A classic method for getting a high-gain, progressive metal / metalcore tone with the Katana is to use the lead/brown channel with low gain and push it hard with the tube screamer booster - level maxed out and the gain quite low, around 10-20. I'd be interested to see you dial in a tone like that, especially EQing to get the tight bottom end.
That's actually what I do with mine, have my gain at actually 1 o'clock and have the tube screamer drive going instead of the standard drive and have effect level up all the way with 0 drive
You can put the Katana effects in any order you like if you use the FX Floorboard software. For me the Katana is a practice amp so I'm playing it 98 percent of the time. I already have a bunch of pedals so I usually use the Boss as a pedal platform. Some of its drive pedals do sound pretty good, some of them leave a little to be desired. Either way I like having the controls at my feet where don't have to dig around in computer software to change the settings. Anyway with the Katana and FX Floorboard you can put delays and reverbs in front of fuzz or whatever like My Bloody Valentine. I'll use it for that sometimes rather than tearing up my board to re-order effects. It's a good option to have.
You are without a doubt putting some of the best content and info out of anyone. As a lifelong ( 50+ years ) tube snob your Boss Katana videos have helped me tremendously. It's a pleasure, and a great learning experience every time I watch one of your videos. Thanks for all you do. It is very much appreciated, and I must also say you are one heck of a guitarist!
Thanks for these vids. You’ve certainly helped me figure some stuff on my Katana. It would be cool to hear an apple to apples comparison, like a DS1 vs the inbuilt Distortion, or a Guv’nor or MXR etc.
What Cab did you have the Katana set with? I found it makes quite a difference to the tone of the distortions. But yeh having externals gives good choice. Thanks for the comparisons, really useful!
I own a katana head and love the effects, but for distortions and compressors, I use pedals. I just set clean tones in katana and then add drive(overdrive, distortion, big muff, fuzz , etc) with pedals. BTW, it's cool for testing some pedals before buy...:)
Ive recently purchased the MK 2 Artist Head and I've noticed that when i run my Boss SD-1 it feels more "real". I do use the "Centar" overdrive in the boss with 0 gain, adding in the bottom by +3. That really wakes the amp up and makes it livelier.
I always use a real boost/overdrive with level at 100 and gain at 0 for metal. If you do that with the inboard effects is not the same. It can't add sustain without adding distortion.
Great video. Love the comparison with layering the external overdrive and using the external compressor. I really wish the Katana gave full flexibility with the chain ordering. The one thing I'll say though - comparing a Revv G3 to the Boss Distortion is just not a fair comparison! Not sure whether any of the internal boosters would be a good match for the G3, but it would be worth trying out a few others to see how close it can get. I am currently using a borrowed Revv G4 in front of my Katana, and I find that I can do most of what it can do with the Katana alone using either the Metal Zone or the Metal DS, but there is just a certain feel the Revv has that I can't seem to find in the Katana. I think there's something in the way the pedals respond to varied input from the guitar that isn't quite captured in the digital effects.
After 5 months owning Katana MkII 50 watts & tried a few OD & Distortion pedals.....my best is a REVV G2 & REVV G3 in front of the Katana....until further notice that is. Cheers mate.
Would the g3 work with the brown, lead, and crunch channels or does it sound like crap? Also could I use one of the drives in the katana with the g3 to spice it up?
I would love to get a revv g3 or g4 but the prices of them are just out of this world. You can get a katana MK2 50 for less than the price f a revv g3. I would prefer the entire package of the katana than 1 single pedal. But that's just me. In Australia the revv g3 is around $420 or so and the katana MK2 50 is about $370.
Hi, I'm trying to get a descent tone with Revv g3 using Boss Katana 50mk2. I'm using les paul studio, 1 spot cs7 (new), boss ns (new), korg tuner (new). Dialed to clean channel but tones from the amp are muffled...any clue, please?
i have katana 50 , in built gain destortion tone is very bad, booster mode is terrible. if i buy zoom multi effect processor will it make that tone good?
Paul can you confirm for me the preamps in the kat are digital (dsp) also? I know the stomp box emulations definitely are, but I've heard mixed reports on the preamp gain. I suspect it's digital and the poweramp is a/b current driven analogue as advertised.
The Tone Studio allows for so much more tweaking than you preform here, so there's a good chance you could close those tonal gaps by digging further. Juca Nery's chanel has some nice in depth tone chasing video's that demonstrate what I mean.
thanks for vid. you were using the distortion booster on katana for the ''clean'' channel. would be good to do the same using the crunch or lead channel. i'm sure it would then be more comparable to the revv distortion pedal on clean.
When I use the USB to record my Katana with external pedals it sounds horrible, yet the same preset with an inbuilt overdrive sounds great. Any ideas on how to fix this?
@@TheStudioRats yeah I have, it's not really a clipping issue as far as I can tell. It starts to sound very "squishy" if that makes any sense? Like overly compressed and fizzy. I plan to buy your tone packs and use the PD Clean as you did in the video and see if that helps at all because yours sounded great. Might be something in the eq?
I'm constantly turning knobs and suck at finding the right tone and volume especially compared to tone in my practice space at home vs rehearsal space with the band. Boss 50w on 25w setting vs 50w setting, loud enough, too loud, ahhhh! I use a DS-2 sometimes and Boss fx settings sometimes. It's all a big science project to me.
I feel your pain basslinger. My ears just aren't very good at hearing the subtle differences other people seem to instantly hear. I'll spend ages at home creating a really nice tone at 0.5W on my 100W Katana, go to practice turn up to 50W in a different room and it immediately sounds different, then we start playing as a band and my guitar disappears in the mix. Both guitars in the band are Les Paul's so I'm contemplating going to single coils but it's a lot of money to spend with no guarantees it'll help my cloth ears. 🤷♂️
This is the age old problem. EQ changes in different rooms, and at different volumes. Louder uses more speaker and gets more comoression, and seems to give more or oess harmonics. String aize can .ake a big difference too. I think I always adjust when using a different room or volume. Sone people have patches for practice and some for gigs. I might try this too.
@@gasolinehorsey you gotta crank up the mods, the drums will take the highs with the cymbals and less is more with the gain. I’ve never preformed love however I know those tend to help a bit.
Very interesting. Also, the feel of the pedal vs the internal pedal. Also, ease of use. I really don't like using the app, but I will because I want the EQ settings to be right and correct, and I want to program the channels so I can use my foot switch. That said, I could play a gig with the Katana without touching tone studio I think and no pedals and probably do ok. I might need a specialized pedal or something, but I could use the Katana as is. I use my Morely wah just because I love the sound of it, and I have a katana 50 mk2 and I don't have a pedal to use with it.. Also, I might end up getting some really good Harmonizer pedal. I want to do some rhythm tones like Steve Vai did in the movie Crossroads.. For original songs, or something similar I should say. Great video as all of yours are! Thanks so much for sharing this info.. Really appreciate it. Regards from the Midwest USA .. Indiana. USA.
The best high gain overdrive, almost distortion, for me is that sneaky amp version of t-amp lead, with very big low cut, and boster bd just on, gain at 4, global eq everything around 65 for classic rock or just turn midds down for heavy stuff
A classic method for getting a high-gain, progressive metal / metalcore tone with the Katana is to use the lead/brown channel with low gain and push it hard with the tube screamer booster - level maxed out and the gain quite low, around 10-20. I'd be interested to see you dial in a tone like that, especially EQing to get the tight bottom end.
Does the boost go in front or after the pre amp? Does the katana give you the option of rearranging the chain?
Yewnique yep, boost before the preamp and yep, you can control the chain in the Tone Studio app
That's actually what I do with mine, have my gain at actually 1 o'clock and have the tube screamer drive going instead of the standard drive and have effect level up all the way with 0 drive
You can put the Katana effects in any order you like if you use the FX Floorboard software. For me the Katana is a practice amp so I'm playing it 98 percent of the time. I already have a bunch of pedals so I usually use the Boss as a pedal platform. Some of its drive pedals do sound pretty good, some of them leave a little to be desired. Either way I like having the controls at my feet where don't have to dig around in computer software to change the settings. Anyway with the Katana and FX Floorboard you can put delays and reverbs in front of fuzz or whatever like My Bloody Valentine. I'll use it for that sometimes rather than tearing up my board to re-order effects. It's a good option to have.
Just purchased the 50 watt. Is this amp a good pedal platform
@@bradproctor6499 Absolutely
I did not know about that FX floorboard software. Thank you so much for sharing that information.
You are without a doubt putting some of the best content and info out of anyone. As a lifelong ( 50+ years ) tube snob your Boss Katana videos have helped me tremendously. It's a pleasure, and a great learning experience every time I watch one of your videos. Thanks for all you do. It is very much appreciated, and I must also say you are one heck of a guitarist!
Thanks for these vids. You’ve certainly helped me figure some stuff on my Katana. It would be cool to hear an apple to apples comparison, like a DS1 vs the inbuilt Distortion, or a Guv’nor or MXR etc.
Through my small speakers they sound the same. I do love your videos and find them super helpful.
Any tips on Alice in chains tone?
I've been using brown channel with almost 0 gain and stacked with the katana onboard overdrive effect. It's decent
Wow.. I felt in love with that tele. I have a same color Strat and same amp.. But wow. That sounded like a dream.
I would love to hear you do a part 2 of this video with all the new pedals effects they have added. Especially for a Klon or clone comparison.
What Cab did you have the Katana set with? I found it makes quite a difference to the tone of the distortions. But yeh having externals gives good choice. Thanks for the comparisons, really useful!
I own a katana head and love the effects, but for distortions and compressors, I use pedals. I just set clean tones in katana and then add drive(overdrive, distortion, big muff, fuzz , etc) with pedals. BTW, it's cool for testing some pedals before buy...:)
why don’t you use the boss tone studio effects?
Ive recently purchased the MK 2 Artist Head and I've noticed that when i run my Boss SD-1 it feels more "real". I do use the "Centar" overdrive in the boss with 0 gain, adding in the bottom by +3. That really wakes the amp up and makes it livelier.
I always use a real boost/overdrive with level at 100 and gain at 0 for metal. If you do that with the inboard effects is not the same. It can't add sustain without adding distortion.
Great video. Love the comparison with layering the external overdrive and using the external compressor. I really wish the Katana gave full flexibility with the chain ordering.
The one thing I'll say though - comparing a Revv G3 to the Boss Distortion is just not a fair comparison! Not sure whether any of the internal boosters would be a good match for the G3, but it would be worth trying out a few others to see how close it can get.
I am currently using a borrowed Revv G4 in front of my Katana, and I find that I can do most of what it can do with the Katana alone using either the Metal Zone or the Metal DS, but there is just a certain feel the Revv has that I can't seem to find in the Katana. I think there's something in the way the pedals respond to varied input from the guitar that isn't quite captured in the digital effects.
Sounds very good, my question is how are these external pedals connected to the katana? Is it thru front of the amp or the back. thanks in advance.
After 5 months owning Katana MkII 50 watts & tried a few OD & Distortion pedals.....my best is a REVV G2 & REVV G3 in front of the Katana....until further notice that is. Cheers mate.
Would the g3 work with the brown, lead, and crunch channels or does it sound like crap? Also could I use one of the drives in the katana with the g3 to spice it up?
Hi Josh, if your looking to stack overdrives have a look at the earthquaker devices plumes.
@@TheStudioRats look at the plumes to pair with the g3? Or pair with the katana OD's?
@@joshstrope1092 with katana obviously
That looks like my old 96 anniversary tele I had with custom pickups
Hi Paul. Just wondering are you micing the Katana or going through the USB? Thanks.
Hi Darryl, I was using the usb on this vid.
@@TheStudioRats Thanks Paul, really like the sounds you're getting. Just got a 50 watt mk2 myself.
I would love to get a revv g3 or g4 but the prices of them are just out of this world. You can get a katana MK2 50 for less than the price f a revv g3. I would prefer the entire package of the katana than 1 single pedal. But that's just me. In Australia the revv g3 is around $420 or so and the katana MK2 50 is about $370.
Hi,
I'm trying to get a descent tone with Revv g3 using Boss Katana 50mk2.
I'm using les paul studio, 1 spot cs7 (new), boss ns (new), korg tuner (new). Dialed to clean channel but tones from the amp are muffled...any clue, please?
hi! what happened? did you solve it?
i have katana 50 , in built gain destortion tone is very bad, booster mode is terrible. if i buy zoom multi effect processor will it make that tone good?
If you don’t like the internal drives in the katana I don’t think you’ll like the zoom stuff.
@@TheStudioRatsyou rather say “why dont you try”
Paul can you confirm for me the preamps in the kat are digital (dsp) also? I know the stomp box emulations definitely are, but I've heard mixed reports on the preamp gain. I suspect it's digital and the poweramp is
a/b current driven analogue as advertised.
The pre amps are digital, the power amp is class a b. At least that is what I thought
@@TheStudioRats thanks mate, that's my understanding of it also.
Is the warm OD based on the plumes?
The Tone Studio allows for so much more tweaking than you preform here, so there's a good chance you could close those tonal gaps by digging further. Juca Nery's chanel has some nice in depth tone chasing video's that demonstrate what I mean.
thanks for vid. you were using the distortion booster on katana for the ''clean'' channel. would be good to do the same using the crunch or lead channel. i'm sure it would then be more comparable to the revv distortion pedal on clean.
Another great one paul 👍
I've always found the katana drives to.be close but more aggressive than the real world counterparts
When I use the USB to record my Katana with external pedals it sounds horrible, yet the same preset with an inbuilt overdrive sounds great. Any ideas on how to fix this?
possibly driving the front of the amp a little to hard, have you tried lowering the volume on the pedals?
@@TheStudioRats yeah I have, it's not really a clipping issue as far as I can tell. It starts to sound very "squishy" if that makes any sense? Like overly compressed and fizzy.
I plan to buy your tone packs and use the PD Clean as you did in the video and see if that helps at all because yours sounded great. Might be something in the eq?
Plumes sounded nice and open. Great pedal. It's worth it, not an expensive pedal.
Nice intro riff, do u have the tabs? I love the sound of it
I'm constantly turning knobs and suck at finding the right tone and volume especially compared to tone in my practice space at home vs rehearsal space with the band. Boss 50w on 25w setting vs 50w setting, loud enough, too loud, ahhhh! I use a DS-2 sometimes and Boss fx settings sometimes. It's all a big science project to me.
I feel your pain basslinger. My ears just aren't very good at hearing the subtle differences other people seem to instantly hear. I'll spend ages at home creating a really nice tone at 0.5W on my 100W Katana, go to practice turn up to 50W in a different room and it immediately sounds different, then we start playing as a band and my guitar disappears in the mix. Both guitars in the band are Les Paul's so I'm contemplating going to single coils but it's a lot of money to spend with no guarantees it'll help my cloth ears. 🤷♂️
This is the age old problem. EQ changes in different rooms, and at different volumes. Louder uses more speaker and gets more comoression, and seems to give more or oess harmonics. String aize can .ake a big difference too. I think I always adjust when using a different room or volume. Sone people have patches for practice and some for gigs. I might try this too.
@@gasolinehorsey you gotta crank up the mods, the drums will take the highs with the cymbals and less is more with the gain. I’ve never preformed love however I know those tend to help a bit.
Both have pros/cons. Presets are easy to download. But you can change each sound effect using pedals.
Very interesting. Also, the feel of the pedal vs the internal pedal. Also, ease of use. I really don't like using the app, but I will because I want the EQ settings to be right and correct, and I want to program the channels so I can use my foot switch. That said, I could play a gig with the Katana without touching tone studio I think and no pedals and probably do ok. I might need a specialized pedal or something, but I could use the Katana as is.
I use my Morely wah just because I love the sound of it, and I have a katana 50 mk2 and I don't have a pedal to use with it.. Also, I might end up getting some really good Harmonizer pedal. I want to do some rhythm tones like Steve Vai did in the movie Crossroads.. For original songs, or something similar I should say.
Great video as all of yours are! Thanks so much for sharing this info.. Really appreciate it.
Regards from the Midwest USA .. Indiana. USA.
The best high gain overdrive, almost distortion, for me is that sneaky amp version of t-amp lead, with very big low cut, and boster bd just on, gain at 4, global eq everything around 65 for classic rock or just turn midds down for heavy stuff
My favorite boost in Katana I TC, based on Ibanez808. I don’t have that as pedal so if you have that a short comparison would be interesting.
The aha moment. 👍🏼 Thanks.
I prefer the no nonsense pedals that sound better anyway. IMO
If Boss arnt paying you they should!!
scott brady cheers Scott, unfortunately not but they do help out with a few bits of gear.
Plumes!
Built in distortion of katana always sounds thin
just buy a cheap boost pedal