Do it all "Thrash" metal pedal?

ThePrettyDamned · November 2016

I've tried tons of metal pedals, and settled on three that are perfect and easily cover the spectrum. As a bonus, they're not too pricey.

Firstly, the two kings - the zoom metal and the zoom hyper lead. These are absolutely brilliant and can do classic thrash and more modern gated styles. The metal does a cool fuzz for detuned stuff, too, like Korn.

The digitech hardwire metal is my other favourite, and ultimately the one I kept. Cheap, well built, fairly quiet, and does all of the classic thrash, high gain Marshall, modern chunk and hard rock you could want. No fuzz here - even in loose mode, it's more rectifier than muff, but that means it always keeps it together on chugs. It makes a lot of much more expensive pedals look silly, to be honest. The only negative is that, with this many sounds, it can take dialing in. I set mine for my amp, then put the knob cover on - nevertouched it since.

I don't use it much anymore, but I really enjoyed learning protest the hero songs on it.

As an edit, there are a couple of pedals I didn't try but would have done had I not found the digitech, because others love them. The amptweaker tight rock/tight metal and the AMT pedals (@fretmeister I think is a big fan of these). They both do amp in a box tones, and supposedly very well. I've never tried them though.

Lew · November 2016

Ya know I don't wanna come across like a facetious turd but ya could do alot worse than buying an actual JCM800.

BloodEagle · November 2016

Amptweaker Tight Metal Pro - does every metal sound you could want, and excels at tight chuggy thrash a la 5150 etc

William Williamson · November 2016

The MXR 5150 pedal can definitely get you into that space beyond Marshall drive - it has a vintage/modern toggle, a gate and a built-in noise gate. I only sold mine because I'm fading more into the 70's and 80's hard rock than metal at the moment.

zepp76 · November 2016

I think the Amptweaker Tight Metal Pro is the clear winner here, after lots of watching YouTube footage it stands out as the best of the bunch. It does exactly what I want it to and very well at that. Thank you to you all for the recommendations there's some great pedals out there!

JMP220478 · November 2016

Lew said:

Ya know I don't wanna come across like a facetious turd but ya could do alot worse than buying an actual JCM800.

Reverend · November 2016

Tube screamer into an 800 is the thrash sound.

Marshall guvnor 2 sounds amazing for thrash.

Cookiemonster · November 2016

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/amplifiers-effects/electro-harmonix-xo-metal-muff-with-top-boost-distortion-guitar-effects-pedal

I have one if you are interested, £50 delivered or trade for something.

zepp76 · November 2016

Thanks chaps but I've ordered the Amptweaker, i didn't want to spend that much but it's a beast of a pedal and well worth it.

Jonathanthomas83 · November 2016

Bloody el, you don't waste any time!!! Where did you order from?

Check out Rabea's favourite setting in the Pedal Show episode. To my ears, that's probably a good place to start. I like a touch less mids, but a key to dialling in a good tone is to use those mini toggle switches, there's lots of options there so spend time with it.

You've made a good choice mate! Enjoy!!!

PS, also the boost is really great, I love kicking that in.

PPS, You're making me want another one now!

zepp76 · November 2016

@Jonathanthomas83 Thanks mate, I ordered it from Andertons it was a choice of them or Hotrox but I've read not very good things about them.

The amount of switching options is going to keep me busy for a while!

Ive just got to wait for the guitar to turn up now, still haven't heard anything!

Jonathanthomas83 · November 2016

Nice one!!! I hope you love it. If not, utilise that returns policy! Though, I'm not sure of many other pedals that would fulfil your initial criteria as well as the TMP.

I tried out the Piod What You Want 2 and it sound great, I'll send you some clips.

Hope the guitar turns up soon! Did you have a deal on it?

zepp76 · November 2016

Jonathanthomas83 said:

Nice one!!! I hope you love it. If not, utilise that returns policy! Though, I'm not sure of many other pedals that would fulfil your initial criteria as well as the TMP.

I tried out the Piod What You Want 2 and it sound great, I'll send you some clips.

Hope the guitar turns up soon! Did you have a deal on it?

Not a deal as such but they were selling the guitars at a standard price a lot cheaper than anywhere else, they just didn't have them in stock, typical!

Jonathanthomas83 · November 2016

zepp76 said:

Jonathanthomas83 said:

Nice one!!! I hope you love it. If not, utilise that returns policy! Though, I'm not sure of many other pedals that would fulfil your initial criteria as well as the TMP.

I tried out the Piod What You Want 2 and it sound great, I'll send you some clips.

Hope the guitar turns up soon! Did you have a deal on it?

Not a deal as such but they were selling the guitars at a standard price a lot cheaper than anywhere else, they just didn't have them in stock, typical!

Uh-oh, we've been here before...!

zepp76 · November 2016

Jonathanthomas83 said:

zepp76 said:

Jonathanthomas83 said:

Nice one!!! I hope you love it. If not, utilise that returns policy! Though, I'm not sure of many other pedals that would fulfil your initial criteria as well as the TMP.

I tried out the Piod What You Want 2 and it sound great, I'll send you some clips.

Hope the guitar turns up soon! Did you have a deal on it?

Not a deal as such but they were selling the guitars at a standard price a lot cheaper than anywhere else, they just didn't have them in stock, typical!

Uh-oh, we've been here before...!

Yep, with my track record of bad luck I'm not holding my breath on them getting the guitar in at the price they were selling it for but I had to try. Still, if they can't get it I've saved myself five hundred quid and I'll just play my trusty Les Paul with the Bareknuckle P90's through the new pedal, I'm sure it's capable of producing some good metal tones......But I want EMG's damn it! Haha.

Reverend · November 2016

zepp76 said:

Jonathanthomas83 said:

zepp76 said:

Jonathanthomas83 said:

Nice one!!! I hope you love it. If not, utilise that returns policy! Though, I'm not sure of many other pedals that would fulfil your initial criteria as well as the TMP.

I tried out the Piod What You Want 2 and it sound great, I'll send you some clips.

Hope the guitar turns up soon! Did you have a deal on it?

Not a deal as such but they were selling the guitars at a standard price a lot cheaper than anywhere else, they just didn't have them in stock, typical!

Uh-oh, we've been here before...!

Yep, with my track record of bad luck I'm not holding my breath on them getting the guitar in at the price they were selling it for but I had to try. Still, if they can't get it I've saved myself five hundred quid and I'll just play my trusty Les Paul with the Bareknuckle P90's through the new pedal, I'm sure it's capable of producing some good metal tones......But I want EMG's damn it! Haha.

Don't do it. EMGs are awful for thrash. Great for jazz. Good for woolly hat metal but lifeless for thrash.

Jonathanthomas83 · November 2016

@zepp76 remind me mate, have you got something with regular humbuckers?

ThePrettyDamned · November 2016

Pro tip - most pedals with millions of options have only one or two sounds you'll like - like most pedals, really.

So if you are playing and find a sound that works, be a nerd and draw the settings. Then, should you continue tweaking, you can always return.

The digitech hardwire metal is excellent but has two sounds I use - one is modded Marshall, the other is a really fat lead sound. Everything else sounds good but I basically set it to the Marshall sort of tone and put the knob guard on and I've not touched it for the last several months.

Jonathanthomas83 · November 2016

ThePrettyDamned said:

Pro tip - most pedals with millions of options have only one or two sounds you'll like - like most pedals, really.

So if you are playing and find a sound that works, be a nerd and draw the settings. Then, should you continue tweaking, you can always return.

I'd agree with that. I'm a set and forget kind of guy!

I always take a picture with the old smart phone - which can save a bit of time.

zepp76 · November 2016

Jonathanthomas83 said:

@zepp76 remind me mate, have you got something with regular humbuckers?

@Jonathanthomas83 I have four guitars with humbuckers.

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Do it all "Thrash" metal pedal?

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