Almost fell for the Katana hype

[stratpurist]

As a senior citizen and active musician (I play out regularly), I fell hard for SS modeling amps both for the convenience and the (lack of) weight. My first was a Behringer 2x10 which had its charms but then I got a Peavy VYPYR with the big midi controller (Sanpera II). 7 years later I'm still loving it but thought it was time to try something new (and improved?).

I watched literally dozens of online demos and (GLOWING) reviews of the BOSS katana series. I made an offer for one on CL which fell through. As luck would have it, my nephew bought the 50W MK II (new and improved!!). I had loaned him my 40W VYPYR so when I went to pick it up I had a chance to play them side by side (both 1x12 combos). Wow, did that katana stink by comparison (clean, crunch, effects) thin, brittle, artificial sounding - everything you DON"T want in a SS amp.

I expected a leap in modeling technology but it didn't happen in this case. Looking forward to demoing the new tone masters based on the paid reviews on youtube ... wait. maybe not. Your experience may be different than mine.

[Deleted]

I played through one a few weeks back. I really liked it. I think it was so much better than the Fender Mustang amps. I also thought it sounded better than the orange amp that was setting next to it.

 I didn't find it thin sounding at all. It was rich with sound/tone. I even played 3 different guitars through it. If I had the money that day I would have come home with it. For me that is saying a lot! Because I don't like modeling amps all that much. LOL!

 

I don't always trust someones reviews on amps. Every amp out there has to be set up to the cab it's playing through and that includes combo amps. For the price I don't think they can be beat.

 But amps are more personal than maybe ever guitars. But in the same light, if an amp does not talk to ya, then it's probably not the right amp for you.

 I find amps are like anything else... You can't expect a $300 to $500 dollar amp to out perform a $1,000 to $5,000 amp nor can one think they will sound as good.

 I am happy with my 2 tube amps. But like I said I would have come home with that Katana amp. For the money and the size of it, would have fit in my bedroom perfect.

 Now I will say I don't know how well it would hold up to performing on stage in a band setting. But I did have 2 friends with me that day and we did jam out together in the store and it did hold it's own in that setting.

But once again for me it boils down to what we like and what we want out of an amp or guitar. So that means not everybody is going to like the same things. And that is a good thing!

EB

[antares]

Although I have just under ten combos, three of them are Yamaha AA5s and they are total krappolla. I haven't invested nearly enough into trying different amps. I think that this has a lot to do with never getting out to play with other folks and most amps don't shine particularly brightly in a bedroom! The purpose of this post is to reassure that I'm not ignoring the thread, just that I haven't tried enough amps to form any valuable opinions.

e&oe ...

[dnic]

I'll chime in here as well just so you all know I'm still here.

I have 4 amps that I like for a number of reasons but I do not have or have I played a Katana.

I don't even play through an amp at church which I have thought about putting one in a sound box and mic-ing it. I only play through an amp once a month at a recovery group. I use my EPI 5 watt stack on about 1.5 and it's not even mic-ed.

I will say I bought a valvetronic 50watt modeler years ago and hated it and took it back.

[antares]

Cue John and the Kempner!

This seems like déjà-vu to me here. The only "modelling" I have tried is loudspeaker sims, and I have been underwhelmed. I have a Yamaha DG-Stomp which is the clever bit from a Yamaha DG amplifier. I have to admit it's pretty good with a large number of generic models, but it comes loaded with some pretty whacky sounds too. I think I'll get it out for a spin. I have loudspeaker sims in a Tech21 10 watts amp, a Tech21 SansAmp Tri-Ac pedal (great but it's ceased to work) and a Session JD10 pedal (of Jerry Donahue fame- basically the clever bit from a Sessionette amp.) None of these loudspeaker sims are really that good, but maybe if used in the right (intended?) context they could well be. There are generic models in my MicroCube, they are good <considering> its size and battery power. I'd love to test drive a Kempner but it's a bit spendy ...

I can get pretty convincing results from my 15 watts valve/tube amp throttled by my home made attenuator but there are vacuum tube lifespan issues with that approach.

The Tech21 Trademark 10 amp is really very good, but mostly I use my Sessionette amp. Even my two beloved Yamaha G100-112s take a back seat to the Sessionette! I rather fancy one of Eddie's Yamaha TR combos ...

e&oe ...

[Deleted]

I had bought a new Mustang V once. I owned it for a month before I sold it. For me it was way to complicated to use. Taking it on line to change things in the amp took for ever. After 3 weeks of fine tuning 3 channels of the 99 channels that can be programed, and I only use 2 of the programs I set up.

 I played out with it one time and was so disappointed in it.

 I had all the pedals for it (that was extra cost) Then the recording program it came with never did work right. Once you registered the amp so you could use the program and be able to sign into other things... You then had to jump through hoops to get fined to let someone else use the programs that came with the amp. It took me 4 month of going back and forth with Fender to get them to let the new owner re register the amp... WOW!

 The new owner loved the amp the way I had the 3 channels set up. He also liked some of the other channel. He too tried to use the recording program and had the same issues that I had with it.

  No wonder these amp can now be found for under $300.00 Just seen one the other day for $250.00 The guy is supposed to me the 1st owner.  I know he gave a lot more for it than $250.

The mustang was the first of 2 modeling amps I have ever owned. The second one is the Yamaha C10 desk top. Now it's a great little amp! The software is easy to use, (and it works!) LOL! It not a gigging amp, but it sure does sound great! And can male some nice recordings. I like it because I can take it with me and use it in a Hotel room and still have some great sounds. They are a littel pricey for the size of it. But It's an easy to use amp. I don't really know if you would consider it a modeling amp  or not but it does have some cool channels on it. You can take it on line if you want and change things on it, something like the Mustang. But way easier to use and you don't have to register  it to use it.

For me I did like the Kantana, but I don't know if I would ever use it like a modeling amp. I would set it up like I had it set up at the music store and leave it. So I may not ever really own it. Like I have said before I like the amps I have. So, I'll probably never change what I have now. At this stage of the game, I just don't see me doing anything outside my bedroom.

 But I have my Fender Blues Deluxe and the amp I made, just in case I ever get to play out somewhere. LOL!

EB

[antares]

I thought that I ought to check out the Katana instead of wittering on about my own kit. I looked at a sponsored review of the Katana Mini on YouTube. It does look interesting and supposedly at £89 it certainly appears to represent good value. The reviewer said it was analogue. Normally that would pique my interest, but I've found with my Microcube that digital seems to enable astonishing volume from pretty much dead batteries. I wonder how the analogue Katana compares in that respect? It sounded pretty good coming over my "smart" 'phone speakers. My little Microcube has more options than the Katana. I'm still jonesing for a Yamaha TR5 or TR10, but I think I'll give that Katana the swerve because I don't think they've pushed the envelope out from where we were with the Microcube from years ago. The Yamaha I haven't tried but Eddie has experience of both so ...

e&oe ...

[dnic]

So Steve do you live close to any music shops that might have one you could test drive? I'm about an hour and a half from GC. And the local guy hot rods tube amps so I won't find one there. In fact I dropped by on my way home from work yesterday and he didn't have anything new.

[antares]

There's at least a couple within 15 miles but here in the west of London that is a soul destroying exercise. In addition, I have already noted that the Katana Mini doesn't offer as much as the Microcube. As I said- I'm still pondering over the Yamaha TR series amps that Eddie planted in my subconscious. I don't think you guys really appreciate the Guitar Centres over there in the context of Little Britain! We are starting to get larger emporia but my jaw hit the floor at GC Renton, WA. Finally, the relative prices over here combined with the lower incomes and more punative taxation tend to dampen all desire!

e&oe ...

[dnic]

Trust me I understand low income. I wasn't suggesting that you should buy one. When I lived and worked in LA it took 2.5 hours to drive 30 miles home in the evening. That's why I moved to the mountains 35 years ago but now I'm not close to anything.

[Deleted]

GC is a little over a an hour away from me. But I go to Pensacola a lot because that is were most of my doctors are at. We are thinking of moving to Pensacola for that reason.

 I find on all amps, not mater if the solid state, Tube, or other, you can't be afraid to turn the knobs! I see so may people plug into an amp and leave as is. I rarely see anyone to try and adjust an amp.

 
I have even heard people say " that amp sounds awful" And the only knob they turned was the volume knob. So this is one reason I don't trust what people say about amps. It would be like getting into a hot rod with 1200 Horse power in it and never touching the gas pedal and then say the car has no power... LOL!

 I can make a video on the Yamaha C10 if you want. I can show you all the settings on it. I like it because it is a small amp with a big amp sound at low volumes.

 But Like I said before not everyone likes the same things. Some of the shoot outs on You Tube are not done fairly as well. I have seen some of these videos where they play everything distorted. I like to hear how clean it can sound first. You can always dirty up an amp. But you can't clean up a dirty amp. LOL!

 If you are into Blues music then you need to find the amp that speaks the blues. If you are into metal then you need to find the amp that speaks metal. Even petals can't always give you that metal sound on a amp made to be playing the blues through. You might get close but not 100%.

 I also find that all amps like guitars have a sweet spot in them. Most people don't ever get an amp into the sweet spot because, again, they don't turn any knobs. Even my fender Blues Deluxe has a spot to were it comes alive. I can't always play it at that volume, but it is awesome sounding when I do get to. Not that it does not sound good a lower volumes, but it has this mojo at this one level that is to die for.

 It does take some time to find them sweet spots in the amps and guitars. There is an art to finding them. I think this is one reason some people sound so good playing their guitar through one amp they have had so long. They know where the sweet spots are. Even the people that do these demos really don't do an amp or guitar justice because they really have not spent the time on them to really show how and amp or guitar can really sound over tiem of making the adjustments needed to get them into that sweet spot.

 You all know too, that some people can't get past a name as well. I see it all the time... All I have to say is Squire or Epiphone and you can see people turn the nose up at it. But once they play one that I have set up, most find that they were wrong in their thinking.

 All I am saying is you have to sit down with the guitar or amp and really take it through it's paces. Like what was said before in this thread. Plug into other amps to see what you think of them as well. Again amps and guitar have to speak to ya. If they don't then they are not for you. But it could be somebody's dream guitar or amp.

 EB

[dnic]

yep you are right Eddie. Can't just plug anything in and not fiddle with the knobs. Every guitar is going to hit the amp different. Can you imagine setting up an amp for a LP and then plugging in a strat without any setting changes? "man this strat sucks, totally weak!" ha!

[Deleted]

Mar 5, 2020 18:56:24 GMT -6 dnic said:

yep you are right Eddie. Can't just plug anything in and not fiddle with the knobs. Every guitar is going to hit the amp different. Can you imagine setting up an amp for a LP and then plugging in a strat without any setting changes? "man this strat sucks, totally weak!" ha!

One of my hobby's is watching people...

  I have seen so many people at music stores that flat wont mess with the settings on an amp. A lot of times I hear. I like the looks of this guitar but man is just don't sound good... Or I hear... That amp sound awful. And in both of these cases they did not turn one knob but the volume.

  the way the redid the GC near me, is redone without the amp room. I miss them because you can go in there and really try out an amp to see if it's something you want or not.

  But when I lived in AZ I had 2 guys that would want me to come to their house so I could set up their amps. LOL! I would tell them grab them knobs and start twisting them! It the only way you will ever know what they do and learn to set it by what you hear. One of them told me he thought my ear was better then his. HA!

I had a guy come over not to long ago to try out a guitar. He was so afraid to turn the guitar up little lone touch any of the knobs on the guitar or amp. I was amazed because he told me he had been play for like 40 yeas and had gone to collage and has a music degree. WOW! I could see that he was afraid to touch anything. I was really surprised when he bought 2 of my guitars.

  He is not the only one that has done this. I would really like to understand way people are like this. Me when I go to GC or any music store to try out a guitar or amp, I am surprised they don't ask me to leave. Because I am twisting knobs all over the place. LOL!

 Hey, If I am going to drop a lot of money on something, I have got to be happy with it. I was told a long time ago form a guy that I use to be in band with... Don't be timid in trying out gear... Turn up an amp to see where it brakes up. Turn all of the knobs to see how much bass and terrible response there is and so on... He said, "it's your money! be sure that what you are interested in work for you."

 And he is right... Most amp will sound good at a good volume. But not all sound good at really low volumes or even at high volumes. Some amps are not made to be played on hard. Some are.

 Years ago, I would buy on impulse, but not anymore. If I like something, I now first do a lot of research on what I am interested in. Then once I do that I will go to the music store or look on line to see if I can find a used one to try out. I don't care all that much if I am in a music store or at someones house. If I like what ever I am looking at I will buy it or trade for it.

  I have bought a lot of stuff over many years from music stores. A lot of times I buy from them because it not only helps put food on employees tables, It is also good place to be able to take something back should it fail is one way or the other.

 Buying used for a privet person can be OK because of price. But buyer beware, sometimes those deal do go bad. Unless you you are willing to take that chance and work on things or you can get a good deal to where you can get it fixed, then you may not always want to buy used. I have had to fix a lot of amps and guitars after buying or trading form someone in a privet deal.

sorry I went on and on again. I want to help people to see that there is more to amps and guitar than just plugging them in.

EB

  

[GuitarAttack Forum]

A couple of points on this:

1. A lot of players in Nashville are using Katanas. They like the flexibility, volume capability, and ability to handle of a lot of dirty power and voltage spikes present in bars.
2. Just about everybody I know has a Kemper and use them regularly.
3. Most all of the bigger acts are using in-ear monitors and don't like amps/volume on stage.
4. The most popular tube amps at the shop where I worked were mid-60s Fender Deluxe Reverbs (22-watts).
5. Generally, young players don't have an attachment to tube amps like more "seasoned" players like me. (haha)

I've been using Line6 products since the late 90s, and I still have PODs and a couple of Firehawks I use in a Pink Floyd tribute band...with in-ears and a cast of thousands on stage.

My opinion only: I play more aggressively when I play through my old Marshall 50-watt, and my recordings sound different (better) because of my attack and phrasing. There is something very pleasing about moving air, and I think you can hear it. However, the convenience of a modeler and a Headrush cabinet - which fit in the trunk (boot) of my small Subaru - is certainly noteworthy, and it is easy on my back as well.

More to follow on this, and great discussion.
John

[dnic]

John I couldn't help but notice you said "the shop you worked at" as in past tense. I won't name names but are you no longer where I met you for lunch?

I also play different though my amps then I do through my floor board and in ears. But I can't really go as far as to say it's better just more aggressive.