Digitech Hard Wire CM-2

[Frogman]

I was getting ready to pull the trigger on a Nobels ODR-1, until my guitar teacher told me about his new Digitech CM-2.....he says its super transparent, smooth, and beats any OD he's ever had in his career (including $300+ boutique pedals).


Anyone have one? Or even better, anyone played both the ODR-1 and CM-2?
Which is more transparent and tube-like?

 

[LonePhantom]

Re: Digitech Hard Wire CM-2

I've reviewed the CM-2. It's definitely a great overdrive pedal. It can be extremely transparent on the classic mode. Dial the tone knobs at 12 o clock and there's no colouring of your amps tone. Modern takes it up and notch with the gain and fattens it all up. Fantastic pedal. Wish I had one now.

 

[BigBazz]

Re: Digitech Hard Wire CM-2

I personally think the Bad Monkey is good enough that I bought it because "it's so cheap, whats to lose" and then it was so good that I lost interest in all the other overdrive pedals I was looking at. The CM-2 is a little brighter sounding, with more output and from what I can tell is once again a pedal that is good enough to make all the expensive pedals look silly.

That's not to say I think they are better than the more expensive pedals, but they aren't worse either and they cost so much less it seems criminal not to get one.

 

[misterwhizzy]

Re: Digitech Hard Wire CM-2

I tested it out, and it's one of the few overdrive pedals I actually liked. If I weren't happy with the gain on my amp, I'd buy one as a dirty boost.

 

[dominus]

Re: Digitech Hard Wire CM-2

I've tried out tons of overdrive pedals, most of them being the cheap ($30-ish used) to mid-range ($100-ish used) and the CM2 was pretty good. With all the cheap ODs out there, I really can't see spending more than $60-$70 on one.

 

[Frogman]

Re: Digitech Hard Wire CM-2

Should have posted what I'm looking for:

I absolutely love the gain from my amp. With that in mind, I want something with just a clean/transparent boost, with little to no coloration of its own. Just a little more pre-amp "oomph"/push when I want it.

 

[BigBazz]

Re: Digitech Hard Wire CM-2

Marshall Bluesbreaker II has a straight "boost" mode where it simply boosts the signal level, is completely transparent. It works as intended though I personally prefer the pedals that do colour it slightly as they tighten up the front of the amp more. All of the tubescreamer clone type pedals do colour the sound in some way, though generally that is the sound people are going for as it tightens up that front end a lot. Personally I will use my amp on slightly lower gain than I need, then get the rest of the gain from the OD which also tightens up the front end, I end up needing less overal gain to get to the feel and sound I want.