Featured review by:
UG Team, on august 04, 2003 5 of 5 people found this review helpful
Price paid: $ 45.75
Ease of Use: I bought it second hand and I didn't get a manual with it, but I can still get pretty much any sound I want if I play with it for long enough. The passive bypass is a godsend as the multifx processor I was borrowing before that I only used for distortion and fairly clean sounds required me to stop playing and find the different effects on the lists, pain in the arse! // 8
Sound: I use an Ibanez RG565, then the HM-2, then a Boss Md-2, then a Peavey Chorus Classis 2x12 120 watt amp (built in Chorus and Reverb effects, sometimes cranked upto max for an interesting sound). Pretty simple really. I personally use the Low and High both cranked up full, aswell as the Dist. cranked up full, but with the Level backed off to about a 1 O'clock position. This makes for a great thick crunchy palm muting sound (think metallica - seek and destroy type palm muting), and also a great confident thick rhythm tone. // 8
Reliability & Durability: Gotta give it 10/10, its not much to look at, not sure how old it is, but it works perfectly, built like a tank! Rock solid stomper, simple but effective wiring. // 10
Impression: I generally play 70's and 80's rock on my own, in my band I play Grunge, metal and general rock. This pedal covers it all pretty good, the metal and rock best though, which is great for me! If it was to be stolen, first I would brutally murder the scrote who thought he would get away with even touching my gear, and then I'd go out and buy another one! // 8
Reviewed by:
unregistered, on june 24, 2004 2 of 2 people found this review helpful
Price paid: $ 35.55
Ease of Use: Fairly easy to use, but takes some getting used to. // 8
Sound: Im playing it through a pretty basic 30 watt amp with a Fender Telecaster. It's a little noisy when you have the distortion really cranked up, but nothing too bad, just a little static. You can get alot of different sounds out of it, all the way from old school almost Overdrive type sound to a new aged beefy low edge sound. But it does take a little tweaking with the nobs to get exactly what you want. // 8
Reliability & Durability: Very durable. Build very well. I would depend on it without a backup. // 10
Impression: I bought this pedal because I wanted a distortion pedal and I found this one for cheap so I picked it up. It's very capable of giving you a terrific sound. If it were stolen I wouldn't buy one because I'm pretty sure you cant buy these anymore but if I could get another used one I probably would. My only problem I have is that it's hard to get a good higher pitched distortion like you get with an Overdrive. But it's hard to get a thick sounding distortion out of an Overdrive pedal, so I can't really complain, it does what its made to do, give you a classic heavy metal distortion. // 10
Reviewed by:
yertletheturtle, on april 05, 2004 2 of 3 people found this review helpful
Price paid: $ 55.3
Purchased from: Griffith's Guitar Works (Used)
Ease of Use: This pedal is very easy to use, it has only 4 controls, and standard input - outputs. // 10
Sound: The HM-2 I reviewed gave me a great sound, though it lacked when the Lows were on zero and the highs were on 10, it gave a less than satisfactory weak sound. It has a tendency to buzz loudly, but I can easily get a sound something like Black Sabbath, or Metallica. // 8
Reliability & Durability: This is a super reliable pedal, it's built like a tank. You certainly wouldnt need a backup, though sometimes it can lose the signal for a second or two. // 8
Impression: I play heavy metal and this is perfect for me. I've used this on bass and guitar, and it gives a great sound both ways. If this pedal was lost or stolen I would definitely run out a find a new one. Seeing as how this pedal is long discontinued, it is in very, very good shape, and brings an late 70's to 80's kind of distortion. I definitely recommend this pedal. // 8
Reviewed by:
Abnormal_Omish, on december 05, 2005 2 of 3 people found this review helpful
Price paid: $ 54.9
Ease of Use: 4 controls. Simple? No. It's hard to get the sound your looking for. The most minute turn of one of the knobs can change the sound of the distortion completely. They also turn very easily and are likely to turn when you step on the pedal while playing live. // 6
Sound: I run this through an Epiphone LP Studio and a Line 6 Spider 2 30watt. The low on the pedal is very nice, while the high sounds kinda crappy. The distortion on this pedal sounds kind of weak, but that just may be because I'm used to using the "insane" channel on my Spider 2. Can get you a nice unique sound though. The distortion is only suitable for old metal in my opinion, but then again it is a pedal made for metal music. // 7
Reliability & Durability: Should be able to withstand heavy gigging, after all it is made by Boss, even if it is one of their older models. Like I said the dials are very sensitive so you may want to tape them down on stage. // 9
Impression: Overall, I think that if you want a good metal pedal you should look for a tube screamer or something because this pedal can sound weak in sustain. I think its discontinued now so if you see it being sold by someone second hand you might as well pickup a bargain. It's a decent pedal but there are much stronger and more toneful distortion pedals on the market, like Ibanez and DigiTech pedals. // 6
Reviewed by:
McRfan201Xx, on september 28, 2005 1 of 1 people found this review helpful
Price paid: $ 99.99
Purchased from: Musicans Friend
Ease of Use: I purchased this pedal about 2 weeks ago. It the best distortion pedal I've personally played. You can get a wide variety of types of distortion from it. The manual is pretty self explanatory and it also gives you recomended settings. // 9
Sound: I'm playing a Gibson Les Paul and I'm running through a Crate FTX 120 watt amp. This pedal works very well with my equipment. I don't really get much extra feedback or humming by using this pedal and I get a much more clearer sound by using this pedal. The distortion is pretty good on this pedal. I dont recommend it if your into really heavy Death Metal because you may be disapointed. But I doubt that this pedal wouldnt meet your expectations. It works good with metal though, dont get me wrong this dist. is very good. I can get a good accurate sound from all different kinds of music. This distortion sounds great for metal such as Ozzy (Rhandy Rhodes guitar) and Metallica to Grunge like Nirvana to newer hardcore punk music such as My Chemical Romance and The Used. // 8
Reliability & Durability: This pedal seems pretty tough and durable. I don't think you'd have to worry about it breaking. I definetly would use it at a gig without a backup. This pedal only takes 1x9 volt and lasts for a long long time. You just have to take the 9 volt out everytime your done using it or the battery will sap and die overnight. If you take it out though it will last you for a good week or 2 (if you play around 3 hours a day). // 9
Impression: I play everything, punk, emo, metal, '70s hard rock etc. It sounds great with everything. Even if your not playing a real heavy song you can still use it and set it up to get the sound you want. You can get a british rock sound, a classic rock sound, a Grunge sound, a whipsery metal sound, a heavy metal sound etc etc. I really think so far this is the best pedal I've used for dist. I really like it and recommend it to anyone looking for a really good dependable dist. pedal that plays all different music. // 9
Reviewed by:
basketofplastic, on april 05, 2004 1 of 1 people found this review helpful
Price paid: $ 23.7
Purchased from: Long and McQuade
Ease of Use: The havey metal 2 pedal is quite easy to get a sound out odf you stomp on the pedal and you get youre distortion. The only thing that bothers me about this is the static sound the second you step on it the loudest most anoying staticy sound is produced. The manual is quite good considering all you have to do is step on it but they made sure any problem you had it is written in the manual and it's long one too. // 10
Sound: Like I said it has a very annoying static sound the only way to get that down is to not use so much distortion on it. I use an Epiphone Les Paul Special 2 with a 33 watt Washburn amp. The distortion again sounds great but that static kills the moment of joy. This pedal is a distortion pedal fo bands like Iron maiden and in some cases System of a down. // 6
Reliability & Durability: I can depend on this pedal but I wouldn't use it in a gig people would laugh because of that horrible static. // 4
Impression: I like to play metal music and I use it for metal music,However if I can get a good enough distortion vibe with just my amp alone then I'll use the amp and pass on the pedal. // 6
Reviewed by:
Taterdamillion, on march 12, 2004 1 of 1 people found this review helpful
Ease of Use: It's pretty easy to use, if you have some kind of manual. Which I don't. It's interesting to mess around with it, and sometimes I find something really cool sounding. It did come with a Products Calender that listed all the Boss effects products on the line this year, and it gives, like, three settings that ARE pretty useful, and it comes with a demo CD that plays you a sample of what the different effects. But it works for a lot of stuff. // 8
Sound: I'm currently using this peddal on my strat and my little Peavey practice amp, and it works really well. The level setting can be a little fidgety. You can't get it right; either it's too loud or too soft. The effects are absolutely never weak. I can get some of the effects working for Black Sabbath and Nirvana and Metallica and Shadows Fall and the Clash, but it's hard to get some stuff like Billy Talent or Incubus. // 10
Reliability & Durability: You can depend on this with your life. It gives a full sound so you can play easily on your own at a gig. // 10
Impression: I play mainly Grunge and metal and thrash and stuff like that, and it gets great sound, especially when you're play grindcore like Fear Factory or Devildriver. By this if you need a good quality heavy metal distortion pedal. // 10
Reviewed by:
unregistered, on april 08, 2008 0 of 1 people found this review helpful
Price paid: $ 60
Ease of Use: Well, first of all, it isn't easy as it looks to get a good sound of it. You have to be pacient and turn all the knobs until you find one sound that please you. It's a very complicate pedal, I mean, it's very versatile, but, at the same time, you can't go to far with it. // 8
Sound: I'm currently using a Washburn X25 through a Marshall MG100DFX and, at least, with this setup, I can't hear noise at all. I really do like the distortion. If you are into heavy metal from the 80's, classic rock, hard rock, Grunge or punk rock, this stompbox fits you like a glove! I can get sounds like Kiss, AC/DC, Iron Maiden, Black Sabbath, The Stooges, Alice in Chains and Pink Floyd(in fact, Gilmour own a HM-2). So, it always sounds great to me, but if you are expeting something like cannibal corpse or Dream Theater, forget it. Ah! there is one thing that I think is important: I don't recommend to play Metallica at all. I mean, it's great to play the kill'em all stuff, but from the ride the lighting on, it just don't work out for me. other thing: if you turn all the knobs to the max, it work great to play Scandinavian death metal like Entombed, but just this kind of death metal! // 9
Reliability & Durability: Well, as everybody here said, it's build like a tank, very very hard. It's a Boss. nuff' said. About the battery, in my case, it takes about one month if you play it 2 hours every day. I recommend you remove the battery every time you finish your practicing, it will save the energy from the battery. // 10
Impression: I play most hard rock, and it is a very good match for stuff like Kiss. I play with this pedal for almost 1 years and just recently I've discovered how to get a good sound of it. but anyway, you have to test before you buying. I would probably purchase the pedal again if I lose it, because it's a really good distortion in a very accessible price. I love how this pedal can sound like the old good bands and, at the same time, I can play a little of modern stuff like Muse(if you put the low knob about 11 o clock, it's sounds like a nervous fuzz sound). I don't like how sensitive the knobs are. somebody told me he sounds like the Marshall Shredmaster, but I've never played one myself. Well, if you are not satisfied with this pedal, you can try a Boss Equalizer GE-7 before it, it should help the sound to reach more modern sounds. // 9
Reviewed by:
Freunleven, on august 13, 2008 0 of 1 people found this review helpful
Price paid: $ 10.00
Purchased from: Garage sale
Ease of Use: This has to be one of the easiest pedals I've ever used. I set the level and distortion for about one-fourth, and the high and low "color mix" knobs to about half, and just tweaked from there. Easy peasy. Within about ten minutes, I'd dialed in the sound I wanted, and went on from there into a two-hour jam session. // 9
Sound: I'm using a Gibson SG, straight into this pedal, into my Raven RG60 combo amp. Given the age and well-used nature of the pedal, it's got a bit of noise due to loose connections, but I'm working on that. Like others have said, there was a bit of tweaking involved in getting the precise sound that I wanted, but that's half the fun of using pedals. I'm able to pull off an early Metallica, Black Sabbath, Godsmack sort of sound without too much difficulty. // 9
Reliability & Durability: As near as I can tell, this pedal is literally around twenty years old already. Given that it still functions, I'm willing to bet that it's reliable. Once I get the connections solidified a bit, I have no qualms about using it without a backup. It's built like a tank, so I'm not worried about cracking the housing when I step on it. // 8
Impression: I've been playing for a few years, and this is my favorite distortion pedal yet. I have something of a small arsenal of them, and a few digital modeling effects units. Out of all of them, if this one pedal were stolen or lost, I'd be willing to pay out the nose to replace it. The only thing I wish is that I had two of these, so I could hand one to the other guitarist in my band. // 10
Reviewed by:
MetalNick, on february 27, 2006 0 of 1 people found this review helpful
Price paid: $ 63
Purchased from: eBay
Ease of Use: You simply turn the knobs the way you think you want, and it's all finetuning from there. I didn't get a manual, but I reackon I don't need one. It's according to the man I bought it from pretty old, but he got it 2nd hand to. // 10
Sound: I use my X300 mainly with this pedal, and my Honer P200 40Watt amp, and I'm as happy as a child. I can get nice clean sounds and the mastery metal sound this produces. It's like you can't get it to produce unwanted sounds on it's own. Unless your battery is almost imploded, the sound remains great. I play metallica mostly, and megadeth, and as I said, a bit of finetuning on it, and both come very close. The only thing this pedal has, as all Boss pedals (I've tried) have, is you get more volume as you raise your tone higher. // 9
Reliability & Durability: When I got it, I thought it wasn't gonna be all that, body damges everywhere, but it kicks ass. Typical for old Boss pedals. I gigged with it, and I have to say, I'd do it agian, it doesn't eat batteries as some other Line 6 pedals I tried back then. // 10
Impression: It makes is name, if that makes sense. Heavy Metal. I've been playing for 2 years now, and the only thing this baby lacks is a perfect metallica sound, but that's also not to expect from my shiity amp. If it were stolen though, I would maybe get another old Boss Metal Zone, Hyper Metal Of Digital Metalizer. Maybe even a DigiTech Death Metal. I guess I was more impressed when I got it than you'll be reading this review, I'd say, look on ebay if you can get one cheap. It's a bargain. // 9
Reviewed by:
iammetal, on january 19, 2006 0 of 1 people found this review helpful
Purchased from: Russo's
Ease of Use: Lets face it, it's hard to find a pedal with alot to offer with out using alot of $$. Well, if your into heavy distortion, a wide range of tweeking it, and high string solos that don't sound like shit, then this pedal is for you! It's very easy to squeeze the sound you want out of it, just by tweeking the 3 band EQ which offers heavy low and mid range sounds, with out giving up the higher strings clearity. The manual is very friendly, and offers advice as well as directions of use. // 9
Sound: I use my Ibanez RG7331 with it (seven string) tuned all the way down to G# C# F# B E G# C# with my Fender FM212R 100 watt amp, so it really puts the clearity of the distortion to the test. I run the clean channel on the amp, and then set up the pedal to my own setting. But it dosen't mate too well with my gain setting on the amp, one thing I haven't tired on another amp. It's very simple to get the sound of your favorite bands, i.e. mine would be the Deftones and old school Korn, it offers almost identical sound. Nothing to complain on this pedal. // 10
Reliability & Durability: The one issue I dont like about it, is it doesn't come with the PSA-120 wall adaptor, which means its back to the store every other 2 weeks to get more 9 volts. I have used it while practicing with my band, but unfortunely no gigs yet. From what it has shown to me, I would use it without a backup as long as it has a fresh battery in it. // 9
Impression: Very nice pedal produced by Boss, and it goes a long great with my heavy metal/nu-metal style of music. I have only been playing for about 2 years, but I'm impressed for the price range and the quality verses its competition. I would definitely replace it if it were to be stolen or break-or w/e. I can't get enough from the pedal, and its heavyness. It's for people who seek distortion and clearity - for a lower price range. // 10
Reviewed by:
ValascoDaGama, on september 18, 2007 0 of 1 people found this review helpful
Price paid: $ 50.4
Purchased from: eBay
Ease of Use: First of all, I must say, I play anything but metal. This pedal has been lying covered in dust since my juvenile fascination with heavy sounds vanished. Today I pulled it out because I needed something to "boost" my 5 watt tube amp. And, as you already know, this pedal has extremely sensitive tone knobs. So as you can imagine, it's not easy to get a good sound of it, whereas metal freaks might be excited with the wide spectrum of configurations to experiment with, but for us, laymen, there is only one single configuration which doesn't necessarily sound like Sabbath or Metallica, in my opinion. // 8
Sound: My equipment is also everything but metallish. Epiphone Valve Junior combo plus Squier 51 guitar. I don't play metal anymore, but I can tell you one thing about the sound. There are only two knobs adjusting the tone, the "high"-knob and the "low"-knob, which already indicates at the typical Sabbath/Metallica-character (or at least early Metallica, using practically no middle end, as far as I can recall). It's very good for that old dry '80s sound we hate today, but I managed to extract a nice fuzzy sound which does sound sweet, but at the same time not very bright, as you would expect from my Telecaster/Stratocaster-like guitar. And, obviously, it has got the "kick". Any variation from these settings, especially done to the tone knobs, really messes up the fuzzy sound and we are back to the '80s. So once again, the tone knobs are very sensitive. // 9
Reliability & Durability: I'd probably use it AS a backup, or if I needed some fuzzy type of distortion, but since I bought it used, I wouldn't make a gig dependant on such an antique piece of equipment. Now I must depend on it, because it't currently my only distortion pedal. But I'm getting something more versatile as soon as possible. // 7
Impression: The reason I wrote this review was to share my experience with this pedal with you. Maybe now some of you people fed up with metal, like me, won't throw this stompbox away or sell it on ebay and use it as an interesting completion of their pedal collections instead. When I bought it I didn't even test it, not to speak of comparing it to other pedals. I wanted to have something that sounded aggressive and this did the work for me. Now I only use the HM as a fuzz pedal. It's not produced anymore and, Who knows, maybe it's going to be worth a fortune in the future. // 10
greemo
: i too have this pedal it is simple ace i using at the moment a 50 watt transistor!! the distortion is shite on it .....put this thing on and watch the sound come reacking off you its simply ace not sure if the mt-2 is the same sort of sound maybe better with more eqs POSTED: 03/05/2007 - 11:07 am / quote|
i happen to have one in my possession, and damn, it's great! especially since i got it for free. POSTED: 07/03/2008 - 02:05 am / quote|
shadow__666
: I got a hand-me-down one for Christmas, and I love it already. When used in tandem with my Big Muff, it gives a great My Bloody Valentine-type sound. On its own it's great for punk and thrash. POSTED: 12/26/2008 - 07:11 pm / quote|
GuitarFreak1387
: i just picked one up today, i love this pedal. it takes a bit to get use to eq wise but its awsome. mines a december 88 made, nearly 21 years old and still sounds sweet. proof that boss pedals rock!! POSTED: 04/10/2009 - 09:33 pm / quote|
$k!llz
: is this better than the metal zone? POSTED: 04/18/2009 - 01:10 am / quote|
ayakush
: amazing pedal! my one is from 1988 and it's so simple. i\m always lazy when it comes to tweaking the knobs but this pedal just gives me this sound of motley crue or sex pistols easily! simply amazing! POSTED: 05/02/2009 - 12:42 pm / quote|
Sergeant_K
: Great pedal, all the Swedish death metal bands use it. POSTED: 11/29/2009 - 01:53 pm / quote|
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