The Freqscene Effects Cleanless is a distortion pedal from Freqscene Effects, designed by Wade as an expanded take on the Boss HM-2 Heavy Metal Distortion1. The HM-2 is the circuit behind the "chainsaw" tone, the buzz-saw brand of high-gain distortion long favored in extreme metal23. The Cleanless keeps that character but rebuilds the pedal around it, adding a post-gain clean boost, a Clean Blend, a custom clipping mode and a 3-band active EQ12.
An expanded Boss HM-2 style distortion
The Boss HM-2 earned its reputation for a particular kind of high-gain distortion: Guitar World describes "the HM-2's signature 'chainsaw' tone"4, and Wren and Cuff's product page calls it "it's buzz-saw brand of high-gain distortion"3. The Cleanless takes that circuit and expands it into what Guitar Pedal X's Stefan Karlsson calls "a gain workstation, retaining Chainsaw tones while adding post-gain Cle[an Boost]"2.
The control set keeps the original's Level, Lows, Highs and Distortion concept and adds Boost Level, Clean Blend, Distort, Volume, Lo, Mid and Hi knobs, a Stock/Custom clipping switch, and separate Boost and Distortion footswitches1. The EQ is a 3-band active/gyrator design, with the LO band centerd at 87 Hz and a ±19 dB range2.
The Cleanless is sold in limited batch releases. Guitar Pedal X reported in July 2026 that "the first batch sold out almost immediately", with the reviewer waiting for batch two1. By October 2026 the reviewer had one in hand2.
Controls at a glance
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Level, Lows, Highs, Distortion | Carried over from the original HM-2 layout1 |
| Boost Level | Sets the post-gain clean boost amount12 |
| Clean Blend | Blends clean signal under the distorted signal; useful for bass and tempering gain2 |
| Distort, Volume | Distortion amount and output level1 |
| Lo, Mid, Hi | 3-band active/gyrator EQ, LO centerd at 87 Hz with ±19 dB range2 |
| Stock/Custom switch | Extra clipping switch delivering a "secret sauce custom clipping mode"1 |
| Boost and Distortion footswitches | Independent switching for the boost and distortion sections1 |
What reviewers said
Guitar Pedal X's Stefan Karlsson reviewed the pedal twice, in July and October 2026. On the layout, he wrote: "I can't dispute the topological arrangement Wade has come up with here. I really love the knob choices here too."1
By October he had lived with the pedal and dialled in four presets across its range: "It covers Chainsaw, Fuzzlike, Shoegazy and Mellowish settings, with Blend useful for bass and tempering gain"2. His verdict on the maker: "This is my 3rd Freqscene pedal to date - all are exceptional, and I will for sure be back for more!"2
The pedal's target player, per Karlsson, is "the high gain monster favoured by Death Metal enthusiasts"1.
For context on the circuit it expands: a technical analysis of the HM-2 on Guitar FX Layouts noted that a simplified version "may not be capable of the 'crushing lows' some people will want a HM2 for"5. The Cleanless's expanded EQ and blend options are aimed at exactly that territory, though how far it goes there is a matter for the player's ears and the reviewers above.
Videos
Pedalgaze
Questions
How much does the Freqscene Cleanless cost?
Guitar Pedal X's reviewer noted that price in July 2026 and again in October 2026, describing the pedal as available in limited batch releases for just $199 from the maker's webstore.
Is the Freqscene Cleanless sold out?
The pedal is made in limited batch releases. Guitar Pedal X reported in July 2026 that the first batch sold out almost immediately, with the reviewer waiting for batch two. By October 2026 the reviewer had the pedal in hand and called it his third Freqscene pedal.
What does the Clean Blend control do?
The Clean Blend is one of the controls Freqscene added to the original HM-2 layout. The reviewer's dialled-in presets show it covering Chainsaw, Fuzzlike, Shoegazy and Mellowish settings, with the Blend useful for bass and for tempering gain, letting clean signal sit under the distorted signal.
What is the Stock/Custom clipping switch?
The Cleanless carries a Stock/Custom clipping switch. Guitar Pedal X describes the Custom position as a secret sauce custom clipping mode, an extra clipping option beyond the stock HM-2-style clipping, giving the player two distinct distortion characters in one pedal.
Sources (5)
- Guitar Pedal X, Guitar Pedal X, 2026-07-27
- Guitar Pedal X, Guitar Pedal X, 2026-10-06
- Hangman-2D, Wren and Cuff
- Boss officially launches the HM-2W Heavy Metal Waza Craft pedal, Guitar World, 2021-06-17
- Guitar FX Layouts: Boss HM-2 Heavy Metal Lite, tagboardeffects.blogspot.com (Guitar FX Layouts), 2014-05-02
