Boss Katana 50 vs Fender Blues Junior IV

Katana 50: amzn.to/2KhSWyo
Blues Junior IV: amzn.to/2RfKOiF
Does the new tech stand up to tube amps? I did this comparison only using the clean channel on Katana. The main reason I bought Katana was to run a pedal board with it and that is what I have been doing for the last couple of year. You decide which one you like better.
Main Street Guitars / mainstreetgu. .
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[@RichBischoff]

Hey guys, Thanks for watching! Please remember to like and subscribe, and stop by Spotify to listen to some music. open.spotify.com/artist/3GoaK66hG2Al2gf6ync58b?si=L7XJVS7aTCWMPUMLTpFD3Q&dl_branch=1

[@grygrskls]

I gig with a squier telecaster and boss katana. I stopped caring about gear when I realized nobody in the crowd cares lol.

[@RichBischoff]

So true.

[@bubuguaiguai]

Sad but true. Those three gearheads that approach to check out the gear on every gig, are usually snobs who own an Engl or a Mesa (and keep talking about Dumble) and a couple of CS or masterbuilds in their bedrooms, but never play or show up in public... other folks are just there for fun, and in a club simply can't hear the difference between a well set-up Katana and a Fender...

[@ellisscott9840]

grygrskls this is the absolute truth. Also, a lot of guitarists become borderline obsessed with gear and getting sounds that are so specific that they are literally the only people who notice the subtle differences. It's time to stop focusing on gear and start focusing on just making music.

[@ShaileshSharma-Sikkim]

@@ellisscott9840 Amen brother! I played on a Yamaha APX500 and a Squire Strat through a Line 6 Spider III 15W for about 22 years....not a single pedal do I own! Now, finally at 36, I can afford a Fender US and Katana 50 MK2 and I don't think I never need another gear again because I play on slightly muddy clean channel 100% of the time. If I can get a little close to SRV tone, I dont ever change any settings too. LOL

[@a.i799]

Jack Pearson plays a Squier too, who's better than him? Nobody.

[@chrisullery3386]

I've been playing a squier cv tele and strat with a 1st generation katana 50 for about 3 yrs now and have zero complaints.

[@JasonCone]

I have a Katana 100 (2x12) and a Blues Junior III (with a Cannabis Rex speaker). Both are good amps, and you can get both of them to sound good. However, the amp that is more satisfying to play is definitely the Blues Junior. It responds to your playing and dynamics and guitar volume knob changes in a way that the Katana doesn't quite match. The Katana has other strengths, though. I'd be hard pressed to choose. I like owning both.

[@greg6162]

Just joined a band after playing for about 6/months and I only have a Yamaha THR10II 😂. Doesn’t cut through our drummer. Planned on just jamming and we ended up almost a finished song. I’m not good at chords and focused more on solo and noodling (wish I would’ve learned the other way around… nonetheless here I am) but we had such good chemistry it was like the music was just being beamed into all our heads. I’m definitely the weak link of the group but I feel I can catch up as a quick learner. However, I need something cheap that can cut through our drummer. Also, I don’t really have a working PC… wish Yamaha made a 50w THRII series

[@mkrj2576]

Same here except I'm a bit "upgraded" :) with a Kat Artist and the Jr IV with the CR speaker. I've gigged the Kat a few times and for tone plus ease of use its hard to beat. Built in pedals are good enough for me. My biggest issue with the Kat Artist is it's weight and size for a SS amp. The Jr is easier to move, but the Kat has no issues with 0 degree F in my pickup then gigging! Wish Boss could trim down the size and weight of the Kat to be closer to the Kat 50 which I also own. Getting the Kat to sound less "hi fi" and more like a tube amp required a bit of time with the Tone Studio but now its close enough for me.

[@rommelrivera1186]

gotta love it. at 12:27, "this is MY OWN amp, the Katana, that i take everywhere..." enough said. thank you for the great review! and yes, I own a Katana mkII.

[@stupedrandomname]

So I rather impulsively went out and bought a Katana 100 MKII today. I am enjoying it a lot. I do hear the same EQ curve on it here at home that I am hearing from your video here from the Katana 50. I put a master EQ curve on it and so far I am liking it a lot more. Your mileage may vary. If anyone is curious go into the editor under system and use the parametric EQ at these settings, Low Cut 100Hz, Low Mid +3 at 250Hz with a Q of 2, and finally Hi Mid Gain +3 at 4KHz with a Q of 1. Then drop the global level by -1db. I find that this brings the amp much more into the ballpark of my vintage Beltone tube amp. Peace!

[@Tasjudoka]

helpful EQ suggestions! Cheers

[@stupedrandomname]

@@Tasjudoka Very glad it was helpful :) In the end I upgraded to the artist mainly for the Wazacraft speaker, shhhhh lol

[@frankdeitsch6869]

Am a Blues Guitarist and I've played tube amps for 50+years and am a Katana 50 owner. I gig with it in small medium large and outdoor venues with no problems. I know many Tube Amp Snobs (which I myself was) who freak out that its an SS amp and like my tone when they hear me using the Kat. As for the Fender Sound I have Various Twins and Deluxe Reverb patches loaded into Tone Studio. Its one of the best sounding Solidstate and Pedal Platform Amps I've come across, which is one of the reasons I decided to give it a try and kept it and been using it ever since

[@RichBischoff]

Yup

[@dimitrisaivaliotis5616]

Sorry.. I'm semi begginer..If you want tube tones or reverb ? Boss needs pedals?? Or you have it just from the amp?? Sorry im little confused with solid and modelling amps!! Thanks Btw I don't gig..just bedroom blues man.. hhhaa

[@frankdeitsch6869]

@@dimitrisaivaliotis5616 Roland/ Boss doesn't classify it as a modeling amp. If I understand your question correctly, it is an excellent amp for pedals if you choose to use it that way. Or with all the available digital effects based mainly but not exclusively or Boss pedals, you can create and save patches with different effects and amp types and not need to spend the $1000s you'd have to spend to have all the effects available in this amps format. The number of effects you can place in your chain and number of patches you can create depends on which version you have, with the 50 its 4 patches with 3 effects in each chain with the 100 is 8 with 5 effects in the chain. All versions employ the 0.5 watt mode that's perfect for bedroom etc players. Hope this answers your question.

[@dimitrisaivaliotis5616]

@@frankdeitsch6869 Frank when you say patches..you mean that there are some similar tones inside the Kat..? like blues deluxe or twin reverb est?? Thanks

[@normandpaul6272]

@@dimitrisaivaliotis5616 yes...and with S/W tone studio you can create your own pedal platforms...or download patches.

[@garyatkins4479]

May main amp is a fender Princeton with pedals and nothing can beat it for that dream tone , had the spark for quick go to ... sounds great on headphones .. the farty speakers that crap out at any volume other than low level sent it out the door... back to a Boss katana 100 for me for quick practice and noodling

[@danpd1921]

I have the Katana 50, and it was a perfect choice ...perfect amp for that price!

[@capitanvonchickenpants8492]

This is one of the best reviews of both these amps I've ever seen, both amps in that sweet zone no max gain shredding, I've always wanted a blues junior I think they sound so sweet, but expensive for what they are, and I've never been sure of the quality either, I've played Marshalls jcm800 / tsl/ jvm I would never take a BJ to a gig too small for me, but I have two boss Katana 100s one head one combo and they are fantastic super versatile amps at the price point, and monster loud!! I've gigged the Katana head with a Marshall 1936 2x12 head and it sounded fantastic and felt no different to my Marshalls , I was blown away, the main gripe is the lifeless clean that needs all sorts of boost and EQ work done on it Great review

[@RichBischoff]

Thanks man!

[@jonnorris4204]

Both amps win IMHO. Buy the one you need, depending on what you need the amp to do. Affordable amp that offers a lot of versatility or more expensive amp that does one thing very well?

[@MrBossei]

Thanks for the demo! Blues junior takes pedals great with the master high and "volume" low = clean amp with max headroom. It may not be the most pleasant standalone sound because blues junior is voiced for live band playing. It has a prominent midrange and really cuts in the mix. I've had Katana 50 and it is really great bang for the bucks but sorry - I stay with blues junior. It is more alive, dynamic and organic.

[@RichBischoff]

Yeah, Cool, I should have reviewed them both in a mix as well. That thought came to my mind after I did this vid, that it was probably voiced to fit into a mix.

[@MrBossei]

@@RichBischoff 👍But of course, Katana is super versatile and has great boosters built in which alters the character. My favorite is the "warm overdrive" with the clean channel. Super creamy tone. But I suppose you already tried that. Cheers! www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/katana-boost-effect-types-ka-201

[@cripplehisguitar2798]

One of the biggest differences is the Fender is 3 times the price of the Boss which depending on your budget is a deal breaker. This has been the main factor in my buying one for sure. Don’t get me wrong I would love to own one.

[@glpguitar]

amazing solo, i want this boss katana 50 mk2, one day man.

[@gordondemuynck6579]

I own both, and I totally agree.

[@genekloszewski5484]

older blues jr., .. the way to go !, . i will still buy the katana 50!

[@billbrayley6836]

To my ears there’s a marked volume increase when switched to the blues jr, more noticeable on clean. I did this test using a katana 50 mk2 I won with no variation on the clean setting which is the same as mk1. I got a different result. The blues jr sounded boxy by comparison and I was actually able to make the katana sound close to but not quite the same as my Deluxe Reverb reissue. I generally don’t like modeling amps but as much as I wanted to, I couldn’t dislike the Katana

[@ExploitTheVibe369]

Try the boss gt-1000 with the katana... pure as any tube amp I've ever heard. Takes time dialing it in but you can get the glassy saturation the tubes are putting off. Boss has their own processor chips that was designed with the goal to be better than tubes or at least land amongst them. Most modelers want to be just as good but boss wants them to be better...

[@void_snw]

I’d have to disagree, but that’s where taste comes in. I love fuzz. Had the katana 50 for 2 years and after trying way too many ways to make it sound like I wanted it to, it’s come to an end. The super harsh “instant-metal/shred” type distortion that somehow always sounds the same with slightly different EQ, the unpleasantly flabby low end when pushed by a fuzz pedal like the Jupiter or solid state sounding drive with a FF.. I just hated it. Funnily enough, my current choice wasn’t a tube amp (money and neighbors say no) but the new-ish Blackstar Silverline. And man, oh MAN does it do drive well in the clean channels. And the cleans themself. And the reverb. And delay. Oh god I love it. Best decision of the year. And I haven’t even tried all the different tube settings.

[@gabbygabby6498]

@@void_snw it only depends if you have money or not. I will also buy blackstar silverline if I have the money then if not I wll buy boss katana mk2

[@kevinblythe2192]

@@void_snw I am waiting for Mk11 Artist 100w to be released (maybe NAMM in a few days). Going by the Mk 1 version, that Wazza speaker was very articulate, no 'flabby low end' for a start. Often, just a speaker change in an amp makes all the difference. Unless money was a huge issue I would definitely buy the 100 w over the 50 .. more headroom, FX loop, Resonance control, and stereo line out options plus when combined with the GA FA foot switch it provides awesome flexibility. Bummer is that the foot switch is an optional extra. And I have to agree, the volume difference between the amps disadvantaged the Katana. It was just too soft.

[@adamlucas5451]

Fantastic video! I'm a katana user with the same thoughts. It always drives myself and other bandmates crazy that this amp cost me around 200 bucks, (although isn't perfect,) it has outperformed every other amp I've owned in 25 years. So much mojo - per dollar spent, I'm glad others have similar experiences!!

[@RichBischoff]

Amp snobs will tell you different, that the Katana is crap. Those of who use it as a tool and pedal platform know differently. Thanks for commenting!

[@neilbezuidenhout9284]

​@@RichBischoff fuck amp snobs. I have a jcm 900, 800 and ac 30.......katana is fantastic and the others are currently collecting dust

[@martinlahaie6012]

First time on your channel... Great demo man... Thought the Katana had to be tweaked a little... Greetings from Québec !

[@johnstephenson4159]

The only problem with the Katana , and I have the mk2 is taming the top end it’s an incredibly bright amp and I’ve noticed it on every KZbin demo as well, but once you do it’s got some amazing tones , also your blues junior was way louder but sounded nice 👍

[@LeeKirkman88]

I dont set the boss controls at 12 like most people. I have bass, mid,treble at 9 o clock. I feel It sounds best there. or set the mid just at 12 the rest at 9. And i always use the tubescreamer.

[@cliffirddelbridge2810]

The 2nd generation version Mk2 100 has a presence knobs, perfect for the problem you describe.

[@tomdrouhard2426]

Thanks for the great review. Would have been nice to have heard Blues Junior 4 with less Reverb.

[@GeneOh]

And less volume.

[@1willywonker]

Beautiful playing man i just bought me a tweed blues junior

[@applehead252]

Katana practice amp , fender gig amp . Love them both but tube warmth is hard to recreate. That’s why we still lug these heavy things around!

[@RichBischoff]

True sometimes...

I have a katana and I find the clean channel dull and lifeless sounding but as you said, it takes drive pedals very well. I have recently downloaded the sneaky amps and using the "twin clean" setting changes the amp completely. I am still not sure if I am 100% satisfied, need to try it against a blues deluxe or something like that.

[@RichBischoff]

Yeah when I take it out and play with pedals i always have some kind of tone shaping pedal on all the time, like ep booster or compressor. Rarely just use it completely clean.

[@garyatkins4479]

Bought the 50 then the 100 just something About the highs I could not love , ice pick like , I now have a Bassbreaker 15 and I am totally happy

[@shanedeel2]

I bought a fender patch pack off Juca and it's the only tones I like on my katana.

[@shanedeel2]

@@garyatkins4479 I wanna try the bassbreaker.

[@capitanvonchickenpants8492]

Some clean boost helps and a tweak with the graphic in tone studio, I found the katana clean the same as you , dissapointing

[@TheJosephPhillips]

I've had both, both are good amps.. now using the katana 100 Watt 112 and the artist..

[@rickhill6277]

Great Vid! Personally I still Love the BJ over the Katana. It sounds more rounder. The Katana is running a little more Bottom End but that should be adjustable on the BJ. Both sound Good, I just prefer the all around Sound of the BJ! Nice Vid, please keep up the Good Work! Love your Channel!

[@Dcba964]

Blues Junior of course! 🎸❤

[@SteamAllchill]

The BJ is a grown up tone

[@gabrielwareing]

I actually found I prefer using the crunch channel on the katana with the gain all the way down as my clean tone. I think it sounds much closer to the compression you get out of a tube amp that way. The clean channel sounds very jazz chorus orientated, which would make sense considering the lineage, especially the way the upper midrange and treble frequencies react. They're cool amps with a ton of flexibility, and a total steal considering their price. A great gigging tool for musicians.

[@RichBischoff]

Gabriel Wareing I will have to try that! Thanks!

[@RaviLogan86]

Now I use the Brown Channel for that. Like It a lot.

[@mr.jogger8346]

Dear Gabriel, that was just the tone I was looking for. Thank you sooo much for that advice. I can use that as a base tone for all the song of the repertoire in our cover band, just adding some booster (the warm OD makes wonders in that setting) or modulations.

[@nobrega79]

the clean is modeled after JC120, the Crunch, the Tweed. So yes :)

[@1mihayes]

You just have to know how to eq and adjust the cleans on the Katana. Trust me, there’s so many cleans tones you can get out of it and you don’t need the computer to do it either. You just have to learn it a lil and it’s awesome. I have the katana II and it has double the amps. Awesome rig

[@saleksa]

I have both amps and the katana is not in the same league as the blues jr. katana is a great practice amp for me but the blues jr has way better tone and provides an excellent pedal platform.

[@shanedeel2]

I wish I had got the 100 watt Kat so I could use the footswitch that lets u select different channels as well as turn on and off the effects.

[@navid8276]

Very tasteful playing. You know when to turn it on but also dial it back. Great video man!

[@RichBischoff]

Thanks man!

[@MulderXfile]

I sales person in my local music store convinced me in buying the katana 50 mk2. Love my katana

[@yojohnny5]

I have the Katana 100 (Mk1) and a Blues jr Mark IV with the Eminence Cannabis rex. I love my Katana, so versatile and I play my Acoustic through it all the time. I love both for different reasons. When I just want to sit and noodle on my electrics, it's the Blues jr. I have been playing for close to 30 years and there is still something I crave from a good tube amp... lol. And I'm not sure I can explain what it is. And I have to tell ya... I have owned a ton of vintage and boutique tube amps...... and my current amps are the Blues jr and Katana... lol

[@bassdale17]

Just saying ,for the price of a Jr. you can now score two Katanas on the street and still have money for a fancy leather strap.

[@RichBischoff]

Ha

[@rjsvids]

yep, and with two Boss Katanas you still have a shitty sound , at least youll have a pretty leather strap with you katana.

[@dimitrisaivaliotis5616]

@@rjsvids Hi Ricardo Don't you like that modelling amp?

[@rjsvids]

@@dimitrisaivaliotis5616 yep , had it, dispose it, i tryed both in store, and Bjr is way better , just put pedals in front and ready to go.

[@dimitrisaivaliotis5616]

@@rjsvids hhhaa 😊 And blues Jr is the little brother of hrdeluxe?

[@mrwolfsang]

Hey Rich I like your video. I have Katana 50 and Blues Jr too. My conclusion is same as yours: BJ for clean and Katana for drive pedals. People say BJ is a good pedal platform, but I don't feel that way. Any full-frequency overdrive (Guv'nor, Angry Charlie, Boss OD-3) will crap out on BJ because its bass response is not that good.

[@RichBischoff]

Wolfsang Muse Thanks for chiming in!, This video, proves what you just said. It does sound like the blus jr craps out with pedals.

[@michaelhaller8495]

Great comparison I am still it two minds which way to go but it seems either amp would do the job cheers Michael. Australia

[@MMN19906]

great video, i just buy the Katana 50 MK2 and always look for a blues junior, i have a Peavy Delta Blues and it's so heavy, i dislike the weight so much

[@stupedrandomname]

I wanted to post on this again because I think it might be helpful to some. I returned my 100 MKII and bought the Artist MKII. The Dutch Guitar Guy does a video where he goes back and forth between the WAZA speaker and the stock Katana speaker. It turns out I just do not like the speaker in the regular Katanas. They sound too much like stereo speakers and not enough like a guitar amp instrument speaker. I don't know what else to call it, perhaps it is a vintage speaker sound? Greenback sound? The mids are WAY further forward in the way that I am accustomed to with my late 50's Beltone tube amp that has the original 8" speaker fully intact. It is snapper more dynamic and less tubby in the low end. I absolutely despise the "real amp" title that people apply to various tube amps but I have to say that when playing with the WAZA speaker I feel like I am playing a JC 120, Princeton Reverb, and so on. With the stock speaker, it feels like I am playing a great head through a studio monitor or PA speaker cab. Hope that is helpful for folks.

[@stevendegoodmojosmet4034]

Te Fender costs three times the katana . For there price two great amp's love them .

[@lesharrison3739]

Thanks for this, Rich. I'm actually surprised how well the Boss does. I'm not a tube guy but the Blues Junior definitely sounds more rich and resonant. The 50 does a decent job. My buddy has the Katana 100 and that impressed me so much I ditched a tube amp and.another quality SS for the Katana Artist with the Waza speaker. It is incredible. I picked it up for just over $400. I think that would be a more fair comparison to the FBJ. The Artist is a sweet amp and has none of the tube hassles. It feels like the tube amps I have played and can be intimate but is a monster without coming even close to diming it. You make that 50 really work, though. Excellent as always.

[@RichBischoff]

Thanks Les, I'd love to check the artist out sometime.

[@lesharrison3739]

@@RichBischoff Definitely do it if you get the chance. I went in to buy an old strat. I played through the Artist, was blown away, bought it, and got rid of my other amps. It is my favorite amp ever.

[@zinggdrew]

Thanks for the well done vid.. I have a kat 100.. but miss the fender clean/reverb..Been thinking of gettin a jr. To ,e the jr sounded fat and the kat sounded thin, maybe it was that the kat wasn’t louder. It is simple, you can get a good , multi diff tones. But the jr like someone else mentioned with the warmth of the tubes, the reverb and probably more master volume less drive is the sound that I am looking for. Thanks for the demo and helping me make up my mind at least for 5 minutes.

[@RichBischoff]

Thanks!

[@ernezlightjr.5508]

I still love the katana 50. It's not difficult to maintain and the price is really cheap. I own a ktn100 by the way and it has more bite than the 50s. Probably that would be a better comparison.

[@RichBischoff]

Agreed, not to mention how light it is. Easy to haul around.

[@threeonamatchventura]

There is a KZbin channel where he talks about the guts of lower end Fender amps . He’s an expert in amp repair and makes a lot of money repairing the cheap components if possible, sometimes the cost of repair isn’t worth it. Then factor in the lack of reliability on a cheap Fender amp .Gigging with a lit fuse, no thanks. My first gen Katana sounds excellent , zero issues, compliments from all ages and I bought a back up Katana for less tan the outlay of a DRRI that has had the corners cut to save Fender 5 bucks per amp. You have to get dirty with the Tone Studio and learn it but it makes sense eventually. I wish Fender would offer the “ Gold Series” for 50 bucks more with good components arraigned properly but they don’t.

[@mrartistbill]

I've had a BJ just die on me and I am also tired of replacing tubes at $50 a pop. I'm moving to amps like the Katana because of the weight and no tubes to replace.

[@RichBischoff]

Bingo. I love a good tube amp, but the tech will just keep getting better and better. Just saying.

[@dimitrisaivaliotis5616]

@Nintariz sorry..you mean solid..no more..

[@SlightlyTechnical]

i like the katana better i cant wait to get my mkII 50 watt combo on tues

[@dangitdan9938]

I’m debating adding a Kat 100 mkII to my arsenal. You should have nabbed a Bjr tweed with the Jensen speaker. That’s what I’m using now and I’ve had some amps come and go but that tweed Bjr is staying put. Good vid though.

[@JonRaffety]

Interesting! my ears like the Blues jr- Rich, you should try a monoprice 15 watt tube amp (soon to be back in stock) i hear awesome things about them! hoping to get myself one for bd/Christmas!

[@christinamichelle8790]

I have the blues jr AND the boss katana 50. I like both options in 2023.

[@SynZ777]

My two cents: The Fender all the way for cleans; Katana, everything else.

[@xtheunknown6717]

What he isn't mentioning is all the other amazing tones that don"t sound like Fender that the Kat can cop. Peter Green, SRV, Jimi, Gary Moore. John Mayer,,, etc... all without outboard pedals. The Blues Jr can't compete with that variety.

[@RichBischoff]

True, this video was more about can the katana be a pedal platform like blues jr? Someday I will review all the other things the Katana can do haha!

[@alexhoward1884]

Quality over quantity :)

[@colinmcnab6145]

X The Unknown you are spot on the the Katana 50 or 100 mk1 will do all the 60s 70s classic blues and rock signature tones at any volume. No tube amp can do this without being turned right up and even then some need a pedal to get there.

[@lucaszembrzuski]

Katana sounds great but kinda like mid scooped all the time compared to the BJ4, i had the BJ4 but i sold it because the shimmer mod which adds sparkle on top is making it very hard to use with gain pedals, i use Hot Rod Deluxe IV now and it's perfect for pedals :)

[@tylerscott9329]

Blues Jr is breaking up too much which is why it sounds great clean but once you push drives into it it sounds mushy. The Katana is set squeaky clean which is why your drives sound good but your cleans are a bit sterile. If you find a happy medium between the two you'll be happy with both I think

[@young__blacksmith]

If you’re still wondering which one to get, but both and run them in stereo. Easy solution

[@kevinklotz9398]

I've found you definitely have to use the tone studio to get everything out of the katana. I've never found an amp that makes my strat sound the way I want. I've actually found that with the katana. I have to say it feels like a tube amp to me. I've made a patch that gives me a throaty, just at breakup, clean. Sounds like a super reverb. Full out SRV kind of chime. Also have it set for my les paul. I can run from texas blues to robin trower with vibe on board, into a blues breaker and Marshall plexi all in one amp at push of a foot switch. Its insane.

[@RichBischoff]

Nice!, I mostly run it as clean as I can and use it as a pedal platform.

[@tamailyas7893]

can you tell me the settings? im getting one next month and looking for srv kind of sound!

[@kevinklotz9398]

@@tamailyas7893 I'll see if I can throw my clean and dirty patches into a live set and share them with Google drive.

[@tamailyas7893]

Kevin Klotz can you share it to my email?? its [e-mail], thankyou so much i will be very thankful for that!

[@JHKNVY02]

Try the Katana Artist MkII 100. Comes in a combo or head and sounds much better and closer to a tube amp.

[@SUBtRONiX213]

I bought the Katana artist mk2 and I LOVE IT!

[@RichBischoff]

Nice

[@omarqabbani27]

I’m killing my self deciding on if I should go with Blues jr or katana artist mkii (or 100 if the artist isn’t worth the extra money) any remarks about your katana since you’ve used it for a while will be appreciated, thanks

[@RichBischoff]

I use katana as a pedal platform on the clean channel, I dont use the dirty sounds in it. They are to fizzy to me. So I use my pedal board. The Artist may be different but I've only played through one once.

[@omarqabbani27]

@@RichBischoff well..and what do you think of it? If you remember

[@omarqabbani27]

@@RichBischoff the issue here is if I buy the blues jr I can’t afford pedals right away, I have to buy them one by one as I save money

[@alanshadyvally]

Need to go into the global eq setting on amp hooked to pc and yes it will take you awhile to find the sweet spot but it will sound a lot better. I also noticed you have to run the eq settings back to zero and start from scratch when you want to make a change for them to make much of a difference.

[@Johnny-oy9fh]

I sold my blues jnr when I got my MK1 katana 50 ....as I found I literally never switched the blues junior on..

[@Fenderonly2746]

If you have an ear for tone the difference is stark, a strat is too organic sounding to get proper tone from a katana

[@mugsypea]

A great review. As of 2023 the Blues Jr maps for $750 whereas the Boss is $269 a $481 difference. Is the Blues Jr really worth $481 more?

[@85rockhound]

Depends on your budget, style and application. The Fender sounds much better to me except on high gain. For me, it's the Fender.

[@marcus2658]

I have a Katana MKii... Despite spending endless hours with the software, it cannot touch a valve amp. I have a blues Jr and hot rod delux so can make comparison... The Katana is now unemployed..I wonder if many of the guys who love the Katana, have had experience of playing through a valve amp..

[@rgdhu92]

I read and hear a lot about the “no tube” tube amp, but I never quite understood the debate. If the sound meets your need, end of story. These 2 amps do what they do well, but they are not and should not be the same. I agree that nothing sounds like a blues junior, but the Katana takes pedals better and is more flexible. I think the Artist is way better than the regular Katana. That being said, those who know the difference (tone purists or tone snobs) should understand why anyone would use a good affordable amp that gets it done.

[@thomaslthomas1506]

I’ve used the mkII a bit they are spiff I’m still working an old cube30 I drag it to sessions all the time as there aren’t many live gigs at the moment. I don’t have the $$ or patience for tubes they sound different every time you turn them on, are heavy and fussy. And yes I’ve played plenty if tube amps. I owned a music store many years ago.

[@mikestroud9969]

They are both good amps. I've owned both before. Hard to choose one over the other. Heck why not both?? Lol. 👍👌🙌🎸🎸

[@christinamichelle8790]

That’s what I’ve got: both. Great options

[@sdfswords]

Blues jr sounds forward and spanky, very tight clean. Katana sounds restrained and muted, though nice with pedals.

[@tonya4157]

The Katana is like an old N.I.N. song, every day(sound) is exactly the same. Now, before anyone starts getting hostile, I have 2 of them. Both 100w 112s, original and MKII. Of course, you can go into Tone Studio and tweak and play with things to your hearts desire. And originally, that was the fascination for me. But after a while you come to realize that in the end, it still sounds the same. How many hours have you spent tweaking stuff? Sitting in front of the PC when you could have been doing something else. Maybe playing. You can learn a lot with everything that's built in, I can't deny that. And if you're someone that doesn't want your effects to "color your tone", this is the perfect amp. It's all black and white. Not saying I'm a big Blues Jr fan either but, there is life in those tones. Definitely a little "color".

[@GerryBlue]

Torn between Katana 50 or 100, but I'm getting one for sure

[@xtheunknown6717]

Turn the Kat UP, come on, how could you miss that?

[@whatwouldhousedo5136]

Right? Levels aren't matched- not a good comparison at all. Also, feel that he could have tweaked the clean Katana sound a bit to get as close as possible to the Fender before comparing the two. Every amp has a different natural voice. Also, the Katana needs a bit of Gain in the clean channel to bring out some warmth. As someone mentioned upthread, using the Crunch channel with gain turned down makes a great clean- as does the Brown channel.

[@jaghej4118]

Agree, and why put a Helix in front of them? It should be a cable straight in. Further more, the Katana is way more right mixed then the Junior is on the left, they both should be mixed in the center. There was an agenda with this vid.

[@RichBischoff]

No agenda. Just how the video turned out. I'm not good at agendas. Good conspiracy theory though. Haha.

[@jeffreyquinonez8964]

Rich Bischoff you’ve been exposed. You’ve been caught sending subliminal messages through the blues junior and you work for the illuminati reptilians. This isn’t about guitar amps at all!! You’re hiding the flat earth from us!!!🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬

[@RichBischoff]

@@jeffreyquinonez8964 Dammit, you caught me!

[@vinhsanity]

Blues junior, just gotta drive the tubes to get the overdrive. Katana sounded good, but the clean tones weren’t even close.

[@draygamez7180]

Vinh Huynh Yeah the fender will sound a little better. But to get any tone you have to have the house rattling. Half the places I gig at won’t even let me use a my fender anymore becuase you have to run it too loud to sound the way it should. The convenience of the katana outweighs the time difference for me

[@billydelacruz1500]

D Ray Gamez In Ct, same thing! I have a 78 Marshall JMP head and cab/79 Deluxe Reverb and as of last year, the DR was being used for outdoor party gigs. Seriously thinking of Boss amp as gigging amp and leave pedals/vintage amps home!!

[@jimmcguinness7977]

Come back to playing and this techno progress has done my nut in so i bought a ukulele for some peace of mind....

[@tinfoilhatlover3660]

Iv been in studio for 20 years, your views is the standard one... playing wise. In a blind test iv had everyone fool with a pod 20 years ago...so i let you think about that....

[@marcoorozco3953]

For me blues Junior sounds way better but It is always depend of your ears

[@PEELIO-1]

If I didn’t know better, I would say the bass EQ on the Katana was turned all the way down. That’s how much of a difference the Blues Jr is. Crazy how much of a difference a tube amp makes.

[@RichBischoff]

For sure, that is what is weird is I had them set the same and had to try to set the Katana to even get close... I think it a mix these two amps would be different, maybe something I should have explored.

[@JucaNeryGuitar]

@@RichBischoff But you can make it sound like the Junior if you use Tone Studio. Just check my channel and you will see. Cheers :)

[@Blahaba]

That has nothing to do with the tubes. The EQ-feeling could be speaker, EQ-response, mics, mic-placement.

[@jumpboy29]

The Boss tone studio has a graphic eq and parametric eq..... pick the frequencies you think are missing and boost. Or dial it back. It still may not sound better than a blues jr, but there's a lot more tweaking than can be done besides the panel eq knobs

[@BLUESKY-zt1nv]

i have a Blues junior and was thinking of buying a Katana 50 ..but on 2nd thoughts after watching this ..why ...? i already have a good amp in the Blues junior so i would just be wasting my money .

[@leifrobertson3137]

Didn't realize this was a shoot out. Digital Amp revolution has really broken the hearts and souls of tube lovers like myself. Pretty soon ill be leaving my 98 lbs Bad Cat rig at home to plug into a device we pulled out of our pocket. Its crazy but I liuterally lost inside of a kemper profile and forgot I wasn't still playing my 67 vibroluxe...yikes don't tell anyone.

[@tinfoilhatlover3660]

Just remember...without the tube to begin with...where would we be... you are right on. Refreshhing to ears...if it sound and feel the same... fuck nostalgia... I dont lugg 25 book up in travel anymore...i have a ipad..with all my book in. Do i miss reading a real book...nope i have them at home, sometime we got a power surge, or a reading night...but yes this is a awsome time for the hobbyist guitarist.... We get all these fucking amps we dream off ...for a fraction of a price.

[@mikedreucci4236]

Blues JR did sound better clean, but when you used the pedals, Katana sounded more like a tube amp. Awesome playing too.👍

[@guitarnist]

The Katana will never be a Blues Jr. I’m sure the mid controls are even rolling off at a different frequency. That being said. I own Both. If you go into the Katana software you can use the Parametric eq to make it sound pretty close. Setting tone knobs on both amps the same only shows the obvious, they are different amps. Also the Katana-50 speaker is much thinner than the one in the 100.

[@frankdeitsch6869]

Clean the Jr sounds fuller and better but with pedals the Katana kills it. I have the 50 and gig with it with and without pedals, meaning I have made clean patches, when not using pedals. I've found using Sneaky Amps and the Universal EQ in Tone Studio you can create some killer cleans.

[@2008israelramos]

Katana 1/2 the price; the choice is clear

[@MustafaBaabad]

Surely Fender Blues Junior has a better sound and more creamy. But considering the price, I would go to Katana and it is a more modern unit that I guess will be more reliable and easier to get the parts.

[@brandondowning7262]

The fact that a $229 dollar amp can hold it's own against a $600 amp is pretty impressive!

[@TVoltG]

Brandon, not even close in person. I have the head MKII.. Sucks

[@1mihayes]

It holds it’s own in real life too. Sounds just as good. If it didn’t, he wouldn’t be gigging with it!

[@TVoltG]

@@1mihayes to each it's own. I still own mine and over the weekend, tried the amps sounds again though 3 different cabs. Still didn't move me. I see the vids of everyone loving theirs but to me, not that great. Like I said elsewhere, the power amp in feature is fantastic. Works awesome with different modelers from the Helix to the 11rack.. That's why I am keeping it.

[@antonioalbares]

But it can't, thou.. no debate the blues jr sounds way better

[@TVoltG]

@Nintariz we all would but modelers are very good as well and in today's world of recording and more, they are a must.

[@francescomunzone5024]

Katana costs less, but the extra bucks for a tube amp is a better choice for the long period. Fender jr will go to improve his sound with ages and playing. Katana no. Kt is a splendid big toy with a tons of effects and at the basis cheap circuits

[@christopherkiyui8071]

Which one would Brian May go for? The Vox AC30. Which one would BB king choose? Whichever you provide him with. I am going for the 100 MkIi. Why? Because of the online reviews are so good!

[@cakenbolls442]

Your neighbour will probably hate you lol

[@cookiemonster2949]

As a katana owner and a humble guitarist spent plenty of time with digital amps, i can easily say that katana is no match for BJ. Katana is versatile yes but it can never ever sound and feel like a tube amp.

[@RichBischoff]

Feels good to me.

[@cookiemonster2949]

Even your mimics tells us how you feel with BJ. With Katana... Nothing.

[@TristanDesnos]

Thanks for posting! Just saved me about three hundred quid! Subscribed!!!

[@evodefrane63]

I like the boss better

[@mendoxx097]

if you just use sliiight more gain on the katana or an (1 tube or transistor) preamp pedal for adding more bite to it then you're ready to go

[@dimitrisaivaliotis5616]

Hi Is the katana 50 suitable for bedroom use? Don't want high gain neither tube amp!!

[@mendoxx097]

@@dimitrisaivaliotis5616 yeah for sure, it has some nice attenuator built in and doesn't compromise the sound tho, but if you want to use it always for bedroom level only and not for performing or jamming with your band go for that portable Little mini one, still rocks out!

[@dimitrisaivaliotis5616]

@@mendoxx097 Thank you. Your point of view were very useful. Maybe I ll go with the mini

[@kimmolingonheimo]

god dingit , I think I finally found my jazz amp Katana50...mkII ...kind of expensive..., why did Boss stop manufacturing the orig 50?...,off course the tube amp sounds "better", but the maintenance and the temperament of a tube amp I need not..., Heers , K

[@dnews9519]

Really nice playing!

[@10smdjbtk]

Yeah, of course Katana is not a tube amp. But it has a nice sound and is still versatile, cost-effective and durable. Your choice makes a lot of sense.

[@dmkays]

I think both are awesome amps. For my style of music I like the Fender. But if I was part of a band that plays a wide variety of covers, I think the Boss would be much more versitile. It depends on the application and style.

[@stricknine8623]

"Right now it's very subjective" Tone is always subjective. Having stated that,..They are both great sounding amps but different. I slightly prefer the Katana in over- all sound while there are certain conditions that the Blues Jr sounds slightly better.

[@dimitrisaivaliotis5616]

Hi Is the katana 50 suitable for bedroom use? Don't want high gain neither tube amp neither gigs..

[@stricknine8623]

@@dimitrisaivaliotis5616 Yes, it has 50w, 25w and .5 w (1/2 watt) selectable modes. It will produce all categories of tones. Whether those tones are exactly what you want in a given category is strictly and completely up to your ears. Just as it is, out of the box without utilizing the Boss Tone Studio Effects,....It plays clean tones, dirty tones, just at breakup tones, metal tones. Whether its does any of these well, is up to your opinion.

[@dimitrisaivaliotis5616]

@@stricknine8623 thank you

[@genekloszewski5484]

yeah, okay !, every player, wants the latest thing .,, i have an older blues jr.,, i run it with 2, 12", eminence fender speakers, takes pedals well, i use electro harmonix "glove " and canyon echo looper. not bad for 200.00 +,,.. but.. i still will buy katana 50 ! heh! heh!..

[@wayne1142zx]

Love the Boss but the BJ got the Hendrix vein bubbling.

[@stupedrandomname]

The Katana has something very strange going on in the low end. It feels like Boss is trying to make it sound bigger than it is but it just makes it sound dull and muddy by a massive margin. My guess is that there is a massive EQ hump down low somewhere or a massive notch out at around 200Hz to try and "de-box" it. I like the tones that the Katana puts out but I would have to put a permanent parametric EQ adjustment on it permanently just to get it in the ballpark of where I expect an amp to be. The flexibility of it is wild though.

[@stupedrandomname]

Oh no I lost my love because I corrected my spelling mistake LOL. Oh well ;)

[@metalliholic]

I sold my katana `100 for the same reason, i loved it but it always sounded muffled or covered up for some reason, no matter how much EQ i did.

[@zoomthruths7976]

im a sound engeneer and the Blues Jr has a sizzle i have never heard so much attack.... the katana sound way better in this setting not sure why... the reverb level must have been wrong... if that the case im selling all my tube amp and getting these katana lol!!! :-*

[@RichBischoff]

Ha! You'd be surprised what you can do with that little amp.

[@lennartspekking]

Nice video's Rich! I am a new subscriber :) greetings from Amsterdam.

[@RichBischoff]

Thanks!

[@misterknightowlandco]

I just got rid of a blues jr. Bass sounded like woofy farts and it doesn't do bedroom volumes well. Like any other tube amp you have to crank it to get the best out of it and I cant. In this demo, I'd say the bj sounded better. Not by alot, but it did sound better. Why cant we get a low wattage combo like a 5 watt champ or something but with a 12 inch speaker so it doesnt sound like shit?

[@genekloszewski5484]

Mister Knight Owl & Co. , i set the master ,( on blues jr. ),, on 10, .. & the volume , on 1, .. using an electro harmonix ," glove " pedal, . i'm also running 2 /12s , eminence ( fender ), 1 extension cab.,, i have noticed , i have unlimited headroom, , & i can get low volume, at cranked/ sustain/ feedback, levels,, adding an " echo canyon. " with looper, seriously helps! gotta love that e.h.x. stuff!

[@smoothassmooth]

I have a fender bassbreaker that has lots of bedroom volume it has lower headroom then the blues Junior and takes pedals better then the blues Junior in my opinion.my pedals did not work well on blues Junior when tried them. It's a good appartment amp I got the bassbreaker 15 12 inch speaker.

[@douglaslounsbury8898]

Katana all the way!

[@leodb3894]

If you're a beginner, I can only recommend the Katana 50. If you can get one used for cheaper in good nick you'll have the best amp for anyone wanting an all round amp which does sound VERY good. Sure, the Fender has more nuance, responds to playing more accurately and all of that, gives the most vintage tone etc. I love them, it's going to be my next amp to have alongside my katana but the Boss has never let me down. You can play any genre with ease, no intense set up required for most tones and it can really go, which when you're starting out is great. It's an amp that encourages you to try things out, and rewards you so easily. After a couple of years I've found I really like blues playing with blues-rock and rock. So the Blues Junior is the next step. I'll carry on with the Katana though for other things, such as metal or harder rock. I'm waffling, but my point is you can't go wrong with either, just the Fender is more expensive and more specific in what it's for, whilst the Katana is the jack of all trades, master of none (Except the brown setting, that fucking rocks). Great vid, and happy playing all!

[@RichBischoff]

Honestly, I'd say Katana is the Master affordable pedal platform amp.

[@leodb3894]

⁠​⁠@@RichBischoffAgreed!