Line 6 Catalyst Combo 60 Review – 2024 (With Video)
The Line 6 Catalyst Combo 60-watt amp is a versatile practice amp that offers a wide range of features for small gigs, practice sessions, and recording sessions. With an XLR line output and a 4-channel USB recording interface, this amp is an excellent choice for recording purposes.
In this review, we’ll take a closer look at the features and overall value of the Line 6 Catalyst Combo 60-watt amp. Check out our video review and demo below to see the amp in action:
Contents
Line 6 Catalyst Combo 60
Verdict
The Line 6 Catalyst Combo 60-watt amp is a versatile and feature-rich practice amp that offers a wide range of tonal options and effects. This amp is an excellent choice for recording purposes. The 6 different amp designs, 18 different effects, and 6 different reverb settings make this amp incredibly versatile and easy to use. Overall, the Line 6 Catalyst Combo 60-watt amp offers excellent value for money and is a great choice.
Pros
- Wide range of features and tonal options
- XLR line output and 4-channel USB recording interface
- Excellent for recording purposes
- Great for small gigs and practice sessions
- Versatile and easy to use
Cons
- Not suitable for larger gigs or venues
- Boost does not work with the footswitch
- Takes some time to dial in a preferred sound
Models in the Line 6 Catalyst Range
The Line 6 Catalyst family features dual channel amps that all have the same design and controls:
Features
The Line 6 Catalyst Combo 60-watt amp offers a wide range of features that make it a great choice for musicians of all skill levels. With 6 different amp designs, 18 different effects, and 6 different reverb settings, this amp is incredibly versatile and offers a wide range of tonal options.
The amp designs include Clean, Boutique, Chime, Crunch, Dynamic, and Hi Gain, each with its own unique sound. Additionally, the amp features 6 different reverbs, 6 different delays, 6 modulation effects, and 6 pitch effects.
Amp Designs
The Line 6 Catalyst Combo 60-watt amp offers six different amp designs, each with its own unique sound and tonal characteristics.
Check out our demo of these different amp designs in our video review starting from the 105-second mark.
These amp designs include:
Clean: The clean amp design offers a classic and versatile clean sound that is perfect for a variety of music genres. It has a transparent and crisp tone with a hint of tremolo that adds a subtle shimmer to the sound. This amp design is ideal for musicians who want a classic and natural sound for their performances or recordings.
Boutique: The Boutique amp design offers a warm and authentic vintage sound, reminiscent of the classic tube amps of the past. It has a slightly overdriven tone with a little extra crunch that adds depth and character to the sound. This amp design is great for musicians who want a vintage and soulful sound for their performances or recordings.
Chime: The Chime amp design offers a classic British-inspired tone that is bright and punchy. It has a distinct and powerful voice that is reminiscent of the classic tube amps of the 60s and 70s. The sound is embellished with a slight tremolo for that extra character.
Crunch: The Crunch amp design offers a thick and powerful sound that is perfect for rock and metal music. It has a boosted crunch sound with a Hall reverb that adds depth and dimension to the sound.
Dynamic: The Dynamic amp design offers a rich and full-bodied sound that is perfect for a variety of music genres. It features classy tones with a layered-gain boost and Hall reverb that adds depth and character to the sound. This amp design is ideal for those who want a versatile and rich sound for their performances or recordings.
Hi-Gain: The Hi-Gain amp design offers a heavy and powerful sound that is perfect for metal and hard rock music. It has a high level of distortion and gain that creates a heavy and aggressive sound.
Connectivity
The Line 6 Catalyst Combo 60-watt amp has a variety of connectivity options that make it easy to use with other devices. It has an XLR line output, which allows you to connect to a PA system or recording interface for live performances or recording sessions. You can even connect a dedicated footswitch which can be bought separately.
Additionally, it has a 4-channel USB recording interface, which allows you to easily record your performances directly to your computer. This feature makes it an excellent choice for recording purposes, and it’s a great way to capture your playing for later analysis or for sharing online.
Portability
The Line 6 Catalyst Combo 60-watt amp is lightweight and compact, making it easy to transport from one place to another. It is a great choice for musicians who need to take their amp to gigs, rehearsals, or recording sessions. The amp’s small size and lightweight design make it easy to carry, and it’s also easy to set up and take down. It still packs a punch, even considering the small and portable design.
Versatility
The Line 6 Catalyst Combo 60-watt amp is a versatile and feature-rich practice amp that offers a wide range of tonal options and effects. With 6 different amp designs, 18 different effects, and 6 different reverb settings, this amp is incredibly versatile.
It’s a great choice for those who play different genres of music and need to have a variety of sounds and effects. The XLR line output and 4-channel USB recording interface make it a great option for recording and live performances.
Additional Features
The Line 6 Catalyst Combo 60-watt amp has an onboard tuner that allows you to quickly and easily tune your instrument. The tuner is easy to use and can be accessed easily with a simple button press on the front panel. Keeping your instrument in tune is easy with the tuner’s accuracy and responsiveness.
The amp also has a noise gate function which is a feature that helps in reducing unwanted noise or hum that may occur when playing with high gain settings. This noise gate feature is essential for guitarists who play with high distortion and want a quiet and clean sound when not playing. You engage the noise gate by holding down the boost button for 2 seconds and turning the boost dial.
Catalyst Software
The free Catalyst editor opens the world to even further sound-shaping possibilities. It supports Mac, Windows, Android, and iOS devices. With this editor, you unlock advanced parameters for your amp designs, or even further shape your delays and reverbs according to your preference.
Combining this software with the dedicated footswitch (sold separately), you can edit and map different controls and effects to your amp. For example, the boost function does not normally work with the footswitch, however, you can set the markers so that it can trigger with the footswitch. Needless to say, the possibilities are endless here.
Price
The Line 6 Catalyst Combo 60-watt amp, as well as all the amps in the Catalyst range are very reasonably price. They are affordable options for those who want a versatile and feature-rich practice amps with great sound quality. With their wide range of features, they are excellent value for money, and a great choice for musicians of all skill levels.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Extremely versatile amp with tons of effects, controls, and amp designs
- A great price range for a feature-packed amp
- Noise gate function
- Onboard tuner
- 4-channel USB recording interface
- Catalyst software for further sound-shaping
Cons
- Might be too complex for beginner guitarists at first
- Takes some time to dial in a preferred sound
- Boost does not work with the footswitch (unless you edit the controls within the software)
Verdict
The Line 6 Catalyst Combo 60-watt amp offers a wide range of tonal options and effects with its versatile and feature-rich design. Featuring an XLR line output and a 4-channel USB recording interface, this amp is ideal for recording. The 6 different amp designs, 18 different effects, and 6 different reverb settings make this amp incredibly versatile and easy to use. I would recommend the Line 6 Catalyst Combo 60-watt amp as a great value-for-money choice.
