Boss HM-2W Waza Craft Heavy Metal Distortion Pedal

Boss HM-2W Waza Craft Heavy Metal Distortion Pedal

The Boss HM-2W Waza Craft Heavy Metal Distortion Pedal sees the iconic heavy metal pedal get its long-awaited Waza recreation. One of the most influential pedals of all time, the Swedish death metal genre was built around the monolithic, grinding tones presented by the original, produced from ’83-91. With choice upgrades and full retention of the HM-2’s unique character, this new version arrives to modernise a classic.

A personal favourite of David Gilmour and Entombed, the distinctive tones quickly caught the attention of those seeking true sonic destruction. The common setting is to crank every control to 10- really! Untapped gain, hard asymmetrical clipping, and the signature ‘suspension bridge’ EQ curve mean that when maxed out, this pedal really starts to roar.Featuring a brand new Custom mode, this pushes the HM-2W into even more extreme sonic territory. More gain, more responsive EQ, and a lower noise floor gives extended flexibility, ideal for down tuning. On the surface, however, the black and orange colour scheme keeps the aesthetic of the original for authenticity. Devastating distortion with expanded functionality means the HM-2W has well and truly delivered on the hype.

21st century chainsaw

The HM-2’s reputation has become near-mythical due to its unique distortion properties and rarity in recent years. Building on this legacy is the Boss HM-2W Waza Craft Heavy Metal Distortion Pedal. Lovingly recreating all the tonal character of the iconic original, Boss gave it the Waza treatment to drag the chainsaw-esque toneset into the modern age. Designed to optimise tonal brutality, the ‘suspension bridge’ EQ curve features two prominent peaks and a trough between. The low peak sits right on the fundamental frequency of the low E string meaning any chugging is going to pack a serious punch. The mid-bass dip is centered around 240Hz which was placed to remove any muddiness that may emerge. The second peak boosts the midrange, which is mostly comprised of odd-order harmonics creating a generous crunch. These combine, along with the extreme gain boost, to deliver crushingly powerful distortion with the distinctive grit that creates the ‘chainsaw’ tone.

Modernised

The layout of the HM-2W is the same as its predecessor so dialing in mammoth tones will feel instantly familiar. Four orange knobs give you all the tools needed to carve out crushing, grinding distortion with ease:

• Level – Controls global outputted volume.

• L – Adjust the prominence of your bass response.

• H – Adjust the prominence of your treble response.

• Dist. – Alter the intensity of the effect. At higher settings, this maximises gain through the op-amp for devastatingly powerful distortion.

All with a lower noise floor, and however you dial in, your heavy tone just got even heavier. The enclosure itself is exactly what you expect from Boss- robust and reliable. Built to be tour-ready, whether on stage, in the studio, or just practicing, the sturdy housing ensures your heavy tones remain uncompromised. And with its eye-catching aesthetic, this pedal is bound to become a mainstay on your board, a hotline to instantly unlocking ground-shatteringly thick distortion.

Specifications

• Nominal Input Level: -20 dBu

• Input Impedance: 1 M ohm

• Nominal Output Level: -20 dBu

• Output Impedance: 1 k ohm

• Recommended Load Impedance: 10 k ohms or greater

• Bypass: Buffered bypass

• Controls:

• Pedal switch

• Mode switch

• DIST. knob

• COLOR MIX H knob

• COLOR MIX L knob

• LEVEL knob

• Indicator: CHECK indicator (Used for indication of check battery)

• Connectors:

• INPUT jack: 1/4-inch phone type

• OUTPUT jack: 1/4-inch phone type

• DC IN jack

• Power Supply:

• Alkaline battery (9 V, 6LR61 or 6LF22) or Carbon-zinc battery (9 V, 6F22)

• AC adaptor (PSA series: sold separately)

• Current Draw: 30 mA

• Expected battery life under continuous use (These figures will vary depending on the actual conditions of use.):

• Alkaline: Approx. 24 hours

• Carbon: Approx. 8 hours

• Dimensions: 73 (W) x 129 (D) x 59 (H) mm / 2-7/8 (W) x 5-1/8 (D) x 2-3/8 (H) inches

• Weight (including battery): 440 g / 1 lb

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