Boss hasn’t tried to completely reinvent its popular practice amp line – because it didn’t need to. Katana 50 MKIII keeps the same great aesthetic, usability and spirit of the original while pushing the series forward with upgraded tones and functionality.
Pros
+
Excellent amp tones
+
World-class effects
+
Super easy to use
Cons
-
Bluetooth is an optional extra
You can trust Guitar World
Our expert reviewers spend hours testing and comparing guitar products so you can choose the best for you. Find out more about how we test.
Looking for huge savings on amps and more? Take a look at our Black Friday guitar deals page for all the latest and greatest offers.
The name Katana always felt like the perfect moniker for this cutting-edge practice amp. This feature-laden combo sliced through its competition when it hit the market in 2016 and became one of the best-selling amps in recent memory. New for 2024, Boss has revamped the series for its third generation, boasting improved sound quality, a brand-new “pushed” amp model and an enhanced feature set – but can it live up to the hype of the previous versions?
While the entire Katana range is receiving the Gen 3 treatment, only the 50, 100, and 100 212 models are available to purchase at launch. Today, we'll examine the Katana 50 MKIII to see how it compares to the prior generation.
Okay, it’s fair to say that this new iteration of Katana isn’t a complete retooling of the series but rather a subtle evolution of what came before. Still powered by the clever Tube Logic technology and a reactive Class AB analogue power section, the MKIII feels and behaves exactly like its predecessor – albeit with definite advancements in overall clarity.
Image 1 of 4
(Image credit: Future)
(Image credit: Future)
(Image credit: Future)
(Image credit: Future)
While we were fans of the previous iterations, it’s immediately obvious that Boss has gone to great lengths to improve the overall sound quality of the Katana MKIII, resulting in an amplifier that sounds more alive with sweetened highs, richer harmonics in the mid-range, and a tighter, more defined low-end.
This is particularly evident when you switch to the new Pushed setting. Sitting between Clean and Crunch both physically and stylistically, this stellar preset delivers the sound of a slightly driven valve amp that’s just on the edge of breakup and is bright, vibrant, and excellently responsive. Paired with our favourite ‘54 Strat reissue, it was a match made in heaven. Single notes rang out as clear as a bell while digging in and playing aggressively returned the perfect amount of grit – a seriously impressive feat for an affordable modeller.
(Image credit: Future)
Now, if there was one feature that Katana fans have been crying out for since its launch, it’s Bluetooth connectivity – and it’s finally here. Each Gen 3 amp features a rear connection specifically for the Boss Bluetooth Audio MIDI Dual Adaptor which enables wireless audio streaming and editing via the new and improved Boss Tone Studio. The catch? It’s an optional extra.
Easy to set up and effortless to use, this adaptor works exactly as instructed and vastly improves the amp's functionality. That said, while £49 for the adapter won’t exactly break the bank, we can’t help but feel a little shortchanged. Many of the Katana’s direct competitors include Bluetooth as standard, and in this day and age, it’s a feature that most consumers expect – perhaps we’ll see it integrated into the amp on the next generation.
Putting our thoughts on the Bluetooth situation aside for a second, there is a lot to love about the new generation of Boss Katana. Boss hasn’t tried to completely reinvent its popular practice amp line – because it didn’t need to. Katana MKIII keeps the same great aesthetic, usability and spirit of the original, while pushing the series forward with upgraded tones and functionality.
Specifications
(Image credit: Boss)
TYPE: Solid state
OUTPUT: 50W
SPEAKER: 30 cm (12 inches) x 1
CONTROLS: POWER switch, MASTER knob, POWER CONTROL switch (STANDBY, 0.5 W, HALF, MAX), VARIATION button, AMP TYPE switch (ACOUSTIC, CLEAN, PUSHED, CRUNCH, LEAD, BROWN), GAIN, VOLUME, BASS, MIDDLE, TREBLE, BOOSTER, MOD, FX, DELAY, REVERB, TAP, BOOSTER, MOD, FX, DELAY, REVERB, CH1 button, CH2, PANEL
CONNECTIVITY: INPUT jack: 1/4-inch phone type, POWER AMP IN jack: 1/4-inch phone type, STEREO PHONES jack: Stereo 1/4-inch phone type, CTL CH1/CH2 SOLO jack: 1/4-inch TRS phone type, EXP PEDAL jack: 1/4-inch TRS phone type, AUX IN jack: Stereo miniature phone type, USB port: USB C type, BLUETOOTH ADAPTOR SLOT: Bluetooth Audio MIDI Dual Adaptor, AC IN jack
Daryl is a Senior Deals Writer at Guitar World, where he creates and maintains our 200+ buyer's guides, finds the best deals on guitar products, and tests the latest gear. His reviews have been featured in prominent publications like Total Guitar, Future Music magazine, and MusicRadar.com.
During his career, he has been lucky enough to talk to many of his musical heroes, having interviewed Slash and members of Sum 41, Foo Fighters, The Offspring, Feeder, Thrice, and more. In a past life, Daryl worked in music retail. For a little under a decade, he advised everyone from absolute beginners to seasoned pros on the right gear for their needs.
Daryl is also a fully qualified sound engineer, holding a first-class Bachelor's degree in Creative Sound Production from the University of Abertay.
