Behringer UM300 Heavy Metal Distortion vs MXR Super Badass Distortion
The Behringer UM300 Heavy Metal Distortion and the MXR Super Badass Distortion are both pedals sharing crunchy, sustaining. The Behringer UM300 Heavy Metal Distortion leans mid-forward and high gain. The MXR Super Badass Distortion leans dynamic and tight. Current prices: $28.90 vs $99.
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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.48% — somewhat different
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Genres both listings are associated with.- Rock
- Metal
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Derived from overlapping tonal signals across both listings.- crunchy
- sustaining
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Citation/mention fame — how often this gear is cited across artist rigs and gear discussion.$28.90via Reverb
$99via 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 MXR Super Badass Distortion is a versatile analog distortion with a three-band active EQ and a wide gain range, designed to cover decades of dirt from one box. With the distortion low it produces a bold, beefy clean boost and light crunch, and as gain increases it moves through classic-rock midrange grind into harmonically rich, saturated, scooped-mid metal roar. The Bass, Mid, and Treble controls reshape the voice dramatically, going from thick and beefy to bright and aggressive while staying tight rather than flabby. Notes remain clear and dynamic, responding to picking. Suited to rock, blues, punk, and metal, it is praised as a do-it-all distortion with warm, sustaining tone. Its only real coloration is a trace of modern distortion character across its range.
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Genres this gear is documented as being used in.- Hard Rock
- Alternative Rock
- Classic Rock
- Blues
- Punk
- mid-forward
- high gain
- bright
- dynamic
- tight
- transparent