Description
TheHM-2 Heavy Metal is one of the most reveredBoss distortion pedals. Produced between 1983 and 1991, the HM-2 became synonymous with the Swedish death metal scene thanks to its signature “chainsaw” high-gain tone famously achieved by maxing-out all of the unit’s controls. While defining the sound of that extreme genre, the Boss Heavy Metalstill found favour withshoegazers and even mainstream rockerswho made use of the milder sides of the pedal’spersonality testament toits overall versatility.
Hardcore HM-2 fans have been requesting a reissuefor years, especially withoriginalsbecomingmore scarce.Boss has now answered their prayers, and the legendary stompboxhasbeen brought back to life30 years later in a special Waza Craft edition the HM-2W. Dishing out thesearing all-analogue voice of the original, the Boss HM-2W Heavy Metal has undergone some modern tweaks for enhanced performance.
Key Features
Waza Craft Edition Supercharged versionof theHM-2, made in Japan for the ultimate Bosstone experience.
Authentic HM-2 Aesthetic Iconic orange-on-black livery evokesplenty of high-octane nostalgia!
Standard Mode Delivers the original HM-2 soundwith lower noise and maximized level.
Custom Mode Offers a more aggressive tone variation with special Waza Craft tuning.
Premium Buffer Ensures a clean and clear guitar signal when the unit is bypassed.
Renowned Boss Build Quality Boss pedals have a reputation for being built like tanks, and the HM-2W is no exception!
5-Year Warranty As standard, all Boss compacts receive a five-year manufacturer warranty.
A Death Metal Staple
The original Boss HM-2 is regarded as one of the first “amp-in-a-box”pedals brought to market, designed to emulate the sound of early 80s British amp stackspushed to their limits. Funnily enough, the HM-2 experienced its biggest popularity spike towards the end of its production run, when seminal Swedish death metal bands widely adopted the unit to form themid-focused and saturated guitar tones that ferociously cut through in their recordings.
Over the years,players havecoveted this distinctive sound more and more. The pedals vast influenceled to ongoing calls for Boss to resurrectit, which indeed they have,but theHM-2W is much more that just a “fan service” stompbox!
Standard Mode: The Original HM-2 Sound
The HM-2W’sStandard mode replicates theresponse and tonal characteristics of the original HM-2 pedal with 100% authenticity. Boss made some thoughtful refinementswithout affecting the sound though;including reducing the noise floor and expanding the maximum level by 3 dB. The premium Waza Craft bufferimproves the integrityof your signalwhen the unit is bypassed too.
Custom Mode: More Aggression!
The HM-2Ws Custom mode offers a similar sonic experience to the Standard setting, but with just a little bit more of everything. The drive stage pumpsout extragain and includes more of the fundamental guitar sound for increased attack and sharpness. In addition, the low and high-mid characteristics have been tweaked to provide improved fullness and definition.
Specifications
Bypass: Buffered
Voltage: 9V (Via Battery or External PSU)
Current Draw: 30 mA
Dimensions: 73 (W) x 129 (D) x 59 (H) mm
Weight: 440g
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