GEAR REVIEW
T
here are amplifiers for every need and
budget these days, and few are more
popular than digital “modeling” amps.
These sound boxes are delightfully affordable
and offer up a large number of sounds. A
great example is the new Katana series by
BOSS. So let’s fire it up.
For basic specs, the Katana-50 combines a
digital modeling preamp with a dynamically
interactive solid-state power section and
one 12-inch speaker. One interesting tweak
is that BOSS provides three output levels:
50 watts, 25w, and .5w, all of which give
the user different volume capabilities. The
obvious advantage is that you can practice
with your band, or just as easily, wail on the
Katana-50 after midnight while your family is
asleep. The amp even has a small kickstand
underneath, so you can tilt it back for the
perfect jamming angle. Nice touch.
Next up you have the Amp Type selector
knob to activate tones from dirt-free to full-
on scorch, labeled Clean, Crunch, Lead, and
Brown. These presets are interactive with
the Gain knob, allowing you to custom tweak
the overdrive with the adjacent Channel
volume and Master volume control. The
middle section offers a conventional 3-band
EQ of Bass, Mid, and Treble, which we used
quite a bit to shape the tone.
It wouldn’t be a modeling amp without
some nice effects and BOSS offers three
simultaneous effects knobs. The first two
have two types of effects to choose from and
the third has one, which is reverb. The net
result is that you can deploy three effects
at any given moment. The little illuminated
buttons on top of each bank scrolls through
three further levels, so the Katana-50 has
fifteen effects to choose from. Bank 1 gives
you a Booster (Blues Drive, Overdrive,
and Distortion) and Mod (Chorus, Flanger,
Phaser). From 6 o’clock to noon on the
knob, the booster is engaged. From noon
to 6 o’clock, you have modulation, and you
control the effects mix accordingly.
MAY / JUNE
DIGITAL EDITION
GUITAR TRICKS INSIDER
73