Boss MT2 Metal Zone - A Pain Or A Blessing?
- Thread starter HIMYNAMEISARTHUR
- Start date
everytime i hear the MT2 tone (or lack thereof), it brings me back to the days when i just started playing the electric guitar. Badly tweaked scooped distortion from the MT2 sounded good to my ears back then 
Well now I guess my ears have somewhat matured, and the MT2 doesnt sound as good as it used to.
Well now I guess my ears have somewhat matured, and the MT2 doesnt sound as good as it used to.
my first pedal. I was really excited when i created noise... but realised that it was almost unusable (esp since i wanted to play pop punk back then..) so i sold it, got a ts9dx. Was very happy with the latter.
However, my encounter with pedal guru randolf has made rethink the pedal, and hearing clips of the modded variants, e.g. keeley twilight zone, has led me to conclude that the nasal, mosquito sounding quality of the pedal once removed opens the pedal up to a whole new dimension of tones. Its versatile, due to the eq but it requires immense tweaking to get a decent sound out of it.
I think a safer bet would be with other pedals as mentioned earlier in the thread. However, if you're into experimental sounds, the mosquito quality could be a boon, no?
However, my encounter with pedal guru randolf has made rethink the pedal, and hearing clips of the modded variants, e.g. keeley twilight zone, has led me to conclude that the nasal, mosquito sounding quality of the pedal once removed opens the pedal up to a whole new dimension of tones. Its versatile, due to the eq but it requires immense tweaking to get a decent sound out of it.
I think a safer bet would be with other pedals as mentioned earlier in the thread. However, if you're into experimental sounds, the mosquito quality could be a boon, no?
MT-2 means Metal Zone. Yea right.
It does produce quite a nice chugga-chugga but....
It's muddy, sucks your tone badly, hard to toggle when u go gigs coz they all don't provide de same amps wherever hence makes u fed up, de bite isn't there, doesn't cut through nicely from clean to drive.
It does produce quite a nice chugga-chugga but....
It's muddy, sucks your tone badly, hard to toggle when u go gigs coz they all don't provide de same amps wherever hence makes u fed up, de bite isn't there, doesn't cut through nicely from clean to drive.
MadWerewolfBoy
New member
For those who keep saying the stock MT-2 is a mosquito effect, you're either repeating what others have said or using a very vintage strat/humbucker from hell on it.
Compared to other nomal distortion/overdrives, the stock MT-2 is very much more compressed. This accounts for the nasal sound which can thin your notes when every knob is at 12 o'clock. Tweak this EQ and regulate your gain and you'll actually sound fat to the point of mud (higher notes will sound like plastic keys/arcadish games)
If it was really a mosquito, i would not have included it in my effects chain because that is what i dread most.
That being said, the modded variations sound less compressed and more like a ds-1 in killzone mode. I wouldn't say they definately better because that is subjective. I'm still trying to find a mod that only removes half the nasality and not totally because that is what makes this pedal unique. Monte allums seem to have slight variations in the same trigain mod kit. I'm gonna try them out soon to see how they sound like.
Compared to other nomal distortion/overdrives, the stock MT-2 is very much more compressed. This accounts for the nasal sound which can thin your notes when every knob is at 12 o'clock. Tweak this EQ and regulate your gain and you'll actually sound fat to the point of mud (higher notes will sound like plastic keys/arcadish games)
If it was really a mosquito, i would not have included it in my effects chain because that is what i dread most.
That being said, the modded variations sound less compressed and more like a ds-1 in killzone mode. I wouldn't say they definately better because that is subjective. I'm still trying to find a mod that only removes half the nasality and not totally because that is what makes this pedal unique. Monte allums seem to have slight variations in the same trigain mod kit. I'm gonna try them out soon to see how they sound like.
Whitestrat
New member
Actually, the very reason why I like the MT2, is because of that mosquito effect. It's got good applications where that buzzing tone is useful. Especially in a band situation when you're using a 4x10/12 cab, and the sound opens up. The MT2 allows you to lay a very SOLID chugging foundation for the song. I like to use more analog sounding distortions for leads and phrases, but the MT2 would be great for rhythm.
I think a common misconception is that rhythm guitars need to be heard. Actually, they don't. They need to be felt. If they are absent, they are missed, but the main thing is for the rhythmist to BLEND with the background music.
Remember: Good rhythm players ALWAYS get gigs... more than lead guitarists...:mrgreen:
Ized
New member
Well i think the metalzone would be a good pedal if you know how to tweak it properly. I used one for punk rock all the way to thrash......versatile as hell.....when i first started.
But i just din't like the way it reacted to my picking, it sounded very "plastic", even after sending it for modding to remove the nasal sound and added germanium for tube-like warmth. I guess after using other effects, going back to the metalzone was just a step too backward for me. But i agree, its a good pedal for ryhthm.....
I've tried other boutique metal distortions(think krank/blood drive/landmine) and i dint like them as well. Maybe i have an adversion towards metal drives maybe?
But i just din't like the way it reacted to my picking, it sounded very "plastic", even after sending it for modding to remove the nasal sound and added germanium for tube-like warmth. I guess after using other effects, going back to the metalzone was just a step too backward for me. But i agree, its a good pedal for ryhthm.....
I've tried other boutique metal distortions(think krank/blood drive/landmine) and i dint like them as well. Maybe i have an adversion towards metal drives maybe?
Do everyone and yourself a favor by throwing the metal zone away. Seriously, its one of the worst pedals ive tried. Thin and weak sounding, its for nu-metal noobs. You can try and sell it but won't you feel bad selling such a sucky pedal to someone? If you really want to keep it, get it modded ala keeley mod.
j_m_s
New member
YSR.... Each to his own, some people like the metalzone, some people dont. Its like other pedals, what you like, i may not like. One man's food is another man's poison. think of it this way.
I like shop A's CHicken burger, i say its super good. But someone else tries it and says "eeyer shop A sucks." the he tries shop B and says "Shop B is the best!" Different people have diff tastes, your post aint helpin the threadstarter one bit...
To the threadstarter: Whatever floats your boat, if u like it. keep it, if you dont, say bye bye.
I like shop A's CHicken burger, i say its super good. But someone else tries it and says "eeyer shop A sucks." the he tries shop B and says "Shop B is the best!" Different people have diff tastes, your post aint helpin the threadstarter one bit...
To the threadstarter: Whatever floats your boat, if u like it. keep it, if you dont, say bye bye.
thor666
New member
Actually, early 80's MT2 are keepers.
And it really depends on the guitar and amp you are running through. Running a high gain pedal into a small low headroom amp and expecting wonders is just expecting too much.
I do feel however, for heavy gain applications, there are better choices than a new MT2. Why waste your time modding when you can get a better stock pedal?
And it really depends on the guitar and amp you are running through. Running a high gain pedal into a small low headroom amp and expecting wonders is just expecting too much.
I do feel however, for heavy gain applications, there are better choices than a new MT2. Why waste your time modding when you can get a better stock pedal?
HIMYNAMEISARTHUR
New member
ok..this thread is to allow ppl to share ther views on mt2 and not help me decide whether to keep the pedal or not..i juz wana noe the view n reasons y ppl say it sucks..
I'm a little... reluctant to agree to your point j_m_s.
Ever read guitar magazine reviews? Ever other piece of gear reviewed is good. Great. Outstanding. Ever tried to make a choice then?
I think YSR is right in stating what he said because he also gives the REASONS why he thinks the MT2 is a poor pedal. Anywayl, it is evident, since he is posting it, that what he states = his opinion.
No, I say, review and critique what your ears tell you... give the plain truth. Let the threadstarter read and then listen.
Ever read guitar magazine reviews? Ever other piece of gear reviewed is good. Great. Outstanding. Ever tried to make a choice then?
I think YSR is right in stating what he said because he also gives the REASONS why he thinks the MT2 is a poor pedal. Anywayl, it is evident, since he is posting it, that what he states = his opinion.
No, I say, review and critique what your ears tell you... give the plain truth. Let the threadstarter read and then listen.
j_m_s
New member
yes, obviously he is stating his POV.
Threadstarter has indicated he likes the Mt2. haha. bro, i dont know about you, but i dont like changing what works. So if you like it, keep using it.
Shredcow, yeah, thats true about guitar magazine reviews. Yeah, he does state his reasons.
Threadstarter has indicated he likes the Mt2. haha. bro, i dont know about you, but i dont like changing what works. So if you like it, keep using it.
Shredcow, yeah, thats true about guitar magazine reviews. Yeah, he does state his reasons.
Danelectrico
New member
Back in the 90s, local gigs would almost certainly have a couple of bands in their lineup with the most godawful guitar tone / noise. And invariably the culprits guilty of the worst of the shrieking chainsaw-against-aluminium rackets would be using this little black paperweight. i've used it before, back in the day when i had no idea what i was plugging into - but i had just enough to know that my tone was horrendous - bad enough to make me want to switch to digital floorboard multieffects in the hope of an improvement (talk about frying pan into the fire - but that's another story altogether).
Still, there is nothing quite like the sound of a guitar to metal zone straight to PA at the old world trade centre open-air auditorium. true story! interestingly enough, said shoegazer band is still around today - sounding light years better now of course!
As edder said, i think these 90s pre-IntarWeb horror stories spawned all the metal zone jokes. miss them good ol' days.
but seriously, the pedal's EQ controls are flexible - if you use the same amp at the same volume throughout, theoratically you should be able to tweak the amp and pedal enough to sound decent if you're into that giant scooped wall of gain thing. doesn't really matter what guitar you use though, it'll all sound the same.
Still, there is nothing quite like the sound of a guitar to metal zone straight to PA at the old world trade centre open-air auditorium. true story! interestingly enough, said shoegazer band is still around today - sounding light years better now of course!
As edder said, i think these 90s pre-IntarWeb horror stories spawned all the metal zone jokes. miss them good ol' days.
but seriously, the pedal's EQ controls are flexible - if you use the same amp at the same volume throughout, theoratically you should be able to tweak the amp and pedal enough to sound decent if you're into that giant scooped wall of gain thing. doesn't really matter what guitar you use though, it'll all sound the same.
edder
New member
Still, there is nothing quite like the sound of a guitar to metal zone straight to PA at the old world trade centre open-air auditorium. true story! interestingly enough, said shoegazer band is still around today - sounding light years better now of course!
ohhh ohhhh and the black BC RICH Warlock with red binding!!!! and the singing.... ouuuucccchhh.... :mrgreen:
Danelectrico
New member
ha ha! wheee! spot on man...looks like you KNOW what i'm talking about there...and i never fail to remind him either! i was there man, it's all true! (sounding like those old hippies who claim they were at the first woodstock!)
we should have a cold one and reminisce about the good ol' days gone by!!
i was there man, it's all true! (sounding like those old hippies who claim they were at the first woodstock!)we should have a cold one and reminisce about the good ol' days gone by!!
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