Ugly Guitar Truth: Boss Nextone Amplifier

Boss has been known for creating some of the most iconic and memorable guitar products of all time. A few years ago the world was taken aback when BOSS gave us the Katana amplifier. The internet was abuzz with talk about an amplifier that gave you tonnes of useful features and BOSS-quality effects. The Katana was not the first, but what made it a darling was that it started for $200. For what many pay for their first "beginner" amp, you could have an amplifier that could get you through your first gigs or be a respectable studio tool. I personally love the line-in and headphone functions. Many of my larger amp and combos don't include this feature. So it's nice to have this on an amp that doesn't make me feel like a compromising tone-wise.

I like the Katana, but why am I take about the Katana on a post about the Nextone amp? Well, my first thought I had about the Nextone, was that it was just an update/addition to the Katana series. Since the introduction, BOSS has added many more Katana models. I can't speak to have the success they all have been, but the Nextone seemed to be at home next to the Katana amp. However, this is not the case.

We've Seen These Before

The Nextone amplifiers are the newest amps from BOSS, and you wouldn't be wrong to think that they share some DNA with the runaway success that was the Katana line of amps. However, these amps are more closely related to the Roland Blues Cube. With just a look, we can see the similarities on the control panel. The channel controls are set up exactly the same. You still have the Tone and Boost controls, Tube Logic and Power Control that we are used to seeing of the Blues Cube. Is this a reheated Blues Cube sold under the BOSS brand? Well, in a word, no.

Something New

While this might have started life as Blues Cube, BOSS has taken lessons from the Katana and applied them to this amp. We can see it most clearly in the effects. The effects are one of the most impressive features of the Katana (besides the solid foundation of good tones). While we don't have the impressive library of effect from the Katana we do have delay, reverb, and trem built in with similar controls to the Katana. The main claim to fame the Nextone is the selectable "Power Section". You can select from 6V6, 6L6, EL84, and EL34 which are just coded names for American and British-type amps. In addition to what we can see on the outside of the amp, BOSS has created an editing software tool to support the backend of the amplifier. This is supposed to give you in-depth control over the "Bias" and "Sag" just like a tube amp. You can also change the EQ across the entire amp and play with how your effects loop operates. The Nextone editing software will also let you change the Boost function into a compressor. So, that's kinda neat.

Conclusion

I never really liked the Blues Cube series. In theory the Blues Cube is a good choice, but I always felt that if you were going to spend Blues Jr. money, then you should probably buy a Blues Jr. (although if you picked up a used Blues Jr. and put the money you saved and bought some effects, then you'd be much better off). However, BOSS has put a lot more into the Nextone. There a lot of features packed into these amps. Sometimes that spell disaster, but BOSS has impressed me with this kind of thing before. "Nextone" is a trash name, however. There is no getting around that. It brings to mind brands like Nux and Hotone for some reason. Both of which I wouldn't want to be associated with my top-shelf combo amps. They are handsome, so hopefully, that's enough to offset a throwaway name. Will I buy one? Let's just say that I'm interested.

Boss Waza Craft Amp Head

New at NAMM. The guys at Roland\/Boss have announced the new Waza amp head. Boasting 150 watts of power and 'Ultimate high-gain, modded sounds'. So Boss have had a checkered past with it's amps. They've never really have a high successful amp line. The Roland cube is probably the closest they've come, but that is mostly due to the beginner pricing and the laundry list of features. Is this poised to be the amp that sends Boss and Waza into the into the respected ranks of prestigious amp makers? Well...

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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The Ugly Truth About Roland Jazz Chorus 40

For those of you uninformed, Roland announced they they are making a new model of the Jazz Chorus Stereo Guitar Amplifier. Just like no one asked for. This Amp is a blast from the past that has seen usage from big names. Chiefly among the more famous users of the Jazz Chorus series were the police. (although it is more likely they use the stereo chorus effect unit rather than the amp) Still there are users and fans of the amps. These amps peaked back when the keytar was still considered a legitimate instrument, so why are they bringing out more of them?

They Are Solid State. 

Ask anybody who has played more than a few guitar amps and they will tell you, tube amps have great tone. Not all tube amps sound awesome. Not all solid state amps sound bad. I have a little Vox combo that sounds awesome and it uses a solid state power section. I'm not a huge fan of the Night Train series of amps by Vox and they are all tube. Of course this is all subjective, but hey. Solid State amps can sound great. By all accounts, the Jazz Chorus amps have great clean tones. They all, historically, have terrible overdrive and distortion channels. Do the new Jazz Chorus combos have bad drive channels? I don't know, I did see a video put out by Roland that didn't exactly thrill my when they demonstrated the overdrive.

It Doesn't Play Well With Others

So here some more hearsay, Pedals don't have the same effect when running into the front of this amp. Some amps are better through the effects loop, but dirt usally goes in front to push the pre-amp. It has a stereo input. To quote Roland, "In addition to a normal mono input, the JC-40 features a true stereo input that allows players using stereo effects devices to achieve wide, inspiring sound without having to carry around two separate amps. The rich JC clean tone is a perfect palette for external stereo pedals like delays, reverbs, and various modulation effects. It’s also ideal for advanced gear that employs amp modeling, multi-effects, and/or synth capabilities, such as the GT-100, GP-10, and ME-80 from BOSS, and GR-55 guitar synth from Roland." Notice any missing from that list of effects? Dirt. Yes Stereo effects are great, but this amp is in need of some "D". 

Roland Says That They've Fix All Of These Things

Roland might be the company that never left the 1980's. They still produce the DS-1 for crying out loud. That thing sell just because it is almost mandatory that a beginner buy one with their first electric. Roland is obviously very proud of their new Jazz Chorus, and if great clean tones and rugged dependability of solid state power appeal to you, then you might want to check out the JC-40 By Roland. They are built this amp around what Jazz musician seek in an amplifier, but they have made it dynamically diverse enough to serve many purposes.