Katana Revisited...

Sp8ctre

Sp8ctre

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Take a look at this video. Watch it all the way through. Very convincing sounds being made here. This is with the factory speaker and I can tell you it sounds even better with an external cab and a EVM12L

And remember the amp in the video is the Katana 50 and goes for $219 Brand New! Brand New!

You can skip to around 13:00 minute mark if you want to get straight to the sounds...

I have the Katana 100 Head to play at home because my Carol-Ann resides at work and I don't want to transport it every weekend...

 
i BELIVE hACKMASTER HAS ONE OF THEM MACHINES----

the way he is grinning with each new tone----- really--- the thing sounds AWESOME----

I think if I was forced to own only 1 amp----- that -- or a Fender Mustang would most certainly be "it"
 
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I own the 50 and for the past few months it's been loaned out to a friend. TBH, I don't miss it much. I'm happy that others love theirs...but (and I am being tough on a $200 amp here, I know) I found it very sterile and uninspiring to play. My Mesa Boogies both sound worlds better at low/practice volume and are more versatile for the tones that I use, and at gigging volumes there is obviously no contest.
 
eSGEe said:
(I really should be institutionalized)
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No, I think you are on to something.
Or maybe I should be in the next cell.

I have heard a lot of good things regarding "good enough" tone, versatility, and portability from gigging guys. Very good tool for the job compared to the weight and sometimes reliability of some of the old standby 40w or bigger tube amps.

For bang for buck for home play as well, but really not in a head to head with your favorite all tube amp.

Never played one myself but would consider it if I didnt have some cool pleasure machines to beat on.
 
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eSGEe said:
But can you switch from Hendrix to Knpolfler to the FOOL to AC/Dc with 1 foot switch in seconds while drinking a rum and coke and winking at the large breasted waitress from Wollongong??? can you ??? --- caaaaaan you :)

I cant either just asking
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TBH, I wouldn't want to sound like any of those guys. Happy to just sound like myself, as bad as that may be.

I won't ever play covers, don't spend time learning other people's music, so sounding like a bunch of other people is not a particular concern.
 
They are quite good. Better tone than a comparable size Line 6 amp, but that's just an opinion.
Will it make me sell all my other amps? Uh, NO.
Will it be the one I grab on the way to a jam? Most likely.
Is the 50 light weight and super easy to schlep around. Oh yes, the combo is lighter than most heads alone.

If it could run on a rechargeable battery pack I'd like it even more.
 
gball said:
I own the 50 and for the past few months it's been loaned out to a friend. TBH, I don't miss it much. I'm happy that others love theirs...but (and I am being tough on a $200 amp here, I know) I found it very sterile and uninspiring to play. My Mesa Boogies both sound worlds better at low/practice volume and are more versatile for the tones that I use, and at gigging volumes there is obviously no contest.
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Come on now...you're comparing a Porsche to a Pinto...of course your Mesa sounds better. My Carol-Ann is leaps and bounds ahead, but I can buy 10 Katana's for the price of the Carol-Ann...
 
Sp8ctre said:
Come on now...you're comparing a Porsche to a Pinto...of course your Mesa sounds better. My Carol-Ann is leaps and bounds ahead, but I can buy 10 Katana's for the price of the Carol-Ann...
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Yes, but I guess my point is that I bought the Katana for a couple of supposed reasons: quality tones at practice volume and versatility of high gain options, but my Mesas are better at both, so it was basically money wasted. Even at whisper volume the Mesas are better and I wouldn't even attempt to use the Katana again for a jam after doing so (hint: its fraudulence as a gigging amp was revealed pretty quickly).
 
gball said:
Yes, but I guess my point is that I bought the Katana for a couple of supposed reasons: quality tones at practice volume and versatility of high gain options, but my Mesas are better at both, so it was basically money wasted. Even at whisper volume the Mesas are better and I wouldn't even attempt to use the Katana again for a jam after doing so (hint: its fraudulence as a gigging amp was revealed pretty quickly).
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I don't gig so I can't comment from personal experience, but many people seem to have success gigging it...as for home use the Katana 100 Head is absolutely fantastic through a 1x12 cab with a EVM12L Speaker.
That I can attest to from personal use...
 
gball said:
TBH, I wouldn't want to sound like any of those guys. Happy to just sound like myself, as bad as that may be.

I won't ever play covers, don't spend time learning other people's music, so sounding like a bunch of other people is not a particular concern.
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DUDE-- Im worried about you----------you totally IGNORED the Big Breasted Wollongonian Waitress----- and the RUM -- good LORD man --

I need a minute--- geesh wahts this forum comming to? SENSE?!?!?! ugh-
 
Sp8ctre said:
I don't gig so I can't comment from personal experience, but many people seem to have success gigging it...as for home use the Katana 100 Head is absolutely fantastic through a 1x12 cab with a EVM12L Speaker.
That I can attest to from personal use...
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Awesome!!! I love the solid state reliability. I have been at live shows, trying to replace tubes - or find a tube - and dealing with my old JTM-30 combo that always overheated....Good choice!!!!
 
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During this latest recording session, I got totally over all the tube amp hype. I played everything in the studio and we just didn't get a decent tone - the tone we were after - from any of them, including a JVM-410C, a 2245 head and 1936V cabinets, Challenger CS-30, Soldano Revrb-O-Sonic Combo, Fender Bassman, Laney Klipp 100, H&K Puretone, you name it. Some of them did sound good, but the engineer (and I have to agree) felt the tones didn't gel with the bass. Then, one of the guys brought in a crappy Line 6 75 watt head and we plugged into a 1980's jackson 4X12 with stock Emminence speakers. It literally roared!!!

The engineer said, "Not as warm or cultured as a SLP or some of these vintage amps, but we don't need nuances in this project, we need dynamics and a tone that blends with the bassist...and this is it..."
 
Iv
Robert Herndon said:
During this latest recording session, I got totally over all the tube amp hype. I played everything in the studio and we just didn't get a decent tone - the tone we were after - from any of them, including a JVM-410C, a 2245 head and 1936V cabinets, Challenger CS-30, Soldano Revrb-O-Sonic Combo, Fender Bassman, Laney Klipp 100, H&K Puretone, you name it. Some of them did sound good, but the engineer (and I have to agree) felt the tones didn't gel with the bass. Then, one of the guys brought in a crappy Line 6 75 watt head and we plugged into a 1980's jackson 4X12 with stock Emminence speakers. It literally roared!!!

The engineer said, "Not as warm or cultured as a SLP or some of these vintage amps, but we don't need nuances in this project, we need dynamics and a tone that blends with the bassist...and this is it..."
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Whoa! Déjà vu! Where did I just read this?!?!
I hope it brings down the prices...I’d love to find a good Klipp at a fair price.:wink::hmmm::fingersx:
 
I watched the above video. He seems to be satisfied with the amp. I thought he coaxed some good sounds out of it(through my crappy earbuds).
I’ve been tempted by the Katanas since their arrival on the market, but I’ve never been able to convince myself to pull the trigger. I’m happy with what I have...but at the same time, I’d love something even more portable than what I have for travel. I’ve done a couple of side projects that the Katana would have been a good match for. Projects where I have to travel, toting enough juice to keep up with a drummer etc. the 50 might fit the bill, but the 100 would certainly be sufficient.
I have no problem with solid state(there’s one in my avatar currently), as long as it feels right to me...just like any amp should.
 
Im a bass player I dont know what of you speak-- but I can give your girlfriend a ride home if you want to stay and practice some more........

oh flashback sorrys NOT deja vu......carry on
 
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