Boss Katana GEN 3 Head - Creating High Gain tones

[@LVXengraving11]

Best review and demo ive heard and seen on the Gen3. And im sold , buying one tomorrow. Thabks for the video man!

[@TheStudioRats]

Anytime,

[@kcfreakster1]

Paul, great review as usual. Love the Gen 3 Katana line. I appreciate getting your take on it. You've never steered me wrong. Thanks a ton!

[@TheStudioRats]

cheers fella

[@chrislandrum62]

I've been playing for 25 years and you've taught me so much about achieving great tone. Thank you sir 🙏

[@TheStudioRats]

cheers Chris!

[@dannyheath8876]

That sounds killer man ! Thanks

[@Tone-Quest]

Great video as always Paul! The Boss Katana Gen 3 is sounding pretty awesome, but holy moly, that new Schecter is sounding super sweet too!!!

[@TheStudioRats]

@@Tone-Quest it’s for sale if you want it.😀

[@Tone-Quest]

@@TheStudioRats what? I thought you were going to keep it. 🤔

[@TheStudioRats]

@@Tone-Quest i was but somethings come up that I really fancy

[@Chris_Nouvelli]

If this 100w head sounds THIS good, I can’t wait to see what you do with the Artist when it comes out next month, Paul. That’s likely what I’ll be going for this time. Another great demo. Cheers.

[@markcarleton6647]

I recently got this amp head and have been very pleased with it so far. Most of the time I’m using the pushed mode with the bloom option turned on. I have the amp plugged into a one by 12 cabinet and love the way it sounds. I just got back from a vacation where I took this amp head with me on a road trip. I used the internal speaker to play in hotel rooms. It was so cool having an amp with me.

[@TheStudioRats]

Thanks for sharing

[@christopherrice1375]

I was thinking about getting this amp head and building a DIY 1x12 cabinet to use with it. What speaker do you have in your 1x12 cabinet? How do you like it?

[@markcarleton6647]

I’ve got a Celestion V30 in a 1x12 cabinet. I think it sounds great with this amp head.

[@Dajuro]

Wow! I just got my gen 3 artist head , and tried your suggestion of taking the high cut down to 5khz. Subtle yet significant difference Thank you.

[@DBroce]

That sounds awesome. Now I have to buy one.

[@danielstryhanyn7278]

Boss katana's are killer amps. I have enjoyed the Nextone as well. I'm still waiting on Boss to update that series and make a head as well.

[@thubbs100]

Paul you could plug your guitar direct into the go pro and it would still sound incredible. Thank you for continued exposure to this line! I've really enjoyed mine.

[@TheStudioRats]

Cheers Thubbs

[@steveschimleck7148]

The problem is that Paul makes anything sound great 😮!

[@TheStudioRats]

Cheers Steve. I’m not sure that’s true but I appreciate the comment!

[@davidolsen9425]

Smashing it as usual Paul! Great vid.

[@TheStudioRats]

Thanks again!

[@tierischguttennisspielen7766]

Great!!!Can you post the presets on the Boss Tone Exchange ,Pleace!

[@GCKelloch]

I'd think the Katana analog class AB guitar amp section includes some high-end roll off. Guitar amps don't necessarily have said roll off, and blocking distortion filters don't affect the audible range. It depends on the output transformer. Some amps have HiFi transformers. HiWatt being the classic example. The 3-pos speaker setting on the Katana affects the roll off a bit, but it's still limited by the actual speaker. Of course, the digital preamp section models have whatever roll-off applies to the model. Certainly, use the post EQ to change the speaker response if you want, but rolling off more high-end is likely redundant. Also, the class AB amp section isn't being significantly driven with both the Amplifier and Master Volumes down.

[@TLCarrra]

Thank you Paul, Im holding out for your Gen 3 Artist review 100 watt head. I'm wondering how a wet/dry dual amp situation would sound with may Mesa Boogie Mark V?

[@TheStudioRats]

there is an artist review coming

[@Shaburase]

Great video Paul! How does this amp sound at bedroom volume? I have mk2 Head but it loses a lot of detail/clarity when playing fairly quiet. Fiddling with EQ doesn't help much. Do you think Gen 3 Head fares better in that regard? I always wanted to achieve Fender-ish twang from my Telecaster with Katana, but so far I could only do that on Artist mk2. Cheers!

[@Adventuresingearland]

It’s another great feature set isn’t it. Sounds good dude.

[@sammellow6275]

Thinking about getting this. would do good with metal? like 8 string stuff? also could i possibly blend it with a super crush 100 for a live rig? thanks great review!

[@tierischguttennisspielen7766]

Super!!!Thanks🔥🔥🔥🎸!!!!!

[@TheStudioRats]

Glad you like it!

[@Skelterz]

Hey there will you guys be doing a video on the Gen 3 artist I’m not sure if it’s launched yet but would love to see some tone comparisons to the gen 2 and what the differences and features are between them.

[@TheStudioRats]

Yes the artist vid will be out when boss release it.

[@Skelterz]

@@TheStudioRats your up bright and early 😂 good stuff I look forward to the video I’m holding out for the artist so you’re video will go a long way into helping me make the right call!

[@BaroqueBlues]

Could you make a video on low-gain sounds? Great playing as usual, I just play with a bluesy type tone even for Rock & it seems like 99% of all demos always focus on cranked gain or super clean. I think smooth sustain on a low-gain sound is how you determine if you have a good amp.

[@TheStudioRats]

I already have made that video

[@adminag1]

I assume I was listening to the USB "stereo rec out." Were your impressions equally positive powering a speaker cabinet? I would also be interested to know if it was equally impressive using the line out for a gigging scenario sending to FOH?

[@LtSlapnutz]

Yeah, Im hoping that when he does the Artist review, he gives us a few mic'd examples too. Sure not everyone is going to have the same Cab at home (and the Mic would colour the sound too as we hear it), but it would be nice to hear a non-direct out too and more importantly his thoughts of 'in the room' sound.

[@LA.Guitar]

Sounds monster!

[@babaupede]

Looks like digital is establishing itself as a “new normal” for extremely controllable, highly sculpted high-gain applications at home and in the studio. A generation of players will undoubtedly get addicted to how easy it is to get (and refine) the tone. To the point that switching to analog gear will probably pose a challenge to some!

[@HarryBall-fw7pv]

The output is a class AB amp. Not class D. So not fully digital.

[@Lauri_K]

The amp itself is analog, the effects, modulation and boosters are digital

[@babaupede]

I was referring to digital in general, not to this specific amp.

[@Lauri_K]

@@babaupede Ohhh alright :) But shaping the tone with analog stuff works just as easily (With a deeper sound) I believe there'll be deeper sounding pedals etc in the next few years

[@babaupede]

​@@Lauri_K Look, I've used analog pedals and tube amps all my life, and I'm not going to stop anytime soon, for sure. I'm not expressing a personal preference here, nor am I making a statement about what I think is best. What I was trying to say is that a generation of players will grow up in a digital environment, either at home or in the studio. Getting some specific tones is undoubtedly much easier (and faster) for them than going through the endless trial-and-error process of buying and selling analog gear and making it work in a specific rig. They can also easily get addicted to that hyper-tight and controllable full-frequency high-gain tone at any volume, which can sometimes be tricky and elusive unless you have unlimited funds (and time) at your disposal.

[@hedgedtothehilt]

Any other gen 3 HEAD owners unable to connect the iOS app? Tried a few different ios devices without luck. The Android app connects and works fine.

[@JanLawicki]

Cool vid, thanks

[@mikevanleeuwen2858]

Great vid . What cab ( and speakers ) do you put it through ? I see a green cab

[@TheStudioRats]

I can really recommend the Boss artist 2x12

[@ant1738]

Thank you! You're understanding and sharing this with the community is a great help .. starting with cutting to 5k .. Really really makes a different! Can the headphone - Stereo- be used to FOH to create wide ping pong delays ... rather than Line Out - Mono? Is the headphone out design for this As an alternative to the Line out? Is the output tone the same for the headphone out stereo for FOH or only for headphone ? Cheers!

[@TheStudioRats]

@@ant1738 yes it can but it will cut the speaker out.

[@philthompson9403]

Does high gain actually sound good with these when using live? Like the 100 watt. Im thinking of trading my dsl40 to move away from tubes. I have a helix too so looking for a reliable good sounding amp for live use. Some will be using high gain.

[@atitg727]

whats the difference in sound between this and the gen 3 artist?

[@Matthew_Scan]

Does the head still have the little speaker in it?

[@lpsmith33]

Thank you. Can you do or direct me to a video more in depth about the global EQ and the line out to "live" mic settings? I plugged this in to our PA rig straight out of the box. Sounded great. Igot it hooked up to the app and i cant find good videos explaining these settings

[@zakklee2556]

See Paul's Boss Katana gen 3 Pushed tones video. it uses the Line out

[@Fawkes1978]

Hi Paul, Just how good is that Schecter? I own the budget version from 2014 before they were discontinued. It is as good as my american Fenders if not better...

[@TheStudioRats]

Cracking guitars!

[@marvinmartin3438]

Does that Soldano head sound as good as the Katana? Asking for a friend

[@infogitaarles4007]

How’s the internal speaker holding up?

[@TheStudioRats]

Great

[@timothy5974]

Great Paul!! I don’t know if my Wife will go for it. I have a Peavey5150 combo that’s really loud. Can this run my 4x12 5150 cab? What do you think?💪🔥

[@burtsgurt]

These amps run a 4x12 just fine!

[@TheStudioRats]

Yes as Burt said it will power a 4 12 perfectly

[@terran236]

I'm curious is the high gain less fizzy this time around? I have mk2 head. I can make passable high gain tones but the distortion on the high end fizzes out. Feels like broken glass. So I have to resort to using the fx return with a tonex capture for high gain stuff.

[@bluemawks]

What does the bloom button do? compression? sag emulation?

[@Lauri_K]

The bloom option revoices the amp's feel and response therefore adding more dynamics making it sound more "natural" or "tube like"

[@ronmoes42]

Please help me, I am looking to get the sound of Alan Murphy who played in ''Go West'' and ''Level 42'' his compressed guitar sounded so over the top, even a solo playing single notes have such an impact, and bands like Koinonia with songs like ''Koinonia - Around The Corner'' their guitarist is doing the same thing in America in the 90's. It is a guitar tone that is totally forgotten BUT HOW TO ACHIEVE IT??????? :) Cheers Rats!!!

[@jbognap]

Can someone articulate what the "Bloom" function is attempting to accomplish and how successful it is at achieving that? I assume it is trying to emulate the sag of a straining tube power amp.

[@truthwinseverytime8805]

Yeah, pretty much what you said. It seems to fill out the sound a little more also from the couple times I have heard it enacted.

[@scottforti3194]

Can someone please explain to me why one would get just the head over the combo? I’m in the market for a katana but I don’t understand what’s what I’m just looking for something to jam at home with but I want good metal tone and good clean blues tone

[@johnsmith-ug5tp]

Sounds insanely good for a non tube amp. SMFH!

[@CraigFlowersMusic]

If you use it with an M Creamback you don't have to do a high cut.

[@J_Braz_]

Is the artist version worth the much extra money?

[@TheStudioRats]

ill let you know when it comes in for review.

[@joecox1509]

Hey Paul, I have the new gen3 combo 100watt 1x12 and the software or the Amp doesn't have the bloom option, can I still get this sound or am I missing a update with the software

[@TheStudioRats]

You don’t get the bloom with the combo but it’s a subtle thing.

[@deddiev1718]

Is it worth trading in the Mark 2

[@johnsmith-ug5tp]

Hell yeah!

[@Superjet113]

Ive had the MK1 and have the MK2 100 watt head, and Ive seen some channels where they say its not really worth it to upgrade, but who knows really. If I upgraded, I would go for the Katana Artist head at this point.

[@johnsmith-ug5tp]

@@Superjet113 Even this top on the line one is under 600 bucks.

[@2tubeguitar]

There is a simple test that nobody does: head to head, comparing the head 100 vs artist head through the same speakers. Why nobody has done it?

[@truthwinseverytime8805]

⏳&💰

[@persiaguitar]

If I use these amps they will kick me out of this apartment building :)

[@Fawkes1978]

All jokes aside, this might just be the best desktop practice amp around. The 5" internal speaker is actually quiet enough for an apartment...

[@clemguitar63]

According to the BOSS Website, the Katana GEN 3 Head features; 'Stereo headphones jack', line output, and USB output with IR-based cabinet sound! They got you covered, so Rock On Beavis!

[@persiaguitar]

@@clemguitar63 There is no fun listening through head phone :(

[@Mamo878]

What tubes does it have? ;-)

[@Fawkes1978]

It takes 6 DSPAX7s and 4 DSP84s. It is self biasing, so it also takes DSP34s as well!

[@TheCyberMantis]

It has Crystal Lattice tubes.

[@chrisdaviesguitar]

What I've found in digital amps, they do great high gain sounds, but the cleans are utterly and completely dreadful.

[@rgbplumbinghilton]

This isn't digital. The amp is analogue. Only the effects are digital.

[@Rummy73]

Crunch and edge of break up tones are awful, too.

[@PaulLembo]

It’s not 2010 anymore. Digital cleans are rich and lush if you spend a few minutes dialing it in for your guitar.

[@Rummy73]

@@PaulLembo nah

[@johnsmith-ug5tp]

Paul outstanding playing and demo. Did Boss get the stereo emulated head phone out tones right?

[@TheStudioRats]

They did

[@johnsmith-ug5tp]

@@TheStudioRats Ty Paul.