So, I have some gear and would like to find a way to connect them to reap the rewards from all. This is mainly for home practice, so mostly low volume playing. The gear I am looking to use are:

• Hotone Ampero (MP-100) Amp Modeller and Multi FX pedal
• Boss Katana Head 100W Mk1
• SubZero Tube 5 5W amplifier with EL34 and 12AX7 tube stages

I am looking for a way to connect all up but not sure how best to do it.

HOTONE AMPERO



BOSS KATANA HEAD



SUBZERO TUBE 5


I normally plug the Hotone Ampero into the FX Loop of the Katana, and the Katana into a speaker cab when playing loudly. I have previously dialled the power attenuator down to 0.5W and used the internal speaker, (the Katana head has a built in 5" speaker) or plug in headphones to practice at low volumes.

However, I recently acquired the SubZero, which is a small 5W all tube ampifier, so would like to use it if possible. It has limited connection in that it has an input for a guitar jack on the front panel and the read has 2 speaker cab outputs (an 8 ohm and a 4 ohm), one of which (the 4 ohm) is by default plugged into the combo amp's built in Celestion Super 8 8" speaker.

Any suggestions?

 

Last edited: Aug 22, 2023

Some directions :
-loop mod (didn't found one for this amp)
-use only "pre input" effects on Ampero (wah, compressor,drive ...) and use "no cab" output direct to amp.
Of course, it is going to be more limited than Katana FX Loop solution.
By using presets dedicated to Subzero on Ampero, you can use your Ampero as "front virtual pedalboard".

Try it and tell us

Some vid about it:

 

4cm to connect the Ampero and the Katana.

The Subzero amp only has an input, and no fx loop - it's not really gonna integrate into your proposed system in any meaningful way. Best to just keep it as a fun plug-in-and-play kind little jamming/tracking amp

To connect the Ampero and katana for the most flexibility (ie 4cm):

Guitar > Ampero input
Ampero fx send > Katana input
Katana fx send > Ampero fx return
Ampero output > Katana fx return

Ampero MIDI out > Katana MIDI in

IIRC, the Katana's fx loop can be switched between series and parallel - you wanna make sure it's set to series.


Using the above method, you get to do all your fx chain/patch editing on the Ampero, while using the preamp tones of the Katana as a block in the Ampero's chain that you can freely move around (to whatever extent the Ampero editor lets you). You also have the option of using the Ampero's preamps instead.

This means you can use any combo of the Ampero's effects both pre- and post-Katana, so you could eg have Ampero wah and OD > Katana > Ampero delay and verb.

Your entire signal chain then gets fed into the Katana's power amp (via the fx return) and speaker.

Connecting the amps via MIDI will also allow the Ampero to switch patches/channels on the Katana, so when you select a preset on the Ampero, the Katana will automatically switch to the correct settings.

HTH - 4cm can seem a bit confusing if you've never done it before, but it's simple once you get your head around it, and by far the best method to get the best out of the gear you own.

 

The Ampero can't do 4cm as it only has stereo unbalanced and stereo balanced outputs, and no FX send/return. I have been contemplating selling it and replacing with the Valeton GP-200 for this reason, despite Hotone (who make Ampero) being the parent company of Valeton and the Ampero being their flagship unit. The Valeton has largely the same algorithms and features as the Ampero though, so it'd purely be a change to get certain options, like the 4cm option.

 

Omg I never even checked the Ampero, I just assumed it had a loop, sry!

That's kinda crazy nowadays that a 'flagship' would release with such a basic feature absent. Sounds like switching to the Valeton would be a good shout, as 4cm opens up a lot more flexibility for you.

For now, your options are:

Ampero > Katana input - essentially using the Ampero as a pedalboard. You could link with MIDI (Ampero MIDI out > Katana MIDI in) to switch channels on the Katana

Ampero > Katana fx return - using the Ampero as preamp and fx, and the Katana as a 'dumb' poweramp

Katana fx send > Ampero > Katana fx return - Using Katana's preamps, and the Ampero as send fx, after the Katana preamp. Again, could connect MIDI to let the Ampero control the Katana

Any of these have pros and cons, you might wanna just experiment with them, and see which one works for you, and the sorta stuff you play.

 

Last edited: Aug 21, 2023