Review: Amptweaker Tight Metal
Video here.
Now, I need to begin with a confession - I’m actually a fan of the BOSS Metal Zone, dubbed by some as the ‘worst pedal ever made’. Guilty as charged. The problem is, if you want a tight, compressed, metallic distortion with that slightly ‘cocked wah’ vibe to it, there really wasn’t a decent option that didn’t cost the earth… at least when I was fifteen.
So, here we are, ten years later. Finally having come to terms with our inner metalhead, we can atone for past sins with the Amptweaker Tight Metal. Forged out of the molten mind-power of James Brown, he of the righteous 5150, cruncher of the bass, shredder of the licks, weilder of the whammy bar - you get the idea - this pedal is the cornerstone of the Amptweaker range.
Most of the knobs do pretty much what you’d expect, and there’s not really much point in using this for a low gain sound, so it’s worth diving straight into the only three non-standard knobs and switches on the pedal - the thrash, chomp, and tight controls.
Thrash, as you might expect, allows you to massively fizz up the mids for a classic thrash metal sound; it’s not for everyone, but the effect is startling.
Chomp is the built-in noise gate - in fact, one of the best things about this pedal, and with it in the right-hand position, a feature that will allow you to, ahem, djent to your heart’s content. Excellent.
Tight is arguably the most important control on the pedal; it’s certainly its USP, anyway. As you push the knob to the right, you’ll find that the tone dries up and the gain desaturates. Particularly for drop-tuned riffs, this is a godsend. To think about this control, think about a track like Eulogy by Tool - with tight over at about 3 o’ clock, you’re in the ballpark. Returning it to 12 - not so much.
Anyway, while there probably are better distortions out there - and the Amptweaker, despite its appearances, is not a 5150 in a box, or a replacement for one - you’re going to be unlikely to find a more powerful, practical, and just downright righteous distortion at this price point.
Bill and Ted would definitely approve of you shredding some sweet licks with this bad boy. Party on!
