Boss Katana VS Marshall Plexi Challenge

I've recently been given the challenge to get a Marshall Plexi tone on a Boss Katana and to compare it to the real thing. I'm not one to shy away from a challenge so here is the video. In this Video, I plug the Marshall SV20 Plexi and a Boss Katana MK1 100 watt head through a Kahayan Amp switcher into a Divided By 13 Cab. 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.

[@TheStudioRats]

The answer in the intro is I was using both of the amps, It started with the Plexi then the Katana then back to the Plexi. If you look in our recent post you will see the video with the switching.

[@mattfoster5304]

Awesome, amaing how clsoe the osunds are - interchangeable!

[@fernandes5986]

Only you to pull this trick out of the hat. Incredible.

[@Idazuqq]

I honestly didnt notice a single single diffrence... Good job

[@grinder2401]

In this crowded KZbin space with the buzzilion guitar related channels and the various "rock star"/big ego KZbin personalities, finally someone who knows his craft. Short to the point videos, excellent tips and amazing sound and playing! Kudos from a metalhead! Keep it up man ;)

[@TheStudioRats]

Cheers Grinder that means a lot!

[@grinder2401]

@@TheStudioRats Cheers from the Athens of the North Paul ;)

[@ashuzguitar]

I second Grinder ✌️

[@pawlpoche8736]

I have katana mk2 and I simply couldn’t be happier. 100 watts on 3 volume is monstrous

[@ValNanovsky]

I am a proud Katana 1 owner, and I absolutely LOVE it. Especially in a small apartment setting at low volume. Nothing beats it. Got it for $200 - at a price of a dirt box - and can't stop playing it. So simple, great sounding, and inspiring.

[@johns4751]

The Katana never fails to impress and it’s really helpful to see how you dialed it in. Many thanks! And I also believe it was the Katana in the intro.

[@tjborekvideo]

I'm kind of new to the Katana Head MkII, and I love how incredibly versatile it is. Thank you for the helpful video.

[@pheonix3302]

Love your videos. Very informative and showcase this amazing line of amps to the max. A lot of my mates look down their nose at me for having bought a mkii 100 katana ( which I did on a whim) as I have a fair bit of high end stuff but I’ve been using this amp constantly at home and am blown away with what it’s capable of. The quality and versatility of tones you can get out of this are really incredible.For the money you can’t beat it. I’ve got a sv20c-you got very close with the katana.

[@DogwithtwoBones]

Sounds great! Thanks for making this video. People often ask me how to get big marshall tones from budget friendly modellers and now I can show them this video.

[@limpeacock573]

I love this! Can't wait to give it a go.

[@G-NutZ]

This is a great channel!! Thanks for all the great videos!

[@ant1738]

That was a great video! I was reading on boss katana's web page they recommend really cranking the master volume, I usually keep it around 3pm. It really puts some spark into any preset .. thank you again

[@sorenahlback]

I love your Katana-videos. They give good input and ideas. I personally get better tone with the tube screamer than blues driver, but on the other hand I always have the clean channel so it might be wrong comparison. Anyways, great job again! 🎸🎸

[@sjkiss67]

Well done Paul. Thanks.

[@DaveKaplowitz]

The Blues Driver is my favorite overdrive on the Katana. Wouldn't have thought you can get a Plexi sound with it on the Crunch channel. Who knew? Thanks for making this video, you always do a great job on these and I always learn something! Keep them coming.

[@SohamBhattacharya3105]

The Crunch channel on the Katana is based on a Fender Tweed Bassman so its not surprising that is sounds like Plexi given that Tweed Bassmans are verey similar to Marshall JTMs The Blues Driver is a pretty transparent overdrive so here its reaelly being used for some extra gain and tone shaping. Its a great combo.

[@justhadrums]

@@SohamBhattacharya3105 Oh wow, I didnt know that - do you happen to know what are the others channels based on?

[@SohamBhattacharya3105]

@@justhadrums here's what I could find out Clean - Roland JC120 Clean 2 (on MkII) - Fender Twin Reverb Crunch - Fender Bassman/Marshall JTM45 Drive - Peavey 5150 Brown - Soldano SLO100 This is what I've managed to figure out so far.

[@justhadrums]

@@SohamBhattacharya3105 Oh cool, thanks!

[@stricknine8623]

@@SohamBhattacharya3105 According to Roland,..The Katana in its purest "panel form" is based categorically on a Marshall Plexi. Although Roland says the Katana is NOT a specific modeling amplifier.

[@newsongok]

Hello from across the Pond! Such great videos! I am almost persuaded to give up my 1966 Fender Super Reverb for a Katana!! You are a "master of your craft". Thank you....

[@Olli-ls3qz]

Great Video and thanks for a new katana setting 🎉😊

[@dcbluez4883]

Nice tones. Thanks. Im getting very nice bluesy BB and Johnny tones out of my artist. Now you have given me more ideas.

[@dylannnnnnnnn]

You nailed that plexi thump of the pick on the strings

[@stratplayr6997]

Thanks for the tutorial on this - I've been struggling with creating patches that I'm happy with - this will help a lot. Tough thing is when you don't have the original amp to A/B with.

[@hofftipus4132]

Man, that sounds great! I'm totally lost when it comes to fiddling with sound settings.

[@arehleftdiamond6598]

you nailed it!love your video❤️

[@TheStudioRats]

Cheers Areh.

[@Happy-Me.]

Excellent! I love Boss equipment. Going to get the Katana artist 2 next.

[@dreamscuba]

Great video and you dialed in the plexi sound very well on the Katana. It was very close for me. I think the intro is the plexi. I have a QC and a katana, and the QC has reminded me what an incredible bang for buck the katana is. Thanks for the video Paul.

[@TheStudioRats]

Cheers Scuba.

[@nsjguitarsakascotsman6989]

That katana does sound really sweet, going to be checking one out soon myself now that I can, been waiting on this pandemic stuff to pass.

[@j.d.rockerfella5417]

The Katana sounds nice! great vid M8. Cheers!

[@TavaresProject]

That sounds really really close. Very impressive!

[@Jem7sk]

Great video Paul.. I'd love to see you do this with your mini Jubilee.

[@caseyodonnell6621]

I really appreciate you showing how to dial in these kinds of tones on various amps. Even if it's not an amp I own it's helpful to learn about how pushing the front and power sections, or how signal chain placement affects the sound. Thanks!

[@TheStudioRats]

Cheers Casey!

[@vincentl.9469]

@@TheStudioRats perhaps you can answer the big question..does all this tech mean most people wont need to buy tube amps again ? You tested a Tone King 35w a while back which costs some £2.5K ; EIGHT times the cost of the BOSS Katana..great amp...but none of the same versatility...but some will not let go of tubes!

[@stricknine8623]

@@vincentl.9469 I've been playing for 42 years and live gigging for the last 29 years. I have been gigging exclusively with a Boss Katana 100 MK2 out to a large bodied 2X12 cab for the last 4 years. I've actually sold my Marshall JCM, DSL and JTM heads.

[@vincentl.9469]

@@stricknine8623I have one tube amp which stays at home.... going forward people will find that it will become harder to find good technicians to service tube amps as people retire or die. with SS if it's not fixable, you just buy another one

[@aaronp6426]

@Strick nine wow! That's saying something eh? I'm floored. I haven't taken my mk2 head yet but I do know it's really versatile. I've got 3 other valve/tube amps and I will not give them up. I have noticed however that I've been using the katana a lot more. It's actually become my go to .

[@thelolguy007]

Very close. Totally gig worthy 👏👏👏

[@andrewelstein4852]

Fantastic!! Thank you!

[@digitalninjatools5670]

Plugged these exact settings into my kstana air and wow sounds good :) (obviously not as good as cab but still very usable) so thsnk you!

[@limpeacock573]

I tried the Katana/Plexi setup yesterday. I’m running a wet/dry rig with a Mk2 50 and an Artist Mk1. It sounds massive!! I think you’ve latched on to a new Studio Rats Katana thread. Thanks so much, Paul!

[@TheStudioRats]

cheers Lim

[@philgraves4998]

This was awesome great playing and ears! I can play songs/notes I listen to but getting the sound I want from my Katana i just don't know what to adjust to get there! Thank you!!

[@PBRGuitar]

Thanks for going “old school” and using the MK1 for this video.

[@Happy-Me.]

Great video! 😎

[@malcolmwindust3888]

Another Kat lover here. Sold my JVM 50W, 2 x 12 for 850€ and bought the Kat 100W 1 x 12 for 350€. No regrets and never looked back. 😁 Once you get used to using BTS you can dial in some fantastic valve sounds and lovely Fender-ish clean tones without valve cost, weight, servicing and reliability issues. Great video, thanks Paul and fingers crossed for Saturday (England v Ukraine) 🤣👍🤠

[@TheStudioRats]

cheers Malcolm

[@attillal4821]

Your playing and content is really really impressive , easily one of my favourite channels to date. In reference to your previous video between the QC and the cortex , there wasn’t much in it. Except the plexi feel seemed like it really stand out for you. How does the feel compare between the QC and katana , for your preference who wins there? And likewise for tone ? I think the intro was katana by the way. Cheers Paul.

[@lance134679]

Nice. I think the Katana gets pretty close. The Marshall really does sound great. I almost got that same head, but went for a Friedman Runt 20 instead - similar price and power, but it also has a great clean channel and speaker-emulated XLR out, both of which I've found useful.

[@jimmyjames7946]

Friedman in my opinion is the best sounding out of the 3.. good choice!

[@stephenoliver321]

What a breakthrough the Katana is.

[@afonsosousa2172]

Such a amazing video!!! Katana rocks

[@sdfswords]

Really shows how good the Katana is, nicely emulating a $2000 Plexi head, pretty amazing.

[@Nnmtes]

Great job. I think they sounded very close Paul. Both are great amps. The good thing about the Katana is that's it's pretty versatile. Just to side track . . . 😊 I've been considering modelling amps recently and the Katana Artist mk ll was on my radar. However 'listening to' the Line 6 Catalyst 100 (or 200) i think the Catalyst wins on the clean amp sounds but the Katana still wins on the crunch to heavier amp sounds. Horses for courses i guess 😊 Thanks for your excellent videos

[@pawlpoche8736]

Try this setting: Brown amp variation engaged. Blues drive engaged (just slightly) set EQ at half with bass boosted. Reverb at 3/4.

[@Ray-Angel]

Pretty good! I've been trying to do that with a 59 Fender Bassman.

[@alfsmith4936]

Your poor neighbours..

[@Searchingforsilver777]

I have the Katana Mark II Head with 5" built in speaker and am really Pleased with it for around the house. I also have a homemade cabinet with two 12" JBLs, two 4.5 midrange and two 4" piezo tweeters my brother built and gave me. Pretty happy with the sound from that as well and so far I've only used the 0.5 watt setting. Gonna get brave and try the 50 and 100 watt settings one of these days when I am not in my 7 floor apartment building on 7th floor. Don't want to wake the neighbors although I think they could hear the 0.5w setting if I cranked it. Worth every dollar I spent on it in my book. BTW all the speakers are rated at approx 240 watts. So no real damage to be done at the 100 watt setting.

[@Tone-Quest]

I think the intro was the Katana. Great video 👍🏻

[@islanderwinder]

Great video , I always found that i couldn't the Mids on the Katana to sound like a Marshall .

[@TheStudioRats]

cheers

[@JohnyLondon]

Listening carefully, on headphones, at the end comparison c5.40, although you have done an excellent job in matching the tonality, the actual distortion on the Katana just sounds a bit gnarly. (In that way that Boss distortion always does). TBH, it's close enough though!

[@rickclark4714]

I’ve been playing since the late 70’s. Had lots of amps and pedals. The Katana is the best amp for home use I’ve ever had. I’ve got the 50w mkii. The only other amp I may buy is the katana artist. But I’m in no rush. I wish I had the katana thirty years ago. I would’ve played a lot more. Great amp.

[@RockG.o.d]

only reason I got a katana is so I'm not constantly using the vox or marshall cos they both use tubes, and tubes cost money.

[@blakjack3053]

It is indeed the best amp for home use but my home is the stage therefore I use the 100 watt version! 🤘😎

[@RockG.o.d]

@@blakjack3053 I got the 100watt version head so could mix speaker cabs. I don’t like single speakers. They sound a little dull.

[@blakjack3053]

@@RockG.o.d yeah I have the katana head also, the mk 1, but I only use it as a back up to my JMP 2203. And yes a single 12 is not enough, I need 2 at minimum and usually an unmatched pair. Lately I been using Celestions; V30 and a G12-65 in a Marshall 212 cab and it sounds awesome 👌

[@RockG.o.d]

@@blakjack3053 i been plugging it into the vox amp cos the vox needs new valves. green back and gold, with the acoustic channel, but also using boss metal zone in front too. I do have the boss cab, but I want to change one of the speakers out and at the moment haven't been bothered.

[@HarryKenyon]

I have a mk1 50 watt, and I love it. It’s basically a wet amp for me and for super cleans.

[@marinotomas]

I have a two-year-old son and I can't have my tube amp and pedals in my living room. I'm thinking of buying an amp that has it all: great tones and some fx (mainly boosts, delays and reverb). This channel and its wonderful content convince me that my next amp will be a Boss Katana.

[@xavierwalker3645]

Hey man! Hope you bought it, if not, you’ll buy it and never look back guaranteed. This unlocked so much for me as a musician. Good luck! :)

[@marinotomas]

@@xavierwalker3645 I bought it! And 100% love it.

[@frankardos4211]

I want to say the opening riff was the Katana........but gonna go against the grain and say Plexi. My reason is I truly went back and forth with time stamp about 5 times. I just hear that really specific midrange that my ear says Marshall. If I'm wrong,...........wow. Great job Paul and Boss!!

[@pastilance1]

Honestly everything you play sounds awesome! I think the intro was the Katana, because the Marshall sounds more transparent to me compared to the Kanata, which sounds like there is a blanked over it. A little muddy in the low mids to me

[@dawoud8013]

@5:26 Wahoo nice ! great Job ! sounding the same ! maybe reduce a bit the OD effect of the Katana but awesome !

[@sebastionhawk5565]

It was SURPRISINGLY close!

[@Footender]

Nice! thanks for sharing! I wonder your take on say a Marshall JCM-800? I saw another thread that had Katana Brown gain-4 bass-5 mid-5 treb-5 presence-5 but the poster admitted that was just a starting point and didn't really dial it in. I feel JCM-800 is that next step when you need more Go then the Plexi can give.

[@willschut4917]

Way closer than I would have guessed!

[@LostMyMojo100]

Paul, you're awesome thanks! Strat Sounds great but I'm going to plug my LP in and try some old Billy Gibbons tones with this... Have you ever tried that?

[@TheCyberMantis]

Yeah, it's hard to beat the Katana when it comes to bang-for-the-buck. I have the Mk1 head, and I think it's great. With the Tone Studio software, you can make it sound like anything you want.

[@elmershiflett8154]

Hey Paul I enjoyed that video, I've been trying to get that ac/dc tone from my Katana 50 mk2 and I am struggling with the channels. I see you are using the crunch channel with your Katana while I've been using my clean channel with boost but I can't seem to get there. I have to play at lower volume because I live in an apartment, (neighbors) so my question is should I be using crunch with boost instead of clean with boost? It sounds better to me to achieve that tone through crunch with boost. Your thoughts? Thanks for reply

[@cliffirddelbridge2810]

Great, thanks

[@finishin.my.coffee8780]

For me, it's also a visual thing. I have the Katana, but I wish it looked more...I don't even know what word I'm looking for...vintage, maybe. Stately? The Marshall, with the matching 2x12 cab looks stately.

[@LOFIGSD]

Katana 100 2*12 combo for 180 quid on Ebay, cheap because a MK1, my best buy ever, I know it has all the overdrives built in, but I use a Caline Blue Sky as an overdrive, for the rare instances I need to change mid song, as I dont have the footswitch yet, but most of the time I use the clean or crunch channels, does everything I need, if not, I also have a Vox and Marshall! Other effect I make a lot of use of, is the Joyo American, plug into PA and go, instant Fender tones.

[@Happy-Me.]

Cheers Paul. Any more videos to come on the GT1000?

[@pupawheelie]

Great job!! Honestly I tried, but couldn't hear any difference. Both sound great, Katana is affordable with effects!

[@danandrews2650]

Hi Paul, great vid! What were the SV20 settings in the video?

[@jimmyjames2022]

I believe the intro is Katana. But I'm already convinced K100 head is the perfect mix of everything if all you can afford or have room for is one amp. You've shown convincingly that it's a contender for a Plexi sound.

[@jdmaynash2]

Thanks, Paul! What pickup are you using in your Fender for this?

[@caleshtcincredibles]

Man that Katana is pretty amazing for its ridiculous cheap price. I want one

[@Musicmanimal]

Great as always Paul! Question: Was there a particular reason that you chose to go to the Mark 1 as opposed to the Mark 2? Thanks

[@scobloosh8242]

Some people probably just like it better, it all comes down to personal preference honestly since they both and all sound good

[@joethompson2910]

@@scobloosh8242 Is your name Paul??

[@MrTaroo1]

At the start mate! I swear I am hearing the Boss. Possibly the Plexi but I did hear amp modelling. So it’s close. Very very usable sound indeed. But I can hear the difference between an amp & the amp modelling. I own one of those 20 Watt Plexis & it is utterly desirable on all levels. Thanks for the vid. 😊

[@vorpalblades]

Obviously you cannot hear the difference.

[@TheRedSpecialPlayer]

A Katana is not a modeling amp. It produces its sounds exclusively in analog form, as Boss repeatedly points out. Only the FX-Section of the Katana is digital. Greetings from Germany Mic

[@gabriel_santana_86]

Hi again Paul! Also, did you use the parametric eq before or after the amp? Cheers!

[@CentaurusRelax314]

Noice. I never got such good tone out of my Katana head. What pickups are in that guitar? Sounds great. And are you in the middle or bridge-i can't see-looks like middle?

[@davidisenberg125]

the katana is a great amp for the price and for all around gigging it covers a lot of amps....i have ampegs, marshalls, fenders for different gigs and their all great but HEAVY as hell...personally i would take the fender super champ xd with a celestion over all of them cause the small clubs i work its plenty and it has the 2nd channel for super gain....also helps that i have a 77 mxr distortion +...thank you sir for a great video

[@TheStudioRats]

Thanks for sharing!

[@db3266]

@The Studio Rats - Can you do a video demo of setting up the Katana mkII to sound like a maxed out Fender Twin Reverb?

[@JosePineda-jn8jk]

I own a Carvin Legacy 100 half stack and recently got a Katana Mk II head. I have to say that although I would think my Legacy tone is superior, I mainly take my katana head around with a lightweight 2x12 and that has been the go to rig for me lately. I just don’t want to lug around such heavy gear and the Katana really does sound great and very usable. Not as “squishy” as a tube amp but, pretty dang close for such a low price tag.

[@user-cc7en8zp4w]

Nice vid! What were the settings on the SV20? Was it jumped? Dimed?

[@douglasnewman4163]

Great video, Paul. This explains so much for me as a Katana Artist owner. Many thanks!

[@TheStudioRats]

Cheers Doug

[@MikMech]

I love my Katana 100 Head !!

[@badtonestudio]

SV20H I’d like to hear more cowboy chords for the guessing bit. To my ear when you played chords as you were setting up the katana I could hear the difference more pronounced. The single lead lines are a bit trickier to pick out.

[@TheActressAndBishop]

I think it was the katana in the intro.. though I couldn't tell you why! I'd love to see the same vid but with the GT1000 instead of the Katana..

[@Gerardo.GarciaGarcia]

Thanks for this video!!! I´m new in your channel, Do you have a video about Boss Katana with Fender Super Reverb patch? Greetings from México!!!

[@adalmariolacerda]

Great!

[@thiagogomes9429]

Could you make a vídeo showing how to make Boss Katana MKI clean closer tô a Fender twin style would be interesting with paramétric eq post preamp section!

[@dannykristoffer4047]

I have the mk2 with fc foot switch I use the pedal for clean.rythm.lead w/ delay lead w/ phaser use panel for other stuff on stomplab

[@gazb2069]

Both sound good win win

[@carlbullaro7616]

The sneaky amp 1959 is aweso.e

[@jasq99]

Thanks so much. This is something I was looking for. Has anyone managed to get tsl file for it?

[@gabriel_santana_86]

Awesome! Makes sense that you're using the MkI because they messed up something with the MkII. Could you elaborate on the following? Where did you set the Katanas master when you recorded this (what level), and how was the panel set on the Plexi? Also, what global settings on the Katana did you use (Global eq or not active, and Vintage/Modern/Deep Resonance)? Cheers!

[@valebliz]

The MkII on the first variation is the exact same amps...

[@akasgsvirgil9503]

Could you do a comparison between the Plexi and the JIMS45 amp pedal made by TC Electronic through the Katana?

[@fender4brad]

I'm very impressed with the Boss, how ever I won't be swapping it for a Katana amp. It is really amazing how technology keeps improving. Your ear is amazing and your ability to dial tone is the envy of your followers, or at least me.

[@TheStudioRats]

Cheers B Miller.

[@martinlohr7652]

Nice and thank you, how dialing sound to jtm? By modified booster to centaur od ? I ask because dont have jtm to compare.😂

[@toddknott135]

I need this kind of thing for my Boss Nextone Special. I can dial in excellent clean tones with all of the tube selections, but can't seem to do it with the lead channel.

[@PendelSteven]

Well, it has a different architecture and different voiced speaker than a Katana. Arguably the Nextone is more for Fender, Vox, Hiwatt and Mesa Boogie Clean. Don't get me wrong, it's a beautiful amp. I've got a Katana Artist (v1), but I'd like to have a Nextone Special as well. Why? Watch this --> kzbin.info/www/bejne/qKDRnImAgp15Zsk

[@50gary]

I would have liked to hear a Les Paul with the two comparison amps. Further a traditional later 1960s rock song(s)

[@MrMattsac232]

Not sure which is in the intro. Hard to tell over KZbin sometimes. However great example of how close modeling gets this days. In a live situation it’s near as makes no difference. Probably feels different to play though.

[@ilovecartoon100]

Please do Katana VS Fender Blues Jr./Deluxe Reverb/Twin Reverb 🙏

[@jimmyjames7946]

Katana sounds better in "my opinion"

[@justinturnbull6848]

Yes there is noticeable differences from a pro or experienced guitarist but hey, let's look at price and the fact the boss has amp Sims for pretty much every other amp other than marshal as well and the fact you can tune your tone to exactly what you want when you hook up to a computer. Boss has a lot more appeal to me because of this plus more and as an owner of a Mk2 50 watt I know they are plenty loud enough for live gigs to 😊🤟🎸

[@makinganoise6028]

My mate, who is a pro and plays in a well known DC tribute band was surprised by the tone from 100W Katana twin, he has Marhalls and a Tone King, I stuck a video on my channel, great amp, I can carry 2 guitars and the Katana into a Gig, dont need anything else.

[@valueofnothing2487]

Should also mention there's something called a Katana floorboard where I think you can change the order of the pedals. I found it all confusing but I think it's possible to save it if you don't go into the other program and save.

[@CedricSatterfield]

You can save the modified patch and then upload it to your amp.

[@kmichaelp4508]

Katana… I think 🤔 I have the MK1 combo and when I figure out how to use Tone Lab I’m a gona try this out 😬