Boss HM-2

[Dave Sloven]

I relented and finally bought a replacement for the HM-2 Heavy Metal pedal that I sold twenty years ago.  I never liked it on bass but since getting a guitar I've wished I still had it, especially after picking up an old Peavey Bandit (the Entombed/Dismember dimed HM-2 into the clean channel of a Bandit has always been on my bucket list).

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/281500392873

My old one was an early '90s Taiwanese silver label version, this one is a mid-'80s Japanese black label one.  How kvlt!

Now I wait ....

I also purchased an MXR M-82 Bass Envelope Filter recently on a whim, wondering what that will be like.  Apparently you can get a decent Sleep bass sound out of it when combined with a fuzz ... now I just need a fuzz ...

Anyone else got a HM-2?  Here's a wideo:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4p-Sk_9bCA4

[gwEm]

I got one as an experiment and thought it was awful on guitar but really love it on bass 

Everyone has a different taste I guess.

I also have an HM-3 'Hyper Metal' which I do like on guitar **to a certain extent** it makes my guitar disappear into a mush in a band mix. I think its underrated that pedal... I mean, obviously its trash, but it is entertaining.

The Boss ML-2 'Metal Core' is sort of like an updated version of the HM-3 but with similar disadvantages. I have one and my drummer likes it

Never tried the MT-2 'Metal Zone'

[Alex]

I used the HM-3 in a band I was playing in many years ago as the main distortion sound (the band had only one guitar); it worked surprisingly well and was quite defining for that band's sound; most importantly it set us apart from all the other local bands.

[Dave Sloven]

Yeah everyone has different tastes.  To me the HM-3 sounds fizzy.

The definitive HM-2 sound is to dime everything and then play old death metal riffs in C standard.  That is basically it's purpose.  Anything else it's pretty blah.  Some sixteen year old kids in Sweden stumbled upon that sound by accident back in 1987 or so.

Something like this:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VYaYzIUH9yU

Otherwise it is pretty useless IMO.  I would prefer to just use the lead channel in my 6534+ for other sounds.

[Telerocker]

I had the HM-2 in the past. Not too bad, not great either. Got some decent solotones out of it.

[gwEm]

I used the HM-3 in a band I was playing in many years ago as the main distortion sound (the band had only one guitar); it worked surprisingly well and was quite defining for that band's sound; most importantly it set us apart from all the other local bands.

For me the hm3 is definitely the best of the boss metal pedals, I can see how it worked for you.

The metal core is also ok.

I forgot I also have the mz-2 'digital metalizer' which I don't like at all on guitar, it's maybe the worst boss metal pedal. However, it is pretty good with a techno synth. Very filthy.

This thread is making me think I should get a metal zone and complete my set ;)

I hope Agent Orange that you enjoy your HM2 :)

[p4vl]

I've got one and it's usually the first thing I reach for when I'm in a pedal mood.  You really have to be tuned to a minimum of C# or drop C to get the full effect.  Fantastically ugly (yet usable) pedal. 

These guys should have called this 'upgraded HM2' Tits on a Bull:

http://lonewolfaudio.bigcartel.com/product/left-hand-wrath-pre-order

I wonder if they realize that their 'updated' HM2's pricetag is about half of the recording budget of Left Hand Path, the album that made the HM2 famous in the first place.

[Dave Sloven]

That upgraded HM-2 is a joke. The whole idea of a HM-2 is to dime everything and then make adjustments on your pre-amp EQ and loop EQ pedals.

[FELINEGUITARS]

I bought mine in late 1984 or early 85
Ultimately wasn't a fan of it

[gwEm]

I bought mine in late 1984 or early 85
Ultimately wasn't a fan of it

I think we can definitely say its an unsophisticated pedal!

maybe the boutique version is somehow too much, but you could see it as a tribute to the HM-2 and that Swedish death metal tone. It could be nice to have control over the mids.

[bucketshred]

And here is a load of HM-2 (and HM-2-a-likes) being tested against one another.

I like them all.

[Dave Sloven]

The HM-2 is a one trick pony.  For most things there are better pedals out there.  It's real use is to get that Swedish tone.  For some reason it only comes out when you max everything.  You can roll back various things after the pedal but for the pedal to make that 'Sunlight sound' it has to be dimed.

I have the Japanese production HM-2.  I think it is from 1985 or thereabouts.  It definitely gives that sound.  I wouldn't use it for anything else.  I also don't use it in my band as too many other people are using it on my scene.  When I hear it I look over and think to myself 'HM-2. Check. Everything dimed. Check.'  It's actually more common on the hardcore scene than the metal scene now because it seems new and fresh to those guys and most of them haven't worked out how to get it.  It's just the few guys who came into that scene from death metal who do it.

It's fun to play those old covers at home though

[juansolo]

Of course:

[bucketshred]

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ LOVE IT!

[gwEm]

very nice Juan