Moving toward the right-hand corner, you’ll find a Cabinet Resonance selector, and a Tone Shape selector that selects one of three EQ shapes, which are configured to taste in the Katana’s new improved Tone Studio partner app, with an on/off button for the Katana’s Global EQ.Īround the back are three speaker outlets, with jacks for an aux in, effects loop send/return, headphones/recording out and preamp line out/power amp in. This app is an essential part of the Katana experience The new-look Tone Studio is much improved, with crisp graphics and a reorganised screen that makes workflow quicker and more intuitive. There’s also a handy button called Panel, which puts the Katana into manual ‘what you see is what you get’ mode. Over the top of these controls are the channel and bank selection buttons the amp can store four channel patches in each of two banks for a total of eight presets. The effects section is followed by controls for Presence, Master volume, Solo volume and Power Control, which switches the Katana’s output stage from a maximum 100 watts to 50 and 0.5 watts, with a standby/mute option. Illuminated selector switches light up in different colours to tell you which effect is active, and there’s also a tap tempo button. The reverb slots can be combined with delay for more flexibility. There are 30 onboard effects slots, including six for reverb, split into two banks and grouped in three colour-coded slots for ease of recognition. Two pairs of dual-concentric knobs handle boost, modulation, effects (non-modulation stuff such as wah and octaver) and delay, with a third control knob for the Katana’s digital reverb. Reassuringly standard-looking knobs handle gain, volume, bass, mid and treble functions, followed by level controls for the Katana’s built-in effects. A Variation button accesses five alternatives, for a total of 10 amp sounds. There’s a single input jack, followed by the amp-type rotary selector, which dials in one of five original Boss amp sounds: Acoustic, Clean, Crunch, Lead and Brown, this last one derived from the critically acclaimed Boss Waza head. That said, if it ain’t broke, why fix it? The Boss Katana 50 MKII EX preserves everything you’ve come to know and love about the Boss practice combo but expands its feature set, making it even more versatile - and that’s a win in our book.The control panel is logically laid out, with clear white screenprinting on a satin black background for high visibility. MusicRadar verdict: Anyone looking for a completely reimagined Katana will be left disappointed by this new Boss amp. That said, players looking to purchase their first Boss practice amp may want to consider this brand-new member of the family. Okay, so if you don’t need more functionality from your footswitch or you’re not looking to hit the stage anytime soon, then we’d say it’s not worth upgrading your current Katana 50. So, the new Katana MKII EX may not be a revolutionary upgrade to the original model, but the limited changes are well thought-out and much-needed additions. In fact, we’d be more than happy to rock up to any gig, armed with nothing more than our trusty electric guitar, a Katana 50 MKII EX and the GA-FC EX footswitch. In our tests, the line out sounded full, rounded and very natural and is a very welcomed feature. This makes the new Katana a very valuable stage companion, transforming it from a modest practice amp to a combo that is capable of taking up residence in the largest venues. So, if you’ve ever wanted to get lost in the wonderful world of true stereo chorus, now is your chance.ĭespite the sheer amount of functionality found on the GA-FC EX footswitch, we found it to be exceptionally easy to understand and set up, and as with all Boss products, it’s sturdy and robust - feeling practically bombproof.įurthering the live possibilities of the Katana EX is the new emulated line out, which is in addition to the phones/recording out. Better yet, Foot Control 2 mode permits you to hook up two Katanas simultaneously, giving you the ultimate stereo experience. This footswitch not only allows you to seamlessly switch between effects, but it also gives you the ability to connect an additional GA-FC EX or a standard GA-FC, doubling up the number of switches at your feet. Recalling presets, changing channels, and even tapping in the desired tempo for our delay was a breeze. For the purpose of the review, we were sent the new GA-FC EX foot controller, which we found really opened up the possibilities of the amplifier, making it a definite contender for one of the best guitar amps under $500/£500 for live use.
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