Gearank

Gearank Recommendation

The Katana-50 MkI appeared on our recommended list for Solid State Guitar Amps from May 2019 until August 2020.

Overview

Well known for their guitar pedals, Boss injected their brand of versatility, quality, durability and intuitive control into their line of Katana amp. In particular, the Katana-50, a 50W 1x12" combo amp with built-in power attenuator and effects, made waves in the entry level market.

This amp comes with built-in Boss effects, which are developed using the same technology found on their guitar processors. Up to 15 of them can be saved on the amp from a total of 55 available, all done via USB connection.

There are also five amp voicings, which include the usual clean, crunch and lead, along with brown voicing (high gain '80s rock sound) and acoustic (emulates acoustic amplifiers).

Another cool feature of this amp is its attenuator, which lets you switch between 50W, 25W and 0.5W to make it easier to drive the amp at lower volume levels.

The Katana-50 has Boss' same minimalistic and sturdy appeal as their pedals, while having enough sonic flexibility.

With its built-in attenuation, effects and amp voicings, the Boss Katana-50 is a true all-in-one amplifier that any guitarist will appreciate.

Features

• 50 / 25 / 0.5 Watts
• 12" Speaker
• 3-Band EQ
• Up 15 Effects Saved, 55 Total Effects Selection
• 1 Foot-Switchable Port for Channel Select or Expression Pedal
• Software Control via USB

Demo