Boss Katana - How To Get A Great Drive Tone

In todays video, I look at how to program drive tones using the Boss Katana.
Im always getting asked how to get great overdrive tones using the Boss Katana. My favourite channel on the Katana is the clean channel and but eq'ing and adding drives in my opinion produces the best drive tones.
The Studio Rats are core band members Paul Drew on guitar/production/mixing, drummer James Ivey and Dan Hawkins on bass. They collaborate with singers and musicians to produce radio-ready songs.

[@scoobystap3159]

For a couple years now you have been my number one source for setting up tones on my Katana. My favorite tone is STILL the Modded Marshall, and anyone reading this needs to check out the video Paul created for this incredible preset. It sounds like a Friedman BE-OD. You will need to add a little delay and plate reverb to get it right. And after this one, watch all the rest of the Katana videos from The Studio Rats. They really are the best. Cheers Paul. 🍻

[@CanadianRockerGuy]

Same here, absolutely love the Modded Marshall tone that Paul shared with us

[@TonyHookedonVanlife]

Totally agree! I use Paul's Katana tips in designing tones on my BOSS GT-1 as well.

[@randy94willimas]

Really REALLY appreciate showing the amp controls AND the tone studio controls. Top level production man!

[@rowanmurphy5239]

With the exception of when I'm playing thrash metal and shredding, I keep it on the clean channel for everything else. I made the discovery for myself that the clean channel is awesome.

[@outermarker5801]

And apparently for mostly clean players, the acoustic channel is actually a great blank canvas to start

[@timb.3171]

No matter what I do, my amp on clean setting with any amount of gain will not ever sound like yours in the very beginning of the video. I do not know what you did, to me you are a wizard

[@evanmiller2579]

Great video. You pull better tones out of the Katana than anyone on KZbin. With all the boutique amps out there (and I own a few), it is amazing how great that Boss amp sounds.

[@LightWingStudios]

As usual Paul, not only an incredible tone but but a deep insight into how to create it. Thank you sir! :)

[@ckallaher]

Since I finally got Tone Studio sorted (phew!) I really enjoy following along with Paul and copying all the settings. Not only does it make the end result fairly idiot proof (which it needs to be with me) but actually going through the steps reaches me a lot about the various amps and effects and how they work together. Thank you!

[@timsaddler6402]

After 40 years I’ve got a sound I like partly due to your vids - thanks

[@jamessawtell7196]

Finally...I've found a place that makes sense of this awesome amp. I've been struggling with the Katana 50 MkII Ex . I've downloaded some decent tones but want to make my own...this video helped a lot. Thanks.

[@loubydal7812]

Best video I've seen on KZbin about Katana amps. I'm changing my mind after how good sounds, I would forget altogether to compare to valve amps. I believe from watching other videos that the Katana were tested maybe as they come out of the box, having a bit neutral sound without adjustments made, and this at least for me makes a big difference. The Katana has it all, great tone, touch sensitivity, dynamics, compression, and for the price is far more than most guitar players would expect. Thank you Paul, really amazing.

[@stephenwhiting6475]

Another great katana tone Paul! I'll be adding this to my collection of tones crafted from your older videos!

[@theariesexperiment4642]

😍🥰 You are playing my dream guitar sir. I'll take it in any color. Black, maroon, blue. Matters not. Pete is a lucky fella. It's perfection imo.

[@maximumguitarage]

Paul great vid ! Yep totally agree on the clean channel for me gain maxed, tremble 7 mid 7 reverb 10 , presence 10 and I just use a tube screamer and boost together and I am golden :) I now just use the katana solely for the clean channel, cheers !

[@christiantaylor4027]

I have watched this a few times now and there's no doubt. You are doing something right and many others are doing something wrong. Some make the katana sound very crappy. And then they blame the amp! Your set up sounds so good. I covet a katana now. And as soon as my wife says it's O.k. I will get one. And this is one sound I will want to have. It will be my main drive tone. Geat job.Cheers.

[@dougwood7098]

Let that be a lesson to you kids, you don't need full on distortion to get a great tone. You do it through other means like the blues pedal. Very informative, thanks!

[@JosePineda-jn8jk]

Wow, this helped tremendously! My buddy had been dealing with feedback issues particularly with the drive channels. Once we tried this in my studio it worked like a charm. Better dynamics and he can crank it without any real issues. The editor on the PC seems like a must now.

[@geordiemcbain5412]

Great times.. found one at the pawn shop. Updated it, downloaded tone studio, now I’m getting awesome sounds. Your tricks are very achievable and are producing top notch tone and drive. Much appreciated

[@stevelogan1699]

I’ve watched a lot of your videos, Paul, and love how you combine expertise in playing and recording with simplicity of explanation. I use a Katana Artist MK 2 for live medium sized gigs, mostly on my tweaked version of the crunch channel with a pedalboard for variations. Following this I’ll experiment with the clean channel tweaked to the kind of overdrive tone you demonstrate here. Am hugely enjoying the content and am grateful for all the work you’re doing. Very many thanks!

[@michaelbarrowman2927]

Can’t complain about these tone one bit!! This is a great live rig for sure

[@elgonm289]

Cheers Paul, this is the best channel on KZbin for gear

[@TheStudioRats]

Cheers Elgonm289, I wish KZbin algorithm thought that too.

[@elgonm289]

@@TheStudioRats listen like every other musician, once they find this channel, they will stay like I did and I always make it point every week to see your content or even revisit old postings.

[@danielmiller2886]

Great help! I've spent hours trying to dial in tones on my katana, not because the katana is lacking but because I am just trying blindly.

[@mikemercer5808]

Great info here. Not many of us would think to start with clean and add an OD pedal to get great drive tones. The EQ makes a HUGE difference! Thanks!

[@tekkau2]

The most surprised is the clean CH ! The slight overdriven tone is the treasure in the price range

[@larrygoodman453]

So helpful. Thanks for all the time and effort you put into these informative videos!

[@dylanlloyd5735]

Great video was really struggling with getting good tone for recording out of my Katana, this was really helpful

[@timstark5051]

Spot on Paul, thank you…..I’m poaching that for my Katana, love the clarity

[@hansgrayman4809]

They have come a long ways. The Katana does some great digital reproductions of the real amps. And for the money, it's a good option. Of course if you want and can appreciate the real thing. Watch the Studio Rats review of the DSL20HR. That's the real thing. And a DSL amp, is a very affordable real tube amp comparatively as another option.

[@j.reveille6815]

It’s not digital.

[@TonyHookedonVanlife]

The amp tones in the Katana are analog, it's only the effects that are digital.

[@PhreddCrintt]

SOOO many questions answered here Paul. Thank you!

[@kuradko]

Hello Paul, i have one suggestion. Can you use much cheaper guitar then Suhr which cost 4000 euro? There are many who owns katanas but these people surely dont play such expensive guitar. Whenever you make patches, use 500-1000 euro instruments please. Whenever i play your patches i never get the sound you got....simply bcs of the quality of guitar and pickups. Think about it. Thank you.

[@blitzkrieg-9570]

If you have a 500-1000 guitar then its not the guitars fault AT All

[@supersavagegodgaming6888]

You forgetting the amp is what makes the sound my g

[@susancarlson2901]

Spend $200 and get some new pickups! When you can. Pickups are the “tires and rims” on a car. You can have kind of a “beater” car and put nice tires and rims on it, and it changes everything !👍🏼🤙🏼

[@bysykler4959]

The correlation between guitar cost and sound is poor. Always been that way.

[@caspay21]

He’s just using low output pickups, either get a cheap 8k humbucker or turn the gain down and treble up a bit for the same result

[@Zerback]

I just got my boss katana MK2 50W. You are my new best friend haha

[@Tone-Quest]

Great video Paul, you truly know how to make the Boss Katana shine! By chance have you tried the Line 6 Catalyst. It is Line 6’s version of the Boss Katana. I would love to know your thought on the Catalyst and how you think it compares to the Katana. Cheers.

[@glyman1212]

I have the Catalyst 60 and just got the Artist on sale. I love both. I also have a Matchless and 2 Mesas. Love tubes, but the Artist clean is awesome (now learning to get good distortion using clean with boost), and the Catalyst distortion sag/feel modelling is really impressive what you can do at lower volumes. Artist is better at pure clean. Blown away by what the Cat 60 can do for 300 bucks and weighs 27 lbs.

[@tlsho0351]

Another great video about dialing in useful guitar tones on the Katana. Thanks!

[@treyjohnsonmusic]

Seriously learned a lot from this! Thank you!!

[@jackschijven8219]

Thanks. Happy that you keep bringing BTS mk2 content that is very useful and understandable.

[@Jose-xl9xt]

Great tone and content as always... Love your videos! Thanks Paul!

[@shalomshalom735]

GREAT Great video. I Love all of your help with the Katana, it's so very helpful!

[@cole4700]

Wow thank you big time! Subscribed! 👍

[@TheAxe4Ever]

Dang! I’ve been back and forth about getting a Katana MkII for a while now. You may have just sold me on it from just the flexibility of the clean channel alone. I love my 100 watt tube stack. But I’ll probably get just as much done if not more with the Katana.

[@chrishyde1216]

Thanks Paul. Essential viewing as always and I'm looking forward to using and fine tuning these settings. Going a bit off piste here, because the Katana is so transparent I find it less forgiving on guitar set up than other non-tube amps. If there are any guitar set up issues, then they will show up so these need to be resolved to get the best results. I've got away with sloppy guitar set up with lesser amps.

[@Arby82]

This is a good point. I've also experienced the same thing with Fractal products. If you have excess string buzz, it can be really exacerbated by the amp modeler.

[@gizmokaiba]

Just great as always! Thanks for sharing your knowledge!!

[@bluesdude1194]

As usual Paul a very informative video 😃

[@hailmaryrecordings8255]

Wow … great sounds & playing. I need to pick-up a katana. I’ve been a tube-amp snob for decades, but can’t believe how-far the digital-amps have come over just the past few-years.

[@user-st5rr3hx8x]

Paul, recently purchased Katana 100 MKII artist head. Love how you go through the tone studio controls. Ok - I go to the site and there is all these live sound downloads, do I just go through all of them before touching controls and figure out what I can suit to taste..... love the sound you have on this video..... Thanks, John S

[@zepeps]

Great video again Mr Drew. Thx

[@cathybaker262]

Thanks once again for an awesome and informative video!

[@joecox1509]

You're video's have helped me so much with all boss products, so much information in helping me get a great tone. Thanks mate cheers!!!! Any way you can do more Boss gx-100 video's, especially tweed combo I've been working on dialing in a good tone for that amp

[@redacted5035]

No. Katana only.

[@timothycichon7675]

How about a video on how to get those great smooth jazz tones from a hollow body using reverb chorus and parametric. Or roland jazz chorus or polytone type. Also could those smooth jazz tones for strat and semi hollow. My compliments to the TONE MASTERS on this channel!!!!!

[@micwalt]

That was great! I'd love to see a vid on how you'd approach this on the GX-100.

[@limpeacock573]

Great video, Paul. I would love to see a video on how you would setup and use the Katana (specifically the power amp in) with a modeler such as a Fractal or Helix. I'm currently running my Helix into 2 x 100 watt Katana heads with two 2 x 12 cabs with Waza speakers. It sounds freaking amazing , but I would love to get your take on it. Cheers!

[@TheStudioRats]

Nice idea lim!

[@renevanderbruggen731]

Thanks a lot Paul - I was struggling with my drive tone for recording . You learned the trick …. it’s not the gain but the drive unit that does it 😮

[@dpajc056]

🙋here coz my tone is too fizzy and I hate it. I even tried changing the speaker and it didn't change much. Using a Les Paul standard too! Hopefully your video will help

[@dpajc056]

Little better but still shite. Your tone through my small PC speakers sounds way better and bassier than my LP through the Katana even after mucking about through the software, which I didn't wanna do, that's why I bought an amp, otherwise I'd have bought amplitude for PC

[@tortexjazz]

Hello Paul, what a fantastic drive-sound. I assume you're not using an external speaker, you're using the recording out, right? Thank you. 👍

[@andrewbecker3700]

I'm in total agreement, the clean channel with the variance button either way(depending on guitar), has proven to be the easiest way for me to dial in great tones. For higher gain, I favor the lead channel as it's not too much right out the gate. I never understood why people enjoy super oversaturated tones, that just end up needing more frequencies dropped out to get it anywhere near tolerable. I guess everyone comes at it from different directions? More isn't always better.

[@rtaylor1105]

answered my issue.. thanks!!

[@jfoquendo]

Wow! , just wow !

[@siena9594]

Nice one Paul

[@viana8524]

Is he using any pedal in front of the amp? My katana, in its Clean Chanel, do NOT sound like this.

[@alz1997]

Same here. I am completely confused as to why he has so much gain on that clean channel. Sounds nothing like mine, even at full gain

[@sinisterj73]

Brilliant!

[@lugesei]

Hi Paul, I've had trouble in the past getting satisfactory drive tones on my Katana Mk 2 so thanks for this video ! My main issue though is that I seem to never get nearly as much drive as you do with the clean channel, could it be caused by an insufficient pickup output ? (using roswell HAF Humbuckers)

[@Mitch-6-Strings]

Paul, would love to hear a Gretch through this Katana. Thanks

[@SarcasticComments23]

Personally I don’t like how fizzy Marshall Tube amps or any tube amps are and it’s nice to hear a solid state sound better than those 👍🏼

[@j.hammer573]

Big help thanks!

[@TheStudioRats]

Glad it helped

[@chrisjames1672]

Wow … so it’s about deep diving to really get it to shine

[@TrevorBartle]

awesome, thanks for doing these vids, very helpful, Ive just recently upgraded to the Katana from my Marshall TSL 602, which was getting very heavy to lug around, I'm still sussing out the new unit, I left a message with Boss asking if you can re program the existing foot pedal buttons to turn on/off the cry baby but was told it cant do that and need to use another pedal, its a shame you cant just use the cry baby pedal itself to turn it on and off when plugged in via the footswitch as you can using as a solo in line unit or even being able to use the to plug ins on the pedals as an effects loop

[@focalfusion]

That's great. I'm looking for a good Santana Europa sustain patch.

[@officialpoa3171]

#PAUL! *Paul I know you really don't do the HIGH GAIN MODERN stuff, however you appear to have a far better grasp of how to get town from that amp. Could you please ( for the HIGH GAIN METAL GUYS ), make another video illustrating HOW TO get a High Gain Chugging amp tone form that amp?*

[@mikecooper8465]

That really helped..thanks..

[@bsbrooks455]

Paul, for this video you are using a Mark II head. What speakers are you using or are you going direct. Most Katana owners have 1 x 12 or 2 x 12 combos, and of course the speakers would make a huge difference in the tone

[@chrishyde1216]

A lovely Artist Head. Same interest here - what's a good 1x12 cab, especially for low volume home playing.

[@squicker]

@@chrishyde1216 I put my Katana into a Zilla Cab with a G12M Creamback, this is a low sensitivity speaker so helps control volume.

[@chrishyde1216]

@@squicker Thanks for sharing that. Since reading your post, I've been reading about Zilla Cabs. Everybody praises them, great range of speakers also and good value.

[@davidolsen9425]

Great video Paul. I know you prefer using the clean channel with booster for drive tones, but will there be any content covering the crunch and lead channels? Thank you.

[@paulsterx]

Loved that tone it was killer but I have the mk1 100, do you have any tips on what you’d change?

[@davidolsen9425]

Bought an Artist head and matching cab today. 😂

[@mittenguitars]

Awesome sound and playing!

[@garryjones8050]

Thanks

[@TheStudioRats]

cheers Gary!

[@michaelseidl1562]

if u use the normal eq and eq2 for the present u like u can use the global eq for different rooms or locations. i dont understand why u use global eq insted of the normal eq. global eq is not fixed to the preset. if u change the global eq for a preset its changed for all presets

[@piage84]

HI Paul, thank you for the video. Regarding the global eq, do you change it for every patch/sound you create? Is the honky frequently you cut always there or just with the combination of guitar/effects you put on the chain?

[@tgchan]

Sounds great/ Does it feel as great in hands as well? Or does it have the same sluggish feel of a solid state/hybrid amp (solid state power amp)? That lack of natural compression or whatever it is that sets valve amps apart from everything else that tries to emulate it?

[@Cwilliams2109]

Love watching all these videos, but what I'm finding is, even copying your settings etc, and I know guitar matters, the sound is never as good as on your videos? I have fender tele single coil, Katana mk2 100w. Any suggestions?

[@TheStudioRats]

Hi Chris, A lot about Tone is in the way you pick and the fretting hand, everyone’s different. I’d try using the cab resonance control and the eq to get it to your liking, I’m also using humbuckers for this, you might need to turn the gain up and adjust the treble to compensate for the Tele.

[@Cwilliams2109]

@@TheStudioRats thanks for the reply, I'll give it a go 👍

[@johnnyreyes9229]

Hey Paul really liked your video on dialing in dirty tones. I play hard rock/metal, do you have any suggestions for good rhythm tones as well as lead tones for metal and hard rock?

[@BlackRose-vi2yg]

Tbh most of those rock /metal tones are produced tones and impossible to replicate especially on a small amp like this. I have a kemper and even that doesn't give you that metal tone you hear on recordings.

[@cathybaker262]

Thanks!

[@mkrj2576]

What 1x12 cab would you recommend for the Kat Artist head? I dig the sound of the Artist combo speaker but for portability purposes I’d like to move over to a head cab setup. The combo is great but too bulk for a SS amp.

[@kalaharithorn]

Thank you! Would it make a difference if we tweaked the EQ on the panel (on "EQ" or "EQ2") instead of on the Global EQ of the System tab? Just asking so that it does not affect the EQ on the other patches I've got. Thanks!

[@davidolsen9425]

I’m in so much trouble!

[@randycornejo3330]

Greetings and salutations Paul. If I may, I’d like to ask if you’re familiar wit the JOYO Pre-Amp House pedal? And if so how it could best be utilized with my Katana 50 MkII. I’m looking for a clean patch as a baseline for the 9 amp models clean side and another patch that would work well on the dirty Sid of those amp models. I’d also like your thoughts on running this pedal into the front of the amp or into the power section of the Kat. Any guidance you can share would be greatly appreciated.

[@AskingForAFriend]

that’s great and it sounds amazing, but how do you save that sound to the amp? So you don’t have to bring your computer to a gig

[@Shazeen82]

Ok tomorrow I give it a try. I have the MKII combo. Its sounds like a beehive. I hope this solve my problem.

[@Shazeen82]

So I tried the same settings, its turned from fuzzy to muddy... 😅

[@brianpartridge5654]

My question is why use the global EQ instead of adding a Parametric EQ to the signal chain of that particular patch? Pros-Cons....And if adding it to the chain, where would i place it. Input/output i.e. before Boost prereverb postverb ..Aargh soo many options on this GD Amp. (MK1 2x12)

[@Johnny-oy9fh]

I have never heard any fizz in the sound of my katanas...been using them since the MK1's came out in 2016...

[@Nizodizo]

Fun video but I hate pluging into the tone Studio on my computer. I just use the controls on top of the amp.

[@nickgjenkins]

My problem is that the clean channel is just so low volume. Even with the volume at 100, I barely get anything without cranking the boost.

[@synthystation]

Can you do another Rockman Katana video for Distortion Boston tones?

[@bionno78]

Did you used the USB for audio or RECOUT in this video ?

[@TVoltG]

I hated my Katana MK2 since I bought it. I hated that it sounds great when in theory in my mind it shouldn't. 🥴 It's been a fun plug and play unit with the full size foot switch.

[@robertwalker6874]

Can you make some tones that actually sound like that coming from the amp itself? Alot of us play through amps for people, not through our DAW'S like most of your videos.

[@TheStudioRats]

These tones are not through a DAW this is how an amp sounds recorded with proper microphone technique. Granted it might not sound like your amp in the room but if you listen to recordings, that’s how it sounds.

[@CoolPabloDeTodo]

Hello. Can you make a chapter similar but how to set up all this EQ for nice clean chanel and high gain solo chanel? Please

[@ant1738]

Paul, what's your set up? Cab Box? Or Speaker Cab?

[@LaurenceAlmalvez]

Hey studio rats, so I have a Boss Katana combo amp and I've noticed that I get little shocks from the bridge and occasionally the frets of my guitar. I figures you'd be the guys to ask. Is there way to stop the shocks. They're not painful but annoying and shocking - literally. Thanks!

[@TheStudioRats]

Best to check in with Boss tech support on that.

[@scottminer7118]

How do I control the variation on the 100 watt artist mk 2

[@timgartside6525]

Unfortunately not getting anything like your great sound using these settings on Mkii??? Any tips? PRS SE

[@KarlnMel]

I've got a Fender Strat US and getting nowhere near these tones even copying the settings as shown, is it the single coils?

[@jackloganbill605]

wow!