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Pros:
- Very versatile
- Full-control over the sound
Cons:
- Not for everyone
- Might get noisy
Have you ever thought how lucky we are to be exposed to such wide range of choices at affordable prices? When the effects pedals were first introduced, musicians were compelled to pick something out from just a couple of manufacturers. And they were not so inexpensive either. Nowadays, with the growing number of companies, we have the ability to purchase our beloved stompboxes without spending all our savings on them.
Even though there is a certain conspiracy around such pedals, more often than not they have quite good quality as well. Today I am going to talk about the Biyang Metal End King, one of the best distortion units for the price. If you are on the budget and are dreaming of having distortion in your rig, then this one is definitely for you. And even if you are not, who will say no to saving extra couple of bucks? Without further ado, let’s get started and discuss all the features, controls and sounds of Metal End King.
Features
Well, as surprising as it might be, Metal End King offers an all-encompassing package when it comes to the features. It takes just a glance to understand how much we are actually dealing with here. Starting from the basics, this pedal is built with high-quality constituents and materials, which means it can withstand even heavy abuse. The design is pretty sleek and fancy with a silver exterior and red writing indicating the name of the pedal. What is more, Metal End King has too much to offer in terms of sound.
It has a 4-band EQ that shapes your tone meticulously. It also has an Amp Simulator, which simulates the sound of tubes and saturates your sound with their warmth. Pair that with three EQ voicings and three distortion voicings and you are left with an interminable number of different tones. Just do the math and you will quickly understand what kind of versatility I am talking about. But Biyang did not stop there. They did also add High Cut function for quick and easy scooping.
Additionally, Metal End King has a true bypass that guarantees maximum tonal integrity. This bad boy can be powered with 9V alkaline or carbon-zinc batteries, as well as supplied AC adaptor. The only downside to this magical beast is that it is quite bulky and big in size, which makes it a bit hard to fit on the pedalboard. However, if you do not utilize that many stompboxes, you should be fine. Either way, if you make an effort and incorporate Metal End King in your signal chain, I am sure you will have hard time with a farewell.
Controls
The control section seems quite overcrowded when you take your first glance. However, this time quantity means quality and precision. All the knobs are quite responsive and accurate, modifying the parameters of your sound perfectly. Since we have to discuss a lot here, let’s jump right into it and find out what their capabilities are.
The first encoder on the panel is Level, which alters the volume of the unit while also affecting its tone just a bit. Then we have a four-band EQ with Low, Mid Freq, Middle and High, with each of them modifying the response within specific frequency ranges. Such detailed adjustments are not usually the case with the pedals, but Biyang did truly surprise us in the best way possible. Moving forward you will find the Dist knob, which changes the amount of distortion and allows you to choose from subtle and heavy sounds.
Below these encoders, there are several toggles. The first one is Amp Simulator, which envelops your existence with virtual tubes. Then comes the Modern, Normal and Classic switch that allows you to choose between various EQ voicings according to the character. High Cut toggle scoops your sound immediately and provides you with extra tonal settings. And finally, we have Normal, Bright and Warm modes for the distortion, which define the nature of this effect and give all of its flavors. I know it seems a bit too much, but nailing good sound using the controls is not a difficult job. You just have to spend some time with the pedal and search for the settings that suit your style and instrument.
Biyang Metal End Sound
As you have probably guessed, Metal End King does not play any games be it its features or controls. Nor does it in terms of sound quality and diversity. The main controls themselves are more than enough to create mild or heavy distortion and everything in between. The EQ is quite accurate and organic and does not sit on top of your sound awkwardly. Instead, it alters the frequencies to their core and performs decently. When you move on to messing around with toggles, you are left to explore a whole different level of versatility.
The Amp Simulator makes quite a big of a difference and you will definitely miss it if you turn it off. I mean, who can withstand the temptation to warm the hell out of their sound? The EQ voicings and High Cut are a great way to make big changes quickly and effectively. They can take you from classic character to heavier modern style. And the distortion voicings do not leave any kind of distortion unexplored. Some of them have a noticeable jump in volume, but that is easily tamable. After experimenting with Metal End King, you will be a true expert on distortion.
Conclusion
On the whole, it is really hard to find tangible faults with this pedal. Even though it has its downsides, considering the price and the sonic options you have, you cannot really complain. Even those downsides are too minor to be a deal-breaker for anyone. Metal End King will allow you to submerge yourself into the world of distortion and never get out of it. As you experiment more and more, you will start unleashing the true capabilities of this fella. What’s not to love? Good luck!
Click here to view more from 10 Best Distortion Pedals.
