Boss Katana settings
Panama settings for Boss Katana
Van Halen · adapted 7 times on ToneAdapt
To get the Van Halen "Panama" riff tone on a Boss Katana, set Gain 8.5, Bass 5, Mid 7, Treble 7.5, Presence 6, Reverb 0.5. Use the bridge pickup with your guitar's tone on 7-8 and volume on 8-9.
Riff settings
Adapted for a EVH 5150 Series Matte Black · updated 2026-09-25
- Pickup
- Bridge pickup
- Guitar knobs
- Tone 7-8 · Volume 8-9
Boss Katana knobs
- Gain
- 8.5
- Bass
- 5
- Mid
- 7
- Treble
- 7.5
- Presence
- 6
- Reverb
- 0.5
- Solo
- 0
- Contour
- 1
- Power control
- 3
- Cabinet resonance
- 2
Built-in effects
- Reverb on (spring) · 4
Playing tips
- Use palm muting for tight chugs to capture the aggressive attack.
- Focus on dynamic pick response to enhance the percussive rhythm.
- Incorporate subtle modulation effects like chorus to add richness to the tone.
Solo settings
Adapted for a HSS Stratocaster · updated 2026-06-01
- Pickup
- Bridge pickup
- Guitar knobs
- Tone 7-8 · Volume 8-9
Boss Katana knobs
- Gain
- 8.5
- Bass
- 5
- Mid
- 7
- Treble
- 7
- Presence
- 6
- Reverb
- 0
- Solo
- 7
- Contour
- 0
- Power control
- 3
- Cabinet resonance
- 2
Playing tips
- Use your amp's built-in delay set to a moderate level to recreate the spacious feel of the original tone.
- Engage the chorus effect to add subtle movement and swirl to your solo tone.
- Set the solo boost to a higher level to ensure your leads cut through the mix.
The original rig
What Van Halen used on the recording, for reference. ToneAdapt translates this to the controls your Boss Katana 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 settings for Panama?
Set Gain 8.5, Bass 5, Mid 7, Treble 7.5, Presence 6, Reverb 0.5.
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 EVH 5150 Series Matte Black. 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
All Van Halen tones →Popular songs on the Boss Katana
- Master of Puppets · Metallica
- Sweet Child O' Mine · Guns N' Roses
- Walk · Pantera
- Hotel California · Eagles
- Enter Sandman · Metallica
- Holy Wars · Megadeth
- Back in Black · AC/DC
- Whole Lotta Love · Led Zeppelin
- Raining Blood · Slayer
- Crazy Train · Ozzy Osbourne
- Welcome to the Jungle · Guns N' Roses
- Smells Like Teen Spirit · Nirvana
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.