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duncjam
Copper Member
United Kingdom
24 Posts |
 Posted - 02/09/2009 : 23:00:37
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Hi
Long time reader, first time poster!
I was wondering if anyone has noticed differences among different samples of the same pedal even when there isn't a Japan/Taiwan period, change in components or construction, etc?
I bought an early MT-2 soon after they were released in 1991 and sold it a year or 18 months later. I recently bought a new one but I'm sure my old one sounded much better! I know this pedal has always been made in Taiwan and the design and components haven't changed, so surely they ought to sound the same.
This isn't very scientific I suppose, as I don't have the original pedal anymore, but is this pedal a bit variable sound-wise? Does anybody here have a number of stock ones and notice differences?
Thank you!
dunc |
Edited by - duncjam on 02/09/2009 23:01:06 |
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FRANZONI
Double Platinum Member
Ireland
3543 Posts |
Posted - 02/09/2009 : 23:28:41
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Welcome to the forum...... ...this has been noticed before with other pedals like the CE-2 (and some reckon the BF-2 as well)for example or some of us believe the CS-3 has two different variations due to different chips used...and of course the DS-1 has come up for discussion many times especially the MIJ/MIT debate...are you using the same guitar and amp you were using in '91....? there are other reasons why pedals can sound different from what we remember as well as component/different country of origin changes....i've never had a MT-2 but i'm sure other will wade in with their opinions.... ...... |
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Laurie
Double Platinum Member
Canada
4854 Posts |
Posted - 02/09/2009 : 23:29:13
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Hi duncjam and welcome!
These observations have been often made and there are a few threads on them (hard to find I know, but if you search using Google and limit the domain to bosarea.com it ususally gives good results).
I have about 7 MT-2's from 1991 to 2008. Don't ask...
The older ones do seem to have more "body". Can't tell you why.
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duncjam
Copper Member
United Kingdom
24 Posts |
Posted - 02/09/2009 : 23:47:43
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Cheers!
I still have my 1991 guitar and amp, although I am now using much better equipment. My old guitar and amp were quite bad (Marlin Active Sidewinder and a Sound City 10 or 15W practice amp), so perhaps it was the improvement when using the pedal that blew me away at the time!
I'm now using a Jackson DKMG with active EMGs, a Mexi Strat with an EMG DG-20 system (a pattern is emerging here) and a hardtail Jackson KVX10 with the stock Duncan Designed pickups.
My MT-2 seems to suit the KVX-10 better than my other guitars, and the KVX pickups are quite a lot more muddy than EMGs, so maybe this helps tame the mids and highs on the pedal. It's likely the Marlin pickups were similarly muddy too.
I'll dig out my old stuff sometime and see if I get the sound I remember. I'll also do the Google trick and see what I find.
Thank you!
dunc
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Edited by - duncjam on 02/09/2009 23:49:00 |
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zerksies
Double Platinum Member
USA
3406 Posts |
Posted - 02/10/2009 : 00:09:59
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all componets in musical instruments like caps and resistors have a tolerance of some sort of percent like 5 or 10 sometimes even 20 percent. so if you even add up all the parts. it can vary alot. you can take two brand new boss pedals play them right next to each other one could be a tiny bit brighter or a bit darker sounding. so as anything gets older everything really starts to drift from when it was new. for better or worse.
i have taken 2 different bf2's and have noticed a difference in tone. i just choose the better sounding one. It goes for pretty much anything musical. |
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Dr. Bob
Moderator
Australia
6593 Posts |
Posted - 02/10/2009 : 08:17:59
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Hi duncjam
Welcome to the forum from Australia.
Some pedals don't do too well with Active pickups.
It's a matter of what you prefer.
Regards Dr. Bob |
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sp-1
Platinum Member
Germany
1454 Posts |
Posted - 02/10/2009 : 09:56:42
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quote:
Originally posted by Laurie
Hi duncjam and welcome!
These observations have been often made and there are a few threads on them (hard to find I know, but if you search using Google and limit the domain to bosarea.com it ususally gives good results).
I have about 7 MT-2's from 1991 to 2008. Don't ask...
The older ones do seem to have more "body". Can't tell you why.
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duncjam
Copper Member
United Kingdom
24 Posts |
Posted - 02/10/2009 : 11:28:55
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Actually, "more body" is exactly how I'd describe my old MT-2 vs my new one. There was quite a good bassy thump when my pick hit the strings, a bit like playing through a 4x12. My new MT-2 doesn't have that.
Yesterday I won a slightly used Keeley MT-2 TZ on the 'bay and I'm really looking forward to trying it. This may be the beginning of my own Metal Zone collection... |
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bossarea
Forum Admin
United Kingdom
3652 Posts |
Posted - 02/10/2009 : 14:35:28
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Hi Duncjam and welcome to the forum.
As far as I know, the MT-2 hasn't been through any major changes like different chips or partly redesigns. Boss do however tend to change their brand and type of passive components quite often although I haven't been able to hear any difference in other pedals where this has been the only change.
I haven't compared new and old MT-2s in detail so if you get an old one and start doing some tests, please post the results here. It would be very intersting reading. |
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DeFrag
Moderator
USA
3409 Posts |
Posted - 02/10/2009 : 15:08:18
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| Welcome to Bossarea duncjam! |
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duncjam
Copper Member
United Kingdom
24 Posts |
Posted - 02/10/2009 : 15:35:48
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Thanks for all the responses, everybody. I certainly will put up any test results I get.
The problem is knowing how old a pedal is before buying it � most eBay sellers don�t include the serial number and not all who get asked want to divulge it, so I guess I�ll just have to buy a few used ones and re-sell any that are too new.
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cctsim
Silver Member
United Kingdom
418 Posts |
Posted - 02/10/2009 : 18:10:04
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I think it's all about tolerances of the different components, especially potentiometers with large values 250k, 500k, 1Meg. 10% tolerances can have a significant influence in the sound.
Also sometimes, if you set pedals with the same settings, internally, the pot/taper positions might be slightly different |
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Mesjoggah
Gold Member
Netherlands
595 Posts |
Posted - 02/10/2009 : 18:21:46
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I own 4 MT-2's and also noticed the difference in sound, i didn't find it worth mentioning as it really is a minor thing.
I had EMG 81/85 in an Ibanez RG550 and didn't like the sound of the MT-2 when i was playing that guitar, i now mostly play a Seymour Duncan equipped guitar and it really sounds better. |
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duncjam
Copper Member
United Kingdom
24 Posts |
Posted - 02/10/2009 : 22:39:05
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Mesjoggah, your experience matches mine - my MT-2 sounds better with the Duncan Designed pickups on my Jackson KVX10 than on my EMG-equipped guitars.
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Plush Pile
Bronze Member
Australia
93 Posts |
Posted - 02/11/2009 : 01:26:54
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I got rid of my MT-2 after i got a toob amp, it sounded pretty good (not amazing, but pretty good) into my old solid state, but it really wrecked the tone of the Marshall...
So from my experience they really vary with the amp you're putting them into... |
Edited by - Plush Pile on 02/11/2009 01:28:47 |
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duncjam
Copper Member
United Kingdom
24 Posts |
Posted - 02/12/2009 : 23:22:39
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Update... my Keeley MT-2 arrived today and I'm loving it! Seriously, I was not prepared for how good this pedal is. Sounds great with all my guitars, active and passive, and even handles my DKMG tuned down to drop B very well.
It's definitely the best MT-2 I've ever heard, including my old one. (I'd still like that one back, though!)
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Variation among MT-2's?
