Issue with Katana Bass Combo Amps on Android

Gear
1

Greetings fellow bassers!

I’m hoping there are some of you out there that have one of the Katana bass amps (110 or 210) and also use Android.

I just got one of these amps myself, and it’s pretty cool. However, there’s a major issue with it.

In order to be able to access all of the 60+ effects on the amp, you need to use an app, Boss Tone Studio, to connect to the amp. There’s a PC version you can use by connecting your PC to the amp with a USB cord. However, even better, you can get an add-on Bluetooth adapter for the amp that allows you to connect to the app on your phone using Bluetooth.

So I got the Bluetooth adapter and installed it on the amp. Unfortunately, the Android version of Boss Tone Studio for Bass (the version needed for my amp) is not available on the Google Play Store. The reason is that it hasn’t been updated to the current version of Android. In fact, the app hasn’t been updated since March 15, 2022! My device is using Android 14, which isn’t even the most current version of Android, as Pixel phones are now using Android 15.

Screenshot_20241203_191452_Google Play Store
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Screenshot_20241204_113321_Google Play Store
Screenshot_20241204_113321_Google Play Store1080×2340 123 KB

What’s odd is that all the other versions of the app for the other Katana products have been updated, including the app for the Katana Go, which isn’t even in production right now. The Android version of the app for the 500 watt Katana bass head is also up-to-date. It seems that only the version for the bass combo amps hasn’t been updated.

Screenshot_20241204_113515_Google Play Store
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Screenshot_20241204_113533_Google Play Store
Screenshot_20241204_113533_Google Play Store1080×2340 227 KB

I did try to use the version of the app for the bass head, but it doesn’t work, as it won’t connect to the amp.

I’m just wondering if there are any of you out there who are using one of these amps and trying to use it with the Android amp. Have you found any kind of work around?

I’ve reached out to Boss/Roland customer support, but I haven’t received a reply. From what I’ve read online, it seems it’s quite hard to get any response from them, and I’ve yet to find someone who has gotten a response on this specific issue.

2 Likes
2

That sucks. They are slooowly updating things right now. Obviously they are fixing the issue with Apple first and there are a lot to fix with the iOS 18. I guess Apple remap the commands my FS-WL practically stopped working and last I communication I had with them was, they are working on it, it’s in testing stage.

You said you have Pixel so it’s a vanilla Android it should be fast. Hopefully. In the mean time can you plug it into your laptop?

2 Likes
3

Fucking Apple. I should’ve known. :rofl:

I don’t actually have a Pixel. I was just noting that they’re at least two versions of Android behind.

Just bizarre they’d update an app for a product no one can buy anymore (Katana Go) as opposed to an app for two current products (Bass amp 110 and 210).

Yeah, I can plug it into my laptop, but it’s a PITA. Also, why did I spend $50 on this Bluetooth adapter? lol

4

In addition to sending messages to Boss/Roland, who of course haven’t responded, I also informed my rep at Sweetwater of the situation. I feel like they should be aware of this and should inform people before selling them a $50 adapter that doesn’t do the main thing it was designed to do for everyone on an Android OS.

5

Note to self, don’t buy a Katana yet…

1 Like
6

Or at least don’t buy the Bluetooth adapter if you use Android. :neutral_face:

7

I did find a solution for this (I think). Boss support was zero help. They were trying to gaslight me and tell me it was a problem with all my devices and not their app. My Sweetwater rep is working with his contacts to try to get through to them, but I’m not holding my breath on a fix anytime soon.

I did find a work around, though, with the help of ChatGPT. Unlike the Boss rep, it gave me a list of solutions to try. I was finally able to download the APK for the app from another site and install it that way. I did install it, and it has been able to connect to the amp. I’ll try to change effects today, and I’ll let you know if it doesn’t work, but I think it will.

4 Likes
8

They fixed it! After insisting to me and the folks at Sweetwater that the problem was with my devices, and not their app, they talked to the developer of the app and found that, yes, there was a problem with the listing on the Play store. They’ve since fixed it, and the app is available on the store, so no need to download the APK from elsewhere.

Now if they’d only update the PC version of the app to use Bluetooth. :smiley:

2 Likes
9

Yep.

They need to “tag” it… they don’t like admitting that they forget these simple things. :slight_smile:

Common in every major phone OS upgrade… fortunately very rarely a massive release is needed.

2 Likes