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I recently picked up a Japanese HM-2 for $30 CAD from some bro on Kijiji. While I played it a few times with my Laney AOR, I finally got a chance to spend a few hours playing it through my Mesa F100 yesterday.

The LED is not working, a knob is missing, and its dirty as fuck but my god, it sounds SOOOOO good. When I bought it, I was expecting a really nasty buzz saw sound, but I was pleasantly surprised at how good it sounds into a clean amp with the level cranked and the tone controls fairly neutral. Tons of 90s metal riffage with this, and not just limited to Swedish death metal tones (It can cop Nailbomb & Sepultura tones real good).

It also does MBV, or so they say.

But does is djent?

D.o.S. wrote:It also does MBV, or so they say.

I read that Kevin Shields never actually recorded with an HM-2 or never actually used it live (maybe someone can confirm?), but I can see how this with a really huge reverse reverb would nail that sound. Def going to try it when I get the chance.

UglyCasanova wrote:But does is djent?

BUT HOW TIGHT IS THE LOW END BRO?

My First Pedlol...

that's a nice score OP. beat to shit pedals look better anyway, and LED's on a HM-2 are pointless because if you can't tell whether or not it's on you're using it wrong
i only have a Denio Metal Rocker which is apparently a HM-2 ripoff and even though it cost next to nothing it's one of my favourite pedals. so much low end. need to get a HM-2 eventually but they go for silly money here.

With a 70's red tele and a 64' Bandmaster I was Gaze...

backwardsvoyager wrote:that's a nice score OP. beat to shit pedals look better anyway, and LED's on a HM-2 are pointless because if you can't tell whether or not it's on you're using it wrong
i only have a Denio Metal Rocker which is apparently a HM-2 ripoff and even though it cost next to nothing it's one of my favourite pedals. so much low end. need to get a HM-2 eventually but they go for silly money here.

They go for quite a bit in Canada as well. The dude who sold it said it was sitting in his basement for over 10 years. I'm guessing he had no idea how much they can go for.

I've also heard that the Behringer HM-300 is pretty good too.

sonidero wrote:With a 70's red tele and a 64' Bandmaster I was Gaze...

I also want to say, 95% of the demos on youtube are fucking horrible (BUZZ BUZZ SCOOPED ENTOMBED). If dialled correctly, this thing sounds WAY better, which is why I'm so shocked. Lots of low end.

tashiattack wrote:95% of the demos on youtube are fucking horrible

Y'all still watch demos???

Learn it and earn it...

MIJ and MIT models don't differ in sound - only in mojo.

I miss my HM-2 often. Couldn't use it in my band but it sounded great. The eq controls are so powerful.

And they somehow look even more awesome when they are beat to hell.

My HM-2 must be ugly as shit then - it's like new and in the box. Seems that I have to start kicking it around and throw it down the stairway for aesthetics' sake!

tashiattack wrote:

D.o.S. wrote:It also does MBV, or so they say.

I read that Kevin Shields never actually recorded with an HM-2 or never actually used it live (maybe someone can confirm?), but I can see how this with a really huge reverse reverb would nail that sound. Def going to try it when I get the chance.

It's the MILF the one who uses the HM2.

And I got one in a box of pedlols, cables and adapter for $20 of some guy on CL, it's in pristine condition, MIJ and all that shit.
I like how it sounds with bass and high all the way up and gain at ~9:00

Maybe someone else can explain the technical details but it seems like there's an out of phase sound that makes it sound like "3Dish" on some EQ combinations. I like that.

Mine looks new, and is a MIT too. My favorite HM2 is

Drop A guitar---> ABY split
A> Joyo Echo > HM2 > Peavey Firebass 700 > Avatar 210 Emi NEO bass cab.
B> Hardwire Tube Overdrive > Hardwire Phaser > Marshall Guv'Nor Plus GV2 > EQD Monarch > Laney GH50L > 4x12.

I use this rig for powerviolence-grind-doom riffage. HM2 rig totally scooped with one midrange spike to make it more chainsaw. Overdrive rig has tons of mids but is still gritty as hell with the GV2 / Monarch stacked, low gain on all the ODs.

What kind of preamping pedals do y'all use with your HM2's? Especially lower modulation reverb or chorus, for warmth, or esp harmonics (instead of huge/ gazey levels) ?

Pepe wrote:My HM-2 must be ugly as shit then - it's like new and in the box. Seems that I have to start kicking it around and throw it down the stairway for aesthetics' sake!

Nothing wrong with a clean Boss pedal either! I'm just partial to things that look a little rough.