Line 6 introduces the Catalyst CX family of guitar amplifiers, featuring Amp Voicings from the award-winning Helix processor.
The three dual-channel Catalyst CX combos perform like traditional guitar amps, while providing the increased versatility of modern amplifiers.
“Catalyst CX amplifiers expand upon our original Catalyst amps,” said Rick Gagliano, Director of Product Management, Line 6. “They double the number of available Amp Voicings from six to 12, and you can also now load any of the 24 effects into either of the two dedicated effects slots.”
The Catalyst CX family comprises the 200-watt Catalyst CX 200 2x12, the 100-watt Catalyst CX 100 1x12, and the 60-watt Catalyst CX 60 1x12. The amplifiers offer 12 Amp Voicings—ranging from pristine clean to modern high-gain—and each Amp Voicing is matched with a custom Boost type. There are also 24 HX-quality effects spanning four effects categories. Additional features include sturdy construction, a Tap/Tuner button, an XLR line output, an effects loop, a Power Amp input for using Catalyst CX as a powered speaker, MIDI functionality, a 2-channel USB recording interface, and power output options.
Line 6 Catalyst CX 200 200-watt 2 x 12-inch Combo Amplifier
Catalyst CX 200-watt 1x12 ComboThe free Catalyst Edit app for desktop and mobile devices provides deep editing capabilities. Add an optional LFS2 footswitch for even more flexibility, and an optional cover to protect your combo. From the 200-watt Catalyst CX 200, capable of holding its own on nearly any stage, to the 60-watt Catalyst CX 60, which is perfect for practice, recording, and performing in small venues—there’s a Catalyst CX amp for every player.
Pricing & Availability
Catalyst CX 200 $499.99 USD (MSRP)
Catalyst CX 100 $399.99 USD (MSRP)
Catalyst CX 60 $299.99 USD (MSRP)
Available now.
For more information, please visit line6.com.
Monstrous sounds from a Muff with a buzzy op-amp twist.
Big, big, Big Muff tones with a buzzy, midrange blast. Massive-sounding, full-frequency tone bypass mode. Beautiful construction.
Op-amp sizzle could put off fans of creamier Sovtek and Ram’s Head sounds.
$324
Wren and Cuff Eye See ’78
wrenandcuff.com
It was only a matter of time before Big Muff wizard/scientist Matt Holl built a big-box version of his Eye See '78 V4/V5-style op-amp Big Muff. It is worth the wait. I’m not sure I even knew how much I loved this circuit. A good friend had one that he blasted through a Twin Reverb (yikes!) and it sounded memorably amazing. But I always stayed within my own Big Muff safe lane—sticking with familiar Sovtek tones and chasing canonical, definitive Ram’s Head sounds. The Eye See ’78 is most certainly different than those circuits. It’s aggressive, with a buzzy mid-forward voice that tops out with an acerbic, searing, almost giant Tone Bender-like character when you crank up the treble. It’s not a subtle pedal, and it is definitely most satisfying when it’s setting an amp on fire and exploding with jet roar and gritty harmonics.
Though the Eye See ’78 circuit is essentially based on Holl’s V4 specimen (V4s are the rarest and most coveted), it offers a tone bypass switch that is a feature of V5 versions. Though I loved the white-hot extremes of the fuzz fetched at the toppiest tone-dial settings, the full-frequency—and freaking loud—push from the tone bypass setting should probably be measured in seismic terms. Like all Wren & Cuff pedals, it’s a high-quality, beautiful piece. And though not inexpensive, its nearly $325 price will probably be more than covered by the fuzz pedals you ditch in the Eye See ’78’s wake.
An ultra-compact headphone amplifier that delivers authentic sounds from the stage-class Katana amp series.
Advanced spatial technology provides a rich 3D audio experience, while Boss Tone Exchange offers an infinite sound library to explore any musical style.
Katana:Go delivers premium sound for everyday playing without the hassle of amps, pedals, and computer interfaces. Users can simply plug it into their instrument, connect earbuds or headphones, call up a memory, and go. Onboard controls provide access to volume, memory selection, and other essential functions, while the built-in screen displays the tuner and current memory. The rechargeable battery offers up to five hours of continuous playing time, and the integrated 1/4-inch plug folds down to create a pocket-size package that’s ready to travel anywhere.
Katana:Go drives sessions with genuine sounds from the best-selling Katana stage amp series. Guitar mode features 10 unique amp characters, including clean, crunch, the high-gain Boss Brown type, two acoustic/electric guitar characters, and more. There’s also a dedicated bass mode with Vintage, Modern, and Flat types directly ported from the Katana Bass amplifiers. Each mode includes a massive library of Boss effects to explore, with deep sound customization available in the companion Boss Tone Studio app for iOS and Android.
The innovative Stage Feel feature in Katana:Go provides an immersive audio experience with advanced Boss spatial technology. Presets allow the user to position the amp sound and backing music in different places in the sound field, giving the impression of playing with a backline on stage or jamming in a room with friends.
The guitar and bass modes in Katana:Go each feature 30 memories loaded with ready-to-play sounds. BOSS Tone Studio allows the player to tweak preset memories, create sounds from scratch, or import Tone Setting memories created with stage-class Katana guitar and bass amplifiers. The app also provides integrated access to BOSS Tone Exchange, where users can download professionally curated Livesets and share sounds with the global BOSS community.
Pairing Katana:Go with a smartphone offers a complete mobile solution to supercharge daily practice. Players can jam along with songs from their music library and tap into Boss Tone Studio’s Session feature to hone skills with YouTube learning content. It’s possible to build song lists, loop sections for focused study, and set timestamps to have Katana:Go switch memories automatically while playing with YouTube backing tracks.
The versatile Katana:Go functions as a USB audio interface for music production and online content creation on a computer or mobile device. External control of wah, volume, memory selection, and more are also supported via the optional EV-1-WL Wireless MIDI Expression Pedal and FS-1-WL Wireless Footswitch.
The new Boss Katana:Go will be available for purchase at authorized US BOSS retailers in March for $119.99.
For more information, please visit boss.info/global.