So i just got my metal zone..

W0MB13 · #1 11-06-2006, 05:58 AM

Alright. So I bought a boss metal zone on evilbay for about $70AUD. Judging from the general opinions of others, i was expecting the pedal to be a master in many styles of metal.

I plugged it in and was rather disappointed, the distortion was good for heavy rhythm I guess, but on its own for solo's or using the treble strings, it seemed completely lifeless and unimpressive. I fiddled with the knobs for hours looking for a good sound, i came close but still, nothing delivered. What makes this even worse is that for the past 3 years i've been using a Zoom 505 II, so as you can imagine i was expecting the boss metal zone to completely blow it out of the water, but to be honest they sounded pretty on par with eachother.

I play an old Ibanez S470, through 30 watt Laney HCM30R
http://www.laney.co.uk/show_prod.php?title=HCM30R

Bass, Mids and Treble are usually at 12 oclock on the amp, and i've never played the amp above a volume level of 2 (never needed to, way too loud for a bedroom musician, the amp can really pump out sound).

So am I just having a bad sound night? - Sometimes, not sure why, I play and it seems to sound terrible in my head and i'm left completely uninspired. Then the next day it seems awesome and I can play for hours.

Or am I doing something wrong? Can the metal zone really deliver a decent sound?

RSVampire · #2 11-06-2006, 06:02 AM

yes, the Metal Zone can and will deliver a great sound. Will you like it though? That's up to your ears and your ears alone my friend. Just because you like/dislike something doesn't mean it's good/sucks or whatever. If you play around with it for awhile and you still don't like it, just ditch it.

crevis · #3 11-06-2006, 06:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by W0MB13

for the past 3 years i've been using a Zoom 505 II, so as you can imagine i was expecting the boss metal zone to completely blow it out of the water, but to be honest they sounded pretty on par with eachother.

I have a 606 and a metal zone, the metal zone isnt quite what im after these days but no way is the 505/606 on a par with it. I have mine set up a certain way but thats for my 570 with tonezone/air norton and i need to set it up totally different for my evos etc. Basically you dont have the best gear to start with so its not going to sound good no matter what.

Demiurge · #4 11-06-2006, 12:16 PM

I find that most amps- even solid state ones- don't sound too great on their lower volume settings, and by having the amp EQ set flat really isn't doing your tone any favors, either. Try messing around with your EQ a little bit- boost the treble and the bass a bit and then experiement with the pedal's EQ a bit. Don't scoop out all of the mids, either, because mids fill out your sound.

MetalZone · #5 11-06-2006, 01:21 PM

The metalzone never really suited me. (contrary to my nick, which i started using a long time ago) Its got tons of gain yes, but it just eats up all the tone and clarity in the process. This is pretty much a love it or hate it pedal. I know a lot of people who hate it, but some people just love it.

Jeff - CRO · #6 11-06-2006, 01:56 PM

I never got a good tone with metal zone.
I had it for some short period of time,got it just to check out all the hype about it,and for me it was worthless.Tried lots of presets,and turned my rig upside down in search for something usable.
Too much gain,too compressed,short in tone,and way buzzy for my taste.
Lacks the dynamics as well.Very very sterile pedal.
Especially on higher volumes.It is possible to dial in an acceptable sound in small volume "bedroom" levels,but other than that,I wouldn't reccomend anyone to go onstage with it.It's just too harsh for my ear.
However,they are quite popular among the metal kids in my town.
I guess it would be allright for some brutal stuff like grind core or death metal where tonal clarity is not first priority.
However,I heard some clips made with mt-2 keeley modification,and they sound much much better,but then again,that's not the stock variant.
Soon I got rid of it for a really friendly price.

waylay00 · #7 11-06-2006, 03:25 PM

Metal Zone....

Not a fan of it. At all.

I prefer real tube saturation for any form of distortion (with maybe an overdrive pedal on the front end, like the Keeley TS9DX

).

LonePhantom · #8 11-06-2006, 05:48 PM

I've got plenty of good sounds using a Metalzone with a solid state amp.

The problem many people have with the Metal Zone is that they think you need to have the distortion knob past 12 o clock. I'ev always set mine between 9-10 o clock at the most. Push the bass knob on you amp almost all the way, mid and treble each slighty less than the previous and adjust the pedal controls to taste

**elcid** · #9 11-06-2006, 06:01 PM

Maybe not the worst distortion pedal, but probably in the top 5 worst

erikm5150 · #10 11-06-2006, 06:53 PM

mod the metal zone and it will be a differnt pedal (i.e. much better!)
take a look at monte allums or indyguitarist mods.

C.Thep · #11 11-06-2006, 08:12 PM

I used the metal zone for a short time with a separate distorion for soloing (Boss OS-2)

I don't like it at all anymore.

OLIE_ROCKS_THE_80'S · #12 11-06-2006, 10:49 PM

It's just a matter of taste and opinion!!! I have been using it for the last 10 years and it has always proven reliable and great sounding both on and off the stage. My advice is to get a good sound out of it is to play with your amp sound settings and the pedal's setting until you find a good combination also having the boss EQ pedal would help!

Big Red · #13 11-07-2006, 12:36 AM

You might have a better time with it if you blend it with other pedals/amp effects. As a stand alone pedal, meh, try the Line 6 Uber-Metal instead. I have a Metal Zone, but due to the signal chain that I have, it sounds nothing like a stock Metal Zone after it is all said and done.

For my exotic tones (eg. Maiden's Somewhere In Time guitar tones):

RG320FM (Super Dist. & PAF Pro, Dean Markley Blue Steels) -> MT2 -> TS9DX Turbo -> Digitech Whammy -> Amp Dist. -> Amp Chorus -> Amp Delay -> Amp Reverb.

I need to add a Boss Noise Suppressor. ;-)

The amp is a Roland VGA-3 50watt solid-state, and I use a 1.20mm metal pick. And yes, the MT2 and the TS9 Tubescreamer work very well in conjunction.

Cheers.

mi2tom · #14 11-07-2006, 02:27 AM

Hate the metal zone and the DS1 as well

rgr · #15 11-07-2006, 11:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RSVampire

yes, the Metal Zone can and will deliver a great sound. Will you like it though?

Never liked the metal zone, it's one decent sound is an okay scooped-mids Metallica type of rhythm sound. It has no dynamics and is just a buzz box.

Of course, this is just my opinion, YMMV.

FWIW, the DS-1 is a great booster, but not the best distortion on it's own.

My current favorite distortion is a BYOC Mighty Mouse which is a clone of an old Rat. Used correctly it has some great sounds, with the gain cranked it can turn into more of a fuzz sound though. Not my regular sound, but sometimes mush is good. I usually run it with the gain just under 1/2.