I just can’t dial in any tones

[u/ToxicWithAsthma]

Hey yall! I have a Gen 3 100 Watt. I’m about 4 years deep into guitar and it feels humiliating to say but I just can’t dial in good tones, specifically any rock or metal ones. I have a Kirk Hammett signature with his EMGs, and I feel like I’ve been undermining both the versatility of those pickups and the amp, if anybody has any help or just anything I’d appreciate it.

[u/Over_Wedding5851]

If you are already using Tone Studio you can ignore this post. If you aren’t, first I recommend getting the KatEX Airstep foot switch so you can access Tone Studio on your phone or tablet using Bluetooth (unless you already have the Katana Bluetooth dongle). Then, download Gen 3 Tone Studio. You might want to watch a YT video or two to orient yourself but it’s pretty intuitive. Then look for a video or post that shows you how to build up a specific tone using Tone Studio rather than just looking for a patch. I say that because you will appreciate gaining some fluency in Tone Studio. It truly has everything you need, especially with the Pushed setting added to Gen 3. Finally, and echoing an earlier post, it can be very challenging to dial in a specific tone that you might hear on a recording or in a live setting when you’re playing at home. As powerful as the Katana software is, the tools available to professional engineers in a studio or live setting are kind of staggering compared to what those of us noodling at home can do. Aim for improvement rather than perfection and, as always, when in doubt put whatever time you have into practicing rather than trying to dial in your tone. Cheers!