Metal Zone or Tube Screamer?

[AICfan]

Which pedal do you like better and why?

I like the Metal Zone. I've played it through many Marshalls, Line 6, Mesa Boogies, and Fenders, and it rocked, especially with the Marshalls. Perfect for all types of rock and metal. For years I've heard the Tube Screamer had better tone overall, but not unless you had a tube amp. That was what turned me away from buying it. If you don't own a tube amp, should you even think about buying it? I'd like to try them out to see if its my thing or not, but no local shops carry them here. How does the Tube Screamer sound compared to the Metal Zone?

Thanks :alcoholic

 

[FretFire]

Re: Metal Zone or Tube Screamer?

A TS is an overdrive pedal, not a distortion unit. It won't have as much gain as a MZ, and is mainly designed for pushing a tube amp to breakup and beyond sooner than plugging straight in. That being said, a TS does have a slight spike in the mids that makes it sound a little nasal IMO, and they can sound compressed at times.

 

[AICfan]

Re: Metal Zone or Tube Screamer?

So if you're into playing stuff like Slayer, the Tube Screamer wouldn't be the right pedal for you?

 

[FretFire]

Re: Metal Zone or Tube Screamer?

So if you're into playing stuff like Slayer, the Tube Screamer wouldn't be the right pedal for you?

I think that'd be a safe assumption . TS players you might have heard of would be Stevie Ray Vaughan, Trey Anastasio, etc. etc.

 

[Mincer]

Re: Metal Zone or Tube Screamer?

these 2 are as different as a guitar and a tuba- you need to try em side by side.

 

[Skarekrough]

Re: Metal Zone or Tube Screamer?

these 2 are as different as a guitar and a tuba- you need to try em side by side.

...matter of fact I don't think you could pick two pedals that are more dis-similiar without moving into areas like Chorus v. Wah.

There's a ton of Tube Screamers out there. But they're not a "metal" pedal; they're not intended to be. They're intended to push the signal so that the tubes in the amp break up more quickly.

The Metal Zone is a distortion pedal which basically takes your signal and adds elements to it to simulate an amp that's cranked.

 

[More-Gear-Than-Skill]

Re: Metal Zone or Tube Screamer?

To me, the metal zone sounds like an approaching swarm of bees. Very much heavy!
The TS lets your guitars nature shine thru. To me, when i tried a MZ, the guitars wood and pickups had no influence on the sound. 335 or strat or les paul or ibanez all sounded alike.... Very 90's.... But it is a kicker of arses though.

 

[Rainmaker]

Re: Metal Zone or Tube Screamer?

If you want to choose a high-gain pedal, there are probably other preferable choices other than the Metal Zone.

 

[FretFire]

Re: Metal Zone or Tube Screamer?

If you want to choose a high-gain pedal, there are probably other preferable choices other than the Metal Zone.

True, but it's clear from his post that he already likes the MZ, and was wondering how the TS compares. At least that's how I read it.

 

[Rainmaker]

Re: Metal Zone or Tube Screamer?

Yeah that's true, but he mightn't have tried other pedals that are similar in purpose.


I've got a Metal Zone, I've had it for ages, and I've tried it through a few amps - I don't really understand how anyone can dig that pedal. Then again, its not like I have the best taste in tone anyway :laugh2:


Where do you live, AIC?

 

[Kev]

Re: Metal Zone or Tube Screamer?

For solos, you're not gonna want a metal zone IMO- You're gonna need the clarity of your guitar shining through, a nice mid range and high. This sound isnt what the metal zone is best at. Michael Angelo Batio uses 2 TS in stereo therefore to achieve his tight clear sound through Marshalls or 5150s.

However, You simply wouldnt get a decent post black album metal sound through it. This is where the metal zone comes in. This will achieve your metallica, pantera, slayer and modern maiden power crunch tone when set up well, where you would sound like a weak muppet in a metal band these days if you dared to use the TS on a rythm section.

So in summary, you know what would be happening on my pedal board

Kev

 

[The Golden Boy]

Re: Metal Zone or Tube Screamer?

They're intended to push the signal so that the tubes in the amp break up more quickly.

I would disagree with that. I believe it was Ibanez' attempt to make a pedal that attempted to achieve the sound of an amp naturally overdriving. People have used it as an extra preamp of sorts since it's release, as it really doesn't sound anything like natural tube amp overdrive.

 

[ErikH]

Re: Metal Zone or Tube Screamer?

The MZ was meant to sound like a Dual Rec in a Box, which it can do with the EQ dialed in the just right. I personally don't like it, then again I'm not a Dual Rec fan either so that explains it. Never liked Tube Screamers either. I'm a SD-1 guy (different clipping than a TS).

But talk about comparing apples to potatoes (TS vs. MZ)

Just an FYI, the TS was used by many metal acts in the 80's simply because they wanted to push the amp more so saying it's not for metal is not accurate. Zakk Wylde uses an overdrive, always has, rather than a distortion unit like the MZ, George Lynch used a TS for years. Just 2 examples.

 

[these_go211]

Re: Metal Zone or Tube Screamer?

since one pedal is overdrive and the other distortion, has anyone ever tried the 2 together at the same time?

 

[ErikH]

Re: Metal Zone or Tube Screamer?

since one pedal is overdrive and the other distortion, has anyone ever tried the 2 together at the same time?

It's like mixing dirt and water. What do you get?.......mud.

 

[AmpliFIRE]

Re: Metal Zone or Tube Screamer?

Give me a Maxon OD 9 over both!

 

[ErikH]

Re: Metal Zone or Tube Screamer?

Give me a Maxon OD 9 over both!

Funny you say that because that uses the same circuit as the Ibanez Tube Screamer, the TS9 version.

 

[FretFire]

Re: Metal Zone or Tube Screamer?

Just an FYI, the TS was used by many metal acts in the 80's simply because they wanted to push the amp more so saying it's not for metal is not accurate. Zakk Wylde uses an overdrive, always has, rather than a distortion unit like the MZ, George Lynch used a TS for years. Just 2 examples.

The difference here is that the Metal Zone has enough gain on it's own to be useful for metal, where those guys were using the TS in front of an already high gain amplifier mainly as a solo boost type thing. The fact remains that a TS doesn't have enough gain to do metal on it's own.

 

[AmpliFIRE]

Re: Metal Zone or Tube Screamer?

Funny you say that because that uses the same circuit as the Ibanez Tube Screamer, the TS9 version.

Yup...I've heard that as well. The Maxon has more usable gain IMO.

 

[ErikH]

Re: Metal Zone or Tube Screamer?

The difference here is that the Metal Zone has enough gain on it's own to be useful for metal, where those guys were using the TS in front of an already high gain amplifier mainly as a solo boost type thing. The fact remains that a TS doesn't have enough gain to do metal on it's own.

Agreed. I think the part that was missing in the earlier statements was the "on it's own" part.