The NUX Metal Core Deluxe is a Nux distortion pedal, currently around $79. Close alternatives include the MXR Fullbore Metal and the Source Audio Soundblox Multiwave Distortion. It pairs well with the Vox MV50-CE Rock and the Marshall JTM45 45W Tube Guitar Amp Head.
NUX Metal Core Deluxe
Nux · pedal
The NUX Metal Core Deluxe is an analog high-gain distortion pedal built with a built-in noise gate, 2-band EQ, and NUX's Tone Lock feature, offering two selectable high-gain voicing modes for aggressive metal and hard rock tones. As the original version predating the MKII, it uses a straightforward analog gain circuit rather than the MKII's later DSP-based amp modeling and IR loading, positioned as a compact, affordable dedicated metal distortion pedal.
- noise gate
- analog
- metal
- eq
- high gain
- distortion
- hard rock
- clean
Price updated Aug 27, 2026
Genres the NUX Metal Core Deluxe is commonly used in
- Metal
- Hard Rock
- 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. - Black Metal
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 NUX Metal Core Deluxe
Vox MV50-CE Rock
Vox
24% matchThe Metal Core Deluxe's digital high-gain voicing pushes the MV50-CE Rock's own tight, valve-driven crunch into more aggressive territory.
Marshall JTM45 45W Tube Guitar Amp Head
amplifier
24% matchInto the JTM45's classic British clean-to-crunch, the Metal Core Deluxe's gated, high-gain metal distortion gets a genuinely vintage amp underneath it.
Traynor BB115
Traynor
tonal matchTraynor BB115 pushes a high gain tone toward tight
Gallien-Krueger Legacy 212
Gallien Krueger
tonal matchGallien-Krueger Legacy 212 takes that high gain character and pushes it toward mid-forward
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
Egnater Renegade 65 4x10 Combo
Egnater
tonal matchStack Egnater Renegade 65 4x10 Combo on top and a high gain tone tightens toward tight
Phil Jones BG-75 Double Four Bass Combo
Phil Jones
tonal matchFeed a high gain signal into Phil Jones BG-75 Double Four Bass Combo and it comes out closer to mid-forward
Gallien-Krueger Legacy 410
Gallien Krueger
tonal matchGallien-Krueger Legacy 410 takes that high gain character and pushes it toward tight
Pedals that stack with the NUX Metal Core Deluxe
Electro-Harmonix Deluxe Electric Mistress
Electro-Harmonix
24% matchThe Deluxe Electric Mistress' shimmering, subtle flange sweep gives the Metal Core's tight, gated metal distortion a swirling texture to color.
Klon Centaur
Klon
23% matchBoost the Metal Core Deluxe's gated high-gain distortion with the Klon and the midrange push cuts through the scoop.
Suhr Shiba Drive
Suhr
23% matchStack the Shiba Drive's vintage-voiced gain ahead of the Metal Core Deluxe's high-gain distortion for a rock-to-metal saturation ramp rather than one flat wall of gain.
Wampler Cory Wong
Wampler
20% matchAhead of the Metal Core Deluxe's high-gain, noise-gated distortion, the Cory Wong's punchy compression tightens attack before the amp-style gain kicks in.
Hungry Robot Moby Dick V2
Hungry Robot
20% matchMetal Core Deluxe's gated, high-gain distortion feeds into Moby Dick V2's massive ambient wash at the end of the chain. — goes in the amp's FX loop (or last, into a clean amp)
Hungry Robot The Borderland
Hungry Robot
19% matchKeep the Borderland after the Metal Core Deluxe — the gated, high-gain metal distortion stays tight and the boutique ambient reverb washes out behind it. — goes in the amp's FX loop (or last, into a clean amp)
Benson Amps Delay PT2399 Echo
Benson Amps
tonal matchBenson Amps Delay PT2399 Echo is voiced for a clean amp's front end — NUX Metal Core Deluxe gives it exactly that — goes in the amp's FX loop (or last, into a clean amp)
Beetronics Wannabee
Beetronics
tonal matchBeetronics Wannabee's own voicing points at a clean amp's front end, and NUX Metal Core Deluxe delivers it
Cheaper alternatives
Boutique & premium upgrades
Wampler Dracarys
Wampler
70% similarityShared character: noise_gate, aggressive_playing, high_gain_settings
Universal Audio UAFX Anti 1992 High Gain Amp
Universal Audio
70% similarityShared character: noise_gate, aggressive_playing, digital
Horizon Devices Precision Drive
Horizon Devices
69% similarityShared character: noise_gate, digital, high_gain_settings
Boss OD 200 Hybrid Overdrive
Boss
68% similarityShared character: noise_gate, aggressive_playing, digital
A/DA MP-1
A Da
68% similarityShared character: noise_gate, digital, hard_rock
Amptweaker Tight Metal
Amptweaker
96% similaritysimilar tone character
Similar charactersee all similar tone character →
MXR Fullbore Metal
MXR
73% similarityShared character: noise_gate, hard_rock, high_gain_settings
Source Audio Soundblox Multiwave Distortion
pedal
68% similarityShared character: aggressive_playing, digital, distortion
ISP Technologies Distortion
Isp Technologies
97% similaritysimilar tone character
Tech 21 XXL
Tech 21
93% similaritysimilar tone character
Behringer VT999 Vintage Tube Monster
Behringer
93% similaritysimilar tone character
DigiTech DHH Hot Head
Digitech
93% similaritysimilar tone character
See all alternatives to the NUX Metal Core Deluxe (cheaper + boutique) →
Questions people ask
What are good alternatives to the NUX Metal Core Deluxe?+
The closest matches in character are the MXR Fullbore Metal, the Source Audio Soundblox Multiwave Distortion, the ISP Technologies Distortion. Budget picks: NuX Metal Core Deluxe MKII, DigiTech Metal Master. Boutique upgrades: Wampler Dracarys, Universal Audio UAFX Anti 1992 High Gain Amp, Horizon Devices Precision Drive.
What pairs well with the NUX Metal Core Deluxe?+
Strong matches from rig and tone-complementarity evidence: Vox MV50-CE Rock, Marshall JTM45 45W Tube Guitar Amp Head, Traynor BB115 — The Metal Core Deluxe's digital high-gain voicing pushes the MV50-CE Rock's own tight, valve-driven crunch into more aggressive territory..
How much does the NUX Metal Core Deluxe cost?+
Around $79 (live listing price, updated Aug 27, 2026).