EHX Hell Melter Review and comparison (HM-2w)

[@MrJesusCrisp]

Nice review, just missing the major ingredient: playing the pedals over a distorted or at least crunchy sound (if you did I'm sorry but it doesn't sound like it at all). Which is also when the dry level and mid frequency knobs start to make sense. Also there is an internal trim pot for boost level according to the manual. Not defending EHX here necessarily as I really have no big emotional connection to their pedals and I get that it doesn't do it for you specifically, but it could have been a bit more thorough.

[@doctorfuzzzdirtbox]

Ah! Trim pot for the boost! Thanks for the info. I'd prefer it on tops a boost can vary in different rigs/scenarios, but I guess that's better than nothing!

[@MrJesusCrisp]

@@doctorfuzzzdirtbox not a huge fan of internal controls either, just for the sake of not spreading fake news! ;)

[@doctorfuzzzdirtbox]

Absolutely! Gunna pin this comment to hopefully dispel the issue. Thanks!

[@isolirionband7300]

@@doctorfuzzzdirtbox If you think EHX made a bad pedal, can you do a list of HIgh Gain pedals with Top boost included? I got a Metal Muff Top boost and it sounds great... I didn't see any other pedals with top boost that sounds for me good.

[@chaossolos9391]

Nick from Sweetwater really shows what this pedal can do,shows how versatile it is and the sound he gets from it is unreal.

[@_FrankMatthews_]

Super long, nerdy post: EQ section: The added parametric mids controls are meant to make the pedal more versatile than a typical HM2, giving it a low mid control, if desired. The mid sweep goes from around 350Hz to almost 1kHz. When fully dimed, the EQ curve is very close to a HM2. Burn mode: It sounded like just more gain in this video, but in other videos with dirtier amps and lower tunings (edit: sounds like you were in drop D in this video), the sound changes more dramatically. Looking at the EQ curve, everything below 45Hz is rolled off, the low peak (around 100Hz) is boosted by approximately 3dB, and the high mid peak (around 1.3kHz) is lowered by approximately 3dB. It sounds like the headroom is increased as well. Gives a bigger, more "modern" tone overall. Boost level: Can be adjusted via an internal trim pot.

[@doctorfuzzzdirtbox]

I've seen longer and nerdier, mate. That's just all good info!

[@ianwoodmusic7137]

@@doctorfuzzzdirtbox It's also all information that is in the user manual on the EXH website. Maybe read the manual before you do a review, just a thought. ✌

[@Jeedan]

I liked the dry knob for a shoegaze style sound rather than metal riffing. Bringing some dry back in makes chords bigger.

[@markedwards1033]

Not surprised that there hasn't been any activity here. Good job.

[@doctorfuzzzdirtbox]

There's a video since this one. I'm just not the regular channel guy.

[@charlesvalentine3268]

Great review! Definitely considering this pedal for a bass rather than guitar, but this gave me insight on how it works.

[@doctorfuzzzdirtbox]

Thanks! I could see it being quite a different beast on bass when you tune the mids and use the blend

[@phillramirez8323]

Thank you for your honest review. I was checking up on this too. It's a little overpriced. I'll just get the classic old fashion Big/mini Metal Muff instead awesome review! Awesome video! You keep rocking man 😎🎸👍

[@jimtroeltsch5998]

This thing sounds fucking rad

[@75YBA]

Always a great sense of humour. Many thanks for the laughs!

[@nicosonic]

but you can play blues with it.

[@doctorfuzzzdirtbox]

That... Is very true.

[@BlueWingedRino]

It doesn’t sound terrible. I doubt it would be something that I would use a lot but it definitely distorts. The gate does seem a weak point though. More informative than other videos I’ve watched on this.

[@doctorfuzzzdirtbox]

Thanks, man! Yeah, it definitely sounds like an HM-2 and if you're into HM-2, it wouldn't disappoint if it dropped in your lap. Shame it couldn't go one further with anything more impressive.

[@rullopat]

So you didn't read the Hell Melter manual: there's written that to have the chainsaw sound on it, also the 4 frequency pots have to be to the max.

[@queenpurple8433]

Somehow you managed to make this pedal sound way worse than any other demo I’ve seen

[@doctorfuzzzdirtbox]

Haha! Hey man, all I did was play it! Considering it's sat next the normal HM-2w, hopefully, that's a good gauge on how they sound. They can be set to be completely identical, don't get me wrong. It's just the extra features that don't seem all that useful.

[@solventman8307]

So, is this it? This is where this channel journey ends?

[@doctorfuzzzdirtbox]

No! I'm still very much here but very busy with other bits of life. I'm hoping to do a new video very soon, but I'm not that regular KZbin guy, unfortunately. Stick with me!

[@Shawnpo76]

I just got this pedal in the mail yesterday and when I got the distortion to a decent sound that I really liked with the gate on as soon as I would stop playing I would get feedback before the gate cut on, and if I turned it slightly higher on the gate I had to hit the strings a lot harder and it would just go in and out of the gate, what a fucking mess. I'm going to return mine and just get the HM 2, it's simpler to use and the helm melter just has several knobs on there I'll never even use

[@markedwards1033]

Wow. You made it seem lame. Good job...

[@doctorfuzzzdirtbox]

Yeah, thanks. It takes a particular set of skills to do that.

[@Earthstein]

You are evolving into the Christopher Charles Norris of electric guitar effects criticism. I rather enjoy it. Thank you. The Boss HM-2 is like vanilla cake. The EHX Hell Melter adds clove and cinnamon to taste, maybe?

[@mazukakai]

Crom laughs at your four winds...

[@doctorfuzzzdirtbox]

Laughs from his mountain!

[@easyriderm13]

You usually don’t solo with a strong gate on

[@KvestiOnMovies]

Maybe move on to KMA Wurm 2? It looks cooler at least :)

[@doctorfuzzzdirtbox]

Yeah, that's definitely on the wish list!

[@XChristianNoirX]

The KMA's have been the worst performing HM-2 clones I've had.. And I've had thousands of $ in these pedals.

[@doctorfuzzzdirtbox]

So what's been the best!?

[@XChristianNoirX]

@@doctorfuzzzdirtbox It's very amp dependent. If you use a solid state Peavey or Peavey VTM, the originals are hard to beat. You just max the controls and you're there. If you use something like a 5150, you don't get a great typical HM-2 sound, but you can get good sounds.. I've liked the originals, Bear Amps Heavier Metal, LWA LHW non-Deluxe... But like I've said, it's not the classic HM-2 sound and in those amps I find maxing the controls sounds like S***.

[@doctorfuzzzdirtbox]

I can't imagine bothering with an HM-2 if I had a 5150 anyway! 🤣

[@easyriderm13]

I just got my “h8tch” today.

[@UpcomingJedi]

Why does it suck? I love that harmonic you played at 1 minute. Brrrrrt! Youre just getting ols. Better stick with classical and Opera.

[@UpcomingJedi]

Getting Old

[@doctorfuzzzdirtbox]

Dude, I explained why in the video 🤦🏻‍♂️

[@illyareid66]

Glad I watched was considering this pedal til now it sounds terrible and other videos sound the same terrible, way too fuzzy wooly and not tight enough no natural compression sound, I did like it on the solo but wouldn't buy for just a one trick pony...thumbs down

[@phillramirez8323]

Same too man. I guess they get paid and whatnot or they get it free to kiss butt😂 I'm just going to get the classic metal muff new or second hand you keep rocking man👍

[@8Junio76]

He is not using humbuckers.

[@doctorfuzzzdirtbox]

I am. Not strictly PAF as they're P-Rails but I'm using them in Humbuckers mode. And this thing has way too much distortion for that to even make a difference.

[@CizerKedi]

No it’s perfect

[@doctorfuzzzdirtbox]

No, it's not

[@CizerKedi]

@@doctorfuzzzdirtbox i love it, and u don’t love it… we shouldn’t argue.

[@doctorfuzzzdirtbox]

I agree

[@heyjarrod]

Hey-ch!!! 😝🤘🏻🎸🇺🇸

[@davemish4163]

Haytch.

[@PorchBass]

Aitch

[@doctorfuzzzdirtbox]

Eightch?

[@fen3184]

Yep. Not my cup of tea... Thank you.

[@celissebearce1557]

"promo sm"

[@Deckardkane420]

HHHHaytch M2... LOL

[@doctorfuzzzdirtbox]

Is this my phonetic Brummie accent!? Haha 😂

[@Deckardkane420]

@@doctorfuzzzdirtbox makes me lul every time i heard it, TY, for the LUL's

[@chrismorris3897]

III don't like tones from EHX, they sound too Synth like and thin. Just to me, I know they make some the "best" pedals in the world.

[@dagony7383]

My nano metal muff sounds 100x better than this pedal

[@gwugluud]

Because flat-earth, can't read clocks, 500-gender TV is so much better.