S
severinsteel
New member
Episode #21: Boss MD-2 Mega Distortion
I think we have a winning formula: Boss overdrive/ distortion pedals and a Marshall 2203. You really can't seem to lose with that combo. I have yet to try a bad Boss dirt pedal. They all seem to work!
Anyway, the MD-2 Mega Distortion is not a pedal I had high hopes for. It can be found for dirt cheap, and I don't think I'ver ever seen one on a pedalboard. But, I was once again pleasantly surprised. The MD-2 actually sounds really good. It even works on the low input of the JCM 800, as long as you set the level to 3:00.
Boss marketed the MD-2 as its highest gain distortion. It also has a ton of low end on hand. The EQ section (tone, and bottom) is very powerful, and you can really get some extreme results if you want. Or, just keep everything at noon, and you will be gravy. I recommend keeping the tone knob at around 2 o'clock to add just a hair of high end.
The Distortion knob and the Gain Boost knob yield similar results; I think you get a more articulate distortion if you crank the Gain Boost, vs cranking the Distortion knob.
The only real downside I can find, is that the MD-2 can get pretty noisy on its higher gain settings. Also, like all Boss dirt pedals I have tried, it works best on a slightly overdriven amp, but it does sound good on a clean amp as well.
Overall, the MD-2 is a winner. I think you'd be hard pressed to tell the difference between this and any boutique pedal, especially in a mix. Boss stuff just works!
I think we have a winning formula: Boss overdrive/ distortion pedals and a Marshall 2203. You really can't seem to lose with that combo. I have yet to try a bad Boss dirt pedal. They all seem to work!
Anyway, the MD-2 Mega Distortion is not a pedal I had high hopes for. It can be found for dirt cheap, and I don't think I'ver ever seen one on a pedalboard. But, I was once again pleasantly surprised. The MD-2 actually sounds really good. It even works on the low input of the JCM 800, as long as you set the level to 3:00.
Boss marketed the MD-2 as its highest gain distortion. It also has a ton of low end on hand. The EQ section (tone, and bottom) is very powerful, and you can really get some extreme results if you want. Or, just keep everything at noon, and you will be gravy. I recommend keeping the tone knob at around 2 o'clock to add just a hair of high end.
The Distortion knob and the Gain Boost knob yield similar results; I think you get a more articulate distortion if you crank the Gain Boost, vs cranking the Distortion knob.
The only real downside I can find, is that the MD-2 can get pretty noisy on its higher gain settings. Also, like all Boss dirt pedals I have tried, it works best on a slightly overdriven amp, but it does sound good on a clean amp as well.
Overall, the MD-2 is a winner. I think you'd be hard pressed to tell the difference between this and any boutique pedal, especially in a mix. Boss stuff just works!