 or 212 for home play?
@@fruitykrueger Never tried the others so I can't comment on sound difference but they probably sound good. I don't regret my purchase at all, all I use it for is playing at home. Don't quote me on this but I think the BOSS stereo effects are actually stereo due to the dual speakers.
I have the 50K II and it’s great but I only use the 0,5 watt at home so what I would like is a max 10 watt but with max features, at least 8 different setups.
I'm too old to be on the road anymore but when I was touring with a working band I just used a one channel, one trick pony Fender Champ mic'd. I still play local gigs and I think one of the desk top amps would be great.
Great comparisons. I like the way you compared apples to apples so to speak with the same settings and equipment used. The drums added in was helpful how each amp sounded when played together.
I've had my Mk1 Artist for some years now and it is hands down the best amp I have ever owned. I had a JCM2000 for a while for reference. Paired with the footswitch it is an all in one powerhouse. I have used the tone studio but ultimately just use it to set which effects I want stored on the amp and use the amp to dial in all of my tones. The speaker is what made the difference for me. I had a 50w Mk1 and hated it. Swapped out the speaker and loved it until I realized the 0.5w and 25w modes were useless with the new speaker. Boss wants almost $300 USD for the Waza speaker so that is where the extra cost comes from but when you realize how important your speaker is to your tone, it only makes sense to spend more and get a better speaker. Great video and comparison! I am trying to decide if I should buy the Air or just keep my Mini.....you can never have enough! Lol
did you install the waza speaker on the 50? I was considering getting the artist but if its possible to replace the 50 stock speaker with the waza, thats all I need
@@handleOfThy I didn't. I had an old Marshall SS combo with 1 good 12 left in it and used that. I would get the artist. The waza speaker is almost $300 USD so by the time you buy a 50w and the speaker you could have bought the artist.
Cool rundown guys! I have the mk2 50 and the mini 7 watt batt powered unit and absolutely love them both..gt1 processor is pretty great thru power amp in on the 50... awesome amps
I have a Katana 100 Head (and a 2x12 HB Celestion Cab)and that is for me the most practible Amp for me. 0,5 W in the living room, 50W in a band context, 100W for live situation. In combination with the Boss Tone Studio - Hundreds of sound patches. Perfect 🫶!
This review of the different Katana configurations has completely reinforced my feeling that the 212s sound by far the best in a mix, in an open room where ambience is more important. Any of them will do the job if patched into the house. When your bringing everything you need to play decent sized rooms with 2×212s and a stereo patch cable, that's something I feel isn't offered with the other models. I wish they would've talked about the specs of each, more than just opinions. I think the Artist with the Waza cone sounds raspy. The 212s are much smoother in the highs.
WOW this is the best amp comparison video of any I have seen yet.. the Cream on top was the jam levels with a Drummer.. you guys nailed it! I have a 50 with the FS-6 footswitch which is *just ok for home use.. may upgrade to 100 because of the better foot switch and uplift.. Brilliant thanks for sharing!
@@ThomannsGuitarsBasses I just bought my first Harley Benton. Absolutely love it! Your Tele reminds of the '59 I had that was stolen. It was pink, mother of pearl guard, maple neck but was a semi-hollow body with an F-hole. Sounded like no other. Saw it 6 months after it was stolen in the Doo Wop Shop window for $6,999.99! Couldn't prove it was mine, even when I mentioned the strange stain that looked like bluish ink that wasn't obvious to anyone. Shop owner didn't know it was but wasn't going to give my Tele back! Sad memory BUT,.. had more good memories than bad with that sound!!! Have a most excellent day!! 😄👍Cheers//NASH✌
Thanks for the video. I own an Artist mk2 and am toying with the idea of a second one to get stereo expand. Any chance of a video of that, wondering whether the expense would be worthwhile. Cheers guys.
I was going to get the Artist 2, but the guy at GC highly recommended to just stick with the standard. I was skeptical at first because I kept hearing all the reviews were better on the artist than the standard 100, but I decided to take his recommendation and took the 100. I want to say that I am not displeased in any sense!! I am happy, not only did I save money, but the amp truly sounds great!! I honestly don’t think it’s necessary for me to go trade up to the Artist--still curious about it however. My Tele sounds fantastic!!!
Been trying to decide which katana to buy for a while and have watched countless videos. How the heck was this video not recommended to me or pop up in my search?
@@ThomannsGuitarsBasses sorry I meant to say how was it not recommended to me before! Like I have literally seen every video and demo and have scrolled through and I watch this channel a lot. Not sure how I missed it but I’m glad I found it now. Will watch it later today with a nice cup of coffee. 😎
Love the video guys! Would be great to talk about how you get different tones on these amps. They are super easy to plug and play, but can be complicated when trying to add the effects. Your experience with stomp boxes would be super helpful in understanding how to use these solid state amps to their potential!
Hey, I love the Boss Katana Air but will there be a new generation of the amp (like a Mk2+) coming out soon? If so when will it come out because I will wait for the new one then 👍 🎸
Guys I have gone the katana route because my tube amps just weighs so much. Being in my 40s now and not taking the best care of myself over the last 40 odd years picking up a 50 pound tube amplifier at gigs I was really starting to take its toll on me. Playing in small bars or pubs I was finding also that my Vox AC30, which prior to buying the katana was my main amp, simply was too loud. We mic everything at our gigs and we try to keep the volume down so that patrons can still have conversations in the background. I was in the market for an amp that can sound good at low or high volume that was lightweight and portable. To me tube amps, for the volume that I was looking are just too loud for what I like. If I can’t crank them I can’t use them. I decided to sell my Vox and go for a katana 100. I am not saying that I think the katana sounds better. Believe me if I could crank my vox amp it would sound better! But when I lose in tone, I gain in versatility. For example I play acoustic guitar on some of the songs we play and I was always having to bring a second amp or plug-in directly to the PA system this is just more gear to bring along and it’s a hassle. Katana 100 is the perfect acoustic guitar amp. Also with the foot switch I pretty much don’t need to bring any pedals with me anymore so no more pedal board to deal with. Last but not least the line out. I no longer have to bring a mic and a stand for my amp because I can just plug a quarter out to the PA system. I basically have four presets that would be more than what I would carry if I had to use amps and pedals with it and get decent results. My old vox was a head that weighed 45 pounds plus a cabinet and also weighed 40 pounds. Boss katana 100 weighs in at well under 40 pounds much easier on the back much less awkward carry.
This was very helpful. I’m considering one of these amps. I’m a home player (mostly bedroom volume) so I don’t need a lot of volume and like an amp that sounds good at lower volumes. In that respect the 50 seems like the obvious choice but I would like to have a pedal that will at least allow me to shift from rhythm tone to lead tone without having to play with controls. Which would you guys recommend? Do the 50 and 100 sound pretty much the same at low volume when on the 5 watt mode? Thanks !!!🎸👍🏼
Thanks Craig! Yeah imagine this with a proper drummer... 😆 Lucky us, Lukas, one of our video dudes is a damn good drummer, so I'll make sure to point him to the drum set for our videos. haha! That and of course bass too, for a full band scenario. Can't wait! //Kris
Highly doubt it. They just dropped new software upgrades earlier this year. These guys obviously didn't know much about them, but it still showed some strengths and weaknesses.
That's a great idea but also a very complicated one. Haha! You'd have to compare it to at least 3 different tube amps for different gain / amp settings. A nice clean amp (Hot Rod?) vs Katana clean, a nice crunchy amp vs Katana Crunch and a cool distorted amp (JCM? 5150?) vs the Katana Brown setting. I mean, it sounds like an interesting idea for sure. How would you do it? //Kris
@@ThomannsGuitarsBasses I would go more simple: compare both just with clean channel and then the clean channel with a pedal board (from the board you can surely try the distortion, OD, time based fx etc..) the whole Idea of the comparison is to you hear your Idea guys from Thomann; is there really a big difference between a high end solid state amp like katana artist and one of the most common used tube amps like the hotrod .. you know what, if that will work out fine .. the details you mentioned above already are great & interesting idea for a series of videos 😉 (can be called solid state vs tube or katana artist vs the world since you mentioned a lot of tube amps 😆😆) .. lets gooo kris i am so excited now I can't wait for the video 🤩😄
Check out the Studio Rats channel, they've recently done that with MATCHLESS Independent and a Marshall JCM900. You'll be surprised at their conclusions.
I had the katana mini. Did not like it too much. Was not to bad, would liked to have reverb instead of delay and Bluetooth receiver for backing tracks for bedroom playing. Headphone didn't convince me. Replaced it with a katana 100 mk I. Like it, but as I like to use a looper with drums, I now just use it as a frfr in accoustic mode with a multieffect in front of it. So I can dial in the EQ what makes the loop/drums sound better than in the send and return. Using it for jam sessions with another guitar player with the Digitech trio+. Great! And with fallback to the other channels, if the multieffect dies. For easy bedroom playing with Bluetooth playing backing tracks I now love my nux mighty air amp. Easy to setup with no cable with the included sender/receiver. Long living internal lithium battery (like it more than trad AA batteries of the katana mini). Headphones sound nice as well.
Great video. This what I needed. It would also be great to listen to amps like the cube street 2 along with a drum player, just to know how it compares to the Katana. Cheers!
Thanks for sharing this video, it was very informative and helpful. Can the Katana 100 2x12 mkII be used with a speaker cab in stereo? If so, can you do a demo with the Harley Benton 2x12 cab. Thanks again cheers.
I have a couple of questions. Aren’t the extra functions of the Artist accesible in the other amps through the BTS software? I think it would be interesting to hear a direct comparison between the Artist and the 2 X 12. I suspect that the biggest difference from the Artist might be the speaker and the cab nonetheless the added weight if kind off putting. At least the extra weight in the 2x12 gets you a larger cab and an extra speaker.
You're right. Artist has some extra features in the back of amp which other have not. If we talking about effects and sound features then all of them can be accessed from tone studio. Except for mini. Artist has the best speaker with much better low end and mids. I could be wrong with artist features if yes please correct me :)
@@janusn9 thanks, this information is very useful to me. I am considering upgrading to one of the newer models of the amp. The cab resonance switch, is that something meant to affect the IR as in the software or the performance through a live speaker? I went through the manual but that was not very clear.
Im very sad because vox amp prices are super high now... do you think guys this Boss amps could emulate somehow the vox ac 30 for a BMG red special guitar?
I own a Katana Mini perfect for me in a small flat, still can't believe how BOSS built an incredible little amp to sound so good, it is the best in it's class, , just a question I have an 3 P90 High output guitar I wonder if can hook a noise gate pedal to the mini if so any recommendations nothing fancy just something to kill the noise ,
Hey Brian, thanks for watching! Yeah BOSS really nailed these amps. :) I can only say good things about the Boss NS-2, I've been using it for years and I was always happy with it. If you're looking for something even more reactive, I had the best possible results with the Revv G8 noise gate (Canadian company 😉). Cheers //Kris
Iv enjoyed using my mark 1 2x12 at home and in a band scenario.i am thinking of upgrading to mark 2 artist. How noticeable would I find the single speaker of the artist compared to the 212 in relation to feel and body etc. Suck it an see I suppose.cheers great reviews guys.👍👌
I've just upgraded from the 2x12/100 Mk2 to the Artist Mk2. Both awesome, but I just find the WAZA speaker in the Artist has a bit more bottom and low-mid range that gives you a bit more rounded out satisfying thump in the gut, especially at higher volumes (I play old-school 70s / 80s style rock and metal). Features are virtually identical between them now through the latest BTS version 2.10, but one feature I LOVE that the Artist has that the 2x12 doesn't ... both have the SOLO boost now, but while the 2x12 has a dedicated EQ for the SOLO boost, the Artist has the same dedicated EQ, but *ALSO* a dedicated DELAY. I *BY FAR* prefer the front-facing control panel on the Artist too. No regrets with the upgrade so far. YMMV.
@Giles Ashley tbh, if I'd had the money I would've checked out the new Artist Mk2 head with the new 2x12 WAZA-equipped cabinet, but I got such a good deal on the used Artist combo, I couldn't refuse. After selling my 212/100 Mk2, the upgrade only cost me UK£95, about US$120. Well worth it 🤟🤟. Good luck, whichever route you might decide to go 👍. I'd be interested to hear how you get on.
The comparison I want is Katana Air vs Katana 100 Head. They are both small heads, they both have interrnal speakers for lowish volume practice, and they have the entire katana sound options. They are even very similar in price. But the question I have is, do I prefer better practice sound and wireless functionality? Or do I want a worse low volume practice option, but with more options for full amp usage? My situation is playing in an apartment, but I also already have a 50W valve amp with a 2x12 for live usage. So which one should I buy?
i've got the 100 head with the big Pedal board. and it never disapoints me... i also have a pedalboard because i like to have the Phaser and other effects before the preamp :) but i was never disapointed... the effects quality in this amp are really close to the Boss Pedals, the only downside is that there are one knob for the effect, which means its not that customisable, you can change it with the software, but thats a lot of work. other than that, its a pretty good amp and i wouldn't sell it for anything :D
1st the/my obvious comment: nice Tele 😁 BOSS really had a thing starting the Katana series and thes are still improving them ... nice 👍 BOSS amps are a phenomenon: you just can't sound too bad ... makes guys like you sounding very very good and me dummy still sounding not toooooo bad 🤣 There is one exception imho.: the Artist. This amp just needs a player who does know whot he's doing ... but that ain't no bad thing 🤔 💯% good vid! Thanks a lot!
Thanks so much Matze, we really appreciate you! :) Honestly, the Katana range is super easy to tweak and sound good with. All I tend to do is roll down the treble a little for a round tone. That's it. :) Cheers //Kris
Hey, I plugged the head into the cabinet we always use in the studio to see if it sounds massively different, or better, or worse than the 212 combo. Well, it sounded very similar, that's why we didn't bother showing that too and making this long video even longer. That 2x12 Harley Benton cab has a Celestion V30 and a Celestion Creamback 75 speaker and we love it! The head sounded very close to the 100 2x12 combo so what I learned from that, is the those "basic" Katana speakers are really really good. :) Cheers //Kris
It would be great if Boss made a small Katana that gives you the range from 0.5 to say 20 or 25w. I live in a flat and I'm sure if I turned up that 50w amp they'll call the police. Yeah, it has the 0.5 mode, but if I don't play in a band then I will never use the 50w mode. So what's the point in having such a big amp if I'll never use it? But on the other hand, the Mini seems to me too small. And rechargeable batteries? Is that supposed to be a super cool thing? Put a built-in rechargeable battery instead. One that charges while connected and if you unplug the amp then the battery kicks in, like the Yamaha THR or the Joyo DC-15S amps. A small (not mini) Katana 20 would be ideal for me. I'd be happy to pay more than for the Mini, even if it gets close to the 50, just because that's what would suit me best. But I'm afraid they'll never make it :(
I remember trying them in a store. Was looking for a good amp for metal and while the Artist MKII was solid, a lot of stuff and tight enough I ended up buying Line6 DT25 combo for around same price once I tried it though. Just sounded less processed and more fuller. Boss one no doubt was good and versatile too, but yeah, the Line6 sounded way better to me. The Mini is neat.
Aww man, that's impossible to answer. You should definitely compare them if you can. I think I prefer the directness of the tone of the Katanas but it really depends on the style you're playing and the tone you're after. And the guitar. And all of that, haha! //Kris
@@ThomannsGuitarsBasses It was mainly for the technology upgrade (since the Katana MKII is newer). I usually just use the Princeton or a Twin Reverb and boost it for some very generic (bad) pentatonic leads.
I had the 50, then 112, then 212, then Artist 100. Loved them all. Then I got a second-hand Kemper Powerhead. End of GAS, even though it's more expensive, it was worth it.
Pretty much (more like 65 or so...). Not quite as much flexibility/control as having the pedals out in front of you, but...with so many, you can set up as many patches as you want with all the different effects, and switch between more effects than you could viably put on a pedal board anyway. Plus you can have a pedal board for more options with stacking effects etc
Hey, the 100 FX was more of a "100 fx" tbh. 😅 I was referring to A LOT of them. But I just checked, there are over 60 fx in the Katanas which, in my book, is about as good as a hundred, haha! Cheers //Kris
@@ThomannsGuitarsBasses absolutely. These things still amaze me. I used to play through a Twin Reverb. You had to get pedals. Maybe you'd have two or three, four if you were crazy lol. But these new amps are just too cool. Thanks for the reply 👍
@@ThomannsGuitarsBasses thank you Kris, it shocked me how viral it went for something I made at the kitchen table but it works so well... Boss really should make one (and send me a huge thank you wad of cash!! )
You guys reading my notes to Santa? I was talking to my wife and saying I think I know what I want for Christmas She said “ I bet it’s another guitar” She couldn’t believe it when I said katana She thought I was going to be mishone with a guitar 😁🤣🤣 It’s katana time 🥴
I AM Santa. 😆 Just didn't want to say it and ruin the secret. I have to go now, still have a lot of beard growing to do until the 24th of December. 😅 //Kris
I bought the Katana 100 just for the effects loop and I don't regret it !
I run a tube preamp/DI in mine and the tone absolutely drips. It’s nuts.
Have owned the Katana 100 head with 2x12 cabinet for years, love it! Can gig it with no pedals, all the tones I need in presets, and with the switching pedal, great access to it all! No tubes to worry about, and much lighter than a Marshall half stack! Great vid guys, thanks!
Awesome man. Always makes me laugh when forum crusaders think you can't gig with a moddler and you can only gig with tubes. Had mates in a metal band about 15 years ago that played festivals with line 6 flextone III 2x12s. Literally fine, the audience dgaf about your tone, just the quality of your songs and how you play them!
Great demo of how great the katana sounds even without digging into the tone studio and all of the powerful features inside the amp.
I've had mine 2 years now and I have yet to hook it up to the tone studio even though I have a ton of patches already loaded to my phone and I've already ordered the cable I need...just haven't had the time or urge to deep dive yet..same w my boss gt1 processor...those 2 are like peas and carrots..gt1 through the power amp in....pretty awesome 🤘
Playing with drums was a great idea. Hope you will do this more with more gear.
Thanks a lot buddy! Yeah, this was a spontaneous idea (that's why we didn't have a proper drummer, haha) but we loved making it. Now that we have this awesome studio with enough space, we'll definitely do more "full band" videos. I can't express you how excited we are about this. :) Cheers //Kris
Tried the 212 Mk2 in my local music store and left with it 20 minutes later. These amps are the real deal. 2 years later I still love it. I use it for clean and that "edge of breakup" crunch and it sounds fantastic. It is LOUD on 0.5 watts. 100 watts would probably shatter the windows lol
I’ve seen people said they got the 212 for home practice, almost made me pull the trigger lol. Still does the 212 sounds much better with two speakers? (Assumed you’ve tried the 100 out at the store)
Do you recommend the 100 or 212 for home play?
@@fruitykrueger Never tried the others so I can't comment on sound difference but they probably sound good. I don't regret my purchase at all, all I use it for is playing at home. Don't quote me on this but I think the BOSS stereo effects are actually stereo due to the dual speakers.
I have the 50K II and it’s great but I only use the 0,5 watt at home so what I would like is a max 10 watt but with max features, at least 8 different setups.
Awesome amps. I just play at home, and have the 50 MkI and the 50 MkII connected via Radial Big Shot ABY for wet/dry glory and it’s all I need.
Keep in mind that the Boss GA-FC Foot switch controller does NOT work with the Boss Katana 50w MK1 & MK2.
Yes indeed, as mentioned in the video you can use the GA-FC from the Katana 100 versions and "above" (meaning the Artist). Cheers! //Kris
Or use an Airstep Kat.
I'm too old to be on the road anymore but when I was touring with a working band I just used a one channel, one trick pony Fender Champ mic'd. I still play local gigs and I think one of the desk top amps would be great.
Great comparisons. I like the way you compared apples to apples so to speak with the same settings and equipment used. The drums added in was helpful how each amp sounded when played together.
So glad the dBA is shown. Thanks for that.
Well... I missed this video but now, after watching it, I'm convinced to go for the Katana 2x12 100. Thanks guys!
I've had my Mk1 Artist for some years now and it is hands down the best amp I have ever owned. I had a JCM2000 for a while for reference. Paired with the footswitch it is an all in one powerhouse. I have used the tone studio but ultimately just use it to set which effects I want stored on the amp and use the amp to dial in all of my tones. The speaker is what made the difference for me. I had a 50w Mk1 and hated it. Swapped out the speaker and loved it until I realized the 0.5w and 25w modes were useless with the new speaker. Boss wants almost $300 USD for the Waza speaker so that is where the extra cost comes from but when you realize how important your speaker is to your tone, it only makes sense to spend more and get a better speaker. Great video and comparison! I am trying to decide if I should buy the Air or just keep my Mini.....you can never have enough! Lol
did you install the waza speaker on the 50? I was considering getting the artist but if its possible to replace the 50 stock speaker with the waza, thats all I need
@@handleOfThy I didn't. I had an old Marshall SS combo with 1 good 12 left in it and used that. I would get the artist. The waza speaker is almost $300 USD so by the time you buy a 50w and the speaker you could have bought the artist.
@@snxtr ok, I already have a 50 mk1, I'll check some other speakers first
probably one of the best demos ive heard for the katanas, the ending demo with all the amps played in a real band setting really helped!
Thanks a lot! //Kris
Cool rundown guys! I have the mk2 50 and the mini 7 watt batt powered unit and absolutely love them both..gt1 processor is pretty great thru power amp in on the 50... awesome amps
Thanks for the uploads Kris and Big-G; appreciate the content you guys put out. It’s inspiring, and like hanging with good friends.
: )
Great video!
Wondering if you're going to do the same comparison for the Nextone series
I have a Katana 100 Head (and a 2x12 HB Celestion Cab)and that is for me the most practible Amp for me. 0,5 W in the living room, 50W in a band context, 100W for live situation. In combination with the Boss Tone Studio - Hundreds of sound patches. Perfect 🫶!
I have the 50 MKII, pretty satisfied with it. I mainly practice at home, i'm not in a band (yet). The 50 MKII is all i need. Sounds amazing.
This review of the different Katana configurations has completely reinforced my feeling that the 212s sound by far the best in a mix, in an open room where ambience is more important. Any of them will do the job if patched into the house. When your bringing everything you need to play decent sized rooms with 2×212s and a stereo patch cable, that's something I feel isn't offered with the other models. I wish they would've talked about the specs of each, more than just opinions. I think the Artist with the Waza cone sounds raspy. The 212s are much smoother in the highs.
I got the katana 50-mk II and I plan on using it for band practice for church and playing on sundays
I got the Katana Boss Artist MKll today, pretty stoked about it.
WOW this is the best amp comparison video of any I have seen yet.. the Cream on top was the jam levels with a Drummer.. you guys nailed it! I have a 50 with the FS-6 footswitch which is *just ok for home use.. may upgrade to 100 because of the better foot switch and uplift.. Brilliant thanks for sharing!
An Airstep Kat works with the 50 and might provide more functionality than the GA-FC.
Great informative video(as usual). Kris, I'm lost for words how much I like your cs '58 lp. Beautiful
Thanks a lot Jan! Also, my LP says hi and thanks! 😆
Cheers //Kris
This is the only decent video on the comparison of these different models.
Thank you.
I'm trying to figure out what to get.
could you use the variations sounds of the MKII in MKI through the software since it doesnt have the button?
Fun fact. The solo function actually works even with the 100w head. Just need a little software hack to access it.
Love the opening bluesy jam session. Sounded fantastic guys!
That Harley Benton surprised me too! Sweet Tele! 😄👍
Thanks a lot! Yeah man, that's a great guitar. I finally don't ALWAYS have to bring in my tele to have a good t-style in the studio. :) Cheers //Kris
@@ThomannsGuitarsBasses I just bought my first Harley Benton. Absolutely love it! Your Tele reminds of the '59 I had that was stolen. It was pink, mother of pearl guard, maple neck but was a semi-hollow body with an F-hole. Sounded like no other. Saw it 6 months after it was stolen in the Doo Wop Shop window for $6,999.99! Couldn't prove it was mine, even when I mentioned the strange stain that looked like bluish ink that wasn't obvious to anyone. Shop owner didn't know it was but wasn't going to give my Tele back! Sad memory BUT,.. had more good memories than bad with that sound!!! Have a most excellent day!! 😄👍Cheers//NASH✌
Thanks for the video. I own an Artist mk2 and am toying with the idea of a second one to get stereo expand. Any chance of a video of that, wondering whether the expense would be worthwhile. Cheers guys.
I was going to get the Artist 2, but the guy at GC highly recommended to just stick with the standard. I was skeptical at first because I kept hearing all the reviews were better on the artist than the standard 100, but I decided to take his recommendation and took the 100. I want to say that I am not displeased in any sense!! I am happy, not only did I save money, but the amp truly sounds great!! I honestly don’t think it’s necessary for me to go trade up to the Artist--still curious about it however. My Tele sounds fantastic!!!
Been trying to decide which katana to buy for a while and have watched countless videos. How the heck was this video not recommended to me or pop up in my search?
I'm not sure why now, but good job recommending this video, RUclips algorithm. I hope this was the video you were waiting for. 😄 Cheers //Kris
@@ThomannsGuitarsBasses sorry I meant to say how was it not recommended to me before! Like I have literally seen every video and demo and have scrolled through and I watch this channel a lot. Not sure how I missed it but I’m glad I found it now. Will watch it later today with a nice cup of coffee. 😎
Love the video guys! Would be great to talk about how you get different tones on these amps. They are super easy to plug and play, but can be complicated when trying to add the effects. Your experience with stomp boxes would be super helpful in understanding how to use these solid state amps to their potential!
Hey, I love the Boss Katana Air but will there be a new generation of the amp (like a Mk2+) coming out soon? If so when will it come out because I will wait for the new one then 👍 🎸
I wonder if you actually made .tsl patches of the sounds in this video? or was it just dialled as you went? cheers
the artist is just it for me, it has that edge and clarity, kinda sucks its a little heavier but the sound seems worth it
I have the Katana Air and love it! I want to buy the Boss RC-500 looper pedal, but are they compatible?
It's been a long time since you're comment but I'm wandering if you've tried connecting the Air output to a bigger speaker for gigs? How good is it?
Guys I have gone the katana route because my tube amps just weighs so much. Being in my 40s now and not taking the best care of myself over the last 40 odd years picking up a 50 pound tube amplifier at gigs I was really starting to take its toll on me. Playing in small bars or pubs I was finding also that my Vox AC30, which prior to buying the katana was my main amp, simply was too loud. We mic everything at our gigs and we try to keep the volume down so that patrons can still have conversations in the background. I was in the market for an amp that can sound good at low or high volume that was lightweight and portable. To me tube amps, for the volume that I was looking are just too loud for what I like. If I can’t crank them I can’t use them. I decided to sell my Vox and go for a katana 100. I am not saying that I think the katana sounds better. Believe me if I could crank my vox amp it would sound better! But when I lose in tone, I gain in versatility. For example I play acoustic guitar on some of the songs we play and I was always having to bring a second amp or plug-in directly to the PA system this is just more gear to bring along and it’s a hassle. Katana 100 is the perfect acoustic guitar amp. Also with the foot switch I pretty much don’t need to bring any pedals with me anymore so no more pedal board to deal with. Last but not least the line out. I no longer have to bring a mic and a stand for my amp because I can just plug a quarter out to the PA system. I basically have four presets that would be more than what I would carry if I had to use amps and pedals with it and get decent results. My old vox was a head that weighed 45 pounds plus a cabinet and also weighed 40 pounds. Boss katana 100 weighs in at well under 40 pounds much easier on the back much less awkward carry.
Been thinking of switch to this from tube amps, I spend half of my time just trying to dial in the tune. I just want to plug and play
I was not expecting an Aaron Kyro reference in a guitar video 😂 love it!!!
This was very helpful. I’m considering one of these amps. I’m a home player (mostly bedroom volume) so I don’t need a lot of volume and like an amp that sounds good at lower volumes. In that respect the 50 seems like the obvious choice but I would like to have a pedal that will at least allow me to shift from rhythm tone to lead tone without having to play with controls. Which would you guys recommend? Do the 50 and 100 sound pretty much the same at low volume when on the 5 watt mode? Thanks !!!🎸👍🏼
always a great presentation, congratulations guys
Thanks so so much! //Kris
Playing with the drums and a room mike was really helpful! great idea. Thanks. I have the boss mini and love it.
Was going to say that, but I always make sure someone else stated it. Genius idea; more demo’s should do this for a band context scenario
Thanks Craig! Yeah imagine this with a proper drummer... 😆 Lucky us, Lukas, one of our video dudes is a damn good drummer, so I'll make sure to point him to the drum set for our videos. haha! That and of course bass too, for a full band scenario. Can't wait! //Kris
Thank😂uuu
this vid is so late to the party makes me wonder is the MKIII on its way. But great video regardless!
Probably that Black Friday and Christmas is on the way and they know there'll be hundreds of them on Xmas lists ...
Highly doubt it. They just dropped new software upgrades earlier this year. These guys obviously didn't know much about them, but it still showed some strengths and weaknesses.
Let's see a comparison between a katana and a tube amp! An artist and hot rod deluxe for example!
That's a great idea but also a very complicated one. Haha! You'd have to compare it to at least 3 different tube amps for different gain / amp settings. A nice clean amp (Hot Rod?) vs Katana clean, a nice crunchy amp vs Katana Crunch and a cool distorted amp (JCM? 5150?) vs the Katana Brown setting.
I mean, it sounds like an interesting idea for sure. How would you do it?
//Kris
@@ThomannsGuitarsBasses I would go more simple: compare both just with clean channel and then the clean channel with a pedal board (from the board you can surely try the distortion, OD, time based fx etc..) the whole Idea of the comparison is to you hear your Idea guys from Thomann; is there really a big difference between a high end solid state amp like katana artist and one of the most common used tube amps like the hotrod .. you know what, if that will work out fine .. the details you mentioned above already are great & interesting idea for a series of videos 😉 (can be called solid state vs tube or katana artist vs the world since you mentioned a lot of tube amps 😆😆) .. lets gooo kris i am so excited now I can't wait for the video 🤩😄
Check out the Studio Rats channel, they've recently done that with MATCHLESS Independent and a Marshall JCM900.
You'll be surprised at their conclusions.
That's not this video
What pickups on that gorgeous R9??? Sorry OOT question 🙂
how about the MK II Head?
Should I get a 100 to run accoustic in two songs or will 50 do the job?
I had the katana mini. Did not like it too much. Was not to bad, would liked to have reverb instead of delay and Bluetooth receiver for backing tracks for bedroom playing. Headphone didn't convince me. Replaced it with a katana 100 mk I. Like it, but as I like to use a looper with drums, I now just use it as a frfr in accoustic mode with a multieffect in front of it. So I can dial in the EQ what makes the loop/drums sound better than in the send and return. Using it for jam sessions with another guitar player with the Digitech trio+. Great! And with fallback to the other channels, if the multieffect dies.
For easy bedroom playing with Bluetooth playing backing tracks I now love my nux mighty air amp. Easy to setup with no cable with the included sender/receiver. Long living internal lithium battery (like it more than trad AA batteries of the katana mini). Headphones sound nice as well.
I have the 100 Mk1 combo and I think it’s as relevant now as it was when it first hit the market.
Good sound is the only thing that matters.
I know this is about Katana amps, but I just can't take my eyes and ears off Chris' Les Paul. Great demo guys
I love that thing, man. And that, even though I'm a single-coil dude, haha! Cheers //Kris
Excellent comparison, and complete except for the new 50 mkII EX :)
Great video. This what I needed.
It would also be great to listen to amps like the cube street 2 along with a drum player, just to know how it compares to the Katana.
Cheers!
Thanks for sharing this video, it was very informative and helpful. Can the Katana 100 2x12 mkII be used with a speaker cab in stereo? If so, can you do a demo with the Harley Benton 2x12 cab. Thanks again cheers.
i need to know if the 1x12 sounds the same as the 2x12 at lower volumes.
I have a couple of questions. Aren’t the extra functions of the Artist accesible in the other amps through the BTS software? I think it would be interesting to hear a direct comparison between the Artist and the 2 X 12. I suspect that the biggest difference from the Artist might be the speaker and the cab nonetheless the added weight if kind off putting. At least the extra weight in the 2x12 gets you a larger cab and an extra speaker.
You're right. Artist has some extra features in the back of amp which other have not. If we talking about effects and sound features then all of them can be accessed from tone studio. Except for mini. Artist has the best speaker with much better low end and mids.
I could be wrong with artist features if yes please correct me :)
@@janusn9 thanks, this information is very useful to me. I am considering upgrading to one of the newer models of the amp. The cab resonance switch, is that something meant to affect the IR as in the software or the performance through a live speaker? I went through the manual but that was not very clear.
Fine playing going on here, especially at the beginning of the video.
Im very sad because vox amp prices are super high now... do you think guys this Boss amps could emulate somehow the vox ac 30 for a BMG red special guitar?
I was under the impression that the GA- FC EX fiit switch coukd be ysed in tge karaba 59 mk2
Ay karaba. 59.
Great video. Enjoyable to watch.
Katana Air actually can be used like multi-effect unit, connecting to mixing pult throuh rec out
Somehow I hoped the bass Katanas would have been included too, but still a pretty fine video again
I own a Katana Mini perfect for me in a small flat, still can't believe how BOSS built an incredible little amp to sound so good, it is the best in it's class, , just a question I have an 3 P90 High output guitar I wonder if can hook a noise gate pedal to the mini if so any recommendations nothing fancy just something to kill the noise ,
Hey Brian, thanks for watching! Yeah BOSS really nailed these amps. :)
I can only say good things about the Boss NS-2, I've been using it for years and I was always happy with it. If you're looking for something even more reactive, I had the best possible results with the Revv G8 noise gate (Canadian company 😉). Cheers //Kris
Iv enjoyed using my mark 1 2x12 at home and in a band scenario.i am thinking of upgrading to mark 2 artist.
How noticeable would I find the single speaker of the artist compared to the 212 in relation to feel and body etc.
Suck it an see I suppose.cheers great reviews guys.👍👌
I've just upgraded from the 2x12/100 Mk2 to the Artist Mk2. Both awesome, but I just find the WAZA speaker in the Artist has a bit more bottom and low-mid range that gives you a bit more rounded out satisfying thump in the gut, especially at higher volumes (I play old-school 70s / 80s style rock and metal).
Features are virtually identical between them now through the latest BTS version 2.10, but one feature I LOVE that the Artist has that the 2x12 doesn't ... both have the SOLO boost now, but while the 2x12 has a dedicated EQ for the SOLO boost, the Artist has the same dedicated EQ, but *ALSO* a dedicated DELAY.
I *BY FAR* prefer the front-facing control panel on the Artist too.
No regrets with the upgrade so far. YMMV.
@@kevinmcguinness1113 that's encouraging thankyou for that .👌
@Giles Ashley tbh, if I'd had the money I would've checked out the new Artist Mk2 head with the new 2x12 WAZA-equipped cabinet, but I got such a good deal on the used Artist combo, I couldn't refuse.
After selling my 212/100 Mk2, the upgrade only cost me UK£95, about US$120. Well worth it 🤟🤟.
Good luck, whichever route you might decide to go 👍. I'd be interested to hear how you get on.
Will do.just purchased a PRS guitar so the boss katana artist might have to wait a while .
Just bought the Artist
Haha. I've got the 1x100 and Air models. Would have snagged the Artist instead of the 1x100 had it been in stock. 😆
Always loved my Katana 100 Mk1 ever since I got it, but man, you guys make it hard not to at least try that 2x12
The comparison I want is Katana Air vs Katana 100 Head. They are both small heads, they both have interrnal speakers for lowish volume practice, and they have the entire katana sound options. They are even very similar in price.
But the question I have is, do I prefer better practice sound and wireless functionality? Or do I want a worse low volume practice option, but with more options for full amp usage?
My situation is playing in an apartment, but I also already have a 50W valve amp with a 2x12 for live usage. So which one should I buy?
i've got the 100 head with the big Pedal board. and it never disapoints me... i also have a pedalboard because i like to have the Phaser and other effects before the preamp :) but i was never disapointed... the effects quality in this amp are really close to the Boss Pedals, the only downside is that there are one knob for the effect, which means its not that customisable, you can change it with the software, but thats a lot of work. other than that, its a pretty good amp and i wouldn't sell it for anything :D
Boss Katana 100 2x12 19:38
Boss Katana Artist 20:03
1st the/my obvious comment: nice Tele 😁
BOSS really had a thing starting the Katana series and thes are still improving them ... nice 👍
BOSS amps are a phenomenon: you just can't sound too bad ... makes guys like you sounding very very good and me dummy still sounding not toooooo bad 🤣
There is one exception imho.: the Artist. This amp just needs a player who does know whot he's doing ... but that ain't no bad thing 🤔
💯% good vid! Thanks a lot!
Thanks so much Matze, we really appreciate you! :) Honestly, the Katana range is super easy to tweak and sound good with. All I tend to do is roll down the treble a little for a round tone. That's it. :) Cheers //Kris
I would like to see the 2 100 watt heads compared through the same cab
Damn good jam at the beginning.
Can I use the katana artist mk2 head without any speaker connected?
Yes.. definitely a cool feature.
I'm curious to know which cabinet sounds best with the Katana MKII Head
Hey, I plugged the head into the cabinet we always use in the studio to see if it sounds massively different, or better, or worse than the 212 combo. Well, it sounded very similar, that's why we didn't bother showing that too and making this long video even longer. That 2x12 Harley Benton cab has a Celestion V30 and a Celestion Creamback 75 speaker and we love it! The head sounded very close to the 100 2x12 combo so what I learned from that, is the those "basic" Katana speakers are really really good. :)
Cheers //Kris
Allein für das Intro einen Daumen hoch 👍 😊
Mega! 1000 Dank Chris!
//Kris
With drums, the 100 1 12 sounds way best 😎
So strange - i thought the 100 2x12 would be superior in room mic but it was somewhat dampened and not as present sounding.
That pink Tele is sweet!
It would be great if Boss made a small Katana that gives you the range from 0.5 to say 20 or 25w. I live in a flat and I'm sure if I turned up that 50w amp they'll call the police. Yeah, it has the 0.5 mode, but if I don't play in a band then I will never use the 50w mode. So what's the point in having such a big amp if I'll never use it? But on the other hand, the Mini seems to me too small. And rechargeable batteries? Is that supposed to be a super cool thing? Put a built-in rechargeable battery instead. One that charges while connected and if you unplug the amp then the battery kicks in, like the Yamaha THR or the Joyo DC-15S amps. A small (not mini) Katana 20 would be ideal for me. I'd be happy to pay more than for the Mini, even if it gets close to the 50, just because that's what would suit me best. But I'm afraid they'll never make it :(
Twin 100's in stereo!!🔥🔥🔥🔥
I'm afraid to try that and fall in love with them even more. I don't need more amps in my life!! 😆
Or wait... maybe I do.
Cheers //Kris
@@ThomannsGuitarsBasses Kris, where can you get a stereo rig, almost unlimited tone, that cleans up like the real deal, under $1k?!?
Katana 50 mkll ex?
Great video
Thanks Tommy! //Kris
I remember trying them in a store. Was looking for a good amp for metal and while the Artist MKII was solid, a lot of stuff and tight enough I ended up buying Line6 DT25 combo for around same price once I tried it though. Just sounded less processed and more fuller. Boss one no doubt was good and versatile too, but yeah, the Line6 sounded way better to me. The Mini is neat.
So now I know I need something between Mini and 100.
It's something 😂
I'm very happy with my "Mini"!
It's so much fun, that little monster! :)
Cheers mate //Kris
Katana says putting the VOLUME KNOB all the way up instead of the MASTER you’ll hear more dynamics
Should I trade my Mustang V Head for one of these?
Aww man, that's impossible to answer. You should definitely compare them if you can. I think I prefer the directness of the tone of the Katanas but it really depends on the style you're playing and the tone you're after. And the guitar. And all of that, haha! //Kris
@@ThomannsGuitarsBasses It was mainly for the technology upgrade (since the Katana MKII is newer). I usually just use the Princeton or a Twin Reverb and boost it for some very generic (bad) pentatonic leads.
So size does matter?!
I had the 50, then 112, then 212, then Artist 100. Loved them all. Then I got a second-hand Kemper Powerhead. End of GAS, even though it's more expensive, it was worth it.
There's 100 effects INSIDE the amp? That's sort of like having 100 Boss pedals and the amp too, isn't it?
Pretty much (more like 65 or so...). Not quite as much flexibility/control as having the pedals out in front of you, but...with so many, you can set up as many patches as you want with all the different effects, and switch between more effects than you could viably put on a pedal board anyway. Plus you can have a pedal board for more options with stacking effects etc
Hey, the 100 FX was more of a "100 fx" tbh. 😅 I was referring to A LOT of them.
But I just checked, there are over 60 fx in the Katanas which, in my book, is about as good as a hundred, haha! Cheers //Kris
@@jamiebriggs8277 thanks. Yea I think it's fantastic having so many options "out of the box" on Christmas morning. 👍
@@ThomannsGuitarsBasses absolutely. These things still amaze me. I used to play through a Twin Reverb. You had to get pedals. Maybe you'd have two or three, four if you were crazy lol.
But these new amps are just too cool.
Thanks for the reply 👍
I've got the right Katana... the home made 100w pedalboard/amp all in one Katana....Sadly Boss don't make it but they should.
I've seen that man, it's one of the coolest DIY projects I'm aware of. Kudos!!! 👏
Cheers //Kris
@@ThomannsGuitarsBasses thank you Kris, it shocked me how viral it went for something I made at the kitchen table but it works so well... Boss really should make one (and send me a huge thank you wad of cash!! )
Hmm the Katana mini don't sound like that because you will still hear your strings acoustically.
The guy with the beard is to cool for school
Aaron Kyro the skateboarder?
It's just like Andertons without the annoying hosts!
The head FTW
Y’all didn’t even rock the lil driver in the head version??? I think it’s a 5 inch?
You guys reading my notes to Santa?
I was talking to my wife and saying I think I know what I want for Christmas
She said “ I bet it’s another guitar”
She couldn’t believe it when I said katana
She thought I was going to be mishone with a guitar 😁🤣🤣
It’s katana time 🥴
I AM Santa. 😆 Just didn't want to say it and ruin the secret. I have to go now, still have a lot of beard growing to do until the 24th of December. 😅
//Kris
@@ThomannsGuitarsBasses well you sleighed that video 🤣 couldn’t resist !! Sorry..
reindeer no it’s more like a storm !!
Ok I’m going 🤣🤣🥴
Jesus is King!
Jesus is LORD!!
JESUS is queen
Jesus is queen. What a drag.
Kris is playing authentic. That sounds expensive.
Haha! Well the Katanas help to keep the price of that tone reasonable. 😅 //Kris
@@ThomannsGuitarsBasses Yall forgot the Katana 50 EX lol
I wear my katana mini on my belt while 🥾 hiking
Haha, that's the spirit! 🎸🔊🚶♂️
//Kris
Bua me encantaría tener un grupo de genios como vosotros y no usar sonidos de sintetizador