The 903 Effects Triple MT-2 is a one-off stacked distortion pedal built by the pedal builder behind 903 Effects, who loaded a single box with three Metal Zone-inspired distortion circuits, each voiced slightly differently. Guitar World described the result as "perfect for those moments where your Boss Metal Zone needs more Metal Zone," and reported that its builder, whose real name is Seth Hoar, conceived it as a tongue-in-cheek take on a "versatile multi-effects" pedal1.
Three MT-2-inspired circuits in one box
The idea behind the Triple MT-2 is simple: take the circuit of the Boss Metal Zone, the most familiar high-gain distortion pedal of its kind, and stack three versions of it in one enclosure. Each of the three circuits is voiced slightly differently, so the pedal can run one circuit on its own or layer two or three together for progressively more gain1.
Guitar World's editor summed up the intent as "perfect for those situations where you need just a little more gain"1.
Controls
With three full circuits in one box, the control count adds up quickly: 18 control knobs and three footswitches in total1.
Each section carries the same six controls1:
| Control | Section function |
|---|---|
| High | Treble EQ for that circuit |
| Middle | Midrange EQ |
| Low | Bass EQ |
| Mid Frequency | Center frequency of the midrange control |
| Level | Output level of that circuit |
| Distortion | Amount of gain for that circuit |
One departure from the original design: the Metal Zone's double-stacked frequency control knobs are split into four separate parameters across the pedal, which is why each section gets its own dedicated Mid Frequency knob rather than a stacked control1.
Availability and demo
The Triple MT-2 is a one-off build. Guitar World reported that it did not expect to see more examples of "the mutant Metal Zone" on the 903 Effects official Reverb store any time soon1.
The pedal was first conceived around nine weeks before Guitar World's February 2023 report, when the builder shared a tongue-in-cheek mock-up of an upcoming "versatile multi-effects" pedal1.
A demo of the pedal was posted by Truck Driver Shawn. As Guitar World described it, "when one circuit its engaged, it's a fairly standard MT-2 clone, but when the additional circuits are layered on top, th"1, with the layered circuits changing the sound beyond a single stock-style Metal Zone.
For players drawn to this kind of high-gain stacking, the wider field of Distortion Pedals covers circuits in this territory, and Multi-effects Pedals cover the many-effects-in-one-box approach the Triple MT-2 parodies.
Questions
Can you buy the 903 Effects Triple MT-2?
No. Guitar World described it as a one-off build and did not expect more examples to appear on 903 Effects' official Reverb store. The pedal was conceived as a builder's project rather than a product line, so players looking for something similar would need to look at other distortion pedals or a builder offering Metal Zone-style circuits.
How many knobs does the Triple MT-2 have?
Eighteen control knobs in total, plus three footswitches. Each of the three circuits carries six controls: High, Middle, Low, Mid Frequency, Level and Distortion. That works out to six knobs per section across the three stacked circuits.
What are the six controls in each section?
Each section offers High, Middle, Low, Mid Frequency, Level and Distortion. The Mid Frequency control takes the place of the original Metal Zone's double-stacked frequency knob, which 903 Effects split into four separate parameters across the pedal.
Is each circuit in the Triple MT-2 voiced the same?
No. Guitar World reported that the three MT-2-inspired circuits are each voiced slightly differently. In a hands-on demo posted by Truck Driver Shawn, one circuit engaged sounded like a fairly standard MT-2 clone, while layering the additional circuits on top changed the sound.
Who demoed the Triple MT-2?
A hands-on demo was posted by Truck Driver Shawn, according to Guitar World's report on the pedal.
Sources (1)
- Pedal maker builds quite possibly the best meme pedal ever, Guitar World, 2023-02-20
