Oh my god it's not even close. I'm not a tone snob but I can't believe that some think they are similar. The level of detail in the Artist is 500% higher.
@@TheGuitarGeek When you run the Katana 100 through the upgraded(Waza) speaker there's not any real discernible difference..at least not over RUclips ! All the folks that claim they can tell the difference is falling for the "Placebo Syndrome" !
Andy, you said it it. It is such a pain't in the rear to stand up to reach the back of the amp. Having the panel on the front is amazing. I'm 100% behind it. I wish actually I hope other amp builders see these comments because. It makes or breaks my aunt purchases anymore.I had my Marshall DSL40 again.The panels on the front.I treated that app and it was the stupidest thing i've done I didn't realize how important it is to have the panel on the front
Waza! Nice video. I have been trying to decide on which of these for about a week. The Artist sounds a little better to me, but the real advantage is the front controls. I've had a Blues Jr. for 10 years, still hate the top controls.
Although I have the Katana 50, I just bought the Katana 100 head to use with a Blackstar 2-12 cab. It's an open cab with two 80/70 celestion speakers. The deal I got for the head and the footswitch was to good to pass up. $360 for both. Played through it last night and the first impression was it was loud so it'll take some getting use too. May have to put a volume pedal in the loop to tame the beast. only used the crunch channel because was more than enough gain for me. Once I dial it in, I'm sure it'll work out. May change the speakers or ge a closed back cab.
KATANA Artist seemed louder and had a little more bottom BUT I don't think it's worth the extra money so I will buy the Boss Katana 100 1x12 with a footswitch. Blues On.... & thanks.
The only thing I don't like about the artist is the scale of the fron controls, they look very bit against the relatively small speaker grille, the division should be 10/90 percent rather than 30/70. WAZA!!
I got the Artist to use instead of carrying my old JC120 to a major situation …. And the Artist does offer some modern features the old JC120 doesn’t…. The Artist does give you a bigger sound than the 100 … significant enough to pay the extra amount … to me . The 100 is still nice… and if one wishes to of into a main system & PA … But the Artist is more complete of itself … plus it can go into a main & house system as well … But those days of having to break out my heavy JC120 for major shows is now over for me with the Artist. The Artist may not be as much as a grab & go as the 50 &/or 50x … or 100 …. But it’s Complete .. and not as heavy as older amps …
Waza? Absofreakinlutely. Ive got them both but not the combos. I now have both heads and both 2x12 cabinets with the waza cabinet connected to the artist. As a former tube snob but still having tube amps the artist with the waza cab is infinitely better. The mk2 100 head and the waza cab sounds better too but hands down to me, the artist and the 2x12 waza cab is the winner. I only did this because i wanted the stereo expand and i wanted the front controls. Wow, the stereo expand is killer and now this old man is still hunting the perfect Jerry Garcia tone. Im close but if anyone knows of some patches to try please let me know 😊 thanks!
Both amps are great but in my experience the Artist sounds n feels a upgraded katana. I hope they don't ruin the Artist with the mkII mods they've done to the 100 and 50 including different speaker.
Is the artist 2 as good as the mk ii 100? I just bought this. Im a tube guy. Its kinda good for the money you can't complain....But is the artist 2 like more realistic....Asking for someone outside the video...
@@davidfrisken1617 that's the question I had, but I know for sure that wood and size of the cabinet, AND speaker performance play a big role in the sound you hear. Is it worth 250bucks difference ? Anothef comparison would be with the Katana 100 212 offering more headroom.
The Artist wins. It sounds much wider and fuller, but only due to the cabinet and speaker. Keep the original Katana, add the speaker out and hook up an external cabinet for better sound.
or get another katana and play in stereo...or use one as FRFR with another amp...you can use these like powered speakers with fx using the power amp in.
It's really noticeable how much better the base response and clarity is with the Artist, it just so much fuller, balanced and rounded. Irrespective of the way the 100 and Artist are packaged, I believe the real difference is the Waza speaker. If you put the Waza speaker in the 100 I think you would struggle to choose between them.
@@JustinEthnostateArtist has a better speaker. people can buy the 100 mkii & 2 or 3 used speakers to swap in and out of it for different tones for same price as the artist.
Waza! You convinced me to get the Artist. Thank you so much; I can't wait! EDIT: I received the Artist and have had a chance to play with it thoroughly. GET THIS AMP! You will NOT regret it; Worth every single penny!!
@@jessesmith2906 I've gotten the MKII myself, and yes.. it's very worth it. The Waza speaker really is amazing. Plus.. 8 presets you can save and swap to quickly instead of just 4 is always great. Then there's the desktop software you can use for various things..
@@omarqabbani27 Get the Artist MK1 if you can't afford the Artist MK2. You get a bunch of software when connecting via usb using boss tone studios. you can add noise suppressors, tube screamers, EQ's and many more effects then save them onto the amp, creating your own presets so that you can use those when playing live or in your bedroom. I was playing my artist without using the boss katana studio for a while and boi, I constantly had the hiss and hum from my amp, but putting that noise suppressor on, EQ's and tube screamer made the artist amp sound 100x better, and it already sounded great to begin with. saved the preset onto my amp straight away, now I can use it even if I'm not connected to the pc and I don't have to go spend an extra 150 or so buying a Tube screamer, EQ and Noise Suppressor Pedals to fix those issues I was having. the solution was already there
If you are a beginner beginner (less than a year of playing) I would 100% recommend the katana 100 or katana 50. If you´re still a beginner but KNOW you´ll keep playing, i´d say go with the artist as it´s definitly better and therefor is a better longterm investment. However, the 100 is cheaper AND still very good.
Your side by side video structure is impeccable, thank you and well done. Most enjoyable and accurate too. I have both amps up and running right here. Earlier this year May 2018, I purchased my friends Kat 100 for $225, after he decided to get an Artist. After hearing the impact of the Waza components and the fuller, rounder tube like tones of the Artist, I trotted back down to my local GC and ponied up for an Artist for myself. Artist, and foot controller pedal NIB and out the door for $564. Now, I have both amps for $789, Now I'm thinking I need the Kat 100 Head amp, too. With the capabilities of the BTS app and the latest developments in solid state electronics, add in fewer working parts and no expensive tubes, this series is a long awaited happening. Add in the hundreds of people the world over working on interesting and creative low cost or free downloadable sound patches and magic is in the air. Now the problem is Hmmmmn, should i play the Paul or the SG ? or mebe today the TerribleTele. Thank you again for an excellent video
@@jessesmith2906 Thanks Jes, I had the Gen 1, and it was def a cut above the rest, regarding sound reproduction. In 2019 I sold off all the Kats to make room for new gear. And then reverted to my beloved tubes. Then the version MkIIs started to come out so I purchased a 100MkII combo on the idea of later adding a MkII Artist & creating a stereo rig for cheap. The Kat sits there NIB under cover waiting for the Artist. The real key here, imo, is the clever management of the BTS software to create good quality patches.
Thanks for the reply? If you only had one amp would you take the artist gen 1 or would you go for the 100w mkii gen 2? Cause i have the option to buy a artist 1gen for 280 used
Clifton Torrence gonna test it out today! That’s where I’m torn if it’s not worth it due to the outdated software. But supposedly the wazoo speaker sounds great.
Thanks for the great video. To my ear the Artist was far superior. The 100 sounded squashed. Loks of head room in the Artist's highs and separtion from the clear bottom end. You can hear the full spectrum of tones where the 100 sounds compressed. WAZA
Thanks for the comparison. I just got a Katana 50 ( after 40+ years of tube amps- I've always been a huge fan of deludes, vibroluxes, and love my Peavey Delta Blues 210 w/ el84s). But the Katana is great- particularly because you don't need to muck around to find basic tones
I totally agree about the controls on the face of the amp being a big advantage. Another drag about top mounted controls is the possibility of damage due to accidental spills.
Katana head w/ external cab(s) opens so many doors. Being limited to the same speakers all the time just isn't my cup of tea. That being said, the Artist speakers are killer and really add some nice full warmth in my opinion. WAZA
Wazaa! This video really helped me, was planning on buying the 100 tomorrow but was super annoyed by the placement of controls on the 100, wasn't aware the artist has the controls on the front. With the better speaker and front controls I'll now buy the artist despite the cost. Thank you for posting this, very well done!
Waza! Great review. I’d say the bulk of the tone difference is in the speaker. The other artist vs. 100 review with two clowns playing together with different guitars was laughably pointless. Thanks for having a clue. I’ll be putting a steel guitar through both in the morning. Anxious to see the results!
Personally, I felt maybe the Artist came out marginally ahead of the 100, but real close, Having the controls on the front does make a huge difference, but again, that's a personal preference.........and WAZA
Great content! I ordered the katana 100 MK2, but now I'm convinced I need the katana artist in my life. It sounds much better, imo. Thank you for putting in the time and effort to make this video!
WAZA! Great channel and you've got a new subscriber! Just bought the artist mkII but i'm struggling to find a good metal live tone. I would love if you could do a video on metal specifically with the artist. Cheers!
First of all - GREAT testing methodology, this really let me hear differences between both combo amps. BUT the cross-wiring demo was VERY insightful. So here's my observations: 1. The cabinet size, construction & speaker of the Artist DEFINITELY have an impact. 2. The amplifier circuit in the Artist SEEMS TO ME to be slightly more biased to Class A - this is a tweak sometimes used in HiFi amps. 3. The law of diminishing returns ALWAYS applies and if I owned the Katana 100, NO WAY I'd be upgrading to the Katana Artist. 4. I didn't own either, and was torn between the two choices here, my wife got annoyed at my indecision and just made me get the Katana Artist and the controller pedal. YES, that's just one of a million reasons I married her, and I surprised her by buying her a bass guitar - she's a MASSIVE Bootsy Collins fan. See, that's yet another reason I married here. Oh yeah, I almost forgot, WAZA!!!
I have gigged both and I can confirm that the Artist has a much bigger and more "pro" tone, and easily has enough punch and spread to play a big club unmic'd ...superb. A pair of these would do anything you need. It's like a pro version of the 100. The amp itself sounds and feels like a redesign too....unlike the mkII 100 which just sounds cheap!!
Even if it is just the speaker, the cost of the front contols cabinet design and the cost of the speaker is fair enough and i would say its worth the extra money
KATANA Artist seemed louder and had a little more bottom BUT I don't think it's worth the extra money so I will buy the Boss Katana 100 1x12 with a footswitch. Blues On.... & thanks.
Great review! I didn’t know if upgrading my 100 to the artist was a good idea, now I know it is the best way to go! At the end you are very right it all depends on what does the user likes, and definitely I like very much the way the artist sounds. So thanks for your fantastic and very accurate review about the sound and tones of this two fantastic amplifiers.
this is exciting. The improved speaker plus the improved cab size and build makes a big difference. Knowing how good the artist is as just a cab, it opens up the option of getting a separate tube pre-amp head or pedal and using it with the artist as a cab/power amp, and you get the best of both worlds.
I have a Katana 100 1x12 and footswitch for over a year now. I like the sound of the Artist, but after seeing some reviews side by side like yours. I was at Sweetwater GearFest on June 22 and seen they had the Katana head on sale for $299.79. I pick one up, because I had Marshall 4x12 cabinet at home. If I did not all ready have a Katana I would of got the Artist. I'm keeping the 100 combo because I have 2 grand daughters learning to play the guitar and when come over we can jam out in the garage. I have the garage heated. Plus one day I want to build my own 2X12 speaker cabinet out of birch plywood.
I wound up with the 100 after your demo and review. While I do think the artist has an edge the 100 will do everything I need and make me happy for a few dollars less. Thanks for the info.
If I were to hear the Katana alone, I’d be perfectly happy! And as an amateur that doesn’t gig, I’m sure it’d be more than adequate for me. BUT there is absolutely no denying that the Artist has some extra mojo that the Katana doesn’t, in the lower end obviously. The cost is a bit more but I believe worth it.
I gig my Katana, the difference is unlikely to be noticeable in the mix, the price, and weight hike mean the Artist is not for me. Thanks for the review, best wishes Waza👍😉
TheGuitarGeek well the comment I replied on made the OP seem like he thought there was a difference. Both are 12” 100W amps. Now yes different speakers sound different but all coming from the same company one would assume that the output level on both units is within a few decibels. Also he said the “bigger” one which is more of a design aesthetic to get the knobs to the front.
WAZA! Great comparison here. Just getting back into playing with all this Covid lockdown and was going with a Katana 100 1x12 until i saw this. The sound of the Artist really comes across alot nicer and that front panel is just a huge bonus
Wazza Thanks for this, I don't have a Katana and the toss up between these two is so hard - artist updates or 100 v overall £cost. For me it also probably relates to factoring in a foot control as well.
The Artist sounds at least 50% better! Much more clarity and depth. I dare say that the regular 100 will do fine and sounds great: until you blind test it vs the Artist! I don't need the Artist so I'm gonna buy the 100 head as I have a cab with 2 x Celestion V30's. Has to be the Artist or the 100 head with own cab after this video. Thanks man cos I was just going to pull the trigger on the 100 combo...
The tones from the 100 sound better when played through the Artist, which means it's the speaker and cab that area making the difference here. Wow, to me, the overall package of the Artist gives it the edge here.
Waza...... Super vid thanks. I just ordered an Artist after selling my Marshall JVM 205H. Lovely amp but a stage amp where slight noise isn't even an issue, not so much fun at quietish gigs or rehearsals. Figured an Artist K could knock over a few pins in the bowling alley at once. If I need serious noise my Ulbrick 2X12 can be hooked up, otherwise all I'm lugging around is the Artist and maybe three pedals at the most. Your great tests confirmed exactly what I'd hoped which is that Roland have inched that much closer to a seriously good tone without the glass vials. And I gather the programmable sounds are typical BOSS pedal tone hot. Good job!
With the foot switch in use, there is barely any need to touch the controls anyway - so why is this such a big deal?? I really can't imagine anyone buying the 100 or the Artist and not getting the foot switch also - that foot switch is really the lynch pin for this amp imo!
So... The amps are totally identical. Clearly the Artist sounds better when you play side by side!! But when you run the 100 through the Artist... no difference whatsoever!!! Tweaking the amp for the Artist, Boss??? Yeah, right!!!
Well, it's beyond proven that the artist has a class A/B power section, and the 100 is class D. Both are nice. The 100 speaker is modelled after the Celestion G12-T75 while the artist is a high powered greenback/creamback. Preamp modelling section is the same. Also the artist brings out the lineout airfeel, and the resonance controls, that on the 100 you have to set in tone studio. The artist is a nicer buy than the 100 + a Celestion creamback.
Wassup Waza - Artist sounds better definitely, but, is it 150 odd pounds (even more in Australian dollars) I'd say ... yes! But is the Katana II better than the Katana that is the big question.
Well I am here to figgure out the same.. but I guess it depends on how bad your ears or your fingers are... because.. the mk2 just gives you the abillity to use +2 FX (5 at all instat of "only" 3)... while the Artists gives you the highend speaker plus a very good cab/combo. I mean it's awesome to have +2 FX to use at the same time (up to 5 now.. with mk2) but 8 Profiles on the Artist plus the highend quality and sound speaks more for the artist.. My biggest fear is that they bring a Artist mk2 and I just buy now the mk1 -.-"
I am used to tweaking settings on the top with tube amps, so the 100 Katana will do it for me, the foot switch offers you an extra layer of convenience also
I am almost sold on the Katana based on your videos. I would love to see the Katana artist produced in a 212 configuration. That would really bring it home for me. Waza.
The artist sounded a little better on distortion but the cleans sounded pretty equal. I own a 100 I think I’ll stick with it for the time being. Not enough difference to make me jump, but I do like how the artist control panel is set up.
There is no difference between the amplifier circuits. The man difference is in the speaker and cabinets… what would make for a better video is using the standard Boss 2x12 vs the Boss Waza 2x12. FYI the extra sims you have access to on the Artist combo and head are available through the Katana Librarian…
Same preamp, almost same power amp (just the resonance control is add to the Artist one)?! So to be honest, for me the price difference is not totally justified! I bought a Katana 100 and add a speaker out, I plugged it into my Marshall 4X12" and compared it with the Artist model: in this configuration the Katana 100 was unbeatable!!! (And the Artist plugged into the 4x12 cab gave me the exact same tone as the Katana 100!!) As it was previously said by other guys it's just a matter of tastes and budget. I totally understand the player who haven't the knowledge to modify his brand new Katana 100 (and possibly destroy it) and prefer to put 150/200 bucks more in the Artist model and don't have to be worried about any modifications after buying it!!! But for me the price difference is way too big for just a different cab/speaker with the addition of a speaker out jack and a resonance control on the power amp section...! But anyway, that's just my point of view... Who am I to tell you what is better for you!?? 😊
WAZA I really enjoyed this review (although, I enjoy all your reviews)! I'm also going for the Artist (now the Gen 3); it just sounds better to me AND the front panel controls are a deal-maker for me (I'm like you, dont like the top panel controls) so, I really dont mind the $599. It will be on payments anyway! Lol 😁🤘🎸😂
There's virtually nothing between them in terms of tone. I think the Artist has a warmer bloomier tone overall but heck you could eq that with the 100 pretty much and save yourself half the cost! Your front panel top/panel preference in favour of the Artist is a non starter for me because it simply depends what height the amp-combo is at i.e. if it is low down top wins and if up at waist height or higher top wins.
Waza… very informative. Im at the point of deciding between the 2. I dont own 1 yet but artist sounds just way better specially on the chugging part. The heaviness + clarity is way way better in Artist
WASA!!! I have a 100 and love it. I think sound wise they sound the same through the Artist speaker. Thanks for the video very informative. Cheers!! John Russell (75 year young Rocker now in a rocker ;) in the U.S.A.(Born in Portsmouth U.K)
“Waza” I actually was stuck in this loop - do I buy the head + cab? do I buy the 100 combo? or the artist? ??? I’m with u dude, I’d go for the artist too for same reasons
Am I the only one that can hear a tremendous difference in favor of the Artist?
Do you mean when they are both plugged into the artist speaker?
Oh my god it's not even close. I'm not a tone snob but I can't believe that some think they are similar. The level of detail in the Artist is 500% higher.
@@TheGuitarGeek When you run the Katana 100 through the upgraded(Waza) speaker there's not any real discernible difference..at least not over RUclips ! All the folks that claim they can tell the difference is falling for the "Placebo Syndrome" !
Hey, the R word! But, yes, placebo syndrome is a bad band name.
No, there is a nice difference.
Great Comparison, I wonder why more reviewers don't A/B a loop into 2 different amps for comparison?? Brilliant!!! WAZA
No idea but it's my preferred method
Andy, you said it it. It is such a pain't in the rear to stand up to reach the back of the amp. Having the panel on the front is amazing. I'm 100% behind it. I wish actually I hope other amp builders see these comments because. It makes or breaks my aunt purchases anymore.I had my Marshall DSL40 again.The panels on the front.I treated that app and it was the stupidest thing i've done I didn't realize how important it is to have the panel on the front
Waza! Nice video. I have been trying to decide on which of these for about a week. The Artist sounds a little better to me, but the real advantage is the front controls. I've had a Blues Jr. for 10 years, still hate the top controls.
Wazauupppp! Little play on words there :-) . Great video thanks man! I am going to try these out.
Extremely good review, very helpful, excellent work!
Like this if you think the Katana sounded the best...
Although I have the Katana 50, I just bought the Katana 100 head to use with a Blackstar 2-12 cab. It's an open cab with two 80/70 celestion speakers. The deal I got for the head and the footswitch was to good to pass up. $360 for both. Played through it last night and the first impression was it was loud so it'll take some getting use too. May have to put a volume pedal in the loop to tame the beast. only used the crunch channel because was more than enough gain for me. Once I dial it in, I'm sure it'll work out. May change the speakers or ge a closed back cab.
That's going to be quite a setup
Awesome!
KATANA Artist seemed louder and had a little more bottom BUT I don't think it's worth the extra money so I will buy the Boss Katana 100 1x12 with a footswitch. Blues On.... & thanks.
The 100n is such a great amp. When you get it... look up my speaker mod for it
WAZA. Based on your video, I'm purchasing an Artist MK2 directly after posting this comment.
You can get exactly the same sound from both of them, just use the "eq section" in tone studio.
The only thing I don't like about the artist is the scale of the fron controls, they look very bit against the relatively small speaker grille, the division should be 10/90 percent rather than 30/70.
WAZA!!
great video!
I got the Artist to use instead of carrying my old JC120 to a major situation …. And the Artist does offer some modern features the old JC120 doesn’t….
The Artist does give you a bigger sound than the 100 … significant enough to pay the extra amount … to me .
The 100 is still nice… and if one wishes to of into a main system & PA …
But the Artist is more complete of itself … plus it can go into a main & house system as well …
But those days of having to break out my heavy JC120 for major shows is now over for me with the Artist.
The Artist may not be as much as a grab & go as the 50 &/or 50x … or 100 …. But it’s Complete .. and not as heavy as older amps …
Nice video! Are you still using the Katana Artist?
Compared to the Artist, the 100 sounds like it has a blanket over the speaker.
Waza? Absofreakinlutely. Ive got them both but not the combos. I now have both heads and both 2x12 cabinets with the waza cabinet connected to the artist.
As a former tube snob but still having tube amps the artist with the waza cab is infinitely better. The mk2 100 head and the waza cab sounds better too but hands down to me, the artist and the 2x12 waza cab is the winner.
I only did this because i wanted the stereo expand and i wanted the front controls. Wow, the stereo expand is killer and now this old man is still hunting the perfect Jerry Garcia tone. Im close but if anyone knows of some patches to try please let me know 😊 thanks!
The artist has more clarity and less muddy. Anybody else notice this or is it all in my head?
The artist was much better IMO.
Me too. That's right...more clarity in the Artist
You are absolutely right. The Artist sounds better on every sample.
Both amps are great but in my experience the Artist sounds n feels a upgraded katana. I hope they don't ruin the Artist with the mkII mods they've done to the 100 and 50 including different speaker.
Is the artist 2 as good as the mk ii 100? I just bought this. Im a tube guy. Its kinda good for the money you can't complain....But is the artist 2 like more realistic....Asking for someone outside the video...
WAZA... excellent video. I'm an engineer by trade, and I appreciate the systematic approach you've taken to accurately compares these amps. Thank you!
such a perfect way to compare amps, well done! All other reviewers should take note, use a looper and an a/b switch to hear back to back quickly
Thanks man. It really is the only way
one thing he didn't try is comparing the recording outs of the amps thus eliminating the speakers.
EQ could have made them closer
@@davidfrisken1617 that's the question I had, but I know for sure that wood and size of the cabinet, AND speaker performance play a big role in the sound you hear. Is it worth 250bucks difference ? Anothef comparison would be with the Katana 100 212 offering more headroom.
The Artist wins. It sounds much wider and fuller, but only due to the cabinet and speaker. Keep the original Katana, add the speaker out and hook up an external cabinet for better sound.
Adding the external cab REALLY makes a difference
I've seen people doing such thing already, great advice!
What about adding a second 100 watt and running it in stereo? Will that make a difference or just create more of the same tone?
or get another katana and play in stereo...or use one as FRFR with another amp...you can use these like powered speakers with fx using the power amp in.
The head and cabinet closet $100+ more than the artist though. Unless you already have a cabinet laying around.
I love your aby box technique for review amps!!!! Awesome review man!!!
Thanks man, it's the only way to do it fairly
Can we get “cowboys from hell”
Mom: we have “cowboys from hell” at home
“Cowboys from hell” at home 4:25
🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
It's really noticeable how much better the base response and clarity is with the Artist, it just so much fuller, balanced and rounded. Irrespective of the way the 100 and Artist are packaged, I believe the real difference is the Waza speaker. If you put the Waza speaker in the 100 I think you would struggle to choose between them.
Either that,or just use a eq pedal,i did,and it,s fuller and more bass sounding than the artist.
Yep. The only diff seems to be the speaker. So buy or build a speaker cab and buy the cheaper head.
What do you think was happening in this video? Artist mkii amp is head and shoulders beyond the 100 mkii
@@JustinEthnostateArtist has a better speaker. people can buy the 100 mkii & 2 or 3 used speakers to swap in and out of it for different tones for same price as the artist.
It's a different amp too. You don't know what you're talking about@@gentelmanjunkie542
Waza! You convinced me to get the Artist. Thank you so much; I can't wait!
EDIT: I received the Artist and have had a chance to play with it thoroughly. GET THIS AMP! You will NOT regret it; Worth every single penny!!
Did you get the mki or mkii (gen1 or gen2)
@@jessesmith2906 I've gotten the MKII myself, and yes.. it's very worth it. The Waza speaker really is amazing.
Plus.. 8 presets you can save and swap to quickly instead of just 4 is always great.
Then there's the desktop software you can use for various things..
@@Requimatic is it worth it to pay the extra $250 for the artist? I’m a beginner who only plays at home, what do you think?
@@omarqabbani27 Get the Artist MK1 if you can't afford the Artist MK2. You get a bunch of software when connecting via usb using boss tone studios. you can add noise suppressors, tube screamers, EQ's and many more effects then save them onto the amp, creating your own presets so that you can use those when playing live or in your bedroom. I was playing my artist without using the boss katana studio for a while and boi, I constantly had the hiss and hum from my amp, but putting that noise suppressor on, EQ's and tube screamer made the artist amp sound 100x better, and it already sounded great to begin with. saved the preset onto my amp straight away, now I can use it even if I'm not connected to the pc and I don't have to go spend an extra 150 or so buying a Tube screamer, EQ and Noise Suppressor Pedals to fix those issues I was having. the solution was already there
If you are a beginner beginner (less than a year of playing) I would 100% recommend the katana 100 or katana 50. If you´re still a beginner but KNOW you´ll keep playing, i´d say go with the artist as it´s definitly better and therefor is a better longterm investment. However, the 100 is cheaper AND still very good.
Your side by side video structure is impeccable, thank you and well done. Most enjoyable and accurate too. I have both amps up and running right here.
Earlier this year May 2018, I purchased my friends Kat 100 for $225, after he decided to get an Artist. After hearing the impact of the Waza components and the fuller, rounder tube like tones of the Artist, I trotted back down to my local GC and ponied up for an Artist for myself. Artist, and foot controller pedal NIB and out the door for $564. Now, I have both amps for $789, Now I'm thinking I need the Kat 100 Head amp, too. With the capabilities of the BTS app and the latest developments in solid state electronics, add in fewer working parts and no expensive tubes, this series is a long awaited happening. Add in the hundreds of people the world over working on interesting and creative low cost or free downloadable sound patches and magic is in the air. Now the problem is Hmmmmn, should i play the Paul or the SG ? or mebe today the TerribleTele.
Thank you again for an excellent video
Did you get the Gen 1 or gen 2 artist?
@@jessesmith2906 Thanks Jes, I had the Gen 1, and it was def a cut above the rest, regarding sound reproduction. In 2019 I sold off all the Kats to make room for new gear. And then reverted to my beloved tubes. Then the version MkIIs started to come out so I purchased a 100MkII combo on the idea of later adding a MkII Artist & creating a stereo rig for cheap. The Kat sits there NIB under cover waiting for the Artist. The real key here, imo, is the clever management of the BTS software to create good quality patches.
Thanks for the reply? If you only had one amp would you take the artist gen 1 or would you go for the 100w mkii gen 2? Cause i have the option to buy a artist 1gen for 280 used
@@jessesmith2906 well, an artist for 280? a deal indeed if all is good with it.
Clifton Torrence gonna test it out today! That’s where I’m torn if it’s not worth it due to the outdated software. But supposedly the wazoo speaker sounds great.
Thanks for the great video. To my ear the Artist was far superior. The 100 sounded squashed. Loks of head room in the Artist's highs and separtion from the clear bottom end. You can hear the full spectrum of tones where the 100 sounds compressed. WAZA
Thanks for the comparison. I just got a Katana 50 ( after 40+ years of tube amps- I've always been a huge fan of deludes, vibroluxes, and love my Peavey Delta Blues 210 w/ el84s). But the Katana is great- particularly because you don't need to muck around to find basic tones
I totally agree about the controls on the face of the amp being a big advantage. Another drag about top mounted controls is the possibility of damage due to accidental spills.
Yep. Bong water is a bastard.
@@davidfrisken1617🤣
why do guitarist use their amps as a coaster??🤣
Katana head w/ external cab(s) opens so many doors. Being limited to the same speakers all the time just isn't my cup of tea. That being said, the Artist speakers are killer and really add some nice full warmth in my opinion. WAZA
i love the combo portability but more cabs are great!
That's why I want to get a Katana mk2 head, and run it through my Mesa 4x12.
Get the head and cab ver: i did its great
There’s a speaker out on the artist for a cab as well
Difference can be heard without headphones, holy $hit
No other guitar related channel has the production quality of this one
So you've never seen Pete Thorn or That Pedal Show or Rhett Shull or the thousands of other amazing guitar channels with production quality content?
You should compare the artist to the mk2. 👍
I recently upgraded from the 100 to the Artist and someone said to me I just bought the same amp for money. People are hilarious aren't they....
Wazaa! This video really helped me, was planning on buying the 100 tomorrow but was super annoyed by the placement of controls on the 100, wasn't aware the artist has the controls on the front. With the better speaker and front controls I'll now buy the artist despite the cost. Thank you for posting this, very well done!
Waza! Great review. I’d say the bulk of the tone difference is in the speaker. The other artist vs. 100 review with two clowns playing together with different guitars was laughably pointless. Thanks for having a clue. I’ll be putting a steel guitar through both in the morning. Anxious to see the results!
Have fun! For me, the artist is worth it
What was the conclusion for you? I'm very interested to hear
WAZA
the Artist wins for me, LOVING how tight that sounds!
WAZA Just picked an slightly used Artist w/ GFAC {sp} Your vids are great, super useful! Many Thx !
Enjoy it! You are very welcome
Personally, I felt maybe the Artist came out marginally ahead of the 100, but real close, Having the controls on the front does make a huge difference, but again, that's a personal preference.........and WAZA
Cheers Kevin. I'm with you on that
In person, the bass is reasonably different and more pronounced in the waza artist cab
Artist sounded a lot better to me. I just wish the price made more sense.
Is "WAZA" Japanese for "tack an extra $100 onto the price"?
The fuck is waza
Great content! I ordered the katana 100 MK2, but now I'm convinced I need the katana artist in my life. It sounds much better, imo. Thank you for putting in the time and effort to make this video!
You’re welcome mate. I would hold off for a bit in case they release a katana artist mk ii
So glad you did this. I was hoping you would but hadn’t asked so yay! Honestly though - you’re really doing a service here.
Cheers Joseph! Please like and share to help me out. Maybe even get yourself a t-shirt if you're feeling very supportive!
TheGuitarGeek Will do on all three counts. Stay cool.
You're the man!
WAZA! Great channel and you've got a new subscriber!
Just bought the artist mkII but i'm struggling to find a good metal live tone. I would love if you could do a video on metal specifically with the artist. Cheers!
🎸original 100 breathes better..........artist has too much junk ( more artificial & unnatural tones ) 🤮
First of all - GREAT testing methodology, this really let me hear differences between both combo amps. BUT the cross-wiring demo was VERY insightful. So here's my observations: 1. The cabinet size, construction & speaker of the Artist DEFINITELY have an impact. 2. The amplifier circuit in the Artist SEEMS TO ME to be slightly more biased to Class A - this is a tweak sometimes used in HiFi amps. 3. The law of diminishing returns ALWAYS applies and if I owned the Katana 100, NO WAY I'd be upgrading to the Katana Artist. 4. I didn't own either, and was torn between the two choices here, my wife got annoyed at my indecision and just made me get the Katana Artist and the controller pedal. YES, that's just one of a million reasons I married her, and I surprised her by buying her a bass guitar - she's a MASSIVE Bootsy Collins fan. See, that's yet another reason I married here. Oh yeah, I almost forgot, WAZA!!!
thank you, I need to be as accurate as possible or there's no point in doing this video. Does your wife have a sister? :)
Wazzzap!!!
Waza
:)
Erm...could I borrow you both for one day at the music shop?
WAZA! Excellent job. I appreciate your meticulous approach in both set-up (including graphics) and concise delivery.
I have gigged both and I can confirm that the Artist has a much bigger and more "pro" tone, and easily has enough punch and spread to play a big club unmic'd ...superb. A pair of these would do anything you need. It's like a pro version of the 100. The amp itself sounds and feels like a redesign too....unlike the mkII 100 which just sounds cheap!!
its just the speaker dude. cheap speakers in cheaper amp
@@godsinbox did you watch the video with the sound muted or something?
Even if it is just the speaker, the cost of the front contols cabinet design and the cost of the speaker is fair enough and i would say its worth the extra money
I agree l had them all. The cab resenence and the universal eq.. and the presence. All that on the front is bitchen
Waza - I’ve bought the artist, and lovin’ it. Don’t care about the price, for me it’s close to a perfect amp
I updated my Katana 100 with a Celestion Redback and it totally changed the amp, loving it! The stock speaker just doesn’t do the amp any justice.
At that price why not just buy the Artist
Waza -Just pushed me over the edge for an Artist - Even through RUclips my ears you can hear the differance. Great stuff - thanks..
All these features are on the tone studio. You just have to lug around your phone and a cable.
I want to upload the klon effect by centaur. It's not on the list.
WAAAAZAAAAAAAA. I guess my fatass is saving up for a Artist. Thanks bro for your help.
KATANA Artist seemed louder and had a little more bottom BUT I don't think it's worth the extra money so I will buy the Boss Katana 100 1x12 with a footswitch. Blues On.... & thanks.
Great review! I didn’t know if upgrading my 100 to the artist was a good idea, now I know it is the best way to go! At the end you are very right it all depends on what does the user likes, and definitely I like very much the way the artist sounds. So thanks for your fantastic and very accurate review about the sound and tones of this two fantastic amplifiers.
.
The KATANA 100 sounds better, it just does
- WAZA
.
Definitely the speaker that makes the difference.
this is exciting. The improved speaker plus the improved cab size and build makes a big difference. Knowing how good the artist is as just a cab, it opens up the option of getting a separate tube pre-amp head or pedal and using it with the artist as a cab/power amp, and you get the best of both worlds.
Yes Max!
Not really, that would a lot of money spent for no reason.
Waiting for boss katana artist head with 412 matching cab (waza😁😁😍😍😍😋😋😋)
Waza and yes the Artist. 😁🤘🎸
Leaning artist as well. Buttons on top are simply a drag imho
I have a Katana 100 1x12 and footswitch for over a year now. I like the sound of the Artist, but after seeing some reviews side by side like yours. I was at Sweetwater GearFest on June 22 and seen they had the Katana head on sale for $299.79. I pick one up, because I had Marshall 4x12 cabinet at home. If I did not all ready have a Katana I would of got the Artist. I'm keeping the 100 combo because I have 2 grand daughters learning to play the guitar and when come over we can jam out in the garage. I have the garage heated. Plus one day I want to build my own 2X12 speaker cabinet out of birch plywood.
That was a great move
Jamming with family is great. I hope to do that too one day
I wound up with the 100 after your demo and review. While I do think the artist has an edge the 100 will do everything I need and make me happy for a few dollars less. Thanks for the info.
I love the 100. The artist with the front panel makes it easier for me. The sound of the 100 is stellar.
If I were to hear the Katana alone, I’d be perfectly happy! And as an amateur that doesn’t gig, I’m sure it’d be more than adequate for me. BUT there is absolutely no denying that the Artist has some extra mojo that the Katana doesn’t, in the lower end obviously. The cost is a bit more but I believe worth it.
WAZA great video and the Artist wins hands down!
The 50 is all you need. The 100 are scary loud. Thx
I gig my Katana, the difference is unlikely to be noticeable in the mix, the price, and weight hike mean the Artist is not for me. Thanks for the review, best wishes Waza👍😉
Cheers Steve. I love the weight of the 100. I happily sacrificed the 5kg for the front panel though.
I think I would too were I as young as you👍
Waza indeed. They both sounded great but the bigger one would probably be able to keep up with a loud kit drummer better.
Even the 50 goes well with a drummer believe it or not!
Bro... They are both the same. They are both 100W.
Both being 100w does not make them the same
TheGuitarGeek well the comment I replied on made the OP seem like he thought there was a difference. Both are 12” 100W amps. Now yes different speakers sound different but all coming from the same company one would assume that the output level on both units is within a few decibels.
Also he said the “bigger” one which is more of a design aesthetic to get the knobs to the front.
He is confused by the assumptions you make. He does enjoy how you are dissecting His videos.
WAZA! Great comparison here. Just getting back into playing with all this Covid lockdown and was going with a Katana 100 1x12 until i saw this. The sound of the Artist really comes across alot nicer and that front panel is just a huge bonus
Waza..... my katana 50 is an amazing joy to play , the artist is the perfect upgrade .
WAZA Thank You for this! Great Channel!
WAZA...I am thinking of getting the artist. This video helped immensely. Thank you, sir!
You’re very welcome
@@TheGuitarGeek I just received an unexpected end of year bonus. My Artist arrives next week. Thanks again. Love your work.
Wazza
Thanks for this, I don't have a Katana and the toss up between these two is so hard - artist updates or 100 v overall £cost. For me it also probably relates to factoring in a foot control as well.
Amazing review, the Artist sounds so much better. So sad it's quite out of my budget now. I might get the 100 tho. WAZA!
Its deffo worth saving a few months for the extra £150
The Artist sounds at least 50% better! Much more clarity and depth. I dare say that the regular 100 will do fine and sounds great: until you blind test it vs the Artist! I don't need the Artist so I'm gonna buy the 100 head as I have a cab with 2 x Celestion V30's. Has to be the Artist or the 100 head with own cab after this video. Thanks man cos I was just going to pull the trigger on the 100 combo...
Wow! I love my 100 but that artist sounds amazing!!!
Wazaaaa! Thanks for the awesome video! Exactly what I needed and what I was hoping to see. You're the man, Andrew!
Thank you very much for watching. Could I interest you in a T-shirt? ;)
Paintbrush!
Great point on the front panel. As clean as the 100 looks, still nice having a front panel. AND it has that nice tolex too. Boss is killing it.
The tones from the 100 sound better when played through the Artist, which means it's the speaker and cab that area making the difference here. Wow, to me, the overall package of the Artist gives it the edge here.
I agree dude. Video coming of the artist mk 1 vs the artist mk 2 next week
Waza...... Super vid thanks. I just ordered an Artist after selling my Marshall JVM 205H. Lovely amp but a stage amp where slight noise isn't even an issue, not so much fun at quietish gigs or rehearsals. Figured an Artist K could knock over a few pins in the bowling alley at once. If I need serious noise my Ulbrick 2X12 can be hooked up, otherwise all I'm lugging around is the Artist and maybe three pedals at the most. Your great tests confirmed exactly what I'd hoped which is that Roland have inched that much closer to a seriously good tone without the glass vials. And I gather the programmable sounds are typical BOSS pedal tone hot. Good job!
Hmm, $150 for a speaker and cabinet upgrade. That's not ***that*** bad. The artist speaker is worth it and I am a fan of front panels. WAZA!
Better go back to math class.. $599 minus $359 = $240
✌🏻
waza. I think the 100 for €300 is unbeatable
I agree that the price is shockingly low. If it weren't for that damned front panel on the artist I could have saved some money!
I agree Front Panel is much better, much easier to do the settings
With the foot switch in use, there is barely any need to touch the controls anyway - so why is this such a big deal?? I really can't imagine anyone buying the 100 or the Artist and not getting the foot switch also - that foot switch is really the lynch pin for this amp imo!
I have to disagree with you Jon. I regularly tweak and adjust
I'm just not that sophisticated (or picky) I guess.......
So... The amps are totally identical. Clearly the Artist sounds better when you play side by side!!
But when you run the 100 through the Artist... no difference whatsoever!!! Tweaking the amp for the Artist, Boss??? Yeah, right!!!
No comment....
TheGuitarGeek sometimes, no words are worth more than a thousand words!!! 😀
They probably adapted the speaker simulator output. No?
@@TheGuitarGeek A wise man once said, nothing.
Well, it's beyond proven that the artist has a class A/B power section, and the 100 is class D.
Both are nice. The 100 speaker is modelled after the Celestion G12-T75 while the artist is a high powered greenback/creamback. Preamp modelling section is the same. Also the artist brings out the lineout airfeel, and the resonance controls, that on the 100 you have to set in tone studio.
The artist is a nicer buy than the 100 + a Celestion creamback.
Wassup Waza - Artist sounds better definitely, but, is it 150 odd pounds (even more in Australian dollars) I'd say ... yes! But is the Katana II better than the Katana that is the big question.
Well I am here to figgure out the same.. but I guess it depends on how bad your ears or your fingers are... because.. the mk2 just gives you the abillity to use +2 FX (5 at all instat of "only" 3)... while the Artists gives you the highend speaker plus a very good cab/combo.
I mean it's awesome to have +2 FX to use at the same time (up to 5 now.. with mk2) but 8 Profiles on the Artist plus the highend quality and sound speaks more for the artist..
My biggest fear is that they bring a Artist mk2 and I just buy now the mk1 -.-"
I am used to tweaking settings on the top with tube amps, so the 100 Katana will do it for me, the foot switch offers you an extra layer of convenience also
Good point. I have always preferred front panel amps though
I think it's all in the speaker.... Do the speaker out mod, and buy a cab. WAZA!
cheers Ron
Wazap y'all
WHAAAAAZZZZUUUUUP
Great review, 'am about to get the katana 100w head, thanks for your help
I am almost sold on the Katana based on your videos. I would love to see the Katana artist produced in a 212 configuration. That would really bring it home for me. Waza.
Hi! That would be very cool. I'm not sure it needs it though
The artist sounded a little better on distortion but the cleans sounded pretty equal. I own a 100 I think I’ll stick with it for the time being. Not enough difference to make me jump, but I do like how the artist control panel is set up.
Waza. Artist sounded more full and rounded.
There is no difference between the amplifier circuits. The man difference is in the speaker and cabinets… what would make for a better video is using the standard Boss 2x12 vs the Boss Waza 2x12.
FYI the extra sims you have access to on the Artist combo and head are available through the Katana Librarian…
they both sound great
WAZA I second the Artist
Steal the same price
Same preamp, almost same power amp (just the resonance control is add to the Artist one)?!
So to be honest, for me the price difference is not totally justified!
I bought a Katana 100 and add a speaker out, I plugged it into my Marshall 4X12" and compared it with the Artist model: in this configuration the Katana 100 was unbeatable!!! (And the Artist plugged into the 4x12 cab gave me the exact same tone as the Katana 100!!)
As it was previously said by other guys it's just a matter of tastes and budget. I totally understand the player who haven't the knowledge to modify his brand new Katana 100 (and possibly destroy it) and prefer to put 150/200 bucks more in the Artist model and don't have to be worried about any modifications after buying it!!!
But for me the price difference is way too big for just a different cab/speaker with the addition of a speaker out jack and a resonance control on the power amp section...!
But anyway, that's just my point of view... Who am I to tell you what is better for you!?? 😊
WAZA I really enjoyed this review (although, I enjoy all your reviews)! I'm also going for the Artist (now the Gen 3); it just sounds better to me AND the front panel controls are a deal-maker for me (I'm like you, dont like the top panel controls) so, I really dont mind the $599. It will be on payments anyway! Lol 😁🤘🎸😂
There's virtually nothing between them in terms of tone. I think the Artist has a warmer bloomier tone overall but heck you could eq that with the 100 pretty much and save yourself half the cost! Your front panel top/panel preference in favour of the Artist is a non starter for me because it simply depends what height the amp-combo is at i.e. if it is low down top wins and if up at waist height or higher top wins.
Waza… very informative. Im at the point of deciding between the 2. I dont own 1 yet but artist sounds just way better specially on the chugging part. The heaviness + clarity is way way better in Artist
WASA!!! I have a 100 and love it. I think sound wise they sound the same through the Artist speaker. Thanks for the video very informative. Cheers!!
John Russell (75 year young Rocker now in a rocker ;) in the U.S.A.(Born in Portsmouth U.K)
The 100 Through The Artist Speaker Sounded Identical to the artist through the artist
Front panel is cool
“Waza” I actually was stuck in this loop - do I buy the head + cab? do I buy the 100 combo? or the artist? ??? I’m with u dude, I’d go for the artist too for same reasons