You can instantly feel that the new amp is more immediate, tighter, and responsive than before - with more snap and punch to its output, and deeper soundstage projection. It benefits from additional expansive controls and output options, and now is much more controllable via direct Bluetooth App control with the Boss Tone Studio App. I would describe it as overall significantly more articulate and dynamic than before.

And I really love the new ’Pushed’ Amp Type - which I’ve switched over to...

Somewhat serendipitously - Boss’s Katana Series was birthed in the same year that Guitar Pedal X first started - 2016. From that first MKI Series I very early on acquired a Katana 100, which of course was a long term favourite of mine. Then in 2019 Boss introduced the improved MKII Series - with the quite superb Artist MKII arriving a year later - that was to be my second Katana Amp. And now in 2024 Boss has released the Gen III Series, NOT MKIII, as this release is far more significant than a ...

Contrary to what I originally thought - this is not a replacement for the original chrome-handled Boss Katana Air - that I featured all the way back in January of 2018, but a more grown-up higher quality sibling. It has much the same functions, control topology and operational parameters as its slightly smaller more plastic forebear - where the Boss engineers have really concentrated on the finishing details and quality of output for the Air EX model. The newer one has a few more ports / ...

Boss have built the perfect performance amp for Acoustic Singer/Songwriters while drawing on some smart technology to simulate traditional Amp Mic’ing setups and delivering it through a fully Immersive Stereo soundstage.

You have extensive controls to fine-tune both Vocal and Acoustic Guitar inputs - but there are none of the usual Katana effects and tricks here - this is intended as a more purist stripped down affair - letting the instrument and voice breathe and resonate pretty naturally ...

So in my recent ’Guitar Elements’ series it’s finally come to Amps now - where I list out what I believe are the most historically significant and therefore Iconic amps. A lot of you are still conflating Iconic with Vintage, and discounting some of the more recent models - while Iconic does not necessarily infer a long term history and provenance - just that said item or element is a major marker or step forward in the evolution of that device - whatever it may be.

I’m not the first to do ...

This new edition of Katana 50W Combo Amp simply brings in some of the features previously only available on the larger Katana 100 Edition. You’re essentially getting a more powerful feature rich version of the Katana 50 Combo.

So essentially the world’s best-loved practice Amp gets even better.

I am still of a mind that Boss’s Katana Range of Amps are the best option for home-play / practice amp - and deliver a combination of features and performance that no other brand has really ...

Following on from the unveiling of their Gorgeous unobtanium 50th Anniversary Jupiter-X-Gold synth, we now get the best looking version of the JC-120 amp - with cool Cherry Wood Grain Cabinet and Premium Dark Grey Net.

Only 350 of these will be made in total for worldwide distribution - and the most premium feel version of this amp obviously has a premium price tag in tow too - €1999 / £1689 and equivalent. Please direct your inquiries to your local Roland Dealer.

The Jazz Chorus is ...

I will start off with a little contextual history on Roland and Boss Amplifiers. Obviously Roland is Boss’s parent company and had the initial success with its JC Jazz Chorus amps. On the back of that success it then released a number of wedge-shaped Cube amps - essentially outdoor performer amps - which became the mainstays of journeymen buskers. If you’re out and about in London you will likely see Roland Cubes on every other leading tourist area street corner. So for the longest period it ...

Readers will know how big a fan I am of Boss’s Katana Amps - probably my overall favourite range of Amps - particularly in Artist editions. And now Bass players get their very own dedicated and precision-honed amps - the smaller is 60W in output with a single 10" Speaker, while the bigger one has 2 x 10" and outputs 160W.

Everything about these amps has been built from the ground up - the sound design is only peripherally related to the existing Katana Guitar Amps. The Katana Bass Amps have...