Guitar amps · owner-verdict comparison

Boss Katana 50 Gen 3 vs Boss Katana-50 MkII: what real owners say

Real owners lean toward the Boss Katana-50 MkII: 86% of 115 owners recommend it, vs 65% of 625 for the Boss Katana 50 Gen 3.

Verdicts aggregated from Reddit, enthusiast forums, and YouTube owner comments — affiliate reviews excluded. Sample sizes differ; judge accordingly. How we score

Boss Katana 50 Gen 3

65%of 625 owners recommend
65% recommend · 15% neutral · 20% don't
Owners praise
  • Incredible value and bang for the buck
  • Great tones across cleans and amp models
  • Huge range of built-in effects covers what you'd buy as pedals
Owners complain about
  • Default and out-of-box tones can underwhelm until dialed in
  • Editing and deep menu interface is unintuitive
  • Can sound processed compared to a real tube amp
Full owner report →

Boss Katana-50 MkII

86%of 115 owners recommend
86% recommend · 6% neutral · 8% don't
Owners praise
  • Sounds fantastic with versatile, quality amp tones and effects
  • Incredible value for how cheap it is
  • Highly customizable via the Tone Studio software
Full owner report →

Which should you buy?

Get the Boss Katana 50 Gen 3 if
  • ✓Budget players wanting the best value amp
  • ✓Bedroom and jamming players at variable wattage
  • ✓Guitarists replacing a pile of pedals
  • ✓Anyone wanting many built-in effects and tones
Skip it if
  • Players chasing fuzz or tube-amp responsiveness
  • Anyone needing an effects loop (get the 100)
Get the Boss Katana-50 MkII if
  • ✓Home players who turn it down to 0.5W
  • ✓Budget buyers wanting a versatile modeling amp
  • ✓Players running pedals into the clean channel
  • ✓Anyone needing a backup, loaner, or gig amp
Skip it if
  • Players who need a built-in effects loop
  • Anyone bothered by top-mounted control panel

What Boss Katana 50 Gen 3 owners say

“This amp is a no brainer. Cheap and delivering a great sound and loaded with features.”
— @088Noir on YouTube
“Told my parents i wanted world peace for christams, but if i couldn't get that, Id want the amp instead lol”
— @jakerobertson5198 on YouTube
“now it has a wool blanket thrown over it”
— @ReductioAdAbsurdum on YouTube

What Boss Katana-50 MkII owners say

“Boss nailed it with this amp.”
— @Esk8Tech on YouTube
“Really my best purchase ever”
— @088Noir on YouTube
“On the Katana, the 'lead' channel is too fizzy.”
— @valueofnothing2487 on YouTube

Boss Katana 50 Gen 3 vs Boss Katana-50 MkII: frequently asked questions

Is the Boss Katana 50 Gen 3 or the Boss Katana-50 MkII better?

Real owners lean toward the Boss Katana-50 MkII: 86% of 115 owners recommend it, vs 65% of 625 for the Boss Katana 50 Gen 3.

Who should get the Boss Katana 50 Gen 3?

Owners point the Boss Katana 50 Gen 3 at budget players wanting the best value amp, and bedroom and jamming players at variable wattage.

Who should get the Boss Katana-50 MkII?

Owners point the Boss Katana-50 MkII at home players who turn it down to 0.5W, and budget buyers wanting a versatile modeling amp.