Boss HM-2

[Rena Rune]

Does anyone have one? I think it's an amazing pedal.

When you have a pretty mid focused, rolls off the highs kind of amp, you get a great metal type tone:

http://www.box.net/shared/fvb5dtpsyp

With my AC4 I got this crazy fuzz -

http://www.box.net/shared/0tui7fn0lf

[Snottyboy]

Do a search out here...I know there are a few closet HM-2 fans hanging around! That pedal does 80's metal better than anything else I've used. The separate bass and treble controls were key. That was my Ozzy "Speak of the Devil" pedal! Unfortunately, I had it during the irresponsible youth years. It bounced around from pal to pal, until it inevitably disappeared for good.

[Rena Rune]

You need to stack it with amp gain to get an 80s Metal sound, and again it has to round off the highs. It's really more of a Death Metal sound and alt rock fuzzy distortion than anything. Defo better at the 80s stuff with the right setup than a stock MT-2, though. I wasn't expecting it to capture those kind of sounds at all, but it can at lower gain.

I don't understand why it sounds so harsh through my Vox, though. The roundy sound I got through a Solid State Lunchbox amp. Aren't tube amps supposed to be smoother?

[MERCYFULFATE]

im a big Boss fan and i bought this pedal back in the day and didnt like it at all.

[Head+Cab]

It was good enough for Jerry Garcia to use. I like mine for occasionally screwing around with, although I'm sure if Analogman or Keeley modded them they would be incredible.

[papersun]

I'm learning things here, I guess I thought the HM-2 was a Muff.

[Moe45673]

I found the HM-2 sounded best with both tone knobs cranked. Tried an HM-3 and it was terrible, nothing like the 2.

[Rena Rune]

Originally Posted by papersun

I'm learning things here, I guess I thought the HM-2 was a Muff.

It can get some Muff-like sounds at some settings, yes. You're not actually that far off.

I found the HM-2 sounded best with both tone knobs cranked. Tried an HM-3 and it was terrible, nothing like the 2.

Depends on my amp, the amp I was recording with here sounded a bit obnoxious with the Hi cranked, but with some amps I imagine it gets very Johnny Greenwood at lower gain settings.

[Bar-B-Kill]

I have "almost" pulled the trigger on the HM-2 recently, but have not. I have a MT-2 from 93 that is currently not on my board. Think I may just have it modded to help with some of the harshness of the pedal. I was just curious though, the HM-2 was sort of the father of the MT-2, are they similar overall or is one better than another?

[todd richman]

Clapton had one too in 1985 in his Bradshaw rig. I liked them-not over the top death metal at all.

[Snottyboy]

Wow...Jerry Garcia and Clapton had HM-2's on their boards at one point???

[Danox3]

First pedal I bought, eventually sold it.

Then I found out it was THE pedal Justin Broadrick used.

[Reckedtrek]

Originally Posted by Bar-B-Kill

I have "almost" pulled the trigger on the HM-2 recently, but have not. I have a MT-2 from 93 that is currently not on my board. Think I may just have it modded to help with some of the harshness of the pedal. I was just curious though, the HM-2 was sort of the father of the MT-2, are they similar overall or is one better than another?

I've had the same HM-2 since I bought it back in '86. I had the MT-2 for about 2 or 3 years, but only used it for a brief period of time. The two, IMO other than being distortion pedals from Boss- have nothing else in common. The HM-2 has a looser, fuller bottom end- warm isn't the word, but not that super tight- no meat bass tone that the MT-2 has. The HM-2's tone controls have a pretty wide range, but there isn't a "mid" knob at all. The HM-2 hasn't been my main pedal for a very long time, but I still haven't gotten rid of it.

I think they go for pretty cheap and are a sleeper pedal. One thing about it, though is the distortion is basically either off or on. You get a slight increase in the first 40% of the pot, then it doesn't change much. The variety comes in the tone knobs. There are some few pretty cool sounds in this box.

[Moe45673]

Yeah, another thing I noticed about it and totally agree. The HM-2 gain/dirt knob is practically useless. Still, it does one sound and does it pretty well.

If I had to choose between an HM-2 and MT-2, I'd go for the MT-2 and get it modded. The Monte Allums Sustainia mod is glorious and the MT-2 can do practically any type of dirt sound you please, including low gain.

I used to have it but sold it when I got an OD-20 and realized I could get a similar sound out of it. Then I tried the OD-20 at a band practise and realized I couldn't get it to cut through the mix at all, it was like I hit a giant mute switch. The OD-20 did do a good HM-2 emulation though (at least practising in the bedroom), but I think I recall the dirt knob being more useable.

Really the biggest case of sellers remorse I ever had, that MT-2.

[Bar-B-Kill]

Originally Posted by Reckedtrek

I've had the same HM-2 since I bought it back in '86. I had the MT-2 for about 2 or 3 years, but only used it for a brief period of time. The two, IMO other than being distortion pedals from Boss- have nothing else in common. The HM-2 has a looser, fuller bottom end- warm isn't the word, but not that super tight- no meat bass tone that the MT-2 has. The HM-2's tone controls have a pretty wide range, but there isn't a "mid" knob at all. The HM-2 hasn't been my main pedal for a very long time, but I still haven't gotten rid of it.

I think they go for pretty cheap and are a sleeper pedal. One thing about it, though is the distortion is basically either off or on. You get a slight increase in the first 40% of the pot, then it doesn't change much. The variety comes in the tone knobs. There are some few pretty cool sounds in this box.

Yeah heard that about the Dist. knob. I would have it jacked anyway more than likely. I love the eq on the MT-2, it best attribute IMO. Hearing that the tone knobs have a good range and are useful makes it sound more appealing. I am curious for sure.