Enduring Popularity Abroad! The Appeal of BOSS’s Katana Amps

Greetings! I’m Mark, a novice writer.
Today, I want to talk about BOSS’s digital amp series, Katana.

Why discuss Katana now, you ask?
It’s not too late at all! The Katana amps are still very much worth your attention.

■ What is the Katana Amp?

The Katana Series is a line of digital amps released by BOSS, known for its effects pedals.

↓ The battery-powered Katana-Mini

BOSS / Katana-Mini Guitar Amp

↓ The Katana-Air with standard wireless capability

BOSS / Katana-Air Wireless Guitar Amp

↓ The headphone-type Waza-Air with astonishing spatial expression

BOSS / Waza-Air Wireless Headphone Guitar Amp

↓ The combo amps Katana-50 MkII, 100 MkII, and 100/212 MkII

BOSS / Katana-50 MkII Guitar Combo Amp

↓ The only amp head, Katana-Head MkII

BOSS / Katana-Head MkII

↓ And the high-function combo amp Katana-Artist MkII

BOSS / Katana-Artist MkII

Before you know it, it has become quite a large family.
Among these, the mainstream models are the 50W and higher combo amps and the amp head. They have the power and functionality to perform well in both home and stage settings.

In this article, I will focus on the versatile Katana-Head MkII, which is among these mainstream models.

While it basically shares the same features as the combo amps, it also has some unique functionalities that I will discuss.

■ Popularity Abroad

Before diving into the main topic, let’s touch on the evaluation of the Katana Series overseas.

To put it bluntly, it is quite high.

Try searching for the Katana Series on YouTube, and you will find a plethora of videos from international creators. While there are some Japanese professional and amateur videos, the number and view counts pale in comparison to those from abroad.

There are sponsored promotional videos, as well as individuals who have become deeply immersed in the Katana, still discussing its appeal even three years after the release of the MkII.

While it’s true that it’s easier for people overseas to purchase high-output amps due to their housing situations, the disparity in popularity is astonishing.

In a genre like digital amps, where old models are often forgotten as new ones are released, the Katana has managed to cultivate a passionate fanbase, indicating that its appeal is genuine.

As for me, I am also a fan of Katana. The basic functions are readily available on the official website, so I would like to focus on the points that I believe are noteworthy from the perspective of a regular user.

■ Abundance of ‘Usable’ Effects

One of the appeals of digital equipment is the numerous built-in effects. It’s become standard to have so many that it’s impossible to use them all, but when you look for effects with ‘practicality’, you might be surprised at how few there actually are.

For instance, a pedal modeling smooth distortion might end up producing a fuzzy sound...
A spring reverb that can’t produce that characteristic ‘ping’ sound...
An exciter that barely makes a difference, leaving you wondering, “Is this really doing anything?”..

I think there are quite a few people who have hundreds of options but only actually use a handful.

Katana handles this aspect very well. The character differentiation of each amp model is clearly defined, and while the effects may not be extravagant, they are high-quality and capture their essential characteristics.

Additionally, some effects are modeled after BOSS’s own classic units:
Such as the BD-2, OD-1, DC-30 (!), GE-10, and more... The latest updates have even added the ML-2 and others.

While the total number of effects might sometimes fall short compared to other brands, in terms of the number of ‘usable’ effects, Katana is doing quite well. Be sure to check out performances from various players on YouTube;
you’ll find some who produce sounds that are hard to believe are coming from a digital amp released in 2019!

■ USB Interface Function

The Katana-Head MkII has a USB port and functions as an audio interface.
Notably, you can specify the position of the signals being sent to and received from the computer.
When designating inputs and outputs on a DAW or standalone simulator, opening Katana’s ASIO reveals options for ‘Primary’ and ‘Secondary’.

‘Primary’ refers to the signals between the ‘preamp and various effects’ and the ‘power amp’.

Quoted from the BOSS Katana-Head MkII User Manual, page 11
https://www.boss.info/jp/

When you set ‘Primary’ to IN, you can send the Katana sound (including cabinet simulation) directly to the DAW. This is the ideal way to use it for those who do not use or do not have a plugin for amp simulation.

Similarly, if you set it to OUT, the sound coming from the DAW will be sent out without any processing. This is expected because it’s before the ‘power amp’. Next is ‘Secondary’. The Secondary setting uses the signal ‘immediately after the input’.

When you set ‘Secondary’ to IN, the raw guitar sound is sent to the DAW. It simply functions as a Hi-Z input. Those using amp simulation on the DAW would set this to IN.

Quoted from the BOSS Katana-Head MkII User Manual, page 11
https://www.boss.info/jp/

If you set it to OUT, the sound coming from the DAW will pass through the Katana’s preamp, so you won’t get plain monitoring.

This might make it sound like the Secondary OUT has no purpose, but for instance, if you want to run the sound from a ‘standalone pedal plugin’ through the Katana, the Secondary OUT becomes useful.

For example: Guitar IN → Nembrini Audio’s Black Distortion → Katana’s preamp

Like this.

Having the ability to choose this in/out position is highly convenient for those doing home recordings or experimenting with plugins. Just knowing about this feature might lead some people to consider purchasing it.

■ Power Amp Function

The Katana-Head MkII has a terminal called ‘POWER AMP IN’. This is used to operate the Katana as just a power amp.
You can input the sound from amp heads in the Zoom G Series or use the manufacturer’s official modeling heads from Amplitube.
This means that the Katana can function as an item similar to Kemper’s Power Kabinet, which is incredibly convenient.

I often use the mobile versions of Amplitube and BIAS FX2, so the ability to output their sounds at 100 watts is a huge attraction for me. Of course, it’s also fun to connect regular external applications!

■ The Katana Series is Still Worth Buying!

That concludes my brief overview of the Katana Series.
The Katana is neither just a ‘multi-effect pedal turned into an amp’ nor an ‘outdated, old-fashioned amp’.
It is a fantastic product that still holds appeal as a viable purchasing option now and into the future.
If you’re interested, I highly recommend checking out some YouTube videos. By the time you finish watching, you might find yourself wanting one quite a bit!

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