The Boss ML-2 is a Boss distortion pedal, currently around $99.99. Close alternatives include the Suhr Riot Mini Black Edition and the TC Electronic Fangs Metal Distortion. It pairs well with the Dumble Steel String Singer and the Fender Prosonic.
Boss ML-2
Boss · pedal
The Boss ML-2 Metal Core is a high-gain distortion pedal built for modern metal, delivering some of the most extreme gain in the Boss lineup. It produces a ferocious, biting, explosive distortion with a cool growl yet keeps single notes clear and defined rather than collapsing into mush. A flexible three-band tone section and massive gain make it suited to nu-metal, grindcore, industrial, hardcore, and other heavy styles needing crushing rhythm tone and heavy lows. It pairs best with amps that have a classic mid-hump voicing such as a Marshall, where it sits tight and aggressive.
- gain
- metal
- clear
- rhythm
- growl
- distortion
- explosive
- massive
Price updated Aug 27, 2026
Genres the Boss ML-2 is commonly used in
- Metal
- Nu Metal
- Hardcore
- Metalcore
cited
Inferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag. - Heavy Metal
cited
Inferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag. - Death Metal
cited
Inferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag.
Amps that pair well with the Boss ML-2
Dumble Steel String Singer
Dumble
29% matchDumble Steel String Singer's own warm character is the real reason this is worth trying
Fender Prosonic
amplifier
27% matchFender Prosonic's own warm character is the real reason this is worth trying
Gibson GA-50
Gibson
tonal matchGibson GA-50 warms up and rounds off a bright tone
Orange BT1000H Terror Bass 1000-Watt Bass Amp
Orange
tonal matchOrange BT1000H Terror Bass 1000-Watt Bass Amp warms up and rounds off a bright tone
Orange Terror Bass
Orange
tonal matchOrange Terror Bass warms up and rounds off a bright tone
Orange Little Bass Thing
Orange
tonal matchOrange Little Bass Thing warms up and rounds off a bright tone
Fuchs ODS II Custom 25/50 Combo
Fuchs
tonal matchFuchs ODS II Custom 25/50 Combo warms up and rounds off a bright tone
Blackstar Artisan 15H Handwired 15W Tube
Blackstar
tonal matchBlackstar Artisan 15H Handwired 15W Tube warms up and rounds off a bright tone
Pedals that stack with the Boss ML-2
Behringer Chorus Symphony
Behringer
20% matchBehringer Chorus Symphony's smooth voice goes after Boss ML-2 in the signal chain — it's not there to compete with Boss ML-2's own transparent character
Catalinbread SFT
Catalinbread
20% matchCatalinbread SFT leans toward warm, and that's a real, usable character to pair with
Donner Lax Comp
Donner
18% matchBoss ML-2's transparent character and Donner Lax Comp's transparent voice sit in the same lane rather than fighting each other
Cusack Music Screamer
Cusack Music
17% matchCusack Music Screamer's own saturated character is the real reason this is worth trying
Line 6 DL4 Delay Modeler
pedal
12% matchPut Line 6 DL4 Delay Modeler after Boss ML-2 in the signal chain, clear of Boss ML-2's own gain stage — goes in the amp's FX loop (or last, into a clean amp)
Caroline Guitar Company Kilobyte
Caroline Guitar Company
12% matchKeep Boss ML-2's transparent voice out front: Caroline Guitar Company Kilobyte goes after Boss ML-2 in the signal chain so its pristine voice doesn't muddy it — goes in the amp's FX loop (or last, into a clean amp)
Tone City King of Blues
Tone City
tonal matchBoss ML-2 leans into a clean amp's front end, precisely the platform Tone City King of Blues wants
Carl Martin THE Fuzz
Carl Martin
tonal matchCarl Martin THE Fuzz is voiced for a clean amp's front end — Boss ML-2 gives it exactly that
Cheaper alternatives
ProCo RAT 2
Proco
70% similarityShared character: marshall, noise, aggressive_playing
Boss HM-3 Hyper Metal
Boss
69% similarityShared character: aggressive_playing, distortion, metal
Boss DS-2 Turbo Distortion
Boss
69% similarityShared character: each_note, noise, mix
Electro-Harmonix Big Muff Pi
Electro-Harmonix
68% similarityShared character: mix, distortion
Behringer UM300 Heavy Metal Distortion
Behringer
95% similaritysimilar tone character
Fender Hammertone Metal
Fender
95% similaritysimilar tone character
Boutique & premium upgrades
Univox Super-Fuzz
Univox
71% similarityShared character: each_note, noise, aggressive_playing
Wampler Dracarys
Wampler
71% similarityShared character: noise, aggressive_playing, distortion
Rainger FX Razor Fuzz Virtual Plectrum Fuzz
Rainger Fx
71% similarityShared character: each_note, noise, mix
Dophix David Overdistortion
Dophix
68% similarityShared character: aggressive_playing, distortion, gain
Universal Audio UAFX Anti 1992 High Gain Amp
Universal Audio
94% similaritysimilar tone character
Boss HM-2W Heavy Metal Waza
Boss
94% similaritysimilar tone character
Similar charactersee all similar tone character →
Suhr Riot Mini Black Edition
Suhr
69% similarityShared character: aggressive_playing, mix, distortion
TC Electronic Fangs Metal Distortion
TC Electronic
94% similaritysimilar tone character
Caroline Guitar Company Crom Hi-Gain Fuzzstortion
Caroline Guitar Company
94% similaritysimilar tone character
Dunlop JHM S1
Dunlop
94% similaritysimilar tone character
See all alternatives to the Boss ML-2 (cheaper + boutique) →
Questions people ask
What are good alternatives to the Boss ML-2?+
The closest matches in character are the Suhr Riot Mini Black Edition, the TC Electronic Fangs Metal Distortion, the Caroline Guitar Company Crom Hi-Gain Fuzzstortion. Budget picks: ProCo RAT 2, Boss HM-3 Hyper Metal, Boss DS-2 Turbo Distortion. Boutique upgrades: Univox Super-Fuzz, Wampler Dracarys, Rainger FX Razor Fuzz Virtual Plectrum Fuzz.
What pairs well with the Boss ML-2?+
Strong matches from rig and tone-complementarity evidence: Dumble Steel String Singer, Fender Prosonic, Gibson GA-50 — Dumble Steel String Singer's own warm character is the real reason this is worth trying.
How much does the Boss ML-2 cost?+
Around $99.99 (live listing price, updated Aug 27, 2026).
Compare
- vs Behringer UM300 Heavy Metal Distortion
- vs Fender Hammertone Metal
- vs Universal Audio UAFX Anti 1992 High Gain Amp