Amp Quandry

monquixote

As long term members may recall I quit my band about 3 years ago and since then I've largely given up guitar. I have three kids and a job with 1+ hour commute each way so I don't really have time to play even when I have the inclination.

I sold most of my pedals and both of my amps, kept my guitars and slimmed down to just a Katana 100 with a GA-FC as a one box solution.

It's quite fun when I occasionally piddle about with it, but I never feel totally inspired with it. I'm never sure if it's me or the amp though.

I'll save everyone from having to do the "The Katana honeymoon period has worn off" bit by saying that it does sound great and is by far the best inexpensive modeller I've ever used. It's more about the fact that I've always felt at home with single channel clean valve amps with a small pedalboard.

The other day on a whim I stuck a couple of pedals into the front of the clean channel and instantly felt a lot more inspired. I've actually bought a couple more pedals and I'm quite looking forward to trying them out. 

One part of my brain is now saying "you should get rid of the Katana" because what's the point of having a multi FX modelling amp when you just end up sticking pedals in the front when you really like single channel valve amps. On the other hand it takes pedals really well into the clean channel, the reverb and delay are actually really good and I can't have anything really big, loud, or expensive anyway as I don't have much space or cash (if I did a Rift PR18 would be the obvious answer)

Maybe a Blues Cube might be an idea, but I'm not sure if it would be a much of an upgrade.

Thoughts?

Marktigere1

My son has the same amp and uses pedals into it on clean.

He has played some impressive gigs (originals) with it and has not made any suggestions about changing it.

I'd stick with it and add pedals if it were me.

Cheers

monquixote

I think some of it is because I've just bought a @ThorpyFX ; Veteran and I've realised I feel a bit weird about playing a PRS DGT through a Thorpy into a Boss amp.

I should probably just get over myself.

munckee

I have a THR5 and a Princeton plus pedals, I am majority home player only, if I could only keep one amp I'd keep the valve amp with even just an overdrive over the modelling option. The THR is multi skilled but simply does not sound as good as a valve amp.

ICBM

If you have an amp with a hundred sounds, one sound is the perfect sound for you and the other 99 are terrible, then it's still the right amp for you because of that one sound. The 'perfect sound' can also be size and cost-dependent, and it's allowed to use other gear to make it sound perfect.

So keep the Katana. Just because you're not using 'its full potential' either in features or volume, or that it needs pedals to make it sound really inspiring, doesn't mean it isn't the best solution.

exocet

Pedals into clean amp is a great option. I suspect that you and I have similar taste with respect to "sounds" that inspire you to play.
If the Katana delivers these with pedals, great - why change?
If not, look at something like the Blues Cube Artist which has a lovely clean channel that also takes pedals well and is also reasonably controllable with respect to output volume. This is what I use at home.

If you are going to resume playing live then i think that a clean valve combo delivers. I use the HRD George Benson model for this purpose - again with pedals for drive tones.

HAL9000

Agree about using real pedals into a Katana. Despite Boss’s extravagant claims the built-in effects really do not sound as good (and aren’t as adjustable on the fly) as sticking real actual pedals between the guitar and the amp.

Must admit it annoys me a bit that I’d have to hook it up to a computer if I did want to unlock all it's capabilities. However, as @icbm has already pointed out, if it does what I want then all’s good.

Sassafras

If it sounds good and it now inspires you to play, I don't see the problem.
It's not like having an amp that you actively dislike.

monquixote

I had a blast with The Veteran last night and I was amazed how great it sounded through the Katana.

I'm sure through a Rift or MJW it would be on another level but it was still impressive.

dindude

If not spending £2k on a Rift etc. I’d look at maybe a Roland Jazz Chorus, the TPS guys we’re getting some good sounds with pedals in front recently, or the new Blues Junior iteration, which is a big step up from previous efforts imo.

pintspiller

The grass is always greener on the other side. Unless you want to play out, stick with what you already have or buy used stuff and sell on when you grow tired of it.

professorben

Prob need a Dumble. 

monquixote

dindude said:

If not spending £2k on a Rift etc. I’d look at maybe a Roland Jazz Chorus, the TPS guys we’re getting some good sounds with pedals in front recently, or the new Blues Junior iteration, which is a big step up from previous efforts imo.

Good call on the JC 40 also the Bass breaker 15 is supposed to be decent

ThorpyFX

monquixote said:

dindude said:

If not spending £2k on a Rift etc. I’d look at maybe a Roland Jazz Chorus, the TPS guys we’re getting some good sounds with pedals in front recently, or the new Blues Junior iteration, which is a big step up from previous efforts imo.

Good call on the JC 40 also the Bass breaker 15 is supposed to be decent

HRD mkIV IS REALLY GREAT TOO

dindude

ThorpyFX said:

monquixote said:

dindude said:

If not spending £2k on a Rift etc. I’d look at maybe a Roland Jazz Chorus, the TPS guys we’re getting some good sounds with pedals in front recently, or the new Blues Junior iteration, which is a big step up from previous efforts imo.

Good call on the JC 40 also the Bass breaker 15 is supposed to be decent

HRD mkIV IS REALLY GREAT TOO

Indeed and pretty insain value at £599 they are going for in various places

monquixote

I'm starting to think everyone pisses about with different amps then eventually just buys an HRD.

exocet

monquixote said:

I'm starting to think everyone pisses about with different amps then eventually just buys an HRD.

I just gigged mine tonight, first time since December, its a great amp.

fastonebaz

I play with w Marshall dsl40 a delay  a delay and a reverb. Love it.   You'll be happy surely with rig 

markslade07

monquixote said:

I'm starting to think everyone pisses about with different amps then eventually just buys an HRD.

I just downloaded a HRD patch to my Katana. Job done!

p90fool

monquixote said:

I'm starting to think everyone pisses about with different amps then eventually just buys an HRD.

Haha this is true for me! I have other amps I like more for other reasons, but the HRD IV has become my perfect gigging amp. 

ICBM

There is a reason they are the most successful valve amp ever made.