Boss Katana 50 MkII settings
Panama settings for Boss Katana 50 MkII
Van Halen · adapted 3 times on ToneAdapt
To get the Van Halen "Panama" riff tone on a Boss Katana 50 MkII, set Gain 8.5, Volume 0, Master 8, Bass 5, Mid 7, Treble 7.5. Use the bridge pickup with your guitar's tone on 7-8 and volume on 8-9.
Riff settings
Adapted for a Fender Stratocaster · updated 2026-06-06
- Pickup
- Bridge pickup
- Guitar knobs
- Tone 7-8 · Volume 8-9
Boss Katana 50 MkII knobs
- Gain
- 8.5
- Volume
- 0
- Master
- 8
- Bass
- 5
- Mid
- 7
- Treble
- 7.5
- Reverb
- 0.5
- Fx knob
- 0
- Mod knob
- 0
- Variation
- 0
- Delay knob
- 0
- Tap button
- 0
- Reverb knob
- 0
- Booster knob
- 0
- Panel button
- 0
- Power control
- 10
- Tone setting ch1
- 0
- Tone setting ch2
- 0
Built-in effects
- Reverb on (spring) · 4
Playing tips
- Use your amp's built-in reverb set to a low level to add subtle depth.
- Engage the chorus effect subtly to emulate the modulation found in the original tone.
- Focus on tight palm muting for chugging riffs to capture the aggressive attack.
The original rig
What Van Halen used on the recording, for reference. ToneAdapt translates this to the controls your Boss Katana 50 MkII actually has.
- Guitar
- Kramer 5150 (Frankenstrat-style, custom build by Eddie Van Halen)
- Amp
- Marshall Super Lead 1959 100-watt (run through a Variac, voltage lowered to ~90V)
- Gain
- 8.5
- Bass
- 5
- Mid
- 7
- Treble
- 7.5
- Presence
- 6
- Reverb
- 2.5
Different guitar or pedals? Get Panama adapted to your exact rig
These settings were generated for the gear named above. ToneAdapt adapts Van Halen's tone to your own guitar, pickups, amp and pedals in seconds.
Frequently asked questions
What are the best Boss Katana 50 MkII settings for Panama?
Set Gain 8.5, Volume 0, Master 8, Bass 5, Mid 7, Treble 7.5.
Which pickup should I use for Panama?
Bridge pickup, with the guitar's tone at 7-8 and volume at 8-9.
What gear did Van Halen use on Panama?
Guitar: Kramer 5150 (Frankenstrat-style, custom build by Eddie Van Halen). Amp: Marshall Super Lead 1959 100-watt (run through a Variac, voltage lowered to ~90V).
Will these settings work with my guitar?
These settings were adapted for a Fender Stratocaster. Different pickups change how much gain and treble you need. ToneAdapt adapts the tone to your exact guitar, pickups, amp and pedals.
Panama on other amps
More Van Halen on the Boss Katana 50 MkII
All Van Halen tones →Popular songs on the Boss Katana 50 MkII
- Master of Puppets · Metallica
- Walk · Pantera
- Sweet Child O' Mine · Guns N' Roses
- Enter Sandman · Metallica
- Hotel California · Eagles
- Holy Wars · Megadeth
- Raining Blood · Slayer
- Smells Like Teen Spirit · Nirvana
- Crazy Train · Ozzy Osbourne
- Whole Lotta Love · Led Zeppelin
- Iron Man · Black Sabbath
- Welcome to the Jungle · Guns N' Roses
Settings are generated by ToneAdapt's tone adaptation for the gear named on this page and are a starting point — every amp, guitar and room is a little different.