Best Boss Katana Amps for Home, Studio & Gigs
Finding the best Katana for you
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When looking for the best Boss Katana, it can be hard to know where to start! This range of amps has so many uses, so let’s check out which could be best for you.
Boss Katana Series:
The Best Boss Katana?
Launched back in 2016, the Katana series from Boss has been one of the most successful and recognisable series of amps, probably since the blackface Fender units. Despite being largely affordable, they offer a huge range of features that you don’t really see anywhere else in one package.
Here, we’ll see that there’s pretty much something for everyone! Whether you’re a beginner needing your first amp, or perhaps you’re at an intermediate level and want to experiment with some effects? They also cater for those on the road needing a solid backline.
Let’s take a look at the Katana series, starting small and then working our way up to the bigger, heavier and louder units.
Katana GO
Starting small, our first look from the Katana series comes from the relatively new *Go Headphone Amp. Headphone amps are becoming increasingly popular for home practice. With plenty to choose from, why this one?
This is a compact, battery-powered device that houses five guitar amps, three bass amps all with adjustable 3 band EQ. Moreover, all of this is displayed via a built-in OLED display.
Aside from the digital stuff, there’s also a multi-function button and controls for power, bluetooth, and stage feel, which allows you to select where the amp is in your headphones. With up to 5 hours of battery life, this would be a perfect practice companion.
Katana Mini Series
Along to something that does actually resemble a traditional amp. This *Boss Katana Mini is a petite 7-watt guitar amp with a single 4-inch speaker.
For under three figures, we get three basic amp types, including clean, crunch and brown. All of which borrow from the Mini’s bigger siblings. We can also adjust these amp types via an analogue gain control and of course 3-band EQ.
Sadly, with this Mini in particular, we only get delay as far as effects are concerned. However, you can power this via x6 AA batteries should you wish, making practising portable! If you’re a beginner on a budget looking for their first amp, this is a great place to start.
Or, for those wanting for a little bit more, you could also opt for the revised *Mini X! For slightly more cash, you benefit from 10-watts and bluetooth connectivity! Where we lacked with the Mini, we’ve now got integrated digital effects including chours, phaser, tremolo and more…
Katana Air Series
Okay, now we’re getting onto some of the best boss katanas for both home and live use! With two offerings in the Air Series, we’ve got the *Katana Air, along with the *Air EX to play with. Both of which are wireless guitar amplifiers. Any buskers in the house?
Crucially, the original Air comes with an included wireless transmitter for guitar, as well as the traditional 6.3mm input jack. Plus, for multiple types of music, we have access to 50 Boss effects and 6 onboard memory slots for storing your favourite amplifier and effects setups.
We can also stream music to the Air via bluetooth, which is ideal for backing tracks for those long improvisation sessions at home. With up to 30-watts to play with, you’ll also be heard on the streets.
Whereas, the Air EX is largely similar to its predecessor, but is a bit more sophisticated. Again, we’re working with a 30-watt wireless guitar amp. This time we have five preamp types straight from the Katana amp series along with access to the Boss Tone Studio App. Essentially, if you want your guitar to song a certain way, the Air EX will make it happen!
Updated technology includes ultra-low latency for wireless connectivity, and this time we have twin 5-inch speakers. Unfortunately, all this extra kit takes the weight to 7.6kgs. A small price to pay for such a versatile amp out on the streets.
Katana 50
We’re now on the third generation of Katana amps. These Gen 3 models are the best yet, and keep gaining more and more features. Offered in 50 and 100-watt guises, let’s see which is the best boss katana for your requirements.
The Katana 50 is your real bread and butter guitar amp, and so much more. These new models contain enhanced Tube Logic sound, 12 amp types and new additional voicings including a new pushed variation.
We still get the typical effects we know and love form the other Katanas that we’ve seen thanks to the Mod, FX, Delay and Reverb dials. We can control the single custom 12-inch speaker to operate at 0.5-watts, 25-watts or the full 50-watts. Therefore, we can get some cool high gains at low volumes.
Katana 100
Similarly, the third generation *Katana 100 is also a viable option. This version would be more suited for live use in a pub band scenario benefitting from the extra power. Alternatively, it’d be just as good in your bedroom at home.
We’ve got x4 channels rather than the x2 of before. Plus, additional gains include the presence dial and a cab resonance switch, switching from vintage, modern and deep. These extra configurations were previously reserved for the Artist models.
Unlike the 50-watt iteration, this 100 has a direct line out, which is essential for live performances or recording. This allows you to plug straight into a mixing desk at a live venue or recording studio. Additional hardware includes a USB-C outlet, effects loop and a footswitch 6.3mm jack.
Katana Artist
Our next look for the best Boss Katana amp brings the size and volume! The Artist series is also in its third phase of life, offering us the *Artist Gen 3. Out of all of the Katana variations we’ve seen so far, this would be the best for regular live use. However, it is the most expensive thus far.
Visually, this is by far the largest amp we’ve seen here. A lot like the 100, we’ve also got a single 12-inch speaker and a 100-watts to play with. However, having spent a lot of time with both, I can confirm that the artist packs more of a punch.
We get six amplifier types with selectable variations for each. Furthermore, we have a solo section with its own gain and delay settings, ideal for lead lines at gigs. Despite the powerhouse size, we can still achieve pushed amp sounds at low volumes thanks to the adaptive power control.
With a line out XLR, you’re ready for the road. I like that we can adjust the overall output, making this a backline friendly amp that you’ll be able to mic up without upsetting your sound engineer.
Katana Artist Head
But, what if you want all of the digital effects from Boss, and you want to use your existing Cab? Well, why not look towards the *Katana Artist Gen 3 Head?
With reliability, versatility and control, this head should be a serious consideration. We’ve also got eight memory locations for when you dial in your sound, and extensive EQ controls.
With access to the Boss Tone Studio as well as the physical controls, you’ll never be short of options. This head also debuts the Bloom function, which alters the feel and sound of the cab. More of this can be achieved with the Line Out dial, allowing us to choose what we’re using it for; live, recording or a blend of both.
Katana 212 Waza Cabinet
Looking for a powerful Cab that’ll fully express the possibilities of your existing head? Pair it with this *212 Waza Cabinet and you won’t be disappointed. Featuring tight basses and resonant mids along with smooth highs.
You’ll have 160-watts at your disposal, and a removable back panel depending on how enclosed you want your sound to be. All delivered via twin 12-inch speakers. This is of course, bespoke to the Gen 3 head that we saw earlier, but there’s no reason you can’t pair it with your current set up.
Katana Bass Amps 110 & 210
Concluding our look at the best Boss Katana amps, we have to of course provide something for the bass players out there! Thankfully, Boss have thought of them too. On offer are two modelling combo amps in either *110 or *210 variations depending on what you need them for.
The 110 offers three channels and the option to work with three amp types, including flat, vintage and and modern. We can use up to 60-watts or play via just 1-watt for quieter practice sessions.
Whereas on the 210, we obviously get double the speakers, but also a drive selection to work with a compressor and 60 additional effects. This version also goes all the way to 160-watts! More of a stage animal than a home unit. Both examples have a 4-band EQ.
External outputs are similar across both, including a ground lift switch, effects loop, USB for recoding and a bluetooth adaptor port for streaming music to the amp.
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