Boss Katana 100 Gen 3

I started to play guitar in december 2024 (i'm 49, i guess i started my midlife crisis :oD ), and i didn't want to spend a fortune on a new hobby without knowing if it was just a whim or not! At same time, i wanted something decent that makes me keep playing. after searching around and reading many reviews and youtube video's , it was clear that Boss Katana had very good reviews and is loved by many.
so i bought this amp and i must say that it has all what you need and more, to have a good fun. effects wise, there is nothing i can imagine you can't find on the Boss Tone studio. So no need to directly invest in many pedals. Sound wise, i do like the sound it produces. Of course i have been tempted also by valve amps, but you get so much for your bucks with a Boss Katana that i would advise it to anybody, especially if starting playing guitar.
My only advise is to follow well some recent youtube video's on the process of updating the amp's firmware (in this case, how to update a Gen 3). i wish this process was just more easy, more automatic (like an automatic firmware update when being connected to the internet) but thanks God, i had seen some video's about it and i was fully aware that it needed attention to do this in order to don't mess up the on board firmware. This process is really quick but it's not automated and needs handwork and is important to do it properly. This said, i don't want to discourage anybody about this. it's no rocket science, just need some little attention! My second advise would be to download and use the Boss Tone Studio software. it will give you so much more options (a very useful Noise gate in my case) , which you won't have if you just simply use the dialing buttons on the amp.
All by all, i can recommand this amp. It has all what you need (power attenuator to lower it from 100W to 50W, to 0,5W), it has many connection possibilities, it has bluetooth (recommanded too if you like to use jam tracks but it's sadly still an option in 2025!), it has an headphone entry (needs a small jack adapter from 3,5mm to 6,5mm), and it has so many effects in the Boss Tone Studio that you won't really need pedals (but i read that it is a very good pedal platform if you like to build a pedal board, or if you already have one).

I am using many tube amps and valve heads with cab but katana 100 gen 3 can be better than all of them the variation that it provides and the sound quality is amazing definitely best choice as the first amp but you can’t say that it is begginer amp because they are perfect for all level guitarists i am using my katana much more than all my tube staff and if you thinking about buying katana definitely go either gen 3 100 and thomann will help you with that to conclude it is the best option that you can get for today there are no many tube amps or solid state which can get at least near to it sound quality and especially want to mention tube logic OMG how good they did it i am enjoying as a guy who were using more that 20 different tube amps including messa and etc katana beats all of them