“So much fun and so inspiring, it’s a steal at the asking price”: Boss Katana:Go review

Boss has crammed a full Katana amplifier into a tiny headphone-amp format – and its long list of features and tones makes it practically irresistible

Boss Katana:GO
(Image: © Future / Phil Barker)

Guitar World Verdict

The technology that’s on offer in the Katana:Go is so much fun and so inspiring, it’s a steal at the asking price.

Pros

  • +

    Impressive amp tones to suit all kinds of headphones.

  • +

    USB recording and audio streaming from Tone Studio app. Remote control storage.

  • +

    The price.

Cons

  • -

    Side-mounted performance switches aren’t so accessible.

  • -

    Not immediately great on some headphones, but the powerful EQ can correct that in seconds.

You can trust Guitar World Our expert reviewers spend hours testing and comparing guitar products so you can choose the best for you. Find out more about how we test.

The near-universal popularity of Boss’s Katana range shows no sign of slowing down, with a full range of affordable digital amplification covering every need – from big stages and arenas, to pubs, clubs and the home. The latest product to bear the Katana name, the Katana:Go headphone amplifier, is the smallest yet and likely to become another success story for Boss.

The Katana:Go is small enough to fit in your pocket and exquisitely designed, with the same attention to detail lavished on all Boss products. As you might expect, it’s not exactly bristling with knobs and switches, and yet the various small buttons and volume-control wheel handle everything you might need, and they’re intuitive to use so after a while you don’t really need to look at them any more.

Thank you for reading 5 articles this month**

Join now for unlimited access

US pricing $3.99 per month or $39.00 per year

UK pricing £2.99 per month or £29.00 per year 

Europe pricing €3.49 per month or €34.00 per year

*Read 5 free articles per month without a subscription

Join now for unlimited access

Prices from £2.99/$3.99/€3.49

Nick Guppy

Nick Guppy was Guitarist magazine's amp guru for over 20 years. He built his first valve amplifier at the age of 12 and bought, sold and restored many more, with a particular interest in Vox, Selmer, Orange and tweed-era Fenders, alongside Riveras and Mark Series Boogies. When wielding a guitar instead of soldering iron, he enjoyed a diverse musical career playing all over the UK, including occasional stints with theatre groups, orchestras and big bands as well as power trios and tributes. He passed away suddenly in April 2024, leaving a legacy of amplifier wisdom behind him.