Metal Zone

[mctallica1]

I’ve had a Metal Zone pedal for decades. Got it sometime in the 90’s, I think and it’s been in a drawer for most of its life because I didn’t care for it when I tried it originally. At that time, I ended up using an SD 1, I think.

Fast forward to a couple days ago….I saw a YouTube video of Kurt from Crowbar talking about how he uses one and I decided to pull mine out.

Holy crap does it sound good! I don’t have the level maxed like he does. More like around 1-2 o clock. I was amazed.

I boost EVERYTHING, but mainly use an SD1, OD 808 or a Hex Drive these days. I have a bunch of others and have tried a lot of boutique boosts, but those three have stayed on my board the most. The Metal Zone more than holds its own.

So, after my initial shock wore off, I found out about the Waza version. Thinking of buying one. Not really interested in the custom side, but this experience shows me I should keep an open mind.

Does anyone have experience with the Waza version?

Thanks guys!
T

 

[RaceU4her]

welcome to the club lol. try my settings into clean channel as well

 

[ChuggNorris]

welcome to the club lol. try my settings into clean channel as well

This pedal was ahead of its time.

One of those you have to revisit after going to the "School Of Dialing" for a few years

 

[RaceU4her]

This pedal was ahead of its time.

One of those you have to revisit after going to the "School Of Dialing" for a few years

its been a while since ive fucked with mine but this thread is gonna make me bust it out, it really is a pedal every metalhead should have.

 

[Exo-metal]

If you need one of these then you have the wrong amp.

 

[BeZo]

Clutch wrote a song about that pedal.

 

[RaceU4her]

If you need one of these then you have the wrong amp.

why though?? as mctallica found out, they make a killer boost. most of the classic cannibal recto tones are boosted with them

 

[mnemonic]

I only just started playing my recto again after like a year of just playing my diy lightly-modded 2204 clone. I should dig out the metal zone again, it is pretty good for those cannibal corpse type tones. Super compressed feeling so it’s not a do-it-all kinda boost. It does its one thing.

I have the Waza version and a normal one but I can’t compare since the normal one has been modded for the last like 7 years (changed clipping diodes and disabled one of the transistors which flattened out the frequency response a bit and made it less “HRRRR” sounding, I forget the specifics).

 

[MetalHeadMike]

Never played an MZ but the original SD-1 I have is leaps and bounds better than the waza version I had, like a lot better.

 

[rsm]

It's 2026. If you need any boost, other than a clean boost or EQ in the front of your tube amp to get a sound you want, you have the wrong amp.

Many modern high gain amps can get to levels of saturation that would have required pedals decades ago, not anymore. AFAIK, few players have their gain and power amp levels maxed out on modern high gain amps.

I have a SD-1, hasn't been used in over a decade, because I've had/have high gain amps that don't need it; I'm not going to use my plexi for modern high gain tones, I have other amps for that.

just sayin'

edit: other than EQ; I only use compressors, filters or some modulation before the amp, and modulation is fine in the loop too. IMO

 

[Exo-metal]

why though?? as mctallica found out, they make a killer boost. most of the classic cannibal recto tones are boosted with them

If its used as a boost then I retract my last statement.

 

[Shask]

I only just started playing my recto again after like a year of just playing my diy lightly-modded 2204 clone. I should dig out the metal zone again, it is pretty good for those cannibal corpse type tones. Super compressed feeling so it’s not a do-it-all kinda boost. It does its one thing.

I have the Waza version and a normal one but I can’t compare since the normal one has been modded for the last like 7 years (changed clipping diodes and disabled one of the transistors which flattened out the frequency response a bit and made it less “HRRRR” sounding, I forget the specifics).

I modded mine years ago also with a "Boogie-Marshall" mod. Sometimes I wonder if I should grab a stock one just to compare as a boost. I know the mods make them less squaky.

 

[mnemonic]

I modded mine years ago also with a "Boogie-Marshall" mod. Sometimes I wonder if I should grab a stock one just to compare as a boost. I know the mods make them less squaky.

I think the mods I did were about half way to that mod, ‘less squaky’ is a good way to put it, versus the Waza mt2 in ‘normal’ mode.

 

[RaceU4her]

It's 2026. If you need any boost, other than a clean boost or EQ in the front of your tube amp to get a sound you want, you have the wrong amp.

Many modern high gain amps can get to levels of saturation that would have required pedals decades ago, not anymore. AFAIK, few players have their gain and power amp levels maxed out on modern high gain amps.

I have a SD-1, hasn't been used in over a decade, because I've had/have high gain amps that don't need it; I'm not going to use my plexi for modern high gain tones, I have other amps for that.

just sayin'

edit: other than EQ; I only use compressors, filters or some modulation before the amp, and modulation is fine in the loop too. IMO

This makes no sense to me. It’s not a matter if the amp “needs” it or not, it’s a matter of having different flavors which may work better with a particular guitar, cab or just a different flavor to fit a song better.

 

[mctallica1]

Guys, I am well aware that modern amps don’t NEED a boost. I’ve owned many of what are considered to be the best of the best and have been playing for over 40 years.

It isn’t about need, it’s about different flavors. With that said, I tend to prefer a cleanish boost regardless what amp I’m playing.

I was just impressed by a pedal i discounted years ago and decided to share. In addition, I learned about the Waza version and wondered if anyone had experience with it. Thanks, Mike, for your experience with a different Waza pedal.

I found one for about $140 shipped, so ordered it. I’ve blown a lot more than that on dumber things!

 

[dstroud]

I have the waza version, love it. I prefer the custom side, it loses the cocked wah I hear in the normal side

 

[mctallica1]

I have the waza version, love it. I prefer the custom side, it loses the cocked wah I hear in the normal side

Cool.

On the Custom side, does it respond similarly with the EQ’s at noon? I read that the Waza has less noise..,,but to be honest, the one I’ve had for decades didn’t have any noticeable noise with the level around d 1-2 o’clock.

 

[RaceU4her]

Guys, I am well aware that modern amps don’t NEED a boost. I’ve owned many of what are considered to be the best of the best and have been playing for over 40 years.

It isn’t about need, it’s about different flavors. With that said, I tend to prefer a cleanish boost regardless what amp I’m playing.

I was just impressed by a pedal i discounted years ago and decided to share. In addition, I learned about the Waza version and wondered if anyone had experience with it. Thanks, Mike, for your experience with a different Waza pedal.

I found one for about $140 shipped, so ordered it. I’ve blown a lot more than that on dumber things!

Looking forward to the review

 

[rsm]

This makes no sense to me. It’s not a matter if the amp “needs” it or not, it’s a matter of having different flavors which may work better with a particular guitar, cab or just a different flavor to fit a song better.

and that makes no sense to me given the choice of modern high gain amps. It should be easier to find an amp that makes the soundss you want.

as I said, clean boost / EQ can provide different flavors. Dirt pedals will color the gain structure of the amp = the wrong amp for the gain you want. I guess it's cheaper than having multiple amps, but there are probably more than a few choices of modern high gain amps that will give you the sound you want.

That's why I have several amps, and don't use dirt pedals. Each amp I have does what I want it to do vs one amp and a collection of dirt pedals. I'd rather spend the money on an amp not dirt pedals.

I'd only use dirt pedals if I was playing live and needed a variety of tones with the smallest amount of gear. But just playing at home these days, I can have several amps that I like and use for different flavors.


Dirt pedals are anachronistic holdover from the days of mid/low gain amps from a bygone era. Old habits die hard.

 

[phillybhatesme]

DS1 was my first true love.
But MT2 will forever be "my sound" or whatever. Haven't played with either in decades. Maybe I'll scoop some for nostalgia's sake.