It's Solid State
This is kind of a head scratcher, but only from the outside. Yes, most amps that tout high end specs are tube driven. Most pro and active musicians own and use tube amps. There have been some very good solid state amps. Oddly, most of them are no longer in production or live on with a lot of never-really-bypassable effect built in. Boss has never had a large production tube amplifier to my knowledge. The Jazz Chorus amp and the Cube series are solid state. The Blues Cube amp is priced at the same price as a Fender Blues Jr and a Vox AC15, but lacks the authenticity to warrant the price. Does The Waza head do the same. Do they want to appeal to the high-gain, boutique amp users? It appears so, but they have doubled down on the side of the debate that most agree is long over...
It's Overpriced
If you remember when Waza first came out, then you remember that there were three original pedals. The BD-2 DM-something and the SD-1. The DS-1 and BD-2 were both priced at $150... that is a $50 pedal (the SD-1) for three times the price! Why? Who knows... I had no idea what Waza was. Keeley was already the kinda of overcharging for Boss gear. In fact you could probably get a modded Keeley pedal for less than what Boss wanted for the Waza stuff. I, and probably some other people, have to somewhat of a stigma about Waza products. Waza means overpriced. Whats the price tag hanging on this mysterious head? $2900. Nearly three grand for a solid state head. That's Marshall Plexi or Orange Thunderverb 200 (or two of any of Fenders flagship heads) money...
It's Unfinished
Yeah, do you remember the Randall head that had modular tone decks that allowed you to change the pre-amp tones. Evidently Roland/Boss/Waza doesn't either, because that is what they've done with this amp. The amp contains a internal section that hold tone 'capsules'. Except, there is only currently two options with space in the head for a third. This is underwhelming, although I'm glad that it is internal with a external switch.
Conclusion
This amp is the most exciting offering so for from Boss this NAMM. I like what I've heard from Boss' promotional video. But when reading the details, I get a sense that this amp is just another offering from Boss that misses the mark.
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Great article. I couldn't agree more.
ReplyDeleteImho, this should be priced at 1000 usd at max.
Great article. I couldn't agree more.
ReplyDeleteImho, this should be priced at 1000 usd at max.
Who is in charge of product development at Boss ? The same guy who came up with robot firebird at Gibson?.. Absolutely gonna sink without a trace
ReplyDeleteBoss has a lot of very happy customers, who are very good musician that have nothing but praise and respect for their innovation and evolution;
DeleteWhere can you buy an amp that is gig worthy with on board effect loop,
and good tone, they put a lot more expensive manufacturers too shame .
i just posted on another thread saying the same exact thing. They almost had it right with the Cube XL series with the looper and the feature that made it sound like a real tube amp with picking attack and adjusting the guitar volume knob. It was a genius idea. Then they shot themselves in the foot on the next Tube generation with the GX series by removing the looper. It was a real smack in the face. The amp was small, priced right, and even though it was solid state, it gave tone that was every bit of what anyone could ask for for a practice amp and also could be gigged with if you had the beefier 80watt. I do not even think Boss even realized they got it right or almost right with CUBE amps and they just abandoned it like it was nothing. And then they started this Cube Artist and Stage series with tube-like plugs for Eric johnson tone and now the Waza with Steve Vai? Get Carvin Legacy and call it a day. My god it's so much cheaper. You could buy one for you home, your studio and the road plud bolt one in your car with a generator for less than the cost of a WaZA aMP RIG
ReplyDeleteCarl- You're voicing a negative opinion on something that you haven't even used yourself. Perhaps Roland/Boss have had some products that were overpriced. A lot of things in life are that way. Use the ampo and them teel us your opinion. Also, the prices on the Waza amps are not that high. Have you even checked?
ReplyDeleteI've been doing some work with the Katana and investigating the Waza Amp now. I stumbled across this article and felt it necessary to clarify a few things.
ReplyDeleteThe Boss Waza pedal line are some of the infest boxes Boss has ever put their name too. The consistency, quality control, and attention to original details of the famous pedals they are meant to evoke is unheard of even in the clone market. The Modified circuits are something of a nod to the fact that people like Keeley, Wampler and Josh Scott have made a killing improving the little bright boxes of yore.
Overpriced? That's subjective to the market, but the fact that these are selling well suggests that, they in fact, are not overpriced. In fact, Boss has added to that line of effects.
The truth here is that those units are not aimed at beginners, or internet pundits who blog about gear they've never touched. Those pedals exist to satisfy people who are actually playing.
Boss has always been a brand known for it's rugged design and reliability. Nothing has changed.
The Waza-amp represents a new movement in guitar. People don't care how they get the tones they need, they care more about what it sounds like. Do I think the Waza-amp will be successful? No, Do I think Waza-amp 2 or 3 will be? Maybe. They are dipping their toes in a market that basically doesn't exist yet. It's pretty clear the katana is changing the preception of what Boss's amps sound like, and whether digital/SS amps are coming of age, and think about it, it's a $250 amp. What's going to happen when people start realizing what's capable at a professional price point.
I’m about to purchase one of these amps , and I’ve had a lot of boutique amps ,
ReplyDeleteTwo rock ,C/reverb boogie many other great sounding amps , technology has caught up real fast , volume tone feel harmonics etc , Frank Gambale is a virtuoso world resound player, he’s uses solid state , ask yourself this question , what is the pre amp stage of a tube amp , or if you like pedals , one can spend silly amounts of money on pedals some very good , a lot of hype ; if one does a complete re tube on an amp , that can run $3-400 dollars , I trust my ears more than what some people say, as for me I’m leaning toward newer technology in solid state. I still have a tube amp , but I’m more interested in inspirational tone to create music , and not listening to hear say , good luck in your musical quest, variety is the spice of life .
Don’t knock it till you’ve tried it.
I’m about to purchase one of these amps , and I’ve had a lot of boutique amps ,
ReplyDeleteTwo rock ,C/reverb boogie many other great sounding amps , technology has caught up real fast , volume tone feel harmonics etc , Frank Gambale is a virtuoso world resound player, he’s uses solid state , ask yourself this question , what is the pre amp stage of a tube amp , or if you like pedals , one can spend silly amounts of money on pedals some very good , a lot of hype ; if one does a complete re tube on an amp , that can run $3-400 dollars , I trust my ears more than what some people say, as for me I’m leaning toward newer technology in solid state. I still have a tube amp , but I’m more interested in inspirational tone to create music , and not listening to hear say , good luck in your musical quest, variety is the spice of life .
Don’t knock it till you’ve tried it.