Boss Katana-50 MkII
Rating: 4.5 / 5
The amp I recommend to more students than any other. A 50-watt modelling combo that sounds great in a bedroom and survives a small gig, with effects built in.
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Pros
- Excellent value
- Genuinely good clean and crunch tones
- Built-in effects + free editor app
- Power control for quiet practice
- Loud enough for small gigs
Cons
- Not a substitute for a real valve amp for purists
- Deep editing lives in the app, not the panel
- Stock factory patches need tweaking
The short version
Plain and simple: if you are starting out and want one amp that does everything without baffling you, get a Katana-50 MkII. Five voices, real usable effects, a headphone out, and a power switch so it is not deafening in a flat.
Where to buy: Check the current price of the Boss Katana-50 MkII on Amazon →
How it sounds
The clean and crunch voices are genuinely good, the higher-gain voices handle rock and most metal, and the built-in effects (delay, reverb, mod, plus more via the free app) are well above what you expect at this price. The 50-watt version has enough headroom and a big enough speaker to keep up with a drummer, which the 50 manages and the smaller Katanas do not.
Where it shines (and where it does not)
For learning, practising quietly, and small gigs, it is superb value. Tone purists will tell you a modelling amp is not a cranked valve amp — and they are right — but for a first or second amp that covers every style, nothing else gives you this much for the money.
Verdict
The easiest amp recommendation I make. Buy it, ignore the snobbery, and spend the time you save actually playing.
Common questions
- Is the Boss Katana-50 MkII good for metal?
- Yes — the high-gain voices handle most rock and metal well, especially with the app effects. Extreme modern metal players may prefer a dedicated high-gain modeller, but for most this is plenty.
- Katana 50 or 100?
- The 50 is loud enough for bedroom practice and small gigs and is the sweet spot for most players. Step up to the 100 only if you regularly play louder stages or want the bigger speaker and stereo options.