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The Metal Zone: Is it really a pre-amp?

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  • Опубликовано: 30 сен 2020
  • The Boss Metal Zone... one of the worlds most loved and most hated on distortions. However, many of my fellow youtubers have considered the idea that perhaps it's actually meant to be a pre-amp. Maybe it's meant to run into the effects loop rather than the input of the amp. Then again, maybe not. I discuss this and more in the video. Plus we change out some frequency response curves, discussing why it may or may not actually work better in the effects loop. Or the input.
    Comment below with your thoughts on which way you thought it sounded best!
    Link mentioned:
    modyourownpedal.com/collectio...

Комментарии • 526

  • @wampler_pedals
    @wampler_pedals  3 года назад +73

    The Boss Metal Zone... one of the worlds most loved and most hated on distortions. However, many of my fellow youtubers have considered the idea that perhaps it's actually meant to be a pre-amp. Maybe it's meant to run into the effects loop rather than the input of the amp. Then again, maybe not. I discuss this and more in the video. Plus we change out some frequency response curves, discussing why it may or may not actually work better in the effects loop. Or the input.
    Comment below with your thoughts on which way you thought it sounded best!
    Link mentioned:
    modyourownpedal.com/collections/books

    • @redcomn
      @redcomn 3 года назад

      Tbh i just bought it and put on my board for the meme.
      This and miku stomp.
      Hmmm i need another meme pedal tho any thougjt

    • @sparkyguitar0058
      @sparkyguitar0058 3 года назад

      When you mod a pedal does it change the mV's of the pedal? I've got a Indyguitarist modded CH-1 and wonder about this pedal's mV's needs. I got a Meat and 3 modded Soul Food and don't know the mV's actually needed. How would someone who don't know or even understand most this technical talk figure this out on all the modded pedals I got.

    • @ChemXFX
      @ChemXFX 3 года назад

      sparkyguitar 00 the simplest way would be to actually measure how much current it draws using a multimeter.

    • @barretprivateer8768
      @barretprivateer8768 3 года назад +1

      Companies have made SS pre, tube power amps for years especially peavey. How is running a drive pedal into an EQ into an fx loop not just the same as that kind of amp? Is there any point to doing this other than bypassing the preamp tubes you paid extra for?

    • @wklorenzino
      @wklorenzino 3 года назад +2

      It's on my board in the effects loop. It sounds great for a certain flavor of tone. I don't use it often but it's useful.

  • @mickeyburns3494
    @mickeyburns3494 3 года назад +249

    "Sweep the mids"
    "But Sensei..."
    "SWEEP THE MIDS! ALL THE GAIN!"

    • @AesculapiusPiranha
      @AesculapiusPiranha 3 года назад +17

      "You have a problem with that?"

    • @PooNinja
      @PooNinja 3 года назад +5

      😂 you win the internet today Sir🤘🏽. Thanks for making my morning brighter 😂

    • @vubear
      @vubear 3 года назад +8

      I hope you're all watching Cobra Kai. It's the best thing on TV right now.

    • @clugokillscluco
      @clugokillscluco 3 года назад +1

      @@vubear just finished it last night on the Netflixes.

    • @vubear
      @vubear 3 года назад +1

      @@clugokillscluco I ate the whole thing in 2 sittings. I hate myself right now

  • @chronicfatigue5416
    @chronicfatigue5416 3 года назад +75

    Technically, any boost, drive, distortion and fuzz is a preamp. They're made up of an amplifier stage or stages, typically have some kind of EQ, and they’re always before (pre) the power amplifier. Really, I just see them as an extension of an amp's preamp section. So to me, running a pedal into the power amp means losing a flavor. That said, whatever gets you the sound you like, do it.

    • @MistaHahn117
      @MistaHahn117 Год назад +3

      I think it's worth even trying your favorite distortions in your FX return to see if it gets a sound you think is cool. Thinking outside the box and getting new, cool sounds is half the fun of having real pedals in my opinion.

  • @claytongouin5605
    @claytongouin5605 3 года назад +43

    The pink noise generator is a genius idea. This might help me better understand why some pedals seem to work better than others with my amps. I honestly never considered how a mid humped pedal into a mid humped amp could just be difficult to dial tones in, because I honestly never thought to find out the frequency response of my amps.
    Thanks Brian.

    • @kibbles1053
      @kibbles1053 3 года назад +5

      ThatPedalShow did a good video on this a few years back. I never understood why my Tube Screamer sounded so terrible when everyone said it was amazing. Turns out, Blackstar amps are already.... Tube Screamer-ish.

    • @DMSProduktions
      @DMSProduktions 3 года назад +1

      @@kibbles1053 They AREN'T ALL 'that'!

    • @AbeldeBetancourt
      @AbeldeBetancourt 2 года назад +1

      @@DMSProduktions what a dumb thing to add...

  • @dooleykeith
    @dooleykeith 3 года назад +19

    The thing I have found with the Metal Zone is it sounds good with the gain turned down. You can crank the output volume and take advantage of the great tone shaping EQ knobs. Sounds great, and it's run in the input of my Marshall Origin.
    Great video - thanks!

  • @guitarmixvids
    @guitarmixvids 3 года назад

    My fav channel by far! Love the section using the pink noise to compare the eq curves! Great stuff!

  • @fullwaverecked
    @fullwaverecked 3 года назад +1

    Very professional and entertaining channel. You have given me the confidence to attempt a build of my own. Keep up the great work! I dig the wig... Thank you!

  • @slammingawyetrapp
    @slammingawyetrapp 3 года назад +1

    i really enjoy all of the nerdy stuff in this demo. I found it very informative. Keep up the good work.

  • @massttrshrdrharmonicminor2002
    @massttrshrdrharmonicminor2002 3 года назад +126

    This is why I love RUclips, imagine flipping on a tv show and finding a documentary on the metal zone.
    What are your thoughts on pedals with tubes in them?

    • @DaveWestGuitar
      @DaveWestGuitar 3 года назад +5

      They're great, but you have to have the ear to recognize when the tubes are starting to die, and the option to replace them by design. If they are soldered in forget it, it's planned obsolescence.

    • @terran236
      @terran236 3 года назад

      The Two notes LeLead preamp pedal is fucking awesome. Even the clean channel has tube chime. Into a boss katana it's great

    • @DMSProduktions
      @DMSProduktions 3 года назад +1

      @@DaveWestGuitar A preamp valve usually lasts DECADES!

    • @vorpalblades
      @vorpalblades 3 года назад +2

      Pedals don't run enough voltage to make a tube do anything in a pedal.
      They're useless.

    • @terran236
      @terran236 3 года назад +2

      @@vorpalblades How much voltage is necessary? Two notes claim theirs run at 200 volts

  • @paan36ty
    @paan36ty 3 года назад +3

    Your videos are truly useful, educational, professional, objective and generous

  • @pedalgaze
    @pedalgaze 2 месяца назад

    Awesome Work, Brian! Love the breakdowns and comparisons on these videos! cheers :)

  • @BananaManPL
    @BananaManPL 3 года назад +33

    The ending is truly the GOAT

  • @plizwiz
    @plizwiz 3 года назад

    Always good to see a new video from you, Brian! Thanks!

  • @jaredbrown1662
    @jaredbrown1662 3 года назад

    Love these videos Brian.... Your breakdowns on circuits, Freq Responses, caps, resistors,Lp/Hp filts, etc, etc, etc,. Ill definitely be watching!

  • @lukehenderson436
    @lukehenderson436 3 года назад +1

    Just when I thought this video couldn't be any better, you whip out the BE-OD! Thanks for this, great work.

  • @WeDoAdventure
    @WeDoAdventure 3 года назад +97

    I see you're at your old "confront internet opinions with science" trick again - I admire your dedication to what is arguably a lost cause!

  • @xanataph
    @xanataph 3 года назад +17

    With my old band we used to play a lot of shows with a certain opening band whose guitarist used a Metal Zone. He always used to want to borrow my 5150 stack so I would let him use it but get him to plug his pedal in through the FX return so I could retain my settings on the 5150's pre-amp. He was very happy with this as the Metal Zone always sounded good to him that way.
    I didn't particularly like his tone as he always had a scooped mid sound, so that's what I thought those pedals mainly did. Later on I got one myself secondhand for a good price and actually found they are much more versatile than that.

    • @davespin9034
      @davespin9034 10 месяцев назад

      I prefer the sound through the front input actually. It's crisper and more crunchy to me.

  • @deacondeschenes7508
    @deacondeschenes7508 3 года назад +1

    I absolutely loved watching the eq as you turned the knobs with the pink noise!

  • @eikbike
    @eikbike 3 года назад +40

    I bought the top 3 distortion pedals I thought i wanted and compared them. I tweaked the eq section on each one to try and match them to each other and to different songs that had distortion I like. A darn funny thing happened...the pedal so many people hate was my favorite. I think the EQ section is versatile if you know how to "tweak" an EQ... MZ for the win!!!

    • @stanislavmigra
      @stanislavmigra 3 года назад +13

      This video shows it. That the greatest thing on Metal zone could also be its greatest problem. The EQ is SO powerfull, that lot of people can easily screw it. The range of EQ is insane.

    • @VSPhotfries
      @VSPhotfries 3 года назад +4

      Same here, although I like the kitsch factor so I was a little biased towards it to begin with, but, all things said and done I genuinely like it better than either of my other amps (and yes, I am using it in 'hipster preamp mode').

    • @exin7778
      @exin7778 3 года назад

      Yup I 100% percent agree.

    • @eikbike
      @eikbike 3 года назад +1

      @@stanislavmigra ....you said it better, very easy to screw it up and think it is a bad pedal!

    • @bluesound666
      @bluesound666 3 года назад

      Agreed

  • @robertbmxpa
    @robertbmxpa 2 года назад

    Neat video, I really like the production, pace, and length!

  • @FloridaTwoWheelAdventures
    @FloridaTwoWheelAdventures 3 года назад +2

    I don’t play guitar. I knew the answer to this question after you spoke for 30 seconds. Yet, I watched to the very end! You got some mad voodoo, man. Good job.

  • @back3rman
    @back3rman 3 года назад +1

    Thank you for these videos. You've inspired me to get back into pedal making and modding!

  • @andymellor9056
    @andymellor9056 3 года назад

    Brian, you're one of my favourite fellow nerds. Always informative and technically on point.

  • @arthurromero9172
    @arthurromero9172 3 года назад +1

    This was a great testing of this pedal.....understanding the frequency response seems to be a major factor in helping you dial in the eq better

  • @PooNinja
    @PooNinja 3 года назад +11

    Man I love the tight sizzle of the MT-2. Yeah it’s real easy to go to far with the eq but once you dial it in 😀 soo sweet 🤘🏽.
    Pink noise, white noise’s more balanced sibling 😂

  • @nairanvac79
    @nairanvac79 3 года назад

    This was such an interesting video. Very well done. I'm going to try doing some pink noise analysis of my own tonight.

  • @petercampbell9840
    @petercampbell9840 3 года назад

    Hey Brian, I love anything about frequency responses. I'm always trying to craft my tone through a better understanding of frequency response. Big thumbs up! I'd love to hear more about pink noise through amps (Deluxe, Reverb Deluxe, JTM 45) and through all your pedals esp the Tumnus. Thanks for your informative videos!

  • @RiffHarvester
    @RiffHarvester 3 года назад +6

    I removed the C35 and C24 caps, which helps, and then I turn the gain on the Metal Zone almost all of the way down. I run it into my fx loop, then hit the front of the pedal with a clean boost. Best Metal Zone tone I've ever had.

  • @andrekovacs7954
    @andrekovacs7954 3 года назад +2

    Hi Brian, great to see you applying your scientific skills to this debate! I only have a suggestion to start with the visualization for the EQ of a heavy gain Marshall tube presmp that the Metal Zone tries to mimic, so people have a baseline for comparison. Cheers

  • @ProSimex84
    @ProSimex84 3 года назад +5

    I had one of these as a kid in the 90s and loved it. Imagine my suprise when it became a bad pedal meme these past couple years

  • @Tone-Quest
    @Tone-Quest 3 года назад

    Stellar Video !!!
    Love the deep dives 👍🏻

  • @exin7778
    @exin7778 3 года назад +5

    I love my Medal Zone !
    I get why lots of people may not like it, but I think many of them dont take the time to set it up to what they want, but to each their own.

  • @jamisondonald384
    @jamisondonald384 3 года назад

    Thank you so much for doing nerdy technical content. I love it.

  • @levijungling386
    @levijungling386 3 года назад

    I really love this style of analysis video! It combines my engineering brain with my love for guitar in the nerdiest ways.

  • @proverbialwhatever
    @proverbialwhatever 3 года назад

    I liked this one; the sequencing and staging order of pedals is something I've only come to appreciate in my late thirties as I'm getting back into guitar, and videos like this are really helpful for someone like me! I've had a Hot Rod Deluxe for over a decade, however I've made a drastic detour and gone the digital modelling route using a Mooer Preamp Live into a powered speaker. It's a surprisingly decent solution for the music I play, and the geeky info in this video is useful to that end.

  • @pedroleal7118
    @pedroleal7118 3 года назад

    Nice video Brian. Your videos are always instructive.
    And by the way, I'm a Metal Zone user for years, mostly because of it's versatility (and solidity).
    From what I've understood, 'White Noise'= all frequencies at same level, while 'Pink Noise'= compenseted for human ears (it's a curve with more low and high freak'n'cies).
    About using it, I don't think they were built with the idea that they were to be used in the effects loop (EL) channel. It has become a trend, as more and more amps are built with ELs, but, What people forget, is that people were using outboard gear and entire racks in their EL, often Reverbs or Delays, some Distortions but usually a volume pedal, so you could dial the amount of 'Drive' you wanted in the moment. Also meaning many cables.
    Steve Morse is one good example.
    Another thing, usually, when you use the effects loop, you tend to use the 'wet' part not 'dry+wet',(like in a mixing console), something that you can't do with a pedal, by it self in the EL. Does that make any sens? Genuine question here.
    Btw, the way, The MT-2 can be useful for others things than the Guitar. Used it with a berimbau and a cello bow, same with a Portuguese guitar, Drum machine, Bass, voice, etc. The buttons are really tiny for their range, but you can really go from bluesy dirty tones to full blast metal, and everything in between. I use a few pedals but there's none that is always on. I see the MT as a guitarist's swiss knive, if you'll need a distortion of some kind. Keep up the good work, it is appreciated, and take care.
    ps I have one of your Triple Wreck pedals, and love it, but use it when i want a certain flavor. Also have the G4 from Revv, the Metal Planet from Rocktron and the Uber Metal from Line6. My amp is an Acoustic 165, all tubes, the wooden ones with a Vintage EV (12T?), full range speaker. Maybe that helps.
    ps2 Sorry for my bad English. Hope you're doing ok.

  • @psyguitarguy
    @psyguitarguy 3 года назад +1

    Thanks for the video. Very informative. I have an old Digitech Grunge pedal that I have tried both ways in my amp. I obtained similar results. Darker through the effects loop.

  • @Newnodrogbob
    @Newnodrogbob 3 года назад

    Cool video. The visualization of the pink noise was helpful. You can go nuts examining the attack transience and all kinds of bits, but the frequency curve does what it does. Because guitar players, I just know there’s guys out there sticking distortion in their effects loops and then putting an EQ in front of it set to a very close facsimile of the curve of their preamp.

  • @AndrewLewisHowe
    @AndrewLewisHowe 3 года назад +3

    Most dirt pedals work about as well as a pre-amp as the pre-amp in your amp.
    It's all about raising the volume levels for the power amp section. Overdrive was a wonderful and unexpected secondary result of raising the volume level.
    So basically, any pedal that allows you to raise the volume, sculpt the EQ, and/or add grit will behave roughly like your amp's pre-amp.
    Nice to see the visual comparisons with the pink noise though! So thank you, Brian. THAT is what needs to be shown in many of the "pedal shootout" videos.
    In fact, Brian, just like freq response graphs allow us to kind of estimate how a speaker may sound, I wish we'd see freq response curves for out pedals. I want to know what freq the mid-push is at, where the low-end cutoff knee is, etc.
    You should start a revolution by adding these technical specs to your documentation. Hopefully other makers will join suit and we customers will have more info that makes our shopping more efficient.

    • @wampler_pedals
      @wampler_pedals  3 года назад +1

      that *is* something that might be cool!

    • @pooshNchums
      @pooshNchums Год назад

      @@wampler_pedals yah like lens MTF curves!

  • @blacktoothfox677
    @blacktoothfox677 2 года назад

    Super interesting!
    Wonderfully demonstrated.
    Only been using the MT-2 for 30 years... I never ever tried this!!!
    Tomorrow morning, though...
    Thanks Brian.
    Can't wait to buy a Tumnus btw

  • @andreasdavour9973
    @andreasdavour9973 3 года назад

    I loved the visuals with the pink noise! Very cool.

  • @redpowerthrasher5744
    @redpowerthrasher5744 3 года назад

    Thanks for the understanding and education. Awesome video!

  • @ikestoddard2458
    @ikestoddard2458 3 года назад +1

    I LOVE THIS VIDEO. As a system engineer, it feeds my nerdness. I understood your “SPICE” aside. Now, my important question: WHAT SIGNAL ANALYSIS SOFTWARE are you using, on what platform? If I can see the transfer functions, I can develop what I want in my rig.

  • @luckylicks3497
    @luckylicks3497 3 года назад +11

    I'm definitely going to use this as classroom material

  • @PALongknife
    @PALongknife 3 года назад

    Hi Brian!
    Your predicament about lack of Volume/Level control when running a distortion or pre-amp unit through an effects loop immediately brought to mind Jeff Diamante's (Diamond Amplification) decidedly-unorthodox solution. He designs his effects loop such that, when something is plugged into the effects loop, the front panel knob labeled "effects return" acts as a master volume on the amp, with the volume controls on the channels then each act as a "Level" control at the Effects Send. At first, I thought this approach was a little perplexing-- I always run B/O/D pedals into the input, with my modulation and filter effects running through the effects loop, so I never really had to worry too much about volume control through the effects loop. Now that I've seen this video demonstrating the Metal Zone used as a pre-amp, Jeff's approach makes a lot of sense!
    Thanks again for the informative videos - they're some of the best out there on these topics!

  • @stephanematis
    @stephanematis 3 года назад

    I bought the DS-2 kindle! And managed to find an older pedal to open and poke at if the mood hits me. Thanks for sharing knowledge!

  • @sylvestre.rawminey
    @sylvestre.rawminey 3 года назад

    Another great use of the Metal Zone !
    Thanx, Master !

  • @weevilsnitz
    @weevilsnitz 3 года назад +10

    While I don't think it is "supposed to be" a preamp, I think the effect of its huge EQ range and that it can push mids so high is that it maybe was "supposed" to make up for the mid scoop of amps like this. SO it was intended to be put in front of the amp, but that sounds prettttty harsh when put through an input with an EQ setting that doesn't like it, and it just accidentally worked better as a preamp where you can completely shape the tone coming in to the output stage.
    - What happened to the BE-OD when you put it in the effects return is it became so much less flubby in the low-end. It's those extremes that get bad when putting the metal zone through the input because of the shape of the tone stack.
    - To fix the issues with tone when not using the pedal would be a switcher that moves the signal from the pedal to the input, but then the pedal would always be pushing noise into the output stage, so it'd have to close off the pedal too. Tough sitch unless you're always going to be using the pedal.

  • @Compass2101
    @Compass2101 Год назад

    Very good. As usual I loved the visuals.

  • @TomaszStachewicz
    @TomaszStachewicz 3 года назад

    wonderful analysis. as both guitarist and physicist i absolutely love it!

  • @scottnoricsson2023
    @scottnoricsson2023 3 года назад +46

    Could you do the same test for Sd-1 and TS to finally see which mid frequency gets boosted on those pedals respectively

    • @wampler_pedals
      @wampler_pedals  3 года назад +40

      sure! it's 723hz on the TS depending on where exactly the tone control is. I'll have to do sd-1 shortly.

    • @orionktulu
      @orionktulu 3 года назад +1

      ​@@wampler_pedals Here's a better question that's been bothering me for some time. I've modded my MT-2 with a combination of your JCM Boogie mod and your Overdrive mod, and got addicted to it and learned a lot about SD-1's and Tube screamers in the process. My question is about the LPF in the feedback loop of the SD-1. In the Tube screamer, the same values in reverse order makes a HPF to ground the same as the LPF in the SD-1. In one of your MT-2 modding videos, you said that the order doesn't matter. How does that work? What am I missing?

    • @jossbsure
      @jossbsure 3 года назад

      Thanks for putting visuals on the sounds!

    • @barretprivateer8768
      @barretprivateer8768 3 года назад

      Download reaper and do it yourself for basically nothing.

    • @makertje84
      @makertje84 3 года назад

      @@orionktulu In short: the word "negative" before "feedback". They're both the same HPF. One decides what frequencies get shorted out to ground. The other decides what frequencies get cancelled out by it's own out op phase output.

  • @Jesterzero138
    @Jesterzero138 3 года назад +1

    Whether its actually a pre-amp or not, I can share my own experience. I like many others got a metal-zone as my first distortion pedal, but was able to make it work. it sounded a little thin, and flat, and after I got a Hughes and Kettner Warpzone a few years after, I havent really used it. every now and then I did pull it out to try it, but it was always the same. But after all this talk on youtube about it I decided to bring it to practice one day, I plugged straight into it with my Heavy axe tuned to drop G with a Emg 81 in the bridge, and ran it straight into my power amp. And it sounded great! the tone had grith, and it sounded much more alive and responsive than ever. I was surprised, and so was the rest of the band. It sounded so good that I used it for the reminder of the practice. So, it made a huge difference for me.

  • @davidcarpenter9232
    @davidcarpenter9232 2 года назад

    Man ,,, you help me so much ... I do love books ... Gonna get your's ,,, as soon as I can ... Thanks ... You da man ... D

  • @garymoore1567
    @garymoore1567 3 года назад +1

    Please do more like this with other overdrive and distortion pedals! Also, it would be interesting to input an A440 sine curve and compare how different overdrive and distortion devices clip the peaks as viewed on an oscilloscope.

  • @BinFrost
    @BinFrost 3 года назад +1

    Great video!!! Congrats!!!

  • @CrankyGypsy
    @CrankyGypsy 3 года назад +1

    For better cleans with volume control, split the signal. I use a Boss TU-3 that starts my clean signal out the Bypass jack and into the input of my GK 800RB bass head. The Effects Send then runs out to my clean chain (BF-2, TR-2, Polara) and into the A/B-side of a Passive Summer. Back at the TU-3, the Output jack connects to my Metal Zone and the remainder of my distortion chain (CH-1, M108S), then into the A/B-side of the summer. The combined signal leaves the Y-side of the Summer to connect to a BBE Sonic Stomp, then the amp's Effects Return. With BEAD-tuning, the always-on cleans help define my distorted low end.

  • @InspiringTracks
    @InspiringTracks 3 года назад +4

    Finally! I made a video that got close to 200k views about a super simple mod on the MT2 to take away that harshness and make it play nicer with the front of any amp. The amount of angry comments saying "you are using it wrong!" "it's suposed to go in the loop!" or "don't you know it's a preamp, dumbass!" is mind blowing. Luckily now I can direct them to watch this video and learn something. Thanks Brian for another awesome video full of knowledge and valuable information. Keep on with the nerdy stuff!

    • @Zeddie72826
      @Zeddie72826 3 года назад

      @War Zone It’s ok Ola, this wasn’t your fault. The internet just has too many mindless zombies who will take whatever you tell them as gospel. I know, all you just wanted was to show how good a mt2 can sound in the fx loop, but they are too used to being spoon fed to see that. It’s ok, we know it backfired, but you really don’t need to keep on with the facade. It’s ok..

  • @SHERIFF8311
    @SHERIFF8311 3 года назад

    Got your Tamnus today, man what a sound, awesome pedal, greetings from Mallorca, Spain👍

  • @micuronium
    @micuronium Год назад +1

    It occurs to me to use a Boss Line Selector pedal and run the amp’s preamp through one line and the Metal Zone through the other so when you switch the MT-2 goes straight to the power amp. It would effectively give you 2 amp channels. Not only that, you could theoretically have different modulation effects chains for each channel as well.

  • @danm5945
    @danm5945 3 года назад +1

    Thanks for the nerd video, keep them coming!
    9:07 I’ve been fiddling with running pedals into the return on my jcm800 2203 bypassing the preamp. I found this also bypasses the master volume control. So if I turn off the last pedal in line, the volume is no longer throttled and I ended up in a Marty McFly situation. “Whoa...Rock ‘n Roll!”

  • @alexwood8555
    @alexwood8555 3 года назад

    I love this content, thanks Brian!

  • @thedddemon
    @thedddemon 3 года назад

    Really enjoyed the vid, cheers!

  • @fraenkiboii
    @fraenkiboii 3 года назад

    Really cool and informative video. Thanks for sharing the complete signal path from noise to output/DAW, I learned a lot! One question, though: Which amplitude/spectrum would I have to chosse in order to simulate a nearly accurate guitar signal? I guess maybe even the levels vary a lot between single coils and humbuckers...

  • @ZetaFuzzMachine
    @ZetaFuzzMachine 3 года назад

    That frequency response thing is awesome! I want more!

  • @Tomsdrawings
    @Tomsdrawings 3 года назад

    Thank you Brian! I got two intermediate commercial breaks in 11 minutes, so I hope you get at least something for that. Love your videos.

    • @wampler_pedals
      @wampler_pedals  3 года назад

      Ugh serious?! I thought I turned those off. Thanks for letting me know. I’ll change it.

    • @Tomsdrawings
      @Tomsdrawings 3 года назад

      Wampler Pedals thank you again. Your video brought me another piece of the beautiful puzzle in learning about gain stages! Your expertise is outstanding.

  • @usynthesis4749
    @usynthesis4749 Год назад +1

    I discovered running distortion pedals through the return a few years ago and was pretty amazed by the difference (starting with the DS-1). I almost feel like the designers of the pedals did all their sound crafting/testing through a raw amp without a pre-amp, and that's why it sounds better bypassing the amps pre-amp.
    Now I want to try every single distortion pedal I could get my hands on and run it into the return to see how it sounds. 😄
    Although I will say, to me, no pedal beats my JCM 2000 head distortion, or even my Crate BV.

  • @jamesstewart8054
    @jamesstewart8054 3 года назад

    Great video, I had a Tube screamer a Boss Distortion and an MXR distortion over the years. My metal zone has more adjustments and sounds as good or better. The Tube screamer has its own sound. Great with a tube amp. Metal Zone is great on my pedal board as well.

  • @JeffHendricks
    @JeffHendricks 3 года назад +2

    I've done the spectrum analyzer trick to try to match different pedals and amp sounds. Easiest way to see what a pedal/amp's EQ is doing.

  • @gpdaelemans
    @gpdaelemans 3 года назад +1

    S.P.I.C.E. !!! I haven't heard that mentioned since college! (hint - a LONG time ago).

  • @keithlabonte2547
    @keithlabonte2547 2 года назад

    Nice 👍 I run my pedals into the loop return and use a GE7 end of chain just like you said. Works great for me. Good video

  • @Zwidawurzn
    @Zwidawurzn 3 года назад

    Nice! This is the nerdyness we expect from this channel, well done!
    Can you do the same for Revv G3 and various other pedals aswell?^^

  • @VSPhotfries
    @VSPhotfries 3 года назад +5

    I love using my 'Zone as a preamp, but I am under no illusions that it's meant to be used that way. It's just a harsh, super high gain pedal that's easier to wrangle going in the back door...

  • @gullywoots
    @gullywoots 3 года назад

    For playing live, I considered having a pair of those preamp-in-a-pedals.
    For instance, one clean pedal and one dirty pedal going into an A/B loop which would go into the return jack.

  • @idanshahar
    @idanshahar 3 года назад

    Great video and subject!
    So what was the conclusion frequency wise- is it a preamp?
    Also at the and you were talking about going clean when connecting to the FX Return- why would you, just by turning off the PREAMP distortion pedal?
    You need a system of a clean preamp pedal AND a distortion preamp pedal- just like if you connected to a 2 channel amp (into the input).

  • @nicholasmullins3693
    @nicholasmullins3693 3 года назад

    I really with more people did this kind of test to gear! Great job!
    I feel most of the fuss people get is because of pickup selection along with the pedal.

  • @jbognap
    @jbognap 3 года назад +1

    I use my GT-100 into the effects return of my Bandit because I hate its preamp sound. The parallel solution for those who run pedals would be to use their preferred preamp pedal as the last pedal before the effects return, with a volume pedal or clean boost after the dirt pedals. This makes it easier to use any provided back line amp with an effects return and have a consistent sound. Also, with the volume pedal, it allows you to play at speaking volumes if necessary.

  • @michaelcottle6270
    @michaelcottle6270 3 года назад +6

    I always upvote the Metal zone :)

  • @Johnporteriv
    @Johnporteriv 3 года назад

    Fun video. A good amount of info

  • @patrickmcgee8556
    @patrickmcgee8556 2 года назад +2

    i have an early 90s metal zone and its my fave dist pedal....the eq on it is fantastic

  • @TheSmithguitars
    @TheSmithguitars 3 года назад

    Awesome vid. Brian! do you use an oscilloscope when you design or tweak Wampler Pedal circuits? Love the channel!

  • @RemoteAbductionArm
    @RemoteAbductionArm 3 года назад

    Really interesting, thanks Brian!

  • @kevmet84
    @kevmet84 3 года назад

    Cool experiment! 😎 Particularly since a MT-2 is the only pedal other than my Dunlop Crybaby, both from the early 90s, that I now have, well those 2 and my old Elector Harmonix Golden Throat Dlx talk box. Unloaded all my other pedals after I got one of those Digitech GNX3000s in 2005. The irony is now since the boutique pedal explosion, there are a good number of various pedals that peak my interest, with most being within the OD & Distortion category, as I'm not overly indulged with all the other FX beyond having some reverb. And tone tweaker pedals such as your parametric equalizer pedal and the various graphic eq pedals have also been of interest. The irony I spoke of is that when I decided to go minimalist on pedals in 2005, I now find myself itching to created a new collection of pedals.😀
    I have never tried it in the FX loop of my few amps that have one, so that is now something I'll have to try for comparison's sake on my own amps; I have to date been able to work out a good tone from it as things stand and even used it as a mere EQ of sorts in front of one of my tube amps to good advantage. When the MT-2 wasn't doing it for me as a distortion source, I simply used my ole H&K Cream Machine.
    And, the 'nerdy' vids such as this experiment do provide some good insight that is appreciable. Thanks.

  • @leftymike5625
    @leftymike5625 3 года назад

    Nerd Vision, I love it. Keep them coming.🤘

  • @GatotAlindo
    @GatotAlindo 3 года назад +8

    in my personal experience. every BOSS dirt box sounds great with Jazz Chorus amp (input).

    • @thomascunningham2919
      @thomascunningham2919 3 года назад +1

      Roland Orzabal from Tears For Fears used Boss pedals and Jazz Chorus amps pretty exclusively

  • @Robsi60
    @Robsi60 Месяц назад

    Hi. I am a beginner and mostly interested in technical experience with pedals. And today I am getting this pedal delivered. I am sort of excited what I really can do with it. My goal is to get rid of some other Pedals. The reason to buy this pedal was some review of another well known channel on YT. They were excited about it and you answered my last question technically. Thanks for that. I need to reduce the number of pedals on my board. Spending money on bull I did too often and my financial situation is not terrible but also not as good as I would wish it was. Too much bull led to it. Any more mistake I try to avoid. This time I am confident.

  • @paulkontz
    @paulkontz 3 года назад +2

    I’ve tried with different amps over the years running my pedals into the loop return. What I always find is that I miss the character of the amp’s gain and versatility of the amps tone stack. A preamp pedal would be better for this than a MZ, but then you might as well just get a separate power amp and a speaker cab.

  • @jeremeydonovan8286
    @jeremeydonovan8286 Месяц назад

    Got my first Mz running it through my 4x10 hot rod Deville III I only paid 30 bucks for the thing so I figured what the hey! Now thanks to you I have a chance at enjoying it a little!

  • @christopherkennedy873
    @christopherkennedy873 3 года назад

    Thanks Brian - kind of shtuff I find interesting! ✌❤🎸

  • @wakjob961
    @wakjob961 3 года назад

    Love your "Diezner" mod for these mt-2 pedals!

  • @acmeyakko
    @acmeyakko 3 года назад

    I had a Metal Zone, oh so many years ago, but probably won't buy one again. That said, it's a lot of fun to look at a frequency response analysis of what it was doing. The EQ, especially the mid sweep (with a notable exception somewhere in the middle) is at least remarkably honest. Even if I still had the pedal and curiosity, I don't think I'd have the time or the patience to do this, so thank you!

  • @RTD553
    @RTD553 3 года назад

    Wampler - I really love your explanatory and funny uploads. You are nerdiness to the power 4 - and I'm a physicist! I have what might seem like a simple question: why put a resistor serially into an input path - what is it doing? Esp when in series with a capacitor (rather than a capacitor to ground.) Clearly it limits the current, but how is its value determined? Yours nerdily - Steinberger player and philanderer.

  • @murfmurphy6212
    @murfmurphy6212 3 года назад

    I love these videos. Awesome

  • @FantasticExplorers
    @FantasticExplorers 3 года назад +1

    Another video to the testament of how great the Metal Zone...
    LIKE!

  • @christopherdunn317
    @christopherdunn317 10 месяцев назад

    I was using the mz2 waza and that custom switch is amazing ! it literary sounds like a amp rather than a distortion pedal, blown away !

  • @rockguitarmodes
    @rockguitarmodes 3 года назад

    I have the original Metal Zone that I bought second hand for £20: it is a deeply unfashionable much maligned pedal but useable if you set the controls properly. Very interesting to see the frequency response of the Mark II version

  • @aliasdandavisofficial
    @aliasdandavisofficial 3 года назад

    More goat content please. I'm not kidding. I started putting the "handsome nature" channel on for my daughter's dog to chill him out (it works beautifully). After a while, I started leaving it on for background noise, as it sort of chills the whole place out. So yeah, maybe stick a go pro near the goat play-fort or something. I would check it out. If it had HD audio & were about 4 hours or so, it would totally get views. My grand-puppy thanks you in advance.

  • @bobvines00
    @bobvines00 3 года назад

    Brian, what audio interface are you using? I love your "Geek/Nerd out" videos where you explain the details of how things work. Have you already done a video on how you use Spice to simulate & analyze a circuit before you build it and analyze the 'real thing"?
    Edit: Can you recommend _affordable_ gear for limited budgets, but still capable of doing tests like you show?

  • @jimmiller2270
    @jimmiller2270 3 года назад

    I have a metal zone and used to have a HRD so I have sat and conducted this very test. What I found was it wasn't the mid scoop that I did not favor, but the high end boost. I like to run high gain pedals but for a more mid focused punchy metal tone. Having the high end boosted by the tonestack just adds a level of what I can best describe as hiss to the sound that really is off-putting. I have found this happens with most of the amps I have tried when going through the pre-amp stage. For me, if I could find a 12" combo amp that just has an EQ an a volume knob I think I would be set.

  • @Jim-H
    @Jim-H 3 года назад

    Great vid!

  • @ciddax754
    @ciddax754 3 года назад

    Thanks a lot for that insight!