Peavey Vypyr X2 6505 and Boss Katana Artist 112 Mk1 Brown Sound

Here's a REAL quick comparison of a Peavey Vypyr X2 and a Boss Katana Artist 112. First off, I love both amps. They are very similar, but different in a few ways. Each amp has its own effects and different range of tones you can pull from them. I have owned just about every Vypyr variant (except the Vypyr tube amps) and every Katana variant (except the Air). A good amp is a good amp and both companies offer a lot for the $ in terms of features, ease of use, and tone.
The guitar in the video is a Legator NX6FR with Fishman Fluence Modern pickups. I used DR Veritas 9-42 strings.
Enjoy!
www.brgmusic.com

[@samhainlimon]

Wow different sounds but both pretty good. I love my Katana but live I use an old school peavey transformer because it's so versatile. Thanks for the comparisons keep em coming!

[@benchristopher76]

No problem! Glad you dug it!

[@josequirindongo9425]

The difference is the modes in the Peavey. The 6505 is my favorite!!

[@4trym]

Mine is 90% on the 6505. Also the X2 has a LOT of low end, it's rather hard to capture on video.

[@TheCyberMantis]

@@4trym The speakers provide the low-end. Run a Katana head into a 4x12 cab, and you will have all the low-end you ever wanted.

[@4trym]

@@TheCyberMantis true, but I don't have a 4x12 🤣.

[@TheCyberMantis]

@@4trym I do. I run it with my Katana head. It sounds really good.

[@doctorskull8197]

Stellar video! Both amps are excellent but I prefer the X2 in this demonstration. Just my 2 cents! Cheers!

[@nathancorrao8570]

I have the x2, and it rips! I use the studio quality headphones out into a powered speaker (with the right cable) and it handles the resonance a whole lot better. Then chain another powered speaker off of that for stereo. A precision drive works well to help the built-in gate work faster, BTW.

[@benchristopher76]

That sounds awesome!

[@Squall6575]

I think I preferred Battery on the Artist, the tone had good character but not harsh on the top end

[@TheCyberMantis]

You are right, both units make noise. They sound a little different, but both are good. I prefer the Katana, but that's just my opinion.

[@robertbailey298]

Your guitar speaker is the final voice of your amp. It’s far more important than the amps themselves when they are so close in eq structure anyway

[@benchristopher76]

Totally agree. Years ago, an old friend and I were at Rivera trying out his then prototype head. Paul Jr. took us and the head into a room with a number of different 412 cabs loaded with different flavors of Celestions. In that moment, it was clear just how vital the speaker is to the overall tone of an amp. Hearing the same amp, with the same eq settings, through a number of identical cabs with different speakers was totally cool. I would encourage any player in search of their own sound to try a bunch of speakers, as well as amps, pedals, pickups, strings, picks, etc.

[@olafdiers3613]

The peavy has a darker sound , like many new metal bands .....but you have to choose , do i like it and do i need it . Both sounds are good , but what do YOU need ?

[@benchristopher76]

Absolutely. The Catalyst does an awesome Thrash tone.

[@squirelova1815]

The Peavey VIP's always sound "livelier" to me in video reviews next to Katana's. I guess maybe analog Trans Tube may have that effect.

[@VintageModernRemixes]

Battery, hell yea!

[@piercem26]

I thought the katana (MK1 series) was good and easy to use until I realized I never liked the recorded tones. Once I saved up to buy a 6505 and a Marshall Origin, I realized why I never liked the katanas tone. The Peavey (although a bit digital sounding) does the tones much better. The katana just can’t do the Marshall kerrang no matter what cabinet. The combos speakers seem to overly emphasize a harsh section of scratchy upper mids. TLDR; The Vypyr feels not quite as good as the katana, but is much more authentic sounding. You also don’t need a PC to edit fx parameters.

[@benchristopher76]

I had the 150 watt Waza head and that was by far my favorite Boss amp. I still wouldn't give up one of my JSX heads to have one, though. There's just something about a good analog tube circuit that no solid state or digital amp can touch.

[@piercem26]

@@benchristopher76 I agree. I like the Vypyr but I think Peavey really did some good stuff with the bandit/transtube amps.

[@benchristopher76]

@piercem26 yeah... I have an XXL head and have had most of the Bandit variations (love the red stripe version!) and their transtube will definitely do. I played a lot of smaller gigs on those type amps.

[@JackBlack444]

How would you compare it to a fender LT 50, do you think the vypyr is better for the price? Awesome demo!

[@benchristopher76]

I haven't had a chance to play the Fender. Once I do, I can properly respond.

[@jgmopar]

I own the Peavey Vypyr VIP 2 and for some reason the hi gain bugs me it seems to sound to digital to my ears.

[@benchristopher76]

That's ironic, considering the gain is supposed to be analog.

[@jgmopar]

@@benchristopher76 Yeah I know. The VIP2 amps sound really fake. I will have to do a side by side with my VIP2 and my 6505+ combo.

[@benchristopher76]

@@jgmopar That could be cool

[@jgmopar]

@@benchristopher76 Don't get me wrong I love my peavey Vypyr amps I have three of them.

[@benchristopher76]

@@jgmopar yeah... they're great for having a killer little sketch pad on hand when I'm jamming at home or doing a lesson. Can't crank the heads whenever I feel like it anymore.

[@donsmith5385]

The Peavey has an analog preamp, Boss is using modeling

[@benchristopher76]

Indeed

[@knucklesandwich6117]

Katana Artist speaker has great low end

[@benchristopher76]

I'm really digging the Katana Artist. I ran a patch cable from the effects loop send to the return and it got a little meaner.

[@knucklesandwich6117]

@@benchristopher76 Yeah, I think after 3 months of trying to search for something home based, but loud enough to play over a drummer, this is it..I am going to pass on cabs and frfr’s and just get the Artist…They will probably have the Mark iii Artist come out next month, which will piss me off!😄

[@benchristopher76]

@@knucklesandwich6117 HA! Never fails, right?

[@TwistedIdentity]

Is it my imagination or does the Katana Artist MK2 not sound as good as the MK1? I sold mine a while back because I got an Invective MH but I plugged into the Artist MK2 at a store recently and I was just thinking the whole time "wow this sounds fake." no matter how I set it. I had the MK1 for a few years before selling it and never thought it sounded 'digital'.

[@benchristopher76]

I have a Mk1 Artist, and I prefer it over all the Mk2 amps I've owned.

[@cujo9071]

The first sounded better to me.

[@SalazarPG]

This is the premium version of boss katana and not the boss kata 50 right ?

[@benchristopher76]

Yes... it's the 100 watt Katana Artist model. It's not the Katana 100 or 50. A little different than those

[@SalazarPG]

@@benchristopher76 once again thank you very much.From which song is the riff you are playing here 2:10?

[@benchristopher76]

@@SalazarPG Battery by Metallica

[@itzmcvillager6470]

where is that shop I see those deans in the back lol

[@benchristopher76]

Perry, Iowa

[@villageidiot9867]

The Peavey sounded empty. The Katana sounded way better by a long shot.

[@behradgudarzi388]

What is your guitar brand???!

[@benchristopher76]

That's a Legator N6XFR

[@sgbh8874]

X2 sounds like it’s coming through an old land line telephone. Kats are good.

[@mikel6237]

X2 way better budget amp, that Katana costs almost twice as much!

[@benchristopher76]

There's a lot of value in the X2... usable wattage, effects, and tones

[@justakissinla]

Use the peavey vypyr x 3 next time to be fair

[@benchristopher76]

Didn't have one at the time. They finally became available again.

[@justakissinla]

@@benchristopher76 I would do another video with it 👍

[@benchristopher76]

@@justakissinla I might go that route soon

[@justakissinla]

@@benchristopher76 that would be cool 👍