i give you

UBER METAL

so there's an other distortion pedal.. from line6 obviously

i got it from a friend who said, he dosen't need it anymore.. and i'm always curious for new sound..

first of all, some years ago i first "met" line6 in form of an spider line6 amp.. it was a combo with 2x12" speakers and pretty loud.. line 6 is known for being somekind of pioneer in amp modulation.. the fuck? 

with new DSP (digital signal processor) you just can simulate different amps with digital methods.. because of that, you're able to have many different sounds for cheap money.. but the down-side is the digital-sound.. you'll hear the difference, it's mostly like you've covered the speaker box with thick carpet.. 

the über-metal comes with 3 different distortion-types "metal", "pulverize" and "insane"

you could guess, the distortion get's heavier from left to right.. (the "insane" was also on my line6 spider amp)

also there are 3 possible settings for a noise-gate (you know that stuff which suppresses noises and humming and feedback..) 

along with that, and 3-band equalizer and a scoop-knob..

well.. that's the point.. scooping.. 

this scooping is only for the mid frequenzies, you select with the one knob with frequenz and than you can scoop it out.. OUT.. MID FREQUENZIES OUT

on a guitar? seriously? 

the guitar is THE mid-freq-range-instrument in the band.. drums are low and high freq. bass guitar is low.. so the middle is only for the guitar... 

that's why some beginner-band have some really shitty sound, because a guitar alone sounds much nicer with much high and lows and less mids.. but only when you're alone..

in a band you have to take the middles, it will make a huge difference otherwise the whole thing sounds thin and flat..

along with the name "über metal" and this function i guess you know who'll buy this pedal.. i think you'll won't find it in a studio

but the pedal it self sounds quite good.. you've got many options to play.. still i wouldn't change it with my metal-zone.. because   the sound is not that dynamic.. also i think it is not so transparent.. well how to explain.. i think you'll have to listen  either way...

so in conclusion, fun pedal to play around, but not for serious matters... 

Some Distortion

Ever listend to metal? 

If so, you surely are familiar with it's sound.. heavy distortion..

there are some ways to produce a sound.. one way is to overdrive your amplifier by setting all the volume to it's maximum.. it will result in some warm distortion used mostly in hard rock music.. 

big disadvantage, you'll have to play on maximum... well makes practicing in the night a bad habit..

and maybe it's not enough distortion for your taste..

so there are some circurits which solve these problems.. since i'm graduating soon as an electrical engineer i could explain it to you.. :P

basicly, you take a diode to produce hard clipping by rectifing.. or overdrive an OP-Amp 

so you'll have a maximum distortion at a low volume.. and this kind of sound is harsh, cold brutal.. just right for metal.. there are many characteristics for a distortion, with some EQ and circuit design there are so many ways

back in my beginning days, i already knew i'll need a maximum of distrotion.. it's also a question of money.. there are super high-end amplifiers with the best distortion.. but they are about 2000-3000€

so an other way, buying effect-pedals.. those sweet little boxes you'll see on stage in front of nearly every guitarist..

it isn't the same like a blasting amp but it's the closets you'll get without that much money.. 

since there are many many fabricats, you have to test.. there is no pedal for everything.. 

my choice since i've got a guitar is the Metal-Zone MT-2 from Boss.. well boss has an outstanding quality and also fair prices.. and this pedal is quite everything i want.. just play a little with the settings and you'll always find a matching sound!

Well even that one won't replace an real amp.. but it's still the best, in my opinion and for my use, distortion pedal you'll find.. over years yet

i got mine in 2003, and over 9 years of heavy use (heavy metal - heavy use haha) there weren't any problems.. i never had to repair it.. and you can imagine, stomping on such sweet little thing with combat boots isn't for every device.. so, good job Boss, i fucking love you for this one!

i'll present some other pedals sooner or later.. but the first one is always for your loved ones!