Behringer HM300 Heavy Metal Pedal

Behringer always makes great pedals affordable, I highly recommend the HM300 and honestly every Behringer pedal out there. The Heavy Metal has some really good distortion that's dedicated to its title, but enough control that it comes with a decent amount of versatility (though with that said the Behringer range pretty much covers everything you might need).Fairly easy assembly. Build quality is okay, I don't drag it along for gigs or anything so the plastic it is made from is alright so long as you're not stomping on it like a maniac. But at the end of the day build quality hardly matters especially when it comes this affordable and with such high sound quality for its price.

Ok, lets get real. If you're a Rock player this pedal will work for you and then some. If you're into 80's-90's Metal this will work for ya too. Modern Metal players could use this as a layering pedal - to thicken up your fave Metal pedal tone. (Behringer Ultra Metal is great if you don't have a fave - Yet).The Heavy OD sounds great and has that useful low pass filter adjustment that gives it the 'Heavy' name. The dual Gain /Dist. controls are FANTASTIC. Sounds nearly as good as my fave amp on '10'! Can't get a better tone from ANY dirt pedal. Sound is great for anything above crunch level up to Modern Metal.About the Behringer plastic housing criticisms: I weigh 240 and have accidentally stepped on the hinge points of several pedals over and over. The only one ... MoreOk, lets get real. If you're a Rock player this pedal will work for you and then some. If you're into 80's-90's Metal this will work for ya too. Modern Metal players could use this as a layering pedal - to thicken up your fave Metal pedal tone. (Behringer Ultra Metal is great if you don't have a fave - Yet).The Heavy OD sounds great and has that useful low pass filter adjustment that gives it the 'Heavy' name. The dual Gain /Dist. controls are FANTASTIC. Sounds nearly as good as my fave amp on '10'! Can't get a better tone from ANY dirt pedal. Sound is great for anything above crunch level up to Modern Metal.About the Behringer plastic housing criticisms: I weigh 240 and have accidentally stepped on the hinge points of several pedals over and over. The only one broken was a Boss OD - so it's not the plastic, it's the hinges. Ironic thing is if the Boss didn't break I wouldn't have this Heavy OD, that I like better! Boss breaks - I replace with tougher, better sounding Behringer - How ironic is that?Having Behringer pedals: (EQ, Heavy OD, Ultra Metal. Tube Monster, Vintage Delay, Vintage OD, Digi Reverb)- here's my take:Pros: Sound Quality; Flexible Tonal options: Silent Switching; True Bypass: Build Quality; PriceCons: Difficult Battery access; Mediocre Jacks;Everything else is Good or Great. Solve the battery problem with a power supply. If the jacks become faulty - replace with Switchcraft. (I've been waiting years for the jacks to quit - hasn't happened yet.)I originally got my Behringers as back-ups to "other big name pedals". But when compared side-by-side The Behringers sounded better - those extra tonal controls! Try the Heavy OD and you'll love it.Or, if you're rich .......... keep buying pretty paint-job 'boutique' pedals that offer minimal tonal control - - those guys need your business!

I bought this pedal because my kids were complaining when I jam with them that my guitar wasn't sounding "metal enough." My main setup is a beat up Fender US HWY1 Strat from 2002 with chunky off brand hex bolt humbuckers through a Fender Hot Rod Deville 4x10" Gen 3 and a pro co rat. I wasn't interested to spend much on a "metal sound" and just bought this to kick around and make them happy but was really surprised how much I like the tone with it for high gain blues leads, grunge, and punk stuff. Lots of clarity with the distortion knob maxed. Great alternative to my rat pedal when I want a little less fuzzy mud in the lower mids and more bite in the upper mids to highs. The plastic is kind of weird but I'm not on the road so it's fine.