Amazed by the Boss Heavy Metal HM-2!

Nasnederis · #1 02-10-2008, 05:39 AM

I just want to share the incredible sound of the boss heavy metal hm-2 made in Taiwan in the 80´s, which I got for 17 bucks. I can't believe that it´s better than my rat deucetone on bass, wich has 4 kind of rats, including the turbo. The lows on the boss are just amazing. Its just the perfect overdrive I´ve looking for, wich has just a little amount of fuzz, and has a great distortion. I will use my rat just for the guitar, and become a permanent user of the boss heavy metal with bass, together with the big muff. You must get one now.

crapusername · #2 02-10-2008, 09:06 AM

Glad you discovered this sleeper from boss.
It's an absolutely fantastic piece of kit on a bass.
Perhaps we should have a boss HM2 users club!

Nasnederis · #3 02-10-2008, 10:41 AM

It´s not a bad idea crapusername!

This pedal can give you a sabbath, metallica or muse sound ala hysteria, but with just a little distortions it gives life to your amp, like a tube sound. I can play king crimson songs, john wetton era without a tube amp.

speak_onion · #4 02-10-2008, 03:36 PM

My understanding is that GC Green from Godflesh used this pedal, too. One of my favorite tones, ever.

mav · #5 02-11-2008, 03:30 AM

I just picked up a used MIJ HM-2 for $45 bucks, serial number dating, 1984!
Can't wait to try it out live!

fretlessman71 · #6 02-11-2008, 03:32 AM

Man, I see these around all the time - now I'm going to have to be on the lookout for them so I can pick one up! Yikes!

51m0n · #7 02-11-2008, 07:20 AM

I used to use one of these in the mid 90's. Sounds fantastic. I've posted before to people after some real grind that this is a superb solution.

Hint: I used to run it with a super cheap arion phaser for massive swirly grind - just incredible for tapping ostinatos, sounds like a monster analogue keyboard bass part. Always got asked how I got that sound after gigs with it. used to be a 'secret' since the arion was just embarrassing

Enjoy!

kaputsport · #8 02-11-2008, 09:16 AM

I have had one for a while now. I posted all the time as this was my secret weapon... Glad someone finally listened... I have the HM-2, a DS-1, a Little Big Muff, and a Blowtorch... All after my Deep Impact... Sounds F'en amazing!!!!

speak_onion · #9 02-11-2008, 10:49 AM

It was recently pointed out to me that if you look at the schematics for the Boss HM-2 and the DOD FX-56 American Metal, they are nearly identical. This prompted me to take my FX-56B Super American Metal out of my pedal-noise setup and try it on bass.

Whoa. I'm really glad I did. It sounds awesome. Just another option to keep in mind if the HM-2 proves illusory. I know the HM-2 is more common than the DOD pedals, but the DODs are probably cheaper.

varunkapahi · #10 02-11-2008, 10:56 AM

would a newer hm2 sound similar?what do you say?has anything changed or its all the same..... i need to know coz am looking for a geezer butler and cliff Burton kinda od for some of my band's heavier music

varunkapahi · #11 02-11-2008, 10:58 AM

^distortion if u call it so

Nasnederis · #12 02-11-2008, 11:43 AM

You can easely get that buttler and burton sound with this pedal and a good wha!! I think there are no new hm2 boss pedals, I´ve tried metal zone on bass but it didn´t convince me. By the way, for those who uses the hm2, how doy you use it? Do you use it as overdrive, distortion or fuzz?, because I have use it all the ways possible, and do you play only metal or are you into a different class of music?

diechris · #13 02-11-2008, 07:47 PM

how does this pedal sound in a "metal" band mix? in other words... does it scoop the mids like most guitar dist. pedals?

varunkapahi · #14 02-12-2008, 09:56 AM

droskobass · #15 02-12-2008, 10:16 AM

how would the New Metal zone (MT-2) compare to the older HM-2?

ANyone ever compare the two? i know the newer pedal has a variable mid control but is the distortion sound similar?

thanks!!

kaputsport · #16 02-12-2008, 10:19 AM

Nothing that Boss makes now can compare. The HM-2 is a breed of its own... Just buy one on ebay, and if you don't like it... Sell it.

varunkapahi · #17 02-12-2008, 10:29 AM

music from the past.......better
movies from the past .......better
now even pedals from the past.....better? damn!

Bass Below · #18 02-12-2008, 10:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kaputsport

I have had one for a while now. I posted all the time as this was my secret weapon... Glad someone finally listened... I have the HM-2, a DS-1, a Little Big Muff, and a Blowtorch... All after my Deep Impact... Sounds F'en amazing!!!!

If you had to choose one, which would it be? I have the HM-2, but I've been considering either the Blowtorch or a Little Big Muff. The sound I've been in search of is sort of like Peter Steele, but a little smoother and bassier.

crapusername · #19 02-12-2008, 05:37 PM

i have the hm2 on my board, along with the blowtorch, and an mxr distortion 3.
each have a very specific sound that the others can't do.
The hm2 has a distinctive sound that has definition, clarity and balls amongst other things, whereas i found the MT2 to sound like differing degrees of a wasp in a jar! IMO of course, YMMV

mav · #20 02-20-2008, 04:22 AM

Just played my HM-2 for the first time in a band situation.
OMG!!!
What a pedal!
Setting in 0'clock Level 2, L 3, H 11 and Dist all the way down.
Gave me just a little grit with some thick bass.
I'm not a metal dude but if you MAX the L, H and Dist you have yourself the "Entombed" sound, scary.