Behringer UM300 Heavy Metal Distortion vs Free The Tone IF-1D
The Behringer UM300 Heavy Metal Distortion and the Free The Tone IF-1D are both pedals sharing mid-forward, crunchy, bright. The Behringer UM300 Heavy Metal Distortion leans high gain. The Free The Tone IF-1D leans fuzzy and full. Current prices: $28.90 vs $159.
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Blended from circuit-archetype lineage, dynamic feel, tone-signal overlap and tone-vector distance — the tone vector itself is derived from editorial description text, not a measured acoustic signal, so this reflects how similarly the catalog copy describes the two, not a lab measurement. Shown only within a gear class, and only where there's enough evidence to be meaningful.50% — moderately similar
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Genres both listings are associated with.- Hard Rock
- Alternative Rock
- Rock
- Metal
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Derived from overlapping tonal signals across both listings.- mid-forward
- crunchy
- bright
- sustaining
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Citation/mention fame — how often this gear is cited across artist rigs and gear discussion.$28.90via Reverb
$159via Reverb
The Behringer UM300 is a high-gain distortion pedal based on the Boss MT-2 Metal Zone circuit, one of the most widely used high-gain guitar pedals in rock and metal history. The MT-2 topology uses a parametric-style dual-band EQ section that provides extreme tonal shaping, from aggressive mid scoop to pronounced mid presence. The Ultra Metal voicing reaches into extreme metal distortion territory with long, compressed sustain. Suited for metal rhythm guitar, hard rock, and heavy alternative styles. The UM300 reproduces the MT-2 circuit character at reduced cost, sharing the high-gain versatility that made the Metal Zone a studio staple across multiple decades.
The Free The Tone IF-1D Iron Forest is a high-gain distortion pedal from Tokyo builder Free The Tone, voiced toward modern hard rock and metal rather than vintage grit. Four controls -- Level, Gain, Bass and Treble -- set a tight, focused distortion with a bright top end and a sharp, percussive pick attack that keeps fast riffing articulate instead of smearing. Gain runs from thick rhythm crunch up to saturated, sustaining lead tones, and the two-band EQ lets players scoop or thicken the midrange to sit against a dense mix. The IF-1D uses Free The Tone's HTS (Holistic Tonal Solution) buffer circuit, which preserves high-frequency detail and low-end tightness through long cable runs and complex pedalboards. It suits players wanting an aggressive, articulate distortion with plenty of sustain and a defined, cutting character.
- high gain
- fuzzy
- full