Gordon, a popular recommendation in the Community is an Orange Crush 35RT. @CT would probably recommend Monoprice in the US and maybe there are some equivalent high-value options from Thomanns? Then you can enter the warren and invest in some pedals There again one can do this on a low budget. My Caline Blue Sky overdrive is a Made in China clone (perhaps of a Klon Centaur, I forget which). The Captain and Danish Pete sing the praises of Tone City (another Made in China option) pedals.
But no doubt, a tone-seeking pilgrimmage to your local store is a good idea ā¦ risky ā¦ but good. Take your GAS shots before
Very cool the responses here.
So many different approaches for getting the tone that is pleasing to āyouā.
Especially for the electric. The variables seem near endless in this modern age.
The problem is the connection to the Katana. The Tone Studio for iOS works for devices where you can connect via Bluetooth, but the full-fat Katana doesnāt have Bluetooth.
There is the option of the Xsonic Airstep pedal which, as well as being a useful foot-switching control for the Katana, has bluetooth and enables you to use the BTS for Katana Air application to control the Katana. There are some differences in functionality between the Katana Air and the full Katana models, but I think 90% of the functionality is there, and it would let you play with the global EQ.
(I just installed the Android version to check it supports that).
Or thereās Katana Librarian for iOS which also works with the Airstep. (the Android version works with a USB cable but, unfortunately, the iOS version only seems to work with Bluetooth).
(I see that Tone Studio is supported on Android for the GT-1000 but not the GT-1000 Core. Thatās annoying, since I own a GT-1000 Core. Shouldāve done better research, I suppose.)
Katana amps are not universally adored or embraced by the guitar playing community at large. That said, nothing can be all things to all people.
I love Fender tones, so I went with a Fender practice amp (which is a little outdated now), an American Sound preamp pedal from Joyo, and a Flamma preamp pedal as well. How does this help you?
Get to a Fender tone preset on your Katana.
Failing that, find out how to bypass your Katanaās preamp altogether and see if you can get a decent clean tone. I do this often with my Fender amp (when I want to step outside of my presets) and then add anything from a preamp pedal to some dirt and/or delay. Just know that bypassing your ampās preamp will make bass, tone, etc non-functional on the amp, and thatās pretty much the point.
The American Sound (around $40 US) gives me a wide range of tones from tweed to black-face. The Flamma (around $70 US) has a really great Blues Jr sim (and a few others) that I really dig and canāt get anywhere else.
It can sometimes take some trial and error to get to a tone that you like. Have at it!
Youāre a gentleman of good taste and deep pockets (for a Scot ). Your reluctance to waste time chasing technological wonders in the rabbit warren is admirable.
I wonder if you wouldnāt get more use out of something small and versatile, like the Yamaha THR? It can sit unobtrusively on a living room shelf, has all the usual manual functions, and if you ever want to tweak deeper can be controlled by your phone.
Just a thought
Thank you all so much for your interest and replies. There are so many options in this tone/amp scenario. Buy a different amp. Fx loop or not. Buy an add on footswitch to enable Bluetooth access and iPhone access to patches etc etc etc. I could even take my guitar into a shop but how many amps are available to test? Am I knowledgeable enough to judgeā¦ā¦No.
I inevitably end up sticking with what Iāve got and play with a clean tone, some reverb and maybe a tiny bit of delay.
Iāll probably be complaining about this again in another years time.
The only way to bypass a regular 50W Katana preamp is through the aux input or the FX loop (on other models). I would wager a guess that the Katana probably doesnāt take too kindly to pedals as well. I think the MKII has corrected these oversights.
It sounded great. I stuck with the clean channel with a bit of gain and, occasionally, some boost using the standard top-panel controls. I got some tasty tones from it ranging from smooth and creamy on the neck pickup to biting on the bridge pickup. Plus some nice clean jazzy tones.
SG was a used 1960s reissue. It looked and sounded great, although Iām not sure about the trem system.
Only 16,000 MYR (about Ā£2,500).
Edit: interestingly, it was Les Paul branded.
Edit 2: apparently it is a Gibson 60th Anniversary 1961 Les Paul SG Standard
There again one can do this on a low budget. My Caline Blue Sky overdrive is a Made in China clone (perhaps of a Klon Centaur, I forget which). The Captain and Danish Pete sing the praises of Tone City (another Made in China option) pedals.
although I suppose heās a politician too 
