Boss HM-2W Waza Craft

An 80s Icon, Reinvented in Waza Craft

Produced between 1983 and 1991, the BOSS HM-2 Heavy Metal made history in distortion with its radical and instantly recognizable character. Originally designed as a "amp in a box" approach inspired by the British stacks of the time, it later became the signature sound weapon of a scene that would make it immortal: Swedish Death Metal. Thirty years after its heyday, the HM-2W revives this circuit while preserving its sonic DNA and integrating improvements expected on a modern pedalboard.

For Whom, Which Styles, and In What Contexts?

The HM-2W is aimed at guitarists who want a strongly characterized distortion, capable of turning a rhythm part into a wall of guitars, but also providing denser, grittier textures for alternative rock and certain shoegaze aesthetics. In Standard mode, it sticks closely to the feel of the original HM-2, while Custom mode pushes the concept towards an even more incisive sound.

It suits both seasoned musicians and guitarists curious about a cult sound: the "extreme" settings are easy to achieve, and the controls invite you to sculpt the spectrum to find your place in a band. In studio, it excels at doubling guitars and thickening a mix; in live settings, its generous output level and buffered bypass facilitate integration into a pedalboard with long cable runs.

Controls, Modes, and Design: Made for Today's Pedalboard

The HM-2W retains the familiar BOSS ergonomics: a footswitch, a mode switch, and four potentiometers. The DIST. control manages gain and saturation, while COLOR MIX L and COLOR MIX H act as a dual EQ shaping, ideal for shifting from a massive low-mid to a sharper high-end. The LEVEL knob controls output volume to adapt the pedal to an already crunching amp or a clean platform.

Standard mode aims to faithfully reproduce the original HM-2's behavior, with reduced noise level and increased maximum output. Custom mode offers a more aggressive variant: more gain, a stronger guitar fundamental, and adjusted spectral extremes for greater fullness and definition. Finally, the buffered bypass and premium buffer help maintain a clear and stable signal when the pedal is off, a key point in complex effects chains.

The Sound

The HM-2W is above all a thick, gritty, and aggressive distortion with an immediately recognizable grain. The famous "all maxed out" tone controls setting produces that wall of mid frequencies and sharp attack that defined an entire aesthetic. But its strength also lies in the nuances: lowering the distortion and adjusting the two COLOR MIX controls yields more restrained sounds, perfect for heavy riffs, abrasive leads, or textured layers that blend well with reverbs and delays.

The dynamics remain very responsive to playing: the harder you attack, the more the saturation "bites." On low tunings, it delivers impressive density; on single-coil pickups, it adds body and a very musical roughness. It's a character pedal, made to assert a strong sonic identity while offering enough controls to adapt to your amp and guitar.

Technical specifications

Effects	Distortion / Overdrive / Fuzz	Type	sector
Technology	Analog	Use	electric guitar
Format	Pedal	Color	Black
EQ	Yes

Nominal input level	-20 dBu	Input jack	6.35mm jack
Input impedance	1 M ohm	Output jack	6.35mm jack
Nominal output level	-20 dBu	AC adapter (PSA series	sold separately)
Output impedance	1 k ohm	Alkaline	approximately 24 hours
Recommended load impedance	10 k ohm or higher	Carbon-zinc	approximately 8 hours
Bypass	buffered bypass	Dimensions	73 mm x 129 mm x 59 mm
Indicator	control LED (used to indicate the presence of a control battery)	Weight (with battery)	440 g