I bought one of these early this year, at the suggestion of the shop's owner. I'd been looking at different amps priced all the way up to $1,000 and he told me to get this. After 6 months, I am not disappointed. I should have done this sooner. If you have time to check one out, do so.
I got the Katana 100. This has an effects loop (the 50 doesn't). But you can run this at a 0.5 W, 50 w, or 100W setting. IF you get a second one, you can stack them and get a cool stereo effect. I never messed around with any type of newer amps so I really didn't know what I was getting into. I have a 40 year old tube amp and a smaller Fender practice amp.
The Katana however, can plug into your PC and you can use some software to create and save all kinds of settings, and they are seemingly infinite. Its got various "amp modeler" settings, then the usual reverb, chorus, flange, etc all built in. Not just one reverb, but hall, plate, etc. You can download complete settings others have created. A few people have certain sounds nailed on the head, so if you want a specific tone - like AC-DC 1979, someone has already figured it out. Not every user though can do this, as some of their tone packages honestly suck.
You can play audio off your PC into the amp. Its super versatile. If anyone is on the fence about one of these, I'd say get it. I picked mine up with bit of a discount but wouldn't be upset had I paid the 399 retail. And, to look at it another way, it negates the need for a lot of pedals. I pulled 4 of my pedals out of the signal chain now. (The pedals combined costs me more than the amp.)
I got the Katana 100. This has an effects loop (the 50 doesn't). But you can run this at a 0.5 W, 50 w, or 100W setting. IF you get a second one, you can stack them and get a cool stereo effect. I never messed around with any type of newer amps so I really didn't know what I was getting into. I have a 40 year old tube amp and a smaller Fender practice amp.
The Katana however, can plug into your PC and you can use some software to create and save all kinds of settings, and they are seemingly infinite. Its got various "amp modeler" settings, then the usual reverb, chorus, flange, etc all built in. Not just one reverb, but hall, plate, etc. You can download complete settings others have created. A few people have certain sounds nailed on the head, so if you want a specific tone - like AC-DC 1979, someone has already figured it out. Not every user though can do this, as some of their tone packages honestly suck.
You can play audio off your PC into the amp. Its super versatile. If anyone is on the fence about one of these, I'd say get it. I picked mine up with bit of a discount but wouldn't be upset had I paid the 399 retail. And, to look at it another way, it negates the need for a lot of pedals. I pulled 4 of my pedals out of the signal chain now. (The pedals combined costs me more than the amp.)
