Katana 100w

**BFrench** · 02-10-2017, 06:51 PM

Well I'm no good at giving an amp analysis but in my little time with this amp I can honestly say I'm totally satisfied. It has power and then some...good headroom and the clean channel is superb. Only played my Eastman through it so far and it sounds absolutely wonderful.
Full, rich tone. I fiddled around a little with the onboard effects and they are really nice. I only tried the brown amp type setting and the overdrive is great for some nasty and tasty blues and this is with the gain on about 9 O'clock. So far I'm absolutely loving this amp. I wanted something versatile and by golly I got it!

I couldn't stop my archtop Eastman from feeding back played thru my super and it sounded like a tin can to boot. No so with the Katana, the clean tone in my opinion is just as good as I could have ever wished for!...and that's all I got for now.

**tonyp145** · 02-10-2017, 07:19 PM

Congrats, I haven't played with that particular model yet, but I've always liked Roland's Cube line and it sounds like the Katana is the next generation so it should be a good amp. There are guys here that have gigged their Cubes for years without trouble. Enjoy.

**rob taft** · 02-10-2017, 07:37 PM

Glad you enjoy it. I've become quite fond of mine. I generally keep mine at the 100 watt setting with the master volume and channel volume around 75% and the presence knob at about 50% and work the overall volume from the guitar. Like I mentioned in your other thread I used the Boss Tone Studio (BTS) to turn off the noise gate and tailor the EQ as well as the delay and reverb. It is an very quiet amp and I'm continually forgetting to turn it off.

**BFrench** · 02-10-2017, 08:01 PM

Hey Rob, I haven't even gone into the BTS...dunno if I even need to or comfortable to at this early stage. It does have a great sound to it. Hopefully I'll get to try my 335 and tele's thru it tomorrow. I know they will all mate up very well

**AlsoRan** · 02-10-2017, 08:03 PM

Like all great love stories, it's always nice when a good amp and an appreciative owner find each other.

Congratulations on getting your money's worth and then some!

**BFrench** · 02-10-2017, 08:07 PM

Ha yep. I had a friend call today right after my amp was delivered. I bought my 1985 Dot neck ES335 from him back in 1995, he was saying it was the only guitar he has seller's remorse over but was glad I was the one who had it...it has been a love affair

**Jim Soloway** · 02-10-2017, 09:23 PM

I really want to try one of these.

**AlsoRan** · 02-10-2017, 09:42 PM

Originally Posted by Jim Soloway

I really want to try one of these.

I don't want to hijack French's thread but has your Mambo come in yet, Jim?

**Jim Soloway** · 02-11-2017, 01:29 AM

Originally Posted by AlsoRan

I don't want to hijack French's thread but has your Mambo come in yet, Jim?

It didn't happen. Oh well.

**cosmic gumbo** · 02-11-2017, 06:32 AM

I wonder about the 50w model, only 25 lbs.

**BFrench** · 02-11-2017, 09:19 AM

I believe the 50w would be more suited for home use personally. Live, I believe you'd want the 100w to be on the safe side. jmo

**Jim Soloway** · 02-11-2017, 01:10 PM

Originally Posted by BFrench

I believe the 50w would be more suited for home use personally. Live, I believe you'd want the 100w to be on the safe side. jmo

As I recall there are some significant feature differences between the 50 and the 100 as well.

**rob taft** · 02-11-2017, 04:58 PM

Originally Posted by Jim Soloway

As I recall there are some significant feature differences between the 50 and the 100 as well.

The 100 Watt version has 4+ channels versus 2+ for the 50 watt, a pedal jack, a Fx loop, a physical presence control versus a software version on the 50watt and a direct line out. The 100 watt head also includes midi control, 8 ohm speaker out and a 30 watt 5" speaker in the head.

**jads57** · 02-11-2017, 05:01 PM

For the price it really is a no brainer. Apparently it has access to most Boss pedals through computer as well.

**BFrench** · 02-11-2017, 05:54 PM

Fooled with the amp a little today. Still just with Eastman. I really like the acoustic setting which to me is close to the clean setting. Was able to get some nice overdrive in the clean setting but well pleased with the amp. I'll never use the crunch/lead/brown as of now or probably never....all I was is clean and overdrive when needed for certain types of blues, altho I've always preferred a clean tone for most all blues

**rob taft** · 02-11-2017, 07:37 PM

Originally Posted by BFrench

Fooled with the amp a little today. Still just with Eastman. I really like the acoustic setting which to me is close to the clean setting. Was able to get some nice overdrive in the clean setting but well pleased with the amp. I'll never use the crunch/lead/brown as of now or probably never....all I was is clean and overdrive when needed for certain types of blues, altho I've always preferred a clean tone for most all blues

Ditto. The only time I have used the other settings i.e. crunch etc. was by accident. I like the fact that rather than do an acoustic emulation they essentially have a separate acoustic amp. I'm working on George Benson's solo version of "Tenderly" on the album of the same name and I can get a tone that just nails that sound. I haven't tried it but I have heard that it reacts well to pedals. I might try this tomorrow. Have fun. For me it is the best bang for the buck I have received in a long while.

**viccortes285** · 02-12-2017, 11:45 AM

Congrats BFrench on your new Amp may it serve you well

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

**BFrench** · 02-12-2017, 11:53 AM

Rob I'd like to hear your take on Tenderly...beautiful tune, I've always loved it but just figured it out myself....

and tks vic...I do, I will, I am!

**rob taft** · 02-12-2017, 03:03 PM

BF, LOL! By the time I get GB's version done using just my fingers, they will probably have 600 watt bluetooth amps that fit in the volume pot of my guitar. It is a lovely tune and I have several favorite versions. By the way, Barry Greene has a nice arrangement on his website, Jonathan Kreisberg also does a short but sweet version on his solo album "One" but next to GB's version this 53' version is my favorite.

**BFrench** · 02-12-2017, 03:23 PM

I use to work with a great steel guitar player that played a really nice version of Tenderly...needles to say I had to kinda, I mean totally fake my way thru the tune.