Anyone gig with a BOSS Katana?

[romanianreaper]

Was wondering if anyone takes this out for gigs or seen anyone using one at shows? I really love playing thru these when I'm at a store and would love to eventually use it as a backup amp if my bandmates ever get off their asses and we practice ??. I'd love to do the two amp thing and be able to do the stereo sound with some of my pedals too.

I've thought about the 100 watt combo or head and not sure what the advantages are wirh both? I just think they sound awesome.

 

[Alnico&El34Rocks]

I've gigged with katana 100w combo quite a bit. Its a solid reliable and versatile amp and convenient in a grab and go sort of way especially since i have so much other gear (pa gear) to bring and set up. Sure i have amps that can easily get better tone but the katana has really impressed me a lot. Almost always have the katana set in 50 watt mode. Have mostly mic'd it with a senn e906 but have more recently tried a few times using the line out which to be doesn't sound quite as good but certainly still good especially in the overall mix with benefit of maybe saving a few mins of set up and tear down time.

Here's some audio clips (i have tons more audio that i just haven';t uploaded from lots of gigs too)
audience recording


room recording from a soundcheck jam


some soundboard live recordings

 

[romanianreaper]

Thanks man, sounds great at those gigs!! I can't believe you have it in 50w mode and still loud enough for gigs, etc.

Really good tones and like you said, convenient, etc. I have my 5150-III (currently in the shop) and dig tube amps, but I like the weight, tones, and versatility of thr Katana too. I heard it does great with pedals too which is awesome

 

[Racerxrated]

I suggested the 50w combo to my brother as a gift for my nephew a few yrs ago. I went out to visit and brought a Jube 2554 combo. My brother plays drums and the 3 of us jammed to some Rush and other stuff; the Katana was loud enough to be heard over the drums.

 

[PBGas]

I use the MKII head regularly for some gigs. It is usually my backup and what I bring to rehearsals. It really works and sounds great. I had to dig into the boss tone studio app a bit to get it to where I was happy with it but for a nice lightweight head that is easy to carry around, it does a great job and sounds excellent for what it is, especially at that price point. I use it with a Bogner cube and it is plenty loud!

Again, realistic expectations here for the product for what it is is key.

 

[Alnico&El34Rocks]

Thanks man, sounds great at those gigs!! I can't believe you have it in 50w mode and still loud enough for gigs, etc.

Really good tones and like you said, convenient, etc. I have my 5150-III (currently in the shop) and dig tube amps, but I like the weight, tones, and versatility of thr Katana too. I heard it does great with pedals too which is awesome

Yeah 50w mode is plenty loud with plenty to spare. I do always have the amp elevated on stage on something like a bar stool. I turn up loud enough so i can hear well enough on stage and so i can go over to amp and get sustaining amp feedback when wanted. Other then that PA is handling any more needed out front. When i 1st started gigging with it i brought another combo amp as a backup that i used as a amp stand. Eventually i found it so reliable it started bringing my practice pedalboard that i use with rehearsal studio backline amps or for gigs using event backline gear. That includes tech 21 flyrigs (with sansamp section) that could go direct with if needed as backup.

I also put just a touch of my guitar in my stage monitor and little bit of the other guitarist whose on the other side of stage so i can hear his guitar. Depending on the room/stage sometimes may need more then others much generally not a lot and stage monitors is by far mostly vocals. The other guitarist's monitor mix is basically opposite of mine with drop of his guitar and more of me some he can hear my guitar on his side of stage.

 

[mooncobra]

Personally, I would would not want to play a gig with a katana.

 

[pintspiller]

I had the 100w combo for a while, it does sound good for a bit, but I found my ears tended to get a bit 'fatigued' after a while, so after playing for 2 hours, rather than 30 mins in a shop, I was happy to turn it off, and I'm not talking about stupid volumes either.

 

[Alnico&El34Rocks]

Funny thing is at home i very rarely play the katana at all. There is no reason to for me. The benefits, flexibility, and convenience it has when types of gigs i use it for don't apply at home.

 

[romanianreaper]

I have a Keeley Halo pedal, among others, and really think the stereo effects would be cool with the stereo link function.

 

[Rick Lee]

I always bring my Katana 100w head as a backup to gigs and sometimes to practice. I've had to use it twice at gigs when power issues wrought havoc with my main Marshalls. They are totally serviceable amps, not my first choice, but very handy for grab and go/backup duty.

 

[Rick Lee]

And I owned my 100w head for probably six months before I knew it had an internal speaker. When Mrs. Lee is away, I often bring it into the living room and use it for couch plinking and to play along with YT videos with Air Pods in. My main practice amp is my old GK 250ML, but the Katana head can definitely hang with it.