There are a handful of brands, ranges and products that could almost be considered household names in the world of guitar gear. The Stratocaster, the Marshall amp, the Ibanez Tube Screamer – you get the idea. A few years back, the Boss Katana range came out of nowhere, joining the ranks of the gear elite; and if the first release didn’t cement the Katana’s place at the table, the MkII certainly will.
But we think the Katana MkII goes a step beyond that. With a set of updated features, largely informed by Katana MkI user feedback, it’s armed to the teeth. So let’s get down to business: what makes it a contender the best guitar amp of all time?
Best is subjective. No, it’s not a vintage-voiced valve combo, or a rare relic from the golden age of amplification. But take a step back and consider every aspect of amp design and choice. It quickly becomes apparent that the Katana MkII has a lot of strings to its bow. Let’s take a closer look at why this amp deserves a place among the greats:
- Proper valve-like response thanks to Boss Tube Logic design
- Twice as many amp sounds out the box
- Expanded built-in effects – up to 5 at once
- It plays nicely with pedals
- Ultra-simple interface
- Simple, versatile footswitch
- You can use it as a powered cab
- It can be expanded into a stereo rig
- Stereo recording with easy USB connectivity
- It’s ultra-affordable!
Proper valve-like response
One of the first things that originally put the Katana range on the map was its amp-like response. For a relatively compact solid-state amp, it sounded – and felt – great to play, thanks to Boss’ Tube Logic design. They’ve ensured that the MkII retains this great sound – they’ve even updated the ‘Clean’ channel for a warmer, more classic feel.
In addition, the combination of analog preamp and class A/B power amp means that the Katana MkII’s dynamics are alarmingly responsive. Crank the master volume for a fatter, grittier tone that hits back!
More amp models to choose from
Following on from the Katana MkII’s stunning sound, there are simply more sounds to choose from. By adding a ‘Variation’ switch to the Amp Type section of the control panel, Boss have presented you with twice as many sounds to choose from (10 amps in total).
Toggle this switch to select an alternative version of the amp mode you’re on. This might mean slightly scooped mids, a hotter top-end – you’ve got twice as many amp flavours at your disposal, right out the box.
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