Boss MT-2 Metal Zone Distortion Pedal Reviews

Jeff
from Florida
February 27, 2012Music Background:
Play Piano and Guitar,

Awsome Pedal

I do not belong in a band, or perform for a living. Music is a hobby of mine, and I do have some nice toys. I bought this pedal because I purchased a 15 watt tube amp that created wonderful clean tones, but did not do distortion very well. I plugged this baby in, and wow! I was able to get some of my favorite tones out of it right away. I suppose this pedal will react different with other equipment, but dispite what some people have said, this pedal is very versatile. You can get a Led Zeppelin sound, AC/DC, Judas Priest, and many other tones. Now my little tube amp is able to give me the best of both worlds, clean and dirty, and sounds better than my 75 watt solid state amp.

Brian
from Albuquerque , New Mexico
October 30, 2011Music Background:
Student, thrasher!

RULES!!!

Metal Zone is my favorite distortion pedal. i own many and love them all, But the Metal zone has been used on countless Metal records, from Whitesnake to Cannibal Corpse. Entombed used a early one similar on Left Hand Path. Toxic holocaust uses it. So many to list. I swear by mine. It gives awesome sounds from Fuzz to flat out high gain death metal! There are new ones coming out all the time. But i try them and i miss the old school thrash metal attack sound i can get from the MT2. It can get high gain but sometimes i want to back off and play old metal records, And there's hundred's!!! MT2 can do this with it's great equalizer built in. It Is easy to dial in , simple and almosy every distortion pedal you hear is based off of the MT2. This is a Legendary Pedal.

Mr. Brooke Shields [no relation]
from NYC
October 1, 2010

BEST DISTORTION PEDAL EVER...

I've owned many different types of distortions over the years but this is the ONE. I've bought many over the years. It's like yr favorite album. The most intense distortion and the crunch is the best. The EQs built in are fantastic too. I can't even go back to any other distortions.

Richie
from Palmyra, PA
September 22, 2008Music Background:
Guitarist with a long history of live and pro studio experience.

Great Sounds!

I mostly use preamp distortion, but needed an actual distortion box sound for a few songs in a live set and chose this after trying a bunch of pedals. Most pedals sounded more like toys with one basic sound to me compared to this. I know that some people prefer other sounds, but this gives you a range of quality choices. Boss always seems to give you something that takes you farther and they did it again with this pedal. It's diverse. It's definitely a solid workhorse. The MT-2 gets some nice sounding distortions and the EQ gives you a great range of sounds and control. The EQ really put this over the top for me. The pedal can be adjusted for use as a booster pedal too. It's hard to choose a distortion pedal without hearing them all, but if you're trying a web only selection, I'll say that this is definitely among the best and it gets sounds from 70's rock and metal to some of the heavier stuff that's on the radio now. If you're playing mostly blues, there are better choices, but for hard rock, metal or some sweet lead sounds in anything from pop to a range of heavy styles, this is one of the best if not THE best, depending on your situation. Nice hard rock/ metal rythm sounds too. Even though it's called Metal Zone, it covers more ground than just metal. It sounds extra cool on lead guitars combined with a little delay and I've used it to add a small amount of EQ and distortion while recording a bass track too.

Victor
from New York, NY USA
March 8, 2007Music Background:
Musician, Recording Engineer

Metal Heaven!

This is a great pedal. My brother and I each use one regularly in our metal band. We love that we can get the full out metal sounds from a clean amp. We go into JC-120s and it allows us to set our sounds for songs at home and sound the same at rehearsal or anywhere else. We have loved these for quite some time. If you play metal, this is the way to go.

Aaron
from Detroit, MI
May 22, 2008Music Background:
Musician, Recording Engineer

Extreme EQ settings and versatile!

For anyone looking for a solution to get a very wide range of extreme, or not so extreme tones out of a limiting amp rig, this pedal is may be it. I used it through a 120 watt peavy tube combo for some leads on a record resulting in some face melting. I also used it to overdrive vocals. Strong points are the obscene amount of gain you can get, but more importantly how far you can boost or cut frequencies with the EQ section. This pedal could be instrumental in developing very unique tones due to the extremes of the EQ for sonic sculpting. I also own a proCo Rat II, Ibanez FZ-7 fuzz, and EH big muff, and BBE freq boost. Between this and the big muff, I've found many applications throughout the studio. Oh, I believe I used it on bass as well with interesting effects.

Seth
from Atlanta, GA, USA
September 16, 2006Music Background:
Hobbyist

Metalheads Rejoice!

Wow! I could practically sum up this review with that one word. I was actually given this pedal by a buddy of mine at church. When I got home and hooked it up, I was blown away! This little pedal gives some of the best distortion I have ever heard, it even makes my cheap guitar sound good through my cheap amp! It's quite versatile, featuring 6 tone knobs, allowing you to adjust from low gain, almost bluesy type stuff, to high gain heavy metal. This is great for the guitarist who wants to change their tone from day to day with a single pedal. It allows for smooth note clarity, even at super high gain. On top of the awesome tone it produces, it's built like a tank! The metal casing not only makes it look cool, but makes the durability awesome! I've owned and used many distortion pedals, and this is by far the best I have ever used. If you're seeking a pedal to give you that awesome metal tone, buy this today!

Bill D
from Hingham, MA
February 6, 2013Music Background:
home studioist, serious hobbyist

Beware: Great for metal, but little else

CAVEAT:
Don't expect to be able to use this for a wide range of styles. The pedal imparts such an insistent "metal" color to your basic tone that even backing off the distortion level to 7 or 8 o'clock won't be enough to hide it's molten DNA (OK, I couldn't resist that guitar mag review phrasing). But this won't be a drawback if you know this going in.

BOTTOM LINE:
The Metal Zone is a great pedal for getting metal tones, even making my SSS Strat breathe fire. The tone controls are the key to getting amazing, classic scooped sounds. If that's what you want, this is a terrific - and affordable - option.

Alex G
from Middle TN USA
August 4, 2012Music Background:
40 yrs serious rock guitarist. 10 yrs crippled but serious rock guitarist.

Boss Does Heavy Metal a Favor

In the Mid 90s Boss came out with this amazingly successful pedal and it is still a big seller today. Why? Cause it adds a THUMP and/or a whomp to your notes and an amazing dual gain crunch to your otherwise earthly amp. It is played best in the clean channel of your amp. You will likely be overwhelmed with out of control feedback or bad noise if you connect this to your Overdrive or Power channel.

The better the amp, the better the sound. If you plug it in to the clean channel of a 50 or 100 watt Marshall Super Lead, Dual Super Lead or other JCM tube amp, Soldano, Mesa, or a good HiWatt with Fane or WEM speakers, if you watch your levels, you will be happy with your sound, if, and I mean a BIG IF, if you have an understanding of parametric equalizers, and utilize them carefully,

A parametric EQ is not like a graphic or tone type Equaliser. It allows you to set the parameters of your midrange, the LEVEL of your midrange, the RANGE of your midrange and the bandwidth or Q of your midrange. They are multiband variable equalizers. You can set your bass, and treble individually, like a tube amp, not like a tone control, with bass on one side and treble on the high side.

Then you get to name the range of your midrange, and emphasize the upper, lower midrange or mid- midrange, and then the amplitude of your midrange you have chosen to emphasize (or de-emphasize)...Which is all important in getting your overall sound to get where you want it. Too little midrange in the wrong range and your tone is thin, tinny, and lifeless, and too much of the lower midrange and your powerful thump will turn into an annoying rumble that won't go away.

I used to like the Metal Zone a lot, but now I have mellowed in my tones a bit. I like the MD-2 Mega Distortion Boss, because you can get Zep II and semi-clean Joe Bonamassa Marshall like lead tones with it and not get over the top or get too thumpy. I used to prefer the dual distortion, and I agree even it does have its uses, but for leads now I prefer the single distortion and power of the MD-2 just a tad better.

Either way, adjusted correctly and used with the clean channel of appropriate amplifiers, both can make you a happy guitar player.

Now, I have read about guys who have Mesa Boogie amps and hook up muff pi's and Metal Zones to add to the (already huge) amp distortion. For you guys, all I can say is lotsa luck. Vaya Con Dios. The MT-2 Metal Zone already Seethes with gain. Why on earth use it with a greatly distorted power amp? Search me.

As I mentioned in my review of the MD-2 Mega Distortion Boss pedal, I had an argument with a Metal Zone owner back 10-15 years ago, who claimed his MT-2 was horrible piece of junk he said. Well I checked it out. Sure enough the way he had it set (virtually everything was middle, nothing was adjusted properly and I mean NOTHING), so yes, it WAS horrible. Until he set it right.

Set properly you can get your 1x12 or 2x10 or 2x12 to sound like a 4x12 cabinet. If you already have a 4x12 Celestion cab, then carefully set your Metal Zone will get you tonal bliss, if carefully controlled. For a little less mayhem I suggest the Boss MD-2 Mega Distortion. Both units are built like tanks and last many years, and can easily and inexpensively repaired if you have a cable connector or battery connection go bad. I have a couple still going that I bought in 1996. One that had a 30$ repair in 2002.

Boss has many answers for modern guitarists. In several flavors...Metal Zone is one of them.

Dan
from Los Angeles, CA
April 17, 2008Music Background:
Active Musician

Great for clavinova...

I wanted to give this pedal a 5, but on guitar it only deserves about a 2... On the other hand, it sounds fantastic with the clav sim on my Korg keyboard! Seriously, every keyboard player should check out distortion at some point if he/she has an amp.

Rick Rice
from Buffalo, NY
October 30, 2006Music Background:
Hobbyist

Boss MT-2

The BOSS MT-2 Metal Zone is one of the best selling compact effects pedals of all-time. It’s Dual-gain distortion circuit produces some of the most versatile distortion sounds ever made available. From low gain breakup to totally over-the-top insane. With huge mids and lows it can make a small combo amplifier sound like a dedicated head and closed back cabinet set-up

Separate controls are included for level, distortion and three bands of EQ. The EQ section offers 15 db of cut or boost at each frequency center and includes both High and Low shelving EQ, plus mid-band Parametric EQ with a 200hz-5Khz sweep. All this in Boss’ smart, easy access, durable housing!

The wide range of distortion and flexible EQ make for an extremely flexible unit. The manual lists several reference settings that sound great on their own, but also can be used as a starting point for creating your own sounds. These settings cover basic overdrive, 80’s Metal, Modern Metal, 70’s Classic Rock, Progressive Rock, early British rock, 50’s style Rock ‘n' Roll, and 60’s fuzz among others.

Rick Rice
from Buffalo, NY
October 29, 2006Music Background:
Hobbyist

Boss MT-2

The BOSS MT-2 Metal Zone is one of the best selling compact effects pedals of all-time. It’s Dual-gain distortion circuit produces some of the most versatile distortion sounds ever made available. From low gain breakup to totally over-the-top insane. With huge mids and lows it can make a small combo amplifier sound like a dedicated head and closed back cabinet set-up

Separate controls are included for level, distortion and three bands of EQ. The EQ section offers 15 db of cut or boost at each frequency center and includes both High and Low shelving EQ, plus mid-band Parametric EQ with a 200hz-5Khz sweep. All this in Boss’ smart, easy access, durable housing!

The wide range of distortion and flexible EQ make for an extremely flexible unit. The manual lists several reference settings that sound great on their own, but also can be used as a starting point for creating your own sounds. These settings cover basic overdrive, 80’s Metal, Modern Metal, 70’s Classic Rock, Progressive Rock, early British rock, 50’s style Rock ‘n' Roll, and 60’s fuzz among others.

calaverasgrandes
from oakland
December 4, 2009Music Background:
punk, industrial, hip hop, blues, jazz, synth punk, no wave.

On bass as well

I used to use this on bass guitar a while ago. It was stolen by some metal band I was doing sound for.
I think it i cheesy that there are two reviews in a row with ad copy pasted into them.
pure cheese like that knocked a star off my review.

from NYC, NY
May 7, 2010Music Background:
Gigging Musician

Practice Stombox.

This stomp-box is mainly meant to get you that "scooped" metal sound at bedroom volumes, and it does it extremely well. When using it live however, it begins to sound harsh and shrill like a solid state amplifier. For live use I would suggest something more "tube-amp friendly" like an Ibanez TS-9 or the BOSS overdrive pedals. Overall, it's the best at what it does.

Mark
from Canada
April 12, 2012Music Background:
Guitar Teacher for 20+ years

Cringe... sorry. :(

I've always found the MT-2 very nasally and thin sounding... regardless of how you set the controls... actually WORSE than the HM-2. Several of my students have bought these over the years and brought them in for me to demonstrate. And while I am trying to adjust the tone controls to something useable in real life (cringing in disgust), I could always look up and see the look of pure joy on their faces as the feedback howled and hissed.

OK for the basement rockstar, I guess, but no-one with experience playing live venues would ever use on on stage... not even metal bands. YOUR GUITAR WILL LOSE ALL NOTE DEFINITION AND DISAPPEAR IN THE MIX WHEN USING THIS PEDAL LIVE!!! (Try explaining that to a 12 year old with an ear-to-ear grin... he doesn't care.)

Bottom line: Great for beginners chunking away on power chords... not much else.

P.S. I'm not one of those stuffy guitar teachers who tries to teach note-reading to kids who just want to rock. I was learning Randy Rhoads back when he was still alive. :)

JCFE
from Georgia
June 9, 2009Music Background:
Hobbyist

Excellent For Beginners

I purchased this pedal about three yers ago and at first was truly blown away by it. But as my ears and taste matured it began to lose it's luster. I placed an EQ in the chain before than after and never could quite gain the sound I was trying to achieve. If you are wanting to sound like what is already out there than this is the pedal for you, if you would like to sound original this may also be the pedal for you, just be prepared to spend hours "knobbing" to achieve individuality. The intent of this pedal is very noble, but I found the extra controls to be very daunting.

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