Boss HM-2 Users

[JBMysteron]

I'm sure I'm not the only person out there using a HM-2 for a nice fuzzy distortion sound

Who else does? what settings do you use?

Anybody else using the classic Swedish Death Metal "all knobs cranked on the HM2" chainsaw brutality sound? If so, how do you account for the high output of the pedal at full volume and distortion?

It took me long enough to find a nice Japanese HM2 and I really want to get the most out of it!

Thanks everyone!

[dozicusmaximus]

I have to get another one...
The one I have now is broken. It gets all sputtery and fizzles out when the note starts to decay.
On the better one I had I had bass all the way up, dist around 4, and highs around 3-4.
Tone knob on the bass turned pretty much off, especially if I bumped the highs up more.
Actually the settings that the pedal are at on this page is pretty close to what I had.
http://jonebelltxsoundgrdn.com/Reviews/BossHM2.html
I was going for a GC Green kinda thing.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CBuD4...eature=related

[JBMysteron]

Awesome, that's a really nice dirty bass tone!

[dozicusmaximus]

You bet it is. He used an HM2 as well

[Darknut]

I have a Japanese HM-2 I used for years on bass .. I always liked it.
I haven't used it in while but I have been thinking about putting it back in the pile

I also have a 1979 — CE-2 Chorus & a Japanese BF-2 (I got it in the 80's don't know what year it is for sure)

Edit:

I have been doing the fuzz thing lately but I put the HM-2 back in my rig tonight ... I forgot how much I like it!

I run the dirt about 3/4
the high EQ about 3/4
Low about 10 o'clock

I mix all my effect with a dry signal 50/50 for most stuff

[Dapper_Bandit]

Love my HM-2, used the Swedish Death Metal setting on it exclusively (except I didn't have the volume all the way up) but unfortunately it's broken in the last couple of months so I'm having to try and find a suitably nasty replacement.

Has anyone tried the HM-2 setting on the boss OD-20? How does it compare?

[RCCollins]

The HM-2 is one of the best values in bass distortion out there. I wish it had a mids control, but whatever - to me it sounds great with the bass at 3 o'clock of higher, treble/mids (they are both controlled by the high band) at 9 o'clock or LOWER - so the indicators are basically facing each other - with just a TINY amount of distortion.

Roll off the highs on your amp and this $50 used "heavy metal" pedal turns into a DUB MONSTER.

There's an awful lot you can achieve with the HM-2, and anyone who thinks there's low end loss has already gone half deaf IMO... probably from using the "swedish death metal settings," which sounds way too high-middy on bass IMO

I've read that it is VERY easy to mod the HM-2 to either permanently scoop the mids or eliminate the highs entirely. I'd imagine that a fixed mid-scoop would make the heavier distortion settings more useful on bass. One of these days I'll pick up another one, but I have no problem getting tons of use out of the stock version - a modded one would only be a supplement

I am much happier with this affordable used pedal than with virtually any of the high end "boutique" (often means "garage") pedals

[oldcatfish]

I'm really mad at you for posting that (not really). I had a Japanese one years ago for my guitar, but just didn't use it much, so I sold it. I didn't play bass back then. Now I might need to hunt another one down.

[Dapper_Bandit]

I never noticed too much loss of lows on it, even when using the more extreme settings. Although it is quite a middy sound it was what I needed at the time and it sounded incredible to me on sustained chords. But then some of my favourite bass tones are on early Earache records so we probably have entirely different frames of reference. C'est la vie.

[Badmuthaplucka]

I have the HM-3 and it's no slouch either! It's a very good Distortion/Fuzz pedal.

[RCCollins]

Originally Posted by Dapper_Bandit

I never noticed too much loss of lows on it, even when using the more extreme settings. Although it is quite a middy sound it was what I needed at the time and it sounded incredible to me on sustained chords. But then some of my favourite bass tones are on early Earache records so we probably have entirely different frames of reference. C'est la vie.

It's not that any lows are lost - it's just that the STRONG mid-boost at extreme settings makes the low end much less noticeable. Apparently, the mid-scoop mod for the HM-2 involves nothing more than physically clipping a single point on the board. Anybody familiar with this mod? As cheap as these pedals are, I'm sure I'll get around to trying it before long.

One thing I like about the HM-2 is the dynamic response, which is kind of "ampy" (read: tube-like response/feel, NOT Sound) for a high gain distortion pedal. I believe the design uses a 2 clipping stages, the first using germanium transistors, the second silicon. Give Boss some love for this well-engineered pedal, dangit!

[Green Mind]

I also use one of these. Usually the bass is about 2-4 o'clock, highs about 2, distortion varies. I find with the volume knob on my bass dialed back, it can get some cool dynamic overdrive tones. I'll have to try this "Swedish Death Metal" sound a little more. I think it works well for that 'You Made Me Realize EP' by My Bloody Valentine sound.

[JBMysteron]

I really do love the Swedish death metal tone. Word on the street is if you can get 2+ HM2 pedals and chain them in front of each other with all settings at 100%, you can get a really brutal synthy buzzsaw sounding fuzz. Really, really awesome.

[Darknut]

Originally Posted by JBMysteron

I really do love the Swedish death metal tone. Word on the street is if you can get 2+ HM2 pedals and chain them in front of each other with all settings at 100%, you can get a really brutal synthy buzzsaw sounding fuzz. Really, really awesome.

I did something similar with my GT6b & the HM2 last night.

GT6b Metal zone emulation & the HM2 .... synthy buzzsaw is a pretty good description ... cool as hell