Distortion Pedals

[bcrich]

Hey guys and gals I was wondering what distortion you use if you use any. Right now I am at a cross roads trying to decide if I want the BOSS MT-2 Metal Zone pedal or their newest for 2007 ML-2 Metal Core pedal. This new pedal is designed for 7 string guitars and offers massive low end when playing in standard A440 or lower E dropped tuning. The MT-2 Metal Zone has 6 knobs and offers a wider range of eq effects with 4 knobs and the Metal core only has 2 knobs for eq presentment. The Metal Core on the other hand is supposed to be the heaviest for distortion and gain of ANY metal and hard rock pedal available today:eek: ! So I guess I will have to go up to my local guitar store to check both out and see which is right for me. I am a heavy metal player and I have always been searching for that right tone and sound but haven't found it yet.

Any thoughts?

[disobedience]

Go with the MT-2 Metal Zone.
I've owned one since they came out in the 80's and it's the only pedal I haven't sold.
The range of tones available from this pedal is insane. And if you have any electronics skills you can easily mod it to get even more from it.

[bcrich]

Well that was my initial thought as I have already ordered this pedal and my guitar store can't keep them in stock too long. I am after what they sound like as I have only ever heard what it sounds like from BOSS's website. The new ML-2 Metal Core sounds really awesome but like I said earlier it only has 2 knobs for an eq and I like the fact that the MT-2 metal zone has 4 , my guess is that it will give me more dynamic range and tone. The other thing for me to look at is that I am playing through a Crate CR-160 amp that was made in the early to mid 80's and it has a real bass tone through both channels. I am looking to see if this pedal will also give me a more of an edgy real metal tone. I have an Ibanez DS-10 distortion pedal which I got for my 13th birthday many moons ago and although it sounds good you have to mix an eq and some other effects for it to have a metal sound. What kind of metal tone do you get from your pedal just plugged into the amp with no other effects? That there is what I really want to know.

[Jstickley]

The mt-2 is the best distortion pedal ever created. I have tried and been through TONS of distortion pedals, and the flexability of the mt-2 is unparalled. You like to play metallica, and this pedal is PERFECT for that type of music. I use a GT 3/8 and can get the same distortion out of those that the mt2 puts out, but.. still going to get a mt-2 from a board member here in a week or so, so i can run that specific distortion. The fact that the mt-2 has a very wide range of eq settings, means you can get very very fat and heavy distortion, or very thin and high distortion in a matter of seconds.

I played through the ml-2 and it just didnt do anything for me. The mt-2 is your choice homey.

Jesse

[bcrich]

The mt-2 is the best distortion pedal ever created. I have tried and been through TONS of distortion pedals, and the flexability of the mt-2 is unparalled. You like to play metallica, and this pedal is PERFECT for that type of music. I use a GT 3/8 and can get the same distortion out of those that the mt2 puts out, but.. still going to get a mt-2 from a board member here in a week or so, so i can run that specific distortion. The fact that the mt-2 has a very wide range of eq settings, means you can get very very fat and heavy distortion, or very thin and high distortion in a matter of seconds.

I played through the ml-2 and it just didnt do anything for me. The mt-2 is your choice homey.

Jesse
Ya remember the old Boss Digital Metalizer pedal? That was a cool pedal too and it came with harmonics and a few other cool options. Then there was the Boss Heavy Metal pedal, they keep changing year after year it seems. That new ML-2 Metal Core pedal was designed solely for 7 string guitars and dropped tuning.I agree though I think I will still buy the MT-2 Metal Zone. I bought my 16 year old son the BOSS DS-2 Distortion pedal for Christmas and he loves it but I think it sounds too overdriven for me. It really isn't my cup of tea! But for 49.99 new I couldn't complain.

[bobthecow]

I like the ds-2

[Marshalldude]

Metal core sounds SICK man i just watched a video on www.bossus.com and it's the best metal sound i heard . I watched the metal zone but i think you should go metal core it's a new pedal and everybody has the metal zone .

[disobedience]

Can't find a vid on that pedal.
Got the url??

[Marshalldude]

Go to www.bossus.com then go down and click on video then pick
ML-2: Metal Core Demo Video
ML-2 NAMM Booth Demo

They are in the 2007 section have fun !:D

[bcrich]

I heard that ML-2 Metal Core pedal just after the 2007 Namm show and I was impressed with the level of saturation and low end this pedal produces. However this pedal is deigned for new school metal and 7 stringed guitars and lacks the mid range and other tonal values that the Metal ZOne offers. The Metal core has 4 knobs whereas the Metal Zone has 6 so you can fine tune your sound better with the Metal Zone. I am sticking with the Metal Zone I heard it for the first time the other week and I was just awe stricken with the level of sound one can replicate from this pedal. Say what you will about the Metal Zone but it is the MOST versitile metal distortion pedal available. You can pretty much find the sound you have been longing for with the pedal.I used to think the BOSS Digital Metalizer was the greatest thing since sliced bread but now that pedal sounds too digitally distorted and tinny to me now. I am still buying the MT-2 Metal Zone.

[SanityAssassin]

Can't say I'm an expert on this, but in my opinion MT-2 is giving me more distortion than I want. Back when I bought it I wanted to sound metal and it was great for that. Now I want a more bluesy sound like Jimmy Page has. Any ideas for what pedals to check out for that?

[disobedience]

Use the same pedal Sanity. Back the distortion way down (almost off) and bring your mid level and mid's back up.

[SanityAssassin]

Use the same pedal Sanity. Back the distortion way down (almost off) and bring your mid level and mid's back up.

Thanks! I'm definitely going to try it out. I did try a bit to turn the distortion down, but maybe I had the other settings wrong. :)

[bcrich]

Hey if that doesn't work to your satisfaction, BOSS does make a specific blues pedal! It is called the BOSS BD-2 Blues Driver and is a distortion pedal as well but doesn't have the mids and low end like the metal zone.

[disobedience]

Sanity...don't just turn the distortion down..turn it almost all the way off.
The MT-2 has 2 distortion channels and when you turn it almost all the way off it cuts it all way back..giving a nice light overdrive tone.

[Zeppelin_Maniac]

These days I use 2 pedals: A Fulltone OCD and an Ibanez TS9 Tube Screamer (with TS808 mod). The OCD gives me that 70's hard rock distortion. The mod'd Tube Screamer gives me a real smooth distortion. Both pedals are custom orders.

[bcrich]

I have an Ibanez DS-10 Distortion pedal and was my first pedal ever. It sounds good but is more for rock to hard rock. It lacks the mids and lowend needed for metal.

[disobedience]

Here's a link to a bunch of MT-2 Settings

http://www.hamptonplace.com/tonedepot/settings/bossmt2.php

[bcrich]

Thanks Todd that will be extremely helpful for tomorrow lol. I plan to be rockin out once I get it all set up.

[disobedience]

Jeez...it's taking forever for your pedal to come in.

Any news on your pickups??

[bcrich]

LOL the pedal has been in for a while I jus haven't had the extra money to go and get it lol. I am getting it tomorrow for sure. The pickups , Jesse has told me he has a new Seymour Duncan SH13 Dimebucker for me and a hot rail and a cool rail for later when I decide to replace the 2 single coils. I just have to get the money to him and he is getting a shipping cost as well from Baltimore MD to Oshawa Ontario shouldn't be that much though.

[bcrich]

I got the MT2 Metal Zone today and all I have to say about this pedal is 2 words F***ING AWESOME! I have finally found the sound I have been searching for fer years. I was considering buying a new amp but now I don't need a new amp . My god that pedal has some volume to it! And the mids mixed with the distortion ohhhhhhhhhhhhhh man. If the Roland Corp ever read this they will know I am a 100% Boss user from this day forth!

[disobedience]

I know it's an older pedal from the Boss line...but I still swear by it being the best distortion pedal on the market.
:)