Which BOSS Distortion Pedals

[marcello252]

I've never liked over the top distortion pedals, I do like much more different stages adding up harmonics, so my ideal idea is a tube screamer (or a generic mild overdrive) with low gain in a hard clipping pedal (a OCD for example) with low gain, followed by a eq (like a ge7) , ok, that's the way to obtain EVERYTHING.
Once in a llifetime, somebody trust me, you'll not be disappointed.

 

[devastone]

I wouldn't be using it for Country. More for Classic Rock or Fusion.

What amp are you using? I would definitely not recommend the MZ. THe HM2 might work, but there are so many better choices than any of those 3, but it will depend on the amp.

 

[Butch Snyder]

What amp are you using? I would definitely not recommend the MZ. THe HM2 might work, but there are so many better choices than any of those 3, but it will depend on the amp.

I'm using a Fender Hot Rod Deluxe v4. No, I wouldn't use any of the three. I do own a DS-1 and do not use it. I have an SD-1 that's on my board and I also use the overdrive section of my Route 66. This thread was to satisfy curiosity. I have used the Metal Zone and liked it for what it was.

 

[RanchManSandy]

OP what are you plugging into? Certain amps can make any of these sound bad lol

but if these are the only options, I'd say the waza version of either the DS1 or HM2

If you're open to other stuff, try out an OS2 (super underrated) and keep the blend knob between 9 and 3 oclock and the tone knob semi-low

 

[Aceman]

I'm choosing the HM2 - but mostly because it is the one I am most familiar with.

Honestly, not a huge fan of any.

DS1 - I like the least. Just not the distortion sound I like. So many "better" distortions to me.
MT2 - An under-rated pedal, usually used badly. I just don't play what it is best at really.
HM2 - Decent pedal and more flexible than one would think. I like better than the DS1 by far, and would play more often than the MT2.

But...Suhr riot, Wampler Mini Plexi, Stack in a Box...all prefered to these.

I like the Digital Metalizer by Boss better than any of the ones presented by Boss

 

[GuitarStv]

The DS-1 works well if you want to add a little extra gain (but not really volume) without mud or flub to a middy amp that's already breaking up. As far as I can tell, that's ALL that it does.

 

[Butch Snyder]

The DS-1 works well if you want to add a little extra gain (but not really volume) without mud or flub to a middy amp that's already breaking up. As far as I can tell, that's ALL that it does.

I think that's mainly what players use it for nowadays. I think Steve Vai uses one like that.

 

[Securb]

Many of these pedals were popular because ....

• They were the best of the limited options 40 years ago
• They were the least expensive way to make a bad/lacking amp sound useable 40 years ago
• Some icon used the pedal to get a decent tone 40 years ago

Now there are so many options and ways to achieve your tonal goals the name on the pedal doesn't even matter anymore. The majority of the stuff we do as musicians these days is 90% about tradition and 10% about tone. And I say that as I am sitting next to my Marshall half stack that I know I can capture the same sound with an array of digital gear that will fit in my gig bag. But as my bass player says "The Marshall looks cool"

 

[ehdwuld]

Love the Metal Zone

Have a DS1 it's a classic
I have a MT2 clone frome Behringer

I like the fuzzy buzzing bee thing from time to time

It's not what I normally play

But when I do , I can't stop grinning while playing the MT2 clone

 

[Chistopher]

DS-1 is also popular because it's cheap. The circuit is dead simple, the machinery was paid of years ago, they don't pad the price near as much as other distortions do. To me they are just as versatile as any other distortion.

 

[Rex_Rocker]

For Classic Rock or Fusion, I wouldn't use any of those, honestly.

DS-1 is kind of an 80's Shred or Hair Metal thing. Or Grunge. Maybe.
HM-2 is kinda Swedish Death Metal or maybe edgy -Core and Shoegaze.
MT-2 is kind of a Death Metal thing as well (used as a boost).

 

[Chistopher]

For Classic Rock or Fusion, I wouldn't use any of those, honestly.

DS-1 is kind of an 80's Shred or Hair Metal thing. Or Grunge. Maybe.
HM-2 is kinda Swedish Death Metal or maybe edgy -Core and Shoegaze.
MT-2 is kind of a Death Metal thing as well (used as a boost).

That sounds like something someone who makes commission would say before pointing to a wall of JHS and Wampler pedals.

 

[Butch Snyder]

Many of these pedals were popular because ....

• They were the best of the limited options 40 years ago
• They were the least expensive way to make a bad/lacking amp sound useable 40 years ago
• Some icon used the pedal to get a decent tone 40 years ago

Coming up as a young player, I remember the few OD/Dist pedals available; a fraction of what is available these days. This would have been early eighties. I remember the DS-1 (as well as various Boss OD flavors), TS-9, Ibanez Sonic Distortion, DOD Overdrive Preamp 250 (my personal favorite), MXR Distortion + and Distortion II, Ross Distortion, EHX muff pedals, and a few others. As the eighties progressed, there were many many more offered by those same companies. Then the rack generation came in. Nowadays, every pedal company seems to have a "blue-million" OD/Dist pedals.

For Classic Rock or Fusion, I wouldn't use any of those, honestly.

Nor me.....
​

 

[dave74]

I like using a slight "semi-clean" boost (not an overdrive, more like an mxr 6-band EQ, or any one of the many boost with shelving and/or active EQ) into the HM-2 and then set the controls on the HM-2 to taste,not all at max lol

 

[Rex_Rocker]

LOL.

Honestly, though, if you're not gonna play Swedish Death Metal through an HM-2, is it worth it? I mean, I'm sure with some help, it sounds great for other styles. But there are other plenty of pedals that either don't require any help or just plain sound "better" doing a "pretty" distortion sound.

Plus HM-2's aren't cheap nowadays.

 

[Butch Snyder]

LOL.

Honestly, though, if you're not gonna play Swedish Death Metal through an HM-2, is it worth it? I mean, I'm sure with some help, it sounds great for other styles. But there are other plenty of pedals that either don't require any help or just plain sound "better" doing a "pretty" distortion sound.

Plus HM-2's aren't cheap nowadays.

I actually thought his tone was pretty good. Would I have a use for it? No, not really my gig, but I liked it.

 

[Rex_Rocker]

I actually thought his tone was pretty good. Would I have a use for it? No, not really my gig, but I liked it.

Yeah, the tone was good, but I don't think that was the point of the video. When he used the pedal without the Grind, it sounded kinda horrible. Also, even with the Grind on, the EQ, and the poweramp simulation, it still had a hint of the Swedish Chainsaw sound. You can really tell on the tremolo picking parts. An HM-2 is kinda like that, IMO. You can always tell when an HM-2 is on.

 

[SirJackdeFuzz II]

In that case I would say the MXR D+/DOD 250/ROSS are the malt liquor of overdrive. Kind of nasty, at times not pleasant, but very powerful and will definitely get the job done.

I LOVE MY FEZZ (DOD250 clone, with mods) . . . for what it's worth.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?app=desktop&v=ep394D7UbvA


Had a Metalzone (in 2005) did not gel with it, and gave it to my brother.
Bought a DS-1 for $40.00, and kept it, as i like the tone vs. money spent, and like it was said above, the tone does grow on you.
Try running a DS-1, into a BD-2 :headbang: (distorting your overdrive)
I got a Waza Craft Heavy Metal, and love that thing. Deff gonna keep it.

 

[ehdwuld]

I think I am tone deaf

My DS1 sounds just like the SOAK channel of my Carvin Belair amp

My MT2 clone sounds just like the high gain channel of my HK Tubemeister

Dang it
My durned ears

Oh well

 

[Securb]

I LOVE MY FEZZ (DOD250 clone, with mods) . . . for what it's worth.
.

I have all three variants MXR, ROSS & DOD and love them all