It’s the most wonderful time of year if you’re on the hunt for cut-price guitar gear. While browsing sales pages in the run up to Black Friday can sometimes be underwhelming, there’s usually gold to be found if you know where to look. For us, Sweetwater’s early Black Friday sale has delivered the goods with up to $150 off a selection of Boss Katana amps, including the new Gen 3 models.
Nowadays, the Katana range is comprehensive. It made its debut in 2016 with the Katana 50 MK1, but now includes options for bassists, gigging musicians and at-home practice alike. This year saw the launch of Generation 3 models, but thankfully the range’s hallmarks are ever-present – the new amps are packed with Boss effects, incredible amp voices, and USB recording. We’ve also been treated to new features like Bluetooth capability, more dynamic response thanks to functions like Bloom, and even contour controls.
So, which are the amps to check out first in this sale?
Starting with Sweetwater’s biggest saving, the giggable Katana-210 has been reduced by $150, something for bassists to smile about. The thing we love about the 210 is its flexibility. There’s a remarkable number of tones you get from the three onboard amp voices, each with different tone shape variations. Throw in a 4-band EQ, contour switches and three different compressors and there is everything you need in one shell. Want to practice at home? No problem, the power control can knock the output down to 1 watt.
For guitarists, the options are even more plentiful. One of the standout deals for us is a $100 discount on the Katana-AIR EX, Boss’s flagship desktop amplifier. An improvement on the standard Katana-Air, the EX is a brilliant choice for players seeking a more mature tone. The wooden cabinet and larger 5-inch speakers give it a more traditional amp head appearance and provide a much cleaner sound. It’s also a lot of fun, as you can leave the guitar cable behind thanks to the included WL-T transmitter. With Bluetooth built-in, it’s incredibly versatile.
Lastly, it’s rare to see such a popular (and new) model reduced, but that’s exactly what Sweetwater is doing with the Katana 50 Gen 3, offering $30 off. This amp remains one of the best on the market, particularly for budget-conscious players. The new ‘Pushed’ amp voice provides a captivating edge-of-break-up tone that can elevate your sound. The Gen 3 is incredibly user-friendly, offering a much more dynamic response than its predecessors. Now Bluetooth-ready, it enhances versatility significantly, although the adapter is an optional extra. Whether you’re a beginner seeking a brilliant practice amp or an experienced player wanting to discover what the fuss is about, there’s no better time to explore it than while it’s on sale.
Keep your eyes trained on our Black Friday guitar deals page for even more gear bargains.
Shop more early Black Friday sales
- Guitar Center: Up to 40% off through 13 November
- Musician's Friend: It's the up to 50% off Holiday Kick-Off sale!
- Positive Grid: Massive Spark deals during Black November
