The NuX HG-6 High Gain is a Nux distortion pedal, currently around $34. Close alternatives include the SONICAKE Black Hammer and the NuX Lacerate. It pairs well with the Peavey VTM-120 and the Hiwatt DR103H.
NuX HG-6 High Gain
Nux · pedal
The NUX HG-6 High Gain is a high-gain distortion pedal from NUX Effects delivering modern, heavily saturated distortion in a compact enclosure at an accessible price. The HG-6 provides extreme gain and aggressive tone suited for metal and high-gain rock applications.
What stands out
“Metal players who need high-gain distortion in a compact, affordable format find it a practical option”
— from the community notes
“Extreme saturation suits metal and”
— from the reviews
“Build quality is adequate for the NUX price tier”
— from the community notes
“The HG-6 delivers modern high-gain distortion in NUX's compact format at an accessible price”
— from the reviews
“The HG-6 provides extreme gain and aggressive tone suited for metal and”
— from the listing
- distortion
- high gain
- saturation
- metal
- modern
- aggressive
- compact enclosure
Price updated Oct 24, 2026
Genres the NuX HG-6 High Gain is commonly used in
Amps that pair well with the NuX HG-6 High Gain
Peavey VTM-120
Peavey
20% matchpushes an already-dirty tonePushes an already-dirty tone harder and tightens it up. (high gain → tight)
Stack Peavey VTM-120 on top and a high gain tone tightens toward tight
Comes later in the signal chain
Hiwatt DR103H
Hiwatt
19% matchpushes an already-dirty tonePushes an already-dirty tone harder and tightens it up. (high gain → tight)
Stack Hiwatt DR103H on top and a high gain tone tightens toward tight
Comes later in the signal chain
EBS Magni 502 2x10 bass combo
Ebs
tonal matchComes later in the signal chain
Stack EBS Magni 502 2x10 bass combo on top and a high gain tone tightens toward tight
Aguilar SL110 Fawn Limited
Aguilar
tonal matchComes later in the signal chain
Feed a high gain signal into Aguilar SL110 Fawn Limited and it comes out closer to tight
Gallien-Krueger Legacy 410
Gallien Krueger
tonal matchComes later in the signal chain
Stack Gallien-Krueger Legacy 410 on top and a high gain tone tightens toward tight
Gallien-Krueger Legacy 210 Bass Combo
Gallien Krueger
tonal matchComes later in the signal chain
Feed a high gain signal into Gallien-Krueger Legacy 210 Bass Combo and it comes out closer to tight
Gallien-Krueger MB210-II
Gallien Krueger
tonal matchComes later in the signal chain
Gallien-Krueger MB210-II takes that high gain character and pushes it toward tight
Gallien-Krueger GK Legacy 2x10 Combo Bass Amp
Gallien Krueger
tonal matchComes later in the signal chain
Gallien-Krueger GK Legacy 2x10 Combo Bass Amp pushes a high gain tone toward tight
Pedals that stack with the NuX HG-6 High Gain
Soldano SLO
Soldano
15% matchpushes an already-dirty tonePushes an already-dirty tone harder and tightens it up. (high gain → tight)
Soldano SLO pushes a high gain tone toward tight
Comes later in the signal chain
Greer Tomahawk
Greer
14% matchpushes an already-dirty tonePushes an already-dirty tone harder and tightens it up. (high gain → tight)
Greer Tomahawk takes that high gain character and pushes it toward tight
Comes earlier in the signal chain
MXR M83
MXR
13% matchsits in the right chain slotPlaced for where it does its job cleanly in the chain, not for a tonal interaction with the anchor.
Keep NuX HG-6 High Gain's high gain voice out front: MXR M83 goes after NuX HG-6 High Gain in the signal chain so its modulated voice doesn't muddy it
Comes later in the signal chain
TC Electronic Triple Flashback Delay
TC Electronic
12% matchsits in the right chain slotPlaced for where it does its job cleanly in the chain, not for a tonal interaction with the anchor.
Run TC Electronic Triple Flashback Delay after NuX HG-6 High Gain in the signal chain, clear of NuX HG-6 High Gain's own gain stage — goes in the amp's FX loop (or last, into a clean amp)
Comes later in the signal chain
Origin Effects Cali76 MK2 Bass Compressor
Origin Effects
12% matchshapes the dynamic responseShapes how the tone responds to picking dynamics rather than its frequency or gain.
Origin Effects Cali76 MK2 Bass Compressor's own compressed character is the real reason this is worth trying
Comes earlier in the signal chain
Cusack Music Reverb SME
Cusack Music
11% matchsits in the right chain slotPlaced for where it does its job cleanly in the chain, not for a tonal interaction with the anchor. (high gain → ambient)
Run Cusack Music Reverb SME after NuX HG-6 High Gain in the signal chain, clear of NuX HG-6 High Gain's own gain stage — goes in the amp's FX loop (or last, into a clean amp)
Comes later in the signal chain
EarthQuaker Devices Swiss Things
EarthQuaker Devices
EarthQuaker Devices Utility Series Buffer Preamp
EarthQuaker Devices
tonal matchComes later in the signal chain
EarthQuaker Devices Utility Series Buffer Preamp pushes a high gain tone toward clean boost
Boutique & premium upgrades
NuX Fireman
Nux
71% similarityShared character: countless rock and metal players, compact, metal
REVV G4 V2 Distortion
Revv
64% similarityShared character: countless rock and metal players, distortion, high gain settings
TC Electronic Dark Matter Distortion
TC Electronic
64% similarityShared character: countless rock and metal players, distortion, aggressive playing
T Rex T-Rex Mean Machine
T Rex
63% similarityShared character: countless rock and metal players, distortion, aggressive playing
NUX NFB-2 Lacerate FET Boost
Nux
62% similarityShared character: metal, distortion, aggressive playing
Revv Amplification Mauler
Revv
59% similarityShared character: countless rock and metal players, distortion, aggressive playing
Similar charactersee all similar tone character →
SONICAKE Black Hammer
Sonicake
71% similarityShared character: compact, metal, distortion
NuX Lacerate
Nux
69% similarityShared character: compact, metal, distortion
T-Rex Totenschlager
T Rex
66% similarityShared character: countless rock and metal players, metal, distortion
Roland Core Distortion
Roland
64% similarityShared character: countless rock and metal players, distortion, aggressive playing
Mooer Blade
Mooer
58% similarityShared character: metal, distortion, aggressive playing
Fender Godzilla Distortion Limited Edition
Fender
94% similaritysimilar tone character
See all alternatives to the NuX HG-6 High Gain (cheaper + boutique) →
Questions people ask
What are good alternatives to the NuX HG-6 High Gain?+
The closest matches in character are the SONICAKE Black Hammer, the NuX Lacerate, the T-Rex Totenschlager. Boutique upgrades: NuX Fireman, REVV G4 V2 Distortion, TC Electronic Dark Matter Distortion.
What pairs well with the NuX HG-6 High Gain?+
Strong matches from rig and tone-complementarity evidence: Peavey VTM-120, Hiwatt DR103H, EBS Magni 502 2x10 bass combo — Stack Peavey VTM-120 on top and a high gain tone tightens toward tight.
How much does the NuX HG-6 High Gain cost?+
Around $34 (live listing price, updated Oct 24, 2026).