Chris6870
Well-known member
For a grab and go amp, Katana 100 or DSL40?
raymitchell
Member
My vote goes to the Katana. I did a tour down in Colombia this past August and didn't want to lug my Axe Fx rig around and decided to buy the Katana and try it for the tour instead. Glad I did.
The Katana is small enough that it fit in my carryon sized suitcase (I put thick foam padding all around it) along with the Roland GA-FC foot controller and I threw it in check with my regular luggage and had ZERO problems.
The Katana is loud as s**t, responds well to guitar volume knob controls and sounded really good no matter what type of 4x12 cab I was given to use at each gig.
Really versatile in the tone department. For the Colombian tour, it was my Ibanez M80M 8 string playing everything from classic crunchy thrash riffs to more modern low F# stuff. Back at home, I'm using it for typical cover band stuff consisting of Molly Hatchet, Pink Floyd, ZZ Top, etc, and it does a great job on that front as well.
The Katana has just been a great, lightweight, versatile head for me and I'm really glad to have it. Makes playing in cover bands fun again for sure!
Cheers!
The Katana is small enough that it fit in my carryon sized suitcase (I put thick foam padding all around it) along with the Roland GA-FC foot controller and I threw it in check with my regular luggage and had ZERO problems.
The Katana is loud as s**t, responds well to guitar volume knob controls and sounded really good no matter what type of 4x12 cab I was given to use at each gig.
Really versatile in the tone department. For the Colombian tour, it was my Ibanez M80M 8 string playing everything from classic crunchy thrash riffs to more modern low F# stuff. Back at home, I'm using it for typical cover band stuff consisting of Molly Hatchet, Pink Floyd, ZZ Top, etc, and it does a great job on that front as well.
The Katana has just been a great, lightweight, versatile head for me and I'm really glad to have it. Makes playing in cover bands fun again for sure!
Cheers!
raymitchell
Member
Yes sir!
On the tour I was given different 4x12 cabs every night except two. The cabs I played it through down in South America were a standard Recto 4x12 w/Vintage 30's (for two shows), an oversize Recto cab w/Vintage 30's, a Randall XL series cab with who-knows-what-speakers in it but, it sounded great, and then a stock Marshall JCM900 cab with Celestion 75's in it.
The Katana sounded great through each cab.
At home I play it through either two Mesa Mark Series 2x12 halfback cabs with the c90/EV combination of speakers or two Krank 4x12's with Eminence Texas Heats in them - again, sounds killer through either set of those cabs.
I mean, I DO have to tune mids and lows depending on the cab, but nothing too crazy. Just some basic adjustments and that's it.
On the tour I was given different 4x12 cabs every night except two. The cabs I played it through down in South America were a standard Recto 4x12 w/Vintage 30's (for two shows), an oversize Recto cab w/Vintage 30's, a Randall XL series cab with who-knows-what-speakers in it but, it sounded great, and then a stock Marshall JCM900 cab with Celestion 75's in it.
The Katana sounded great through each cab.
At home I play it through either two Mesa Mark Series 2x12 halfback cabs with the c90/EV combination of speakers or two Krank 4x12's with Eminence Texas Heats in them - again, sounds killer through either set of those cabs.
I mean, I DO have to tune mids and lows depending on the cab, but nothing too crazy. Just some basic adjustments and that's it.
Riggins1966
Member
owning the DSL40c myself, I'd have to recommend the Katana as well for grab and go.
Don't get me wrong, I love the DSL, but it's a bit heavy for grab and go, not to mention SS is far more friendly for multi-band/jammy type stuff, especially if there's a backline cab to use. Plus, if you have a decent switch for it, you have everything you need in the head itself other than maybe a wah pedal.
Don't get me wrong, I love the DSL, but it's a bit heavy for grab and go, not to mention SS is far more friendly for multi-band/jammy type stuff, especially if there's a backline cab to use. Plus, if you have a decent switch for it, you have everything you need in the head itself other than maybe a wah pedal.
romanianreaper
Well-known member
I don't own either but have played both. I'd go with the Katana as well. Sounds great for a Solid State amp and then you throw in the built-in effects as a great bonus. Plus as mentioned, lighter too.
MrDowntown
Well-known member
I vote for the Katana as well. I suppose for it to be as "grab and go" as the dsl40 you'd need a small portable cabinet or either the 100w combo.
If I gigged, or traveled and jammed, out with mine I'd have to drag my cab around...a 212. But a small, quality 112 cab may do the trick.
If I gigged, or traveled and jammed, out with mine I'd have to drag my cab around...a 212. But a small, quality 112 cab may do the trick.
stratjacket
Well-known member
Katana vote as well, great little amp
K
kunos
Member
My wife has both and I have the "honor" to carry them when she plays out. Katana will be lighter (the DLS40c is HEAVY), more versatile, more reliable, cheaper, easier to replace but there is something in the tone that annoys me greatly, it might be the speaker (I have the 100 combo version), I keep wondering if it was a mistake to grab that instead of the head, one of these days I have to try to plug the combo into some V30 and see what's what.
The Katana will also be better at home for practice, sounds very similar at 0.5W and low volume, the DSL will only give out the goods once it's too loud for an apartment.
I'm still convinced the DSL40c will produce a better tone in a loud band environment but nobody will notice but guitarists so the Katana is the clear winner from every other possible point of view (and a lot of people might even prefer it tonewise).
The Katana will also be better at home for practice, sounds very similar at 0.5W and low volume, the DSL will only give out the goods once it's too loud for an apartment.
I'm still convinced the DSL40c will produce a better tone in a loud band environment but nobody will notice but guitarists so the Katana is the clear winner from every other possible point of view (and a lot of people might even prefer it tonewise).
Chris6870
Well-known member
I had the Katana 50 for a minute and it sounded small and boxy, but sounded great through a 2x12. I should probably go with the head but having to carry a cab kind of defeats the grab and go concept.
Riggins1966
Member
BrokenFusion":106c8t8k said:
word from users of both is that the 50 is very weak in comparison to the 100. And I wouldn't doubt that the combo may not sound as good as the head through a decent cab. At the price point I can't imagine the speaker/cabinet construction are that great.
Rdodson
Well-known member
The speaker on the 100 combo is really good, the 50 speaker not so much.