Boss Katana 500 head

[Bass Culture]

10 hours ago, Duroc17 said:

Just ordered the Head from Thomann UK BLACK FRIDAY DEAL £422! So hopefully the bit on their website about no import duty is correct and a fender 210 V3 black cab - had a 210 and fender 500 head before and was nice and punchy and will do for what i'm doing now 

And there was me thinking £499 was a bargain!  Well done, Sir - that really is a steal!!

 

[Duroc17]

9 hours ago, Bass Culture said:

And there was me thinking £499 was a bargain!  Well done, Sir - that really is a steal!!

 

Yeah thought £499 was tempting was waiting till payday but…Wondering if a new version is about to drop with an fx loop? I’m going to use the foot switch with tuner on pedalboard 

[Bass Culture]

I think, because of Thomann's return policy, I could return my head for a refund when it arrives, and just purchase another at the lower price. I've emailed them anyway, to see if anything's do-able and we can work something out between us.  We'll see. 

 

[Duroc17]

9 minutes ago, Bass Culture said:

I think, because of Thomann's return policy, I could return my head for a refund when it arrives, and just purchase another at the lower price. I've emailed them anyway, to see if anything's do-able and we can work something out between us.  We'll see. 

 

i’d certainly be doing the same - or they might just give discount than go through the process- always had good customer service from Thomann 

Edited November 23, 2024 by Duroc17

[Bass Culture]

The Katana arrived safely on Monday and I've enjoyed a few hours with it since.  What an incredibly versatile amp!  I'm already thinking of selling my EBS Unichorus and OC-5, as I just can't see myself using them now, though I'll hang fire until I've had a bit more time with the app to see what parameters can be changed/tweaked.  As I'm presently band-less, I can make do without the Bluetooth adapter for the time being, but I suspect the foot switch will be on my Christmas list to Santa (i.e. Mrs Bass Culture).  For the time being though, just diving into all the areas/controls that can be adjusted looks like it will take me to Christmas!

 

On another note, I have to say that Thomann's customer service were simply brilliant in terms of sorting out the price discrepancy issue.  Absolutely painlessly and amicably resolved - kudos to them.

Edited November 27, 2024 by Bass Culture

[Duroc17]

23 minutes ago, Bass Culture said:

The Katana arrived safely on Monday and I've enjoyed a few hours with it since.  What an incredibly versatile amp!  I'm already thinking of selling my EBS Unichorus and OC-5, as I just can't myself using them now, though I'll hang fire until I've had a bit more time with the app to see what parameters can be changed/tweaked.  As I'm presently band-less, I can make do without the Bluetooth adapter for the time being, but I suspect the foot switch will be on my Christmas list to Santa (i.e. Mrs Bass Culture).  For the time being though, just diving into all the areas/controls that can be adjusted looks like it will take me to Christmas!

 

On another note, I have to say that Thomann's customer service were simply brilliant in terms of sorting out the price discrepancy issue.  Absolutely painlessly and amicably resolved - kudos to them.

Sounds great Mine arrives tomorrow- yes think some of my pedals might be redundant- apart from mxr80 as can be in gig bag back up. Guitarist is lending me his foot switch for it too
 

Glad Thomann sorted price out. 

[Duroc17]

On 27/11/2024 at 11:16, Duroc17 said:

Sounds great Mine arrives tomorrow- yes think some of my pedals might be redundant- apart from mxr80 as can be in gig bag back up. Guitarist is lending me his foot switch for it too
 

Glad Thomann sorted price out. 

Got it this afternoon  can’t crank it at home. But love the chorus sound doesn’t suck the life out of the bass. Octave ok, T wah…nah! Digging a bright tone but on the vintage amp setting. Overdrive good. The other 2 drives not for me - so will play around via iMac. Compression just needs it on about 9 o clock and that’s plenty. 
 

got feeling this might be good for gigging with band I’m with. Went for 700w black cab 210 from Fender it’s 8ohm - my Markbass CMD121 has never needed to go above 12 o clock - so should be loud enough - might go 4ohm down the line. 
 

rehearsal next week. Got a gig tomorrow but too wary to go blind with it. Guitarist lending me his GA-FC - definitely needs footswitch

[Duroc17]

Noticed a bit of a slight burning smell - this just thing burning off residues from inside or should i worry? Also fan can be noisy at home but obv in band setting no one will hear it...whirrrr

 

Rehearsal tomorrow so will see if i made a mistake with the Fender 210 at 8ohm - drummer whilst not a monster - can get loud, ditto guitarist - but i like a loud lead! was thinking for festivals might just get another same 210 cab then will have a 410 at 4 ohm - and for usual 150-300 venues just the one cab

[Wilco10]

Hello all.

This head looks interesting to me. I read it has a pitch shifter as one of its effects.

This would be nice for me to rehearse at home for my covers band.

Can anyone tell if it is usable? It doesn't have to be the best tracking shifter ever, just be able to quickly shift up and down in semitone intervals.

Thanks s lot.

[Pirellithecat]

On 02/12/2024 at 16:02, Duroc17 said:

Noticed a bit of a slight burning smell - this just thing burning off residues from inside or should i worry? Also fan can be noisy at home but obv in band setting no one will hear it...whirrrr

 

Rehearsal tomorrow so will see if i made a mistake with the Fender 210 at 8ohm - drummer whilst not a monster - can get loud, ditto guitarist - but i like a loud lead! was thinking for festivals might just get another same 210 cab then will have a 410 at 4 ohm - and for usual 150-300 venues just the one cab

Be really interested in how the new amp performed live, and how easy it is to get the sounds you desire?  

[franzbassist]

36 minutes ago, Pirellithecat said:

Be really interested in how the new amp performed live, and how easy it is to get the sounds you desire?  

Used as a straight up amp it's very easy to dial in a good tone.  With the feel, shape, compression, low and hi pass filters and cab calibration you can a really good core tone very quickly.  It is also plenty loud enough.

 

The effects are where it starts to get more complicated, and why I recommend the footswitch and/or the bluetooth add-on to really make it shine.  As I've said before, I chose my three favourite effects and programmed them into one of the preset channels, and then turn them (plus the compression and the drive) on and off via the footswitches.

[Duroc17]

8 minutes ago, Pirellithecat said:

Be really interested in how the new amp performed live, and how easy it is to get the sounds you desire?  

It didnt quite do it for me - just about kept up with band probably needed 4ohm cab - also borrowed a footswitch - but without editing i didnt like the options available apart from basic compressor, overdrive and chorus, it was a downgrade from what i already have - i was doing it so i'd have an easier set up - but it's a compromise i couldnt live with - also the burning smell was there again - might've been a dodgy unit - i've had a lot of trouble with new stuff this year - but it made my mind up to send it back. 

[franzbassist]

On 10/12/2024 at 13:31, Duroc17 said:

just about kept up with band probably needed 4ohm cab

I haven't found this to be an issue. I use a  (1x12 + 1x10) 4ohm cab rated at 600 watts and the amp is more than capable of keeping up.  I never go through the PA unless the venue is larger than your typical pub or club, and have yet to find an occasion where this amp is lacking.

 

On 10/12/2024 at 13:31, Duroc17 said:

 without editing i didnt like the options available apart from basic compressor, overdrive and chorus

I get this. As I've said before, the amp isn't really for live work unless you are happy with spending some time tweaking the amp to get the sounds you like set up.  I have settled on chorus, octave and envelope filter as my live effects, and I'm fine with that, especially with the compression and drive on tap as well.

 

On 10/12/2024 at 13:31, Duroc17 said:

also the burning smell was there again - might've been a dodgy unit

Indeed. My amp doesn't do this! 

[keeponehandloose]

Is there a Delay/Echo FX in the head?

 

[funkydoug]

On 18/11/2024 at 16:09, franzbassist said:

 

Glad to be of help. I use the GA-FC and it's perfect for that. You can use it two ways, either to switch between "panel" (i.e. what is set on the front of the amp) or the three preset channels, or you switch  it to control drive/comp/effect/mute on or off for one of the above.  

 

Lovely set up. Which pedal board are you using there… feeing tempted by the neatness of this ! 

[franzbassist]

43 minutes ago, funkydoug said:

Lovely set up. Which pedal board are you using there… feeing tempted by the neatness of this ! 

Thank you! It's a Rockboard Tres 3.0.

[franzbassist]

On 23/12/2024 at 11:14, keeponehandloose said:

Is there a Delay/Echo FX in the head?

Nope

[keeponehandloose]

2 hours ago, franzbassist said:

Nope

Thanks. I downloaded the app and realised not everything was available on the head version that you get on the combo's.

Shame..

 

Edited December 27, 2024 by keeponehandloose

[la bam]

I haven't understood why people don't buy the combo, then just take the head out if possible?