The Amptweaker Tight Metal Pro II is a high-gain analog preamp pedal for recording or live performance, made in the USA by Amptweaker and designed by James Brown, the designer of the Peavey 5150, who created the Amptweaker line as an "amp in a box" solution12. It is the highest-gain entry in the Amptweaker line, and the Pro II version adds Depth Finder and DeFizzerator processing built in for extra tone sculpting12.
Amptweaker describes the circuit as all analog, with "none of the latency associated with digital technology"1. For a player, that means the pedal behaves like a physical amp front end rather than a modeled one, with the immediate response analog high-gain circuits are known for.
Controls and the three loops
The front panel keeps the core simple: Gain, Tight and Volume controls1. The Tight control is the feature the line is named for, letting you dial in how firm the low end sits under high gain. On top of that, the Pro II carries three separate loops that route other effects around it:
| Loop | When it works | What Amptweaker suggests it for |
|---|---|---|
| Global Loop | Whenever the pedal is on | EQ, reverb and similar always-on shaping1 |
| Boost Loop | Whenever the Boost switch is activated | Delay, reverb or solo effects for a lead tone1 |
| Side Track | When the pedal is not active | An A/B switcher between amps, or an ancillary loop for extra effects1 |
The Side Track is the unusual one. Because it operates when the pedal is off, it can act as an A/B switcher between clean and dirty amps, or as an extra loop for effects you want in the signal path only while the preamp itself is bypassed1. Between the three loops, a player can build a full switching scheme around one pedal instead of patching effects in and out by hand.
Power: 9V or 18V
The Tight Metal Pro II runs at 9V or 18V, and Amptweaker spells out the tradeoff: run it at 18V for more headroom, or 9V for more drive and compression1. Current draw is 39mA with a 9V adapter, and the power supply is not included, so you need your own adapter1.
No power supply comes in the box. If you want the extra headroom, check that your supply can deliver 18V, since most standard pedalboard supplies are 9V only.
The Tight Metal family
| Tight Metal Pro II | Tight Metal | |
|---|---|---|
| Controls | Gain, Tight, Volume1 | Gain, Tone, Volume3 |
| Loops | Global, Boost, Side Track1 | Not listed |
| Depth Finder / DeFizzerator | Built in1 | Not listed |
| Current draw | 39mA at 9V1 | 13mA at 9V, 15mA at 18V3 |
| Made in | USA1 | USA3 |
Guitar World's Alex Lynham, reviewing the line in a 2022 metal distortion buying guide, found the Tight Metal II offered "tight, modern distortion" with versatile tone shaping, though he noted it is quite a compressed sound and that the built-in gate "may not be much to write home about"2. He also observed that the line's latest iteration "has lost its distinctive case, but none of its tone"2.
"James Brown, the designer of the Peavey 5150, came up with the Amptweaker line as an 'amp in a box' solution."
That origin is worth knowing when comparing the Pro II against ordinary distortion pedals: it is built as a recording and live preamp, with loops and switching meant to replace parts of an amp rig, rather than as a stompbox that only adds grit. Players comparing it against other Amptweaker preamps can also look at the Fat Metal Pro II and Big Rock Pro II1.
Videos
Amptweaker
Louis Torres
PVG
Questions
Does the Amptweaker Tight Metal Pro II come with a power supply?
No. Amptweaker lists the pedal's current draw as 39mA with a 9V adapter and states that the power supply is not included, so you need to supply your own 9V or 18V adapter. Running it at 18V gives more headroom, while 9V gives more drive and compression.
What is the difference between the Global Loop and the Boost Loop?
The Global Loop works whenever the pedal is switched on, and Amptweaker suggests it for EQ or reverb. The Boost Loop only works when the Boost switch is activated, and is aimed at building a lead tone, for example placing delay, reverb or solo effects that appear only when you boost.
Is the Tight Metal Pro II analog or digital?
It is all analog circuitry. Amptweaker says the pedal has none of the latency associated with digital technology, which matters to players who want an immediate response from a high-gain preamp.
Where is the Tight Metal Pro II made?
Amptweaker states that the Tight Metal Pro II is made in the USA. The earlier Tight Metal is also listed as made in the USA.
Is the original Tight Metal Pro still made?
No. A That Pedal Show video from 2016 lists the Amptweaker Tight Metal Pro as no longer made. The current pedals in the line are the Tight Metal Pro II and the Tight Metal, which Amptweaker describes as a reduced-feature version of the Pro II.
Sources (3)
- Tight Metal Pro II, amptweaker.com, 2026-04-16
- Best distortion pedals for metal: get the ultimate metal tone, Guitar World, 2022-04-26
- Tight Metal, amptweaker.com, 2025-12-01
