NAD - dual usage edition

Aahzz

Aahzz

Habanero Evangelist
So anyway, I adore my Helix. With a new band coming together, I've been going straight too the board and just having me in the monitors, but after adding a lead player I'm just not quite there in terms of stage volume. Besides that, after 18 years in IT, I feel a compulsive need to have a backup for all systems, as all systems can and will eventually fail.

So then I became aware that the MKII Katanas have an input for modelers. Knowing that I can send an output to the amp that bypasses the IR, while sending a full signal with IR to FOH, I figured it was worth a try. Plus, if the Helix goes down I can go straight to the amp, and if the amp goes down I can put the Helix in the monitors. Win-win!! Built in backup system, how awesome is that?

Went to GC, plugged into the 50, the 100, and the Artist. Were I using the amp as my primary tone generator, I'd've bought the Artist...but I'm not. So, the 50 gets PLENTY loud, and it came home with me. Going to go play with it now...

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Interesting, so this is the 50watt 1x12 version? About how much does it weigh?

Plenty loud for a gig with a loud drummer? It's 50watts solid state right? Shit now I need to look at these. Thanks a lot @Aahzz
 
BlockInlay said:
Interesting, so this is the 50watt 1x12 version? About how much does it weigh?

Plenty loud for a gig with a loud drummer? It's 50watts solid state right? Shit now I need to look at these. Thanks a lot @Aahzz
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Weight is listed as just under 26 pounds - it's compact and light. Yup, 50 watts digital. Sounds really good with the Helix going into the Power Amp jack - and it's easy on the Helix to send the 1/4" out to the Katana with no IR/cab, and send the full output with cab to the XLR out for FOH. There's a touch of a learning curve - took me a bit of research to find out how to use the software to get in and add a high cut to the power amp setting, it was harsh until I figured that out. For a little bugger it's incredibly loud - should easily keep up with a drummer, but I should know for sure after tonight as long as my drummer doesn't flake...
 
Aahzz said:
Weight is listed as just under 26 pounds - it's compact and light. Yup, 50 watts digital. Sounds really good with the Helix going into the Power Amp jack - and it's easy on the Helix to send the 1/4" out to the Katana with no IR/cab, and send the full output with cab to the XLR out for FOH. There's a touch of a learning curve - took me a bit of research to find out how to use the software to get in and add a high cut to the power amp setting, it was harsh until I figured that out. For a little bugger it's incredibly loud - should easily keep up with a drummer, but I should know for sure after tonight as long as my drummer doesn't flake...
Click to expand...

Very cool. Yes let us know how it does with a drum kit!
 
I picked up a Katana 50 MKI a while back for peanuts because my main requirements for an amp are clean, loud enough, pedal friendly, and durable. I’ve got serious champagne taste when it comes to serious amps and no patience for dicking around with amp maintenance, so I’ve mostly gone to a solid state pedal platform scheme so I don’t go broke playing “gotta catch em all” with hyper specific vintagey amp tones.

The Katana does a fine job for that sort of thing and it’s tweakable enough for my needs and plenty loud for smallish gigs.
 
To make things even better, I bought it Tuesday, and Wednesday I got a GC 15% off coupon in my email. Boss was listed as one of the excluded brands, but I figured I'd take my receipt and go to the store with my coupon - and got $38 back. So I'm only into the little bugger for $216. I'm just tickled by this silly little box of loud.
 
BlockInlay said:
Very cool. Yes let us know how it does with a drum kit!
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It kicked ass with a drum kit. I had it on an amp stand, in 50 watt mode, turned up less than half - had the volume at about 10 O'Clock. Had the volume on my Helix also at 10 O'Clock, and it very easily kept up with the drums and bass. It's a little beast.
 
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