The Electro-Harmonix Hellmaster Distortion is an Electro-Harmonix distortion pedal, currently around $176.66. Close alternatives include the Suhr Riot Mini Black Edition and the MXR ZW-44 Berzerker Overdrive. It pairs well with the Peavey VTM-120 and the Hiwatt DR103H.
Electro-Harmonix Hellmaster Distortion
Electro-Harmonix · pedal
The Electro-Harmonix Hellmaster is a high-gain distortion pedal from EHX delivering extreme saturation suited to hard rock and heavy metal applications. The Hellmaster provides aggressive, high-gain character with a dense, compressed distortion voice and sufficient gain for modern metal rhythm and lead playing. As an EHX product in the heavier end of their drive lineup, it targets players who need a dedicated high-saturation distortion suitable for heavier genres without the boutique pricing of more specialized alternatives.
- high gain
- distortion
- metal
- compressed
- rhythm
- saturation
- modern
- hard rock
Price updated Aug 27, 2026
Genres the Electro-Harmonix Hellmaster Distortion is commonly used in
- Metal
- Hard Rock
- Alternative Rock
- Heavy Metal
cited
Inferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag. - Rock
cited
Inferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag. - Djent
cited
Inferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag.
Amps that pair well with the Electro-Harmonix Hellmaster Distortion
Peavey VTM-120
Peavey
19% matchStack Peavey VTM-120 on top and a high gain tone tightens toward tight
Hiwatt DR103H
Hiwatt
19% matchStack Hiwatt DR103H on top and a high gain tone tightens toward tight
Traynor BB115
Traynor
tonal matchTraynor BB115 pushes a high gain tone toward tight
Gallien-Krueger Legacy 410
Gallien Krueger
tonal matchGallien-Krueger Legacy 410 takes that high gain character and pushes it toward tight
Egnater Renegade 65 4x10 Combo
Egnater
tonal matchStack Egnater Renegade 65 4x10 Combo on top and a high gain tone tightens toward tight
Gallien-Krueger Legacy 210 Bass Combo
Gallien Krueger
tonal matchGallien-Krueger Legacy 210 Bass Combo pushes a high gain tone toward tight
Gallien-Krueger MB210-II
Gallien Krueger
tonal matchStack Gallien-Krueger MB210-II on top and a high gain tone tightens toward tight
Phil Jones X4C NanoBass 35W 1x4 Combo
Phil Jones
tonal matchFeed a high gain signal into Phil Jones X4C NanoBass 35W 1x4 Combo and it comes out closer to mid-forward
Pedals that stack with the Electro-Harmonix Hellmaster Distortion
Boss BD-2 Blues Driver
Boss
17% matchBoss BD-2 Blues Driver takes that high gain character and pushes it toward clean boost
Xotic EP Booster
Xotic
16% matchXotic EP Booster takes that high gain character and pushes it toward clean boost
Electro-Harmonix Electric Mistress
Electro-Harmonix
14% matchElectro-Harmonix Electric Mistress's lush voice goes after Electro-Harmonix Hellmaster Distortion in the signal chain — it's not there to compete with Electro-Harmonix Hellmaster Distortion's own high gain character
Crazy Tube Circuits Golden Ratio
Crazy Tube Circuits
13% matchCrazy Tube Circuits Golden Ratio leans toward tight, and that's a real, usable character to pair with
Hungry Robot Moby Dick V2
Hungry Robot
11% matchHungry Robot Moby Dick V2's ambient voice goes after Electro-Harmonix Hellmaster Distortion in the signal chain — it's not there to compete with Electro-Harmonix Hellmaster Distortion's own high gain character — goes in the amp's FX loop (or last, into a clean amp)
Meris Mercury7 Reverb
Meris
11% matchKeep Meris Mercury7 Reverb after Electro-Harmonix Hellmaster Distortion in the signal chain, clear of Electro-Harmonix Hellmaster Distortion's own gain stage — goes in the amp's FX loop (or last, into a clean amp)
Laney TI-Boost
Laney
tonal matchElectro-Harmonix Hellmaster Distortion leans into a clean amp's front end, precisely the platform Laney TI-Boost wants
Mooer Flex Boost
Mooer
tonal matchInto Electro-Harmonix Hellmaster Distortion, Mooer Flex Boost is right at home: it's built around a clean amp's front end
Cheaper alternatives
Catalinbread CB-Distortion
Catalinbread
70% similarityShared character: higher_gain, hard_rock, aggressive_playing
Black Country Customs Monolith
Black Country Customs
70% similarityShared character: hard_rock, aggressive_playing, crunch
Dunlop MXR M104 Distortion+
Dunlop
68% similarityShared character: hard_rock, distortion, metal
Matthews Effects The Harbinger Distortion
Matthews Effects
96% similaritysimilar tone character
NuX Metal Core
Nux
96% similaritysimilar tone character
Carl Martin Crush Zone
Carl Martin
96% similaritysimilar tone character
Boutique & premium upgrades
Caroline Guitar Company Wave Cannon Zero
Caroline Guitar Company
68% similarityShared character: higher_gain, hard_rock, aggressive_playing
Empress Heavy Menace
Empress
64% similarityShared character: lead_playing, hard_rock, aggressive_playing
Crazy Tube Circuits Motherload
Crazy Tube Circuits
97% similaritysimilar tone character
Dophix Dante
Dophix
97% similaritysimilar tone character
Similar charactersee all similar tone character →
Suhr Riot Mini Black Edition
Suhr
73% similarityShared character: hard_rock, aggressive_playing, crunch
MXR ZW-44 Berzerker Overdrive
MXR
72% similarityShared character: hard_rock, boost, aggressive_playing
Wampler Dracarys
Wampler
70% similarityShared character: aggressive_playing, high_gain_settings, distortion
Dunlop Custom Badass
Dunlop
69% similarityShared character: higher_gain, hard_rock, boost
Fender Godzilla Distortion Limited Edition
Fender
97% similaritysimilar tone character
Lovepedal MK12 Super High Gain Dirt Box
Lovepedal
96% similaritysimilar tone character
See all alternatives to the Electro-Harmonix Hellmaster Distortion (cheaper + boutique) →
Questions people ask
What are good alternatives to the Electro-Harmonix Hellmaster Distortion?+
The closest matches in character are the Suhr Riot Mini Black Edition, the MXR ZW-44 Berzerker Overdrive, the Wampler Dracarys. Budget picks: Catalinbread CB-Distortion, Black Country Customs Monolith, Dunlop MXR M104 Distortion+. Boutique upgrades: Caroline Guitar Company Wave Cannon Zero, Empress Heavy Menace, Crazy Tube Circuits Motherload.
What pairs well with the Electro-Harmonix Hellmaster Distortion?+
Strong matches from rig and tone-complementarity evidence: Peavey VTM-120, Hiwatt DR103H, Traynor BB115 — Stack Peavey VTM-120 on top and a high gain tone tightens toward tight.
How much does the Electro-Harmonix Hellmaster Distortion cost?+
Around $176.66 (live listing price, updated Aug 27, 2026).