There are over 60 to choose from in the Tone Studio app, with slots for 30 in the amp itself, including six for reverb. However, these premium drivers are no lightweights – so the single strap handle that’s fitted on top isn’t ideal for a bulky cabinet weighing almost 30kg.Īs you’d expect from Boss, the effects are generally excellent, with many based on famous Boss and Roland hardware. This is loaded with a pair of Boss’s G12W Waza loudspeakers, which replicate vintage ‘Greenback’ tone with significantly increased power handling. Used as a straightforward guitar amp, the Katana-Artist II sounds authentically ‘real’, with responsive overdrives and a wide dynamic range that’s helped by the 100-watt Class AB output stage and the matching 2x12 enclosure. Used as a straightforward guitar amp, the Katana-Artist II sounds authentically ‘real’ Leaving the Katana-Artist II’s formidable EQ and effects options aside to begin with and just tweaking the front-panel tone controls in Panel manual mode, there’s plenty of range to dial in single coils and humbuckers for spanky cleans, gritty crunch and fat leads that sit well in practically every genre. ![]() New variation options double the number of voices, with more than enough choice to satisfy anyone. To our ears, there’s more than a little Tweed influence in the Artist II’s Clean, Crunch and Lead presets, while the Brown voice is lifted from the Boss Waza head and adds extra harmonics for a soaring lead sound with a vocal-like quality that’s great fun to play with. The Katana’s original amp voices aren’t modelled on any specific classic designs, although from what we know, parent company Roland’s Tube Logic research was initially inspired by vintage Tweed-era Fenders. A MIDI in socket lets you control the Katana-Artist II from a MIDI-compatible effects unit or foot controller, and, last but not least, a USB ‘B’ socket sends direct audio to your recording device, as well as providing desktop connection to the Tone Studio app, which has also received a makeover. There’s also a stereo expansion switch that lets you link two Katana models to enjoy true stereo effects. Comprehensive footswitch control includes sockets for switching channels and banks plus an expression pedal, or you can attach the GA-FC/GA-FC EX foot controllers. Moving toward the right-hand corner, you’ll find a Cabinet Resonance selector, and a Tone Shape selector that selects one of three EQ shapes, which are configured to taste in the Katana’s new improved Tone Studio partner app, with an on/off button for the Katana’s Global EQ.Īround the back are three speaker outlets, with jacks for an aux in, effects loop send/return, headphones/recording out and preamp line out/power amp in. This app is an essential part of the Katana experience The new-look Tone Studio is much improved, with crisp graphics and a reorganised screen that makes workflow quicker and more intuitive. There’s also a handy button called Panel, which puts the Katana into manual ‘what you see is what you get’ mode. Over the top of these controls are the channel and bank selection buttons the amp can store four channel patches in each of two banks for a total of eight presets. The effects section is followed by controls for Presence, Master volume, Solo volume and Power Control, which switches the Katana’s output stage from a maximum 100 watts to 50 and 0.5 watts, with a standby/mute option. Illuminated selector switches light up in different colours to tell you which effect is active, and there’s also a tap tempo button. The reverb slots can be combined with delay for more flexibility. ![]() There are 30 onboard effects slots, including six for reverb, split into two banks and grouped in three colour-coded slots for ease of recognition. Two pairs of dual-concentric knobs handle boost, modulation, effects (non-modulation stuff such as wah and octaver) and delay, with a third control knob for the Katana’s digital reverb. Reassuringly standard-looking knobs handle gain, volume, bass, mid and treble functions, followed by level controls for the Katana’s built-in effects. A Variation button accesses five alternatives, for a total of 10 amp sounds. There’s a single input jack, followed by the amp-type rotary selector, which dials in one of five original Boss amp sounds: Acoustic, Clean, Crunch, Lead and Brown, this last one derived from the critically acclaimed Boss Waza head. ![]() The control panel is logically laid out, with clear white screenprinting on a satin black background for high visibility.
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