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Boss Metal Zone Mods?

4/20/1999 12:44 PM
Legba	Boss Metal Zone Mods? Hello, first post here, hope I don't break any rules right off the bat. I recently acquired a Boss MT-2 Metalzone pedal. There are some things about it I really like but it does seem to have a harshness that I don't think is really necessary for the quintessential hair farmer metal tone. I read a review in Harmony Central from a fellow who had a MT-2 that was modded by Sustain Punch and he liked it much better. The Sustain Punch web site lists the results of their modification to this pedal as follows: SustainPunch "BOSS MT-2 Metal Zone" - $50.00 - Thicker Distortion. - Sweeter sustain and warmer tone. - Boosted 2nd order harmonics. - TCE mod, wider tonal range. - Fixes harsh, brittle sound. - Adds that "smooth" crunch. Now, I've done some pedal mods myself, mostly based around R.G.'s fantastic "Technology of the Tube Screamer" document. I know there's no real "magic" to these mods, and I sure as hell don't want to spend $50 plus shipping for a couple of new transistors and a capacitor or two. The main thing I'm interested in in removing the harshness and giving a thicker, sweeter distortion. The tone controls on this pedal I think are pretty good already, although it could maybe use a hard-wired high end rolloff to get rid of some of the harshness. From reading FAQ's and articles I have a couple of ideas on how to sweeten the pedal, I am looking for input as to whether I'm on the right track or not, and if not what else should I look into. What I have been considering are: 1. A capacitor across the clipping diodes (Not having the schematic and not having taken the box apart yet I'm not even sure if it uses diodes for this function, but I'm assuming it does...) 2. Possibly putting a resistor in series with one or both of the clipping diodes 3. investigating using other types of diodes (not sure what kind though) Any other suggestions??? Thanks in advance... -Legba

4/20/1999 12:44 PM

Legba

Boss Metal Zone Mods?

Hello, first post here, hope I don't break any rules right off the bat.

I recently acquired a Boss MT-2 Metalzone pedal. There are some things about it I really like but it does seem to have a harshness that I don't think is really necessary for the quintessential hair farmer metal tone. I read a review in Harmony Central from a fellow who had a MT-2 that was modded by Sustain Punch and he liked it much better. The Sustain Punch web site lists the results of their modification to this pedal as follows:

SustainPunch "BOSS MT-2 Metal Zone" - $50.00
- Thicker Distortion.
- Sweeter sustain and warmer tone.
- Boosted 2nd order harmonics.
- TCE mod, wider tonal range.
- Fixes harsh, brittle sound.
- Adds that "smooth" crunch.

Now, I've done some pedal mods myself, mostly based around R.G.'s fantastic "Technology of the Tube Screamer" document. I know there's no real "magic" to these mods, and I sure as hell don't want to spend $50 plus shipping for a couple of new transistors and a capacitor or two.

The main thing I'm interested in in removing the harshness and giving a thicker, sweeter distortion. The tone controls on this pedal I think are pretty good already, although it could maybe use a hard-wired high end rolloff to get rid of some of the harshness. From reading FAQ's and articles I have a couple of ideas on how to sweeten the pedal, I am looking for input as to whether I'm on the right track or not, and if not what else should I look into. What I have been considering are:

1. A capacitor across the clipping diodes
(Not having the schematic and not having taken the box apart yet I'm not even sure if it uses diodes for this function, but I'm assuming it does...)
2. Possibly putting a resistor in series with one or both of the clipping diodes
3. investigating using other types of diodes (not sure what kind though)

Any other suggestions???

Thanks in advance...

-Legba

Replies:

Dave Chun Check the archives. Doing a search... -- 4/20/1999 1:14 PM
Jack Orman The schematic fragment on my web si... -- 4/20/1999 5:52 PM