Most guitarists probably already know how great the BOSS Katana amp range is. The proof is all over the internet and in the hands of users all over the globe since Katana took the amp world by storm in 2016. Explore the entire line of powerhouse amps.
Due to its immense popularity, the Katana family of amps has rapidly grown to encompass seven distinct models and an extension speaker. Furthermore, in 2019 the Katana line added the MkII series, containing hardware and software upgrades.
All this information overload might make one wonder, “Which Katana is right for me?” This article will walk through the BOSS Katana amp range. We’ll see how each amp might suit your needs, from the tiny Katana-Mini to the Katana Artist flagship combo.
KATANA-MINI
Meet the baby of the family—tiny, super portable, and runs on batteries. There are three amp modes (Clean, Crunch, Brown) and a tape-style delay. It contains everything a guitarist needs for home practice or warm-up and nothing superfluous. There’s also a custom 4-inch speaker that sounds mightier than one might expect. The amp even boasts a fantastic cab-emulated Headphones/Recording Out, as seen in the following video:
Katana-Air
Announced at Winter NAMM 2018, the Katana-Air is the world’s first truly wireless amp. A newly developed custom wireless transmitter means no more tangled instrument cables. Edit patches via Bluetooth to your smartphone or tablet with the BOSS Tone Studio app. And you can stream music from your phone to the Air to play along. Last but not least, it can be battery-powered for on-the-go use and includes an AC adaptor. Don’t forget there are five great amp channels to choose from and over 50 types of effects.
Katana MkII
The Evolution of a Modern Classic
As of 2019, the Katana-50, -100 (both 1×12″ and 2×12″ versions), and the 100W Head updated to the new MkII platform, bring a host of new features. These include:
- Newly voiced variations for all five amp characters (for a total of 10 amp voicings)
- Five simultaneous effects for versatility and creative options
- Stereo Expand out to link with a second Katana MkII (available on 100-watt models only)
- Direct power amp input for modelers and multi-FX
- Updated editor software
KATANA-50, -100, and 100/212 (MkII)
It makes sense to think of these three combos as a little subset of the Katana family. After all, they were the pioneering trio that set off the Katana revolution. They all share a similar feature set, with a few key differences. This will make it easy to decide which of these will work best for you.
KATANA-50 MkII
The KATANA-50 MkII is the foundation of the Katana combos. It’s the most affordable but with no less ability to rock out. Also, it’s the most portable, housed in a relatively small combo box. Looking for the Presence knob? Don’t worry. Just use the Tone Studio editor to access the amp’s internal Presence control.
Katana-50 MkII EX
Released in 2023, the Katana-50 MkII EX expands on the capabilities of the popular Katana-50 MkII model. It provides subtle performance upgrades that enhance the amp’s capabilities. These include:
- GA-FC and GA-FC EX support allows select Tone Setting memories, turn effects on/off, and more
- Line output for sending mix-ready sound to a PA
- Option to link a second Katana MkII amp with the Stereo Expand feature
KATANA-100 MkII
The next step up is the 100-watt combo. Aside from the obvious wattage bump, it lives in a slightly bigger box. Plus, the speaker has a beefier magnet, which means it’ll sound a bit punchier and bigger. You also get a Presence control on the top panel and an FX loop.
Using the BOSS GA-FC foot controller, one can switch between four presets and control all five effects individually. It’s easy to connect two expression pedals and extra footswitches to control tap tempo. This opens up more possibilities for controlling the amp in a live situation.
KATANA-100/212 MkII
Bigger box, more speaker—it’s relatively straightforward. If the goal is moving more air than the 112 combo, then the 212 is the answer. Maybe a guitarist who plays through a 4×12″ cab is sick of lugging a quad box around. The 2×12″ format provides a similar playing experience at half the weight.
The 100/212 also inherits the Cab Resonance switch from the flagship Katana Artist for the new MkII platform. This allows players to tailor the resonance characteristics of the amp/cab. Go from Deep thump to Vintage style snarl or the Modern setting, which sits in between.
KATANA-HEAD MkII
The Katana-Head contains all the features of the 100-watt combos, with the addition of MIDI control. Pair it with the matching 2×12 extension cabinet, or you can add your own favorite cabinet to the mix. A Katana-Head through a great 4×12 cab is something to behold.
And if you want to leave your hefty 4×12 at the practice space, take the Katana-Head home with you. You can still practice through the built-in 5-inch speaker.
KATANA-ARTIST MkII
Think of this as the most feature-rich Katana. This is the heated leather seats, satellite navigation, and sunroof package. As with the original Artist, it takes every awesome feature from the MkII Katana-Head and combos and adds a few new tricks.
Tone-Shaping Controls
The Contour switch works like a mid-EQ shift, giving you three options to fine-tune the character of your mids. Position 1 is like a deep switch for low-mid beef, Position 2 is like a cut/scoop contour, and Position 3 offers great singing/high-mid slightly “nasal” tones for soloing.
Global EQ
Many players in the Katana community have been dialing in their amp tones and responses. Then they use a global EQ to tailor the overall sound to a specific gig or stage situation.
For example, any guitarist who has tuned their sounds at home in a lower volume environment knows that when cranked, there are always more highs. Instead of making another preset for live use, use a Global EQ setting to roll off the highs. Then only activate it at the gig.
Building on this, the Katana-Artist MkII puts three different Global EQ settings at a player’s fingertips. Set the EQ via Tone Studio and cycle through the three settings via the front panel button.
Solo Boost
This incredibly adaptable amp just got more versatile and gig-worthy. Instead of worrying about levels, kick in an adjustable solo boost from your footswitch. Long press whatever channel is used on the GA-FC to turn the solo boost on or off.
Stereo Expand and Dual Link
100W MkII models all have Stereo Expand which allows guitarists to run wide stereo effects with one cable. The Katana-Artist MkII adds Dual Link functionality. This allows connecting two Artist combos and controlling them via one central GA-FC while running different settings on both amps. The setup is fantastic for a huge-sounding wet/dry rig, with spacey ambient sounds on one side and drive tones on the other.
To recap, here are the core features that differentiate the Artist from the rest of the range:
- With a semi-closed back cabinet, it’s tough and road ready. Side by side, the dimensions are similar to the Katana-100 MkII combo.
- Inside the cabinet is a BOSS Waza G12W, based on classic ’60s/’70s speaker designs with higher power handling, BOSS consistency, and quality.
- Cabinet Resonance front panel controls revoice the amp’s resonance characteristics. These mimic the sound of Vintage/Modern/Deep cabinets.
Katana-Artist MkII Head + Cab
Looking for more power and versatility? The Katana-Artist MkII Head brings premium sound and features of the flagship Katana-Artist MkII combo in a powerful 100-watt amplifier head. Introduced in 2023, with the accompanying Katana Cabinet 212 Waza, the Katana-Artist MkII is the most powerful amp in the Katana series.
