As one of the early pioneers of digital effects, Boss is highly responsible for pushing the limits of what pedals could offer musicians outside of the studio. But as great as their pedals are, Boss is more than just an effects manufacturer -- they also make their own amplifiers. Based on the tech behind their popular Waza amplifier, the Katana line of amps embodies everything that Boss gear is known for -- powerful controls, versatile sounds, and very competitive prices. Today, we take a look at three different flavors of the Boss Katana guitar amp line up -- a 1x12 combo, a 2x12 combo, and a fully featured amp head.    

The Boss Katana Guitar Amp Lineup

[caption id="attachment_8219" align="alignright" width="300"]Boss Katana Guitar Amps From Left: Katana 50 1x12 @ $199.00, Katana 100 2x12 @ $499.00, and the Katana Head @ $349.00[/caption] The Katana lineup we're looking at today consists of two combo amplifiers and an amp head -- the 50-Watt Katana 50, the 100-Watt Katana 100 and the 100-Watt Katana Head. Both combos come equipped with custom 12-inch Boss speakers, one on the Katana 50 and a pair on the Katana 100. These custom speakers are derived from the same construction technology found in Boss's flagship Waza amp, known for its high-end character and clean, cutting punch. Both the 50 and 100 also feature an integrated tilt stand, allowing the amp to angle back for improved sound projection. As for the Katana Head, it is designed to be used with any 8-ohm or 16-ohm speaker cabinet, although it does include a tiny built in monitor speaker for convenient tone preview and practice. It also has the ability to simultaneously send a direct Line Out signal to a PA or recording equipment, all while maintaining the same power, tone, and authentic dynamics you would expect coming from a full blown cab.  

The Many Tones Of The Katana Amp Series

Whether you go for the head or either of the two combos, each Katana amp comes packing the same slate of built-in amp voices -- Clean, Crunch, Lead, Brown, and Acoustic. The Clean setting features a very natural and transparent sound, allowing the full character of your guitar to ring through. If high-gain grit and sensitive touch response is what you're after, Crunch has you covered. Lead, on the other hand, was built to accommodate a wide range of styles and gain settings, from thick, punchy blues solos to all out metal-style shredding. As for Brown, the tone is based on the high-gain sound of the original Waza amp, a satisfying balance of both overdrive and natural sonic character. And last but not least, the Acoustic setting is tailor-made for acoustic electric guitars, allowing them to cut through while still retaining their natural tone. Together, these five amp characters give you a huge array of possible tones, from classic vintage sounds to modern high-gain distortion and then some.  

Effects, Effects, And More Effects

Of course, these amps wouldn't be worthy of the Boss name and heritage if they didn't incorporate the company's legendary effects in some shape or form. Naturally, each Katana amp has the ability to incorporate 55 of them, each of which are fully customizable through the free Boss Studio editor software. As for real world usage, you can load up to 15 on the amp and use up to three of them at a single time. Now, this might seem like a pain, especially if you plan on using different effects and settings during gigs, but thanks to the Katana's Tone Settings features, you can save and restores all of your setups so switching between different combinations is actually pretty easy. You can also connect a general use footswitch and be able to select any of your presets hands-free. The Katana Head can also be controlled through MIDI switching devices like the BOSS ES-8 and ES-5 as well.   boss katana amp head settings  

Easy To Use Controls

Despite the tons of features that come packed into each Katana amp, operating them in real-time is actually fairly intuitive and simple thanks to the streamlined UI and dedicated settings. Aside from the five main amp character settings, each Katana amp features a three band EQ, Gain, Presence, Volume, and Master control knobs, three dedicated effects knobs for instantaneous tweaking, a Standby switch, and a versatile Power Control for dialing back the volume when needed without impacting tone -- perfect for small gigs or at home practice sessions. And just like with effects presets, you can store and recall essential tone parameters and settings with a twist of a knob and a press of a button.   Check out the Boss Katana guitar amplifiers for yourself by clicking the video below:  

Final Thoughts ...

Like their pedals, these Boss Katana amps offer great tone, a ton of versatile options and a price tag that's hard to beat. And they wouldn't be Boss amps if they didn't come with the ability to use a ton of effects! Whether you're looking for a versatile amp head to pair with your favorite cab, a portable but powerful single-speaker combo or a full blown 2x12 amplifier, you can't go wrong with a Boss Katana. If you have any questions regarding the purchase of a Boss Katana guitar amplifier or any other piece of gear we carry, don't hesitate to chat with one of our friendly PAL pros by using the live chat feature below or by calling us toll-free at 1 877-671-2200!    

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