Steve_Karl
Hero Member
- Messages
- 1,706
Generally, I've hated and not used amps ( and tubes ) since I quit playing live in 1998,
but in Feb. 2023 I picked up a Blackstar Fly 3 to have a practice amp.
My main complaint about that little amp was it couldn't get a loud enough clean sound.
So, about 3 weeks ago, I traded the Blackstar in when purchasing a new Boss Katana 50 MK 2 and the Katana is the best amp I've ever played through or owned.
I'm mainly using the clean channel with the attenuator at 25 watts with just enough gain and boost to get a little grit with the guitar volume wide open with a strong pick attack. Master vol. between 12:00 and 2:00 usually.
The most impressive things to me about the Katana are the touch sensitivity and great dynamic range - response to picking strength - very soft to very hard,
and being able to hear the slightest change in the tone controls.
I haven't even gotten into the tone studio ( installing the app on my PC ) as of yet.
I probably will in the future but for now I'm just running the stock FX.
I've owned quite a few Black Faced Fenders in the past and with the Katana it's easy to dial in that clean sound with a little grit,
but the Katana can get a flatter more full and balanced clean jazz tone than I could ever get with an old Fender and do it all at any volume.
The gain staging is all in the Amp. Sections Gain / Volume - and the master volume and attenuator really only control loudness.
Switching to the "Brown" channel, and dialing back the gain and treble a whole lot I can get a very warm blues tone.
It's clean with a lower guitar vol. and more gritty with a bit more volume on the guitar pot and a stronger pick attack.
There are a few good videos on YouTube but if you're really curious go to the local Brick 'n' Mortar and play one.
That's all for now.
Steve
but in Feb. 2023 I picked up a Blackstar Fly 3 to have a practice amp.
My main complaint about that little amp was it couldn't get a loud enough clean sound.
So, about 3 weeks ago, I traded the Blackstar in when purchasing a new Boss Katana 50 MK 2 and the Katana is the best amp I've ever played through or owned.
I'm mainly using the clean channel with the attenuator at 25 watts with just enough gain and boost to get a little grit with the guitar volume wide open with a strong pick attack. Master vol. between 12:00 and 2:00 usually.
The most impressive things to me about the Katana are the touch sensitivity and great dynamic range - response to picking strength - very soft to very hard,
and being able to hear the slightest change in the tone controls.
I haven't even gotten into the tone studio ( installing the app on my PC ) as of yet.
I probably will in the future but for now I'm just running the stock FX.
I've owned quite a few Black Faced Fenders in the past and with the Katana it's easy to dial in that clean sound with a little grit,
but the Katana can get a flatter more full and balanced clean jazz tone than I could ever get with an old Fender and do it all at any volume.
The gain staging is all in the Amp. Sections Gain / Volume - and the master volume and attenuator really only control loudness.
Switching to the "Brown" channel, and dialing back the gain and treble a whole lot I can get a very warm blues tone.
It's clean with a lower guitar vol. and more gritty with a bit more volume on the guitar pot and a stronger pick attack.
There are a few good videos on YouTube but if you're really curious go to the local Brick 'n' Mortar and play one.
That's all for now.
Steve
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