The Dunlop Rockma Rockman Metal Ace is a Dunlop overdrive pedal, currently around $104.03. Close alternatives include the Boss HM-2 Heavy Metal and the Dunlop MXR M104 Distortion+. It pairs well with the Fender Dual Showman Reverb and the Marshall Superlead Guitar Amplifier Head.
Dunlop Rockma Rockman Metal Ace
Dunlop · pedal
The Rockman Metal Ace is a battery powered headphone amplifier and distortion unit released in 1994, part of Tom Scholz's Rockman line famous for compact, processed direct tones. It delivers a heavily compressed, sustaining, biting metal distortion with built in compression, volume control and auxiliary stereo input and output for playing along to music. A semi and heavy button changes the character and intensity of the distortion. Beyond practice, its thick, direct sound led many players to use it as a studio direct box or as a distortion unit in front of an amp. It suits metal and hard rock players who want a quiet practice tool or a distinctive, ultra compressed direct distortion voice.
- distortion
- metal
- practice
- compression
- headphone
- thick
- biting
- quiet
Good for
- Busking
Price updated Aug 27, 2026
Genres the Dunlop Rockma Rockman Metal Ace is commonly used in
Amps that pair well with the Dunlop Rockma Rockman Metal Ace
Fender Dual Showman Reverb
amplifier
24% matchWhat Fender Dual Showman Reverb brings here leans toward full — that's worth building a pairing around
Marshall Superlead Guitar Amplifier Head
Marshall
23% matchMarshall Superlead Guitar Amplifier Head's dynamic voice suits Dunlop Rockma Rockman Metal Ace's own compressed character
Laney LV300T 120W 2x12 Combo
Laney
tonal matchLaney LV300T 120W 2x12 Combo fattens up a thin tone
Mojotone Lite Classic Style 2x12 Extension Cabinet
Mojotone
tonal matchMojotone Lite Classic Style 2x12 Extension Cabinet fattens up a thin tone
Blackstar St. James 100h,
Blackstar
tonal matchBlackstar St. James 100h, fattens up a thin tone
Gibson EH-185
Gibson
tonal matchGibson EH-185 fattens up a thin tone
Bogner Barcelona
Bogner
tonal matchBogner Barcelona fattens up a thin tone
Blackstar St. James 50 Jared James Nichols Head
Blackstar
tonal matchBlackstar St. James 50 Jared James Nichols Head fattens up a thin tone
Pedals that stack with the Dunlop Rockma Rockman Metal Ace
Catalinbread Elements Distortion
Catalinbread
27% matchCatalinbread Elements Distortion leans toward full, and that's a real, usable character to pair with
Amptweaker Big Rock Pro
Amptweaker
23% matchThe Metal Ace's compressed practice-level distortion gives Big Rock Pro's fat, modern boost a tighter, gated front end.
Walrus Audio Fable
Walrus Audio
18% matchPut Walrus Audio Fable after Dunlop Rockma Rockman Metal Ace in the signal chain, clear of Dunlop Rockma Rockman Metal Ace's own gain stage — goes in the amp's FX loop (or last, into a clean amp)
Carl Martin Classic Opto-Compressor
Carl Martin
18% matchCarl Martin Classic Opto-Compressor leans toward transparent, and that's a real, usable character to pair with
MXR ZW90 Wylde Phase
MXR
13% matchRun MXR ZW90 Wylde Phase after Dunlop Rockma Rockman Metal Ace in the signal chain, clear of Dunlop Rockma Rockman Metal Ace's own gain stage
Line 6 DL4 Delay Modeler
pedal
10% matchLine 6 DL4 Delay Modeler's warm voice goes after Dunlop Rockma Rockman Metal Ace in the signal chain — it's not there to compete with Dunlop Rockma Rockman Metal Ace's own compressed character — goes in the amp's FX loop (or last, into a clean amp)
Fortin Amplification Tempest Overdrive Signature Architects
Fortin Amplification
tonal matchFortin Amplification Tempest Overdrive Signature Architects's own voicing points at a high-gain amp's front end, and Dunlop Rockma Rockman Metal Ace delivers it
Friedman Buxom Boost
Friedman
tonal matchInto Dunlop Rockma Rockman Metal Ace, Friedman Buxom Boost is right at home: it's built around a high-gain amp's front end
Cheaper alternatives
Boss DS-1 Distortion
Boss
67% similarityShared character: players, simple, distortion
Boss TM-7
Boss
63% similarityShared character: setup, limitation, stereo
DigiTech Metal Master
Digitech
93% similaritysimilar tone character
Boss DS-2 Turbo Distortion
Boss
92% similaritysimilar tone character
Boutique & premium upgrades
Horizon Devices Precision Drive
Horizon Devices
69% similarityShared character: setup, amp, metal
Abasi Pathos Distortion
Abasi
67% similarityShared character: compression, middle, distortion
Dunlop Custom Badass
Dunlop
94% similaritysimilar tone character
Amptweaker Tight Metal
Amptweaker
92% similaritysimilar tone character
Carl Martin Heavy Drive
Carl Martin
92% similaritysimilar tone character
Electro-Harmonix Hellmaster Distortion
Electro-Harmonix
92% similaritysimilar tone character
Similar charactersee all similar tone character →
Boss HM-2 Heavy Metal
Boss
68% similarityShared character: thickness, amp, distortion
Dunlop MXR M104 Distortion+
Dunlop
68% similarityShared character: hard_rock, middle, simple
Aria Lil' RAT Distortion
Aria
68% similarityShared character: compression, distortion, metal
MXR Distortion + (Script Logo)
pedal
67% similarityShared character: thickness, middle, distortion
Dean Markley Overlord
Dean Markley
67% similarityShared character: middle, amp, gain
Dunlop Distortion III
Dunlop
93% similaritysimilar tone character
See all alternatives to the Dunlop Rockma Rockman Metal Ace (cheaper + boutique) →
Questions people ask
What are good alternatives to the Dunlop Rockma Rockman Metal Ace?+
The closest matches in character are the Boss HM-2 Heavy Metal, the Dunlop MXR M104 Distortion+, the Aria Lil' RAT Distortion. Budget picks: Boss DS-1 Distortion, Boss TM-7, DigiTech Metal Master. Boutique upgrades: Horizon Devices Precision Drive, Abasi Pathos Distortion, Dunlop Custom Badass.
What pairs well with the Dunlop Rockma Rockman Metal Ace?+
Strong matches from rig and tone-complementarity evidence: Fender Dual Showman Reverb, Marshall Superlead Guitar Amplifier Head, Laney LV300T 120W 2x12 Combo — What Fender Dual Showman Reverb brings here leans toward full — that's worth building a pairing around.
How much does the Dunlop Rockma Rockman Metal Ace cost?+
Around $104.03 (live listing price, updated Aug 27, 2026).