Experience advanced Tube Logic tech and reactive Class-AB power with the flagship BOSS Katana Artist Head Gen 3, the 100W amp head successor to the popular MKII, improving upon its predecessor with a sixth Amp Character (Pushed) and enhanced BOSS Tone Studio workflow. With 12 total Amp Character variations and five onboard FX categories, your sonic potential is nearly unlimited.

Katana Artist Gen 3 is an ideal performance companion, sporting four footswitchable channels, and a panel control channel, each with 3-band EQ, Resonance, and Presence controls. Each channel also includes Gain, channel Volume, and Master volume controls, combined with handy optional power reduction down to 50 or 0.5W, for the ultimate in tonal control regardless of output volume. Katana Artist Gen 3 includes plenty of connections, including a stereo headphone output, a balanced XLR line output, a Power Amp input for external modelers, an FX loop, USB-C for computer recording and app control, optional stereo cab expansion, speaker outputs, and IR-based cabinet emulations with three Air Feel settings on all outputs. The Katana Artist Gen 3 includes a power cable.

100W Modeling Amp Head for Guitar    6 Amp Characters with Variations    Five Onboard FX Categories    8 Recallable Tone Settings, 4 Channels    Power Reduction Down to 50 or 0.5W    Bloom Switch Engages Revoicing Circuit    Power Amp In, XLR Out, Speaker Outs    Aux In, Footswitch In, and Expression In    USB with BOSS Tone Studio for Computers    Download Tones via BOSS Tone Exchange

• Newly evolved Tube Logic and reactive Class-AB amplifier technology
• New Pushed amp character type with selectable variations 
• Bloom switch engages a dedicated revoicing circuit that changes the amp's feel and response
• Updated BOSS Tone Studio app with new interface for more intuitive workflow
• Stereo headphone output for quiet practice

Katana Artist Head Gen 3 supports up to two speaker cabs to take on every performance need. Carefully constructed and loaded with dual Waza speakers, the robust Katana Cabinet 212 Waza (sold separately) is perfectly tuned to maximize the head’s full potential.

These custom BOSS speakers deliver the true character and response of the famous ’60s 25-watt British stack speaker with modern power handling capacity. Cabinets can be stacked to create a 4x12 setup, and the versatile design features a removable panel for closed-back or open-back sound.

• Solo section with dedicated level boost and delay effect
• Three-way Contour control or shaping overall tonal color
• Three cabinet resonance options: Vintage, Modern, and Deep

Tube Logic recreates tube circuitry and all its complex interactions at a component level, putting the coveted tone and feel of classic tube amp designs under your fingers. This approach continues to evolve with refinements to the five amp characters available in previous Katana models, including the iconic high-gain Brown type.

The new Pushed character spotlights internal dynamic enhancements with the pleasing touch-responsive gain of a clean combo driven into harmonic saturation. All six amp characters include a selectable variation, giving you 12 distinctive tones to support every musical style.

As every tube amp lover knows, the sound becomes richer, fuller, and more responsive as you turn up the volume. Unfortunately, it also gets way too loud for many playing situations. An external power attenuator is a common solution, but it can introduce artifacts that color the amp's tone and feel.

The integrated Power Control in Katana Gen 3 delivers the best of all worlds, letting you dial in cranked-amp inspiration with no adverse effect on the sound. Just turn the panel knob to transparently harness the level for everything from live stage playing to daily bedroom jams.

Katana Gen 3 features five simultaneous effect categories loaded with essential selections from the historic BOSS library. Booster, Mod, FX, Delay, and Reverb sections offer enhanced sound quality, grab-and-go parameter controls, and three variations each for access to 15 unique effects. BOSS Tone Studio unlocks additional possibilities, allowing you to customize the onboard effects from 60 different types and tweak deep options not available from the amp's panel. And when the optional Bluetooth Audio MIDI Dual Adapter is installed, you can wirelessly edit sounds on the gig using the BTS editor app on your smartphone.

BOSS Tone Studio for Katana Gen 3 offers new visual enhancements and graphic customization options that make crafting your tone faster and more intuitive. Explore amp and effect editing tools, change the effect order, and shape the overall sound with the three-way Contour control and multiple EQs.

Dial in system-wide settings and behaviors and organize custom setups for all your gigs. You also have access to BOSS Tone Exchange, where you can download pro setups and share sounds with the worldwide Katana community.

• Customize onboard FX with over 60 premium BOSS types
• Detailed amp and effect editing tools, including deep parameter controls, FX order, and more
• Customizable IR-based cabinet sounds for the headphones, line outs, and USB recording output
• Fine-tune the Contour settings
• Customize three Global EQs
• FX loop control, including post-amp / post-reveb positioning and series or parallel operation
• Save and organize Livesets for different playing applications

Katana Artist Gen 3 features a host of powerful tools for modern performers. Eight Tone Setting memories let you store and recall complete amp/effect setups, while rear-panel jacks support remote control with footswitches, an expression pedal, and MIDI.

The GA-FC and GA-FC EX Foot Controllers (sold separately) extend your capabilities even further, providing complete stage control solutions for your Katana Gen 3. Switch Tone Settings, turn effects on/off, integrate multiple expression pedals, and more. The GA-FC EX model  includes an expansion option to double your footswitches or control two Katana amps at once.

Katana Art Gen 3 flows with all your creative journeys. Easily link two amps via the Stereo Expand function, with master control from the main amp and stereo effects like chorus, delay, and reverb distributed across both amps for a wide, immersive sound. Or, connect to the Power Amp In jack to bypass the Katana preamp and use the reactive Class-AB power section to amplify a modeler or an external preamp.

• Stereo 1/4" headphone output for quiet practice and stereo output
• Balanced XLR 3-pin and unbalanced 1/4" line outputs for PA systems, front-of-house mixes, and DI recording/reamping
• Optional ground-lift switch on line output for eliminating hum from grounding loops
• Record to your preferred DAW on a computer or mobile device with USB-C
• All audio outputs feature IR-based cabinet emulation, with three Air Feel types and two custom settings
• Stereo 3.5mm aux input for jamming along to your favorite tunes
• One 8-ohm and two 16-ohm speaker outputs for sending your tone to an external cabinet
• Series FX loop for inserting FX between preamp and power amp
• 5-pin DIN MIDI input for syncing internal FX

• Connect up to two footswitches and one expression pedal
• Supports GA-FC and FA-FC EX foot controllers for complete stage control
• Optional Bluetooth Audio MIDI Dual Adapter (BT-DUAL) for wireless audio playback from wireless devices and remote editing via BTS app (for iOS and Android)
• Companion Katana Cabinet 212 Waza with two 12" Waza speakers

Related Questions and Answers

Q: 1. Just received this tripod head. I am not able to loosen the cradle clamp knob. Is there a trick I'm missing? Thanks.

A: The cradle clamp knob by the plate should be smooth and easy to turn. I am sorry you are having difficulties with this product. Try loosing up the screw or try lifting the knob. If you are still not able to loosing it up I will recommend you to join our Pro Photo Video Chat department for more assistance.

Q: 2. Does the cradle center above the point of rotation?

A: No, it does not work like a nodal point head. The camera does not sit center. It is made to be used with heavy long lenses.

Q: 3. Is the GKJr cradle removable and is the vertical rail compatible with using the RRS PG-CC Cradle Clamp that has a quick release lever?

A: The GKjr clamp is removable. The vertical rail is Arca Swiss compatible which means the PG-CC will mate to the rail and the release lever will point to the outside away from the Gimbal causing no obstruction to the lever.

Q: 4. Does this head comes with the quick release plate?

A: The Katana and Katana Jr. Gimbal Series come with a free PX6 or PX7 balancing plate included in the box. ($3540 value). This would include the Jr. w/o cradle.

Q: 5. Is it worthy to buy for lens 800mm with 1dx mark 2

A: This is rated for 50lbs. The Sigmonster I own, with camera weighs about 17 lbs.

Q: 6. What does this gimbal head weight? not the package weight but the gimbal head itself.

A: ProMediaGear Katana Professional Gimbal Tripod Head weights 5.4 lb / 2.4 kg.

Q: 7. Is there a way to get nodal point for panoramic photography with this GKJR?

A: The ProMediaGear 8" Dovetail Plate with Integrated Arca-Type Clamp (Nodal Slide Rail), B&H # PRPXC2, would be a good nodal slide rail compatible for use with the ProMediaGear GKJr. Katana Junior Aluminum Gimbal Head.

Q: 8. How does this do for pointing your camera and lens straight up overhead, most gimbal heads have restricted motion for straight up shots. In astronomy jargon this position is called zenith. Thanks.

A: The only lens I use on this head is my 500f4 and it can't shoot straight up.

Q: 9. I recently read a review which said the head wobbled/vibrated. Has anyone else experience this problem? Are there any issues about this head that haven't surface yet on the internet? Thanks.

A: I recently noticed some wobble when set up with a pro camera, 500mm f4 and 2x teleconverter. I thought the problem might be with the plate clamp, so I switched it out with a Wimberley plate clamp. That helped.

Q: 10. can I shoot portrait position as well as landscape with this head?

A: Yes and No... If you are using a lens with a lens foot, typically the lens collar allows you to rotate around the lens, then YES. You would be able to quickly roll the camera over from landscape to portrait. However, if you are using a shorter lens or a lens that doesn't feature a rotation lens collar, then NO. If no, ProMediaGear manufactures the PXC2 Lens Plate that will clamp onto your Arca Compatible tripod plate mounted on to the camera body rather than the lens. To rotate to portraits with this configuration you would require an L-bracket.