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GAMMA Hades Metal Distortion Effects Pedal | Demo and Features with Nicholas Veinoglouplay button

GAMMA Hades Metal Distortion Effects Pedal | Demo and Features with Nicholas Veinoglou

Distortion Pedal Test - Rob Chapman Puts the GAMMA Hades Pedal to the Testplay button

Distortion Pedal Test - Rob Chapman Puts the GAMMA Hades Pedal to the Test

Gamma Budget Pedals: Distortion, Overdrive, Chorus, Delay, Reverbplay button

Gamma Budget Pedals: Distortion, Overdrive, Chorus, Delay, Reverb

GAMMA

collapse expand iconDescription

The GAMMA Hades Metal Distortion effects pedal erupts out of the underworld to provide extreme guitarists with all of the vicious, barbarous impact they crave. This is the perfect distortion pedal for parts that need to roar out of a band mix and shock listeners’ ears into joyful submission. Hades is one of six stompboxes in Guitar Center's brand-new and exclusive GAMMA guitar effects pedals line—which also includes the Altas Boosted Overdrive, Bacchus Dynamic Driver, Cumulus 3-Way Reverb, Eros Clean Chorus and Narcissus Warm Delay. We’re Guitar Center, and we know guitar players, so we populated the GAMMA line with six effects that are absolutely essential for gigging. In fact, you can construct a versatile and professional pedalboard with the sextet of GAMMA pedals alone.

All pedals in the GAMMA guitar effects series feature stunning metal-flake finishes, gig-tough chassis and knobs, scrupulously curated circuitry and buffered bypass (for consistent tone and signal output), as well as a compact size that won’t devour real estate on your pedalboard. Each GAMMA pedal can be run from a 9-volt battery or power supply (battery and DC adapter not included). In addition, we are extremely aware that the last thing players want is for their gear to crumble under pressure, so the GAMMA line was designed to defy the rigors of constant use and to sound sensational every time you plug in to play.

Gamma Effects Pedal Series Pedalboard

Hades Metal Distortion Controls and Features

The Hades Metal Distortion has the obvious Level and Drive controls, but escalates its sonic mastery with EQ knobs for Bass, Mid and Treble. No matter how much saturation you choose to unleash, you can tailor the tone to rage clearly, coherently and with maximum impact. GAMMA pedals are also designed to endure the hardships of real-world use. Electrical footswitching protects against audible noise and other glitching that can sometimes occur when a mechanical switch begins to wear out. Buffered bypass ensures a strong and consistent signal is sent to the other pedals in your chain, so there shouldn’t be any volume dips or other anomalies when you swap or add effects on the fly. The heavy-duty metal chassis and knobs are durable enough to withstand being kicked off stages, tossed into gig bags and any other abuses that can occur during live gigs, studio sessions and gear transport.

Gamma Hades Meta Distortion Effects Pedal Controls

How Does the Hades Metal Distortion Sound?

The Hades is a versatile beast that can set loose extreme black metal tones, as well as sounds that evoke old-school hard rock, scooped-mid onslaughts and industrial music snarl and growl. The secret weapon is Hades’ midrange control. Parked at its low settings, the tone conjures sunless Scandinavian winters. At higher midrange settings, you’ve moved to British steel. Backing off the mids puts you into American metal territory. Aggressive scooped-mid sounds are easy to dial in, and, despite the onslaught of saturation, Hades can clearly illuminate performance techniques such as million-mile-an-hour shredding, palm muting chords, staccato punches and melodic single-note lines.

Gamma Effects Pedals Series Rig Player

Power User Tips for Distortion Pedals

The tonal versatility of Hades opens up options for all kinds of metal mania, so the most appropriate user tip is to exploit that flexibility to craft every fierce tone the pedal can deliver. Of course, given that Hades’ saturation can be tweaked to be clear and articulate at almost all levels of ferocious grind, it’s a pedal that works exceptionally well with other effects. For example, thicken up riffs by adding the Eros Clean Chorus, or induce ambient rage via the Cumulus 3-Way Reverb, or release soaring shred lines with the help of the Narcissus Warm Delay.

Gamma Hades Metal Distortion Effects Pedal

Feral Distortion

The GAMMA Hades Metal Distortion can rain hellfire upon lackluster guitar tones, granting them the feral power of saturation, punch and articulation. While the word “gamma” denotes the third letter of the Greek alphabet, it also stands for three pertinent reasons why GAMMA guitar effects pedals deliver extraordinary tone, tough-as-a-tank manufacturing and fantastic value: They are crafted by people who love guitar, for everyone who plays guitar, and they are only available at Guitar Center.

collapse expand iconFeatures

  • Aggressive yet articulate distortion, with wide-ranging mid cut/boost for versatility 
  • Level and Drive control and three knob EQs allows you to carve your ideal sound—from death-and-doom to hyper-speed shred 
  • All-metal chassis and knobs with a road-ready design 
  • Operates from a 9V battery or 9V DC adapter (battery and DC supply sold separately) 
  • Mono audio input and output, with buffered bypass for consistent tone in any setup

collapse expand iconSpecs

  • Power Input Compatibility: 9V DC (Center Negative) 
  • Power Draw: 30mA 
  • Battery Compatibility: 9V (alkaline recommended) 
  • Battery Life: 16-hour runtime 
  • Input: 1/4" Instrument Level Input 
  • Input Impedance: 650 kohms 
  • Output: 1/4" Instrument Level Output 
  • Output Impedance: 1 kohms 
  • Product Dimensions (DxWxH): 4.59" x 2.75" x 2.19" 
  • Product Weight: .55 lb. (8.8 oz)

Featured Articles

collapse expand iconReviews

4.71

41 Reviews

93%

of respondents would recommend this to a friend

Most Liked Positive Review

5

Let's talk versatility

Diving into the Hades Metal Distortion feels like unlocking a portal to sonic realms I never knew existed. With the classic Level and Drive controls, it's the added EQ knobs for Bass, Mid, and Treble that truly let me sculpt a tone that roars with clarity and packs a serious punch. What's impressed me most is its durability in the real-world chaos of gigs and studio sessions. The electrical footswitching tackles those pesky glitches, while the buffered bypass ensures my signal stays rock-solid, no matter how many effects I throw into the mix. Now, let's talk versatility – Hades isn't just a one-trick pony. It effortlessly conjures up everything from extreme black metal tones to nostalgic hard rock vibes. The midrange control is like a secret weapon, taking me from moody Scandinavian winters to the raw power of British steel and the heartland of American metal. But here's the real gem – Hades plays exceptionally well with others. Want thicker riffs? Throw in the Eros Clean Chorus. Craving ambient vibes? The Cumulus 3-Way Reverb has your back. And for those epic shred moments, the Narcissus Warm Delay is a game-changer. In my book, the key is exploiting Hades' flexibility. Whether I'm unleashing a million-mile-an-hour shred or crafting soulful single-note lines, this pedal is my go-to for pushing sonic boundaries. It's not just a distortion pedal; it's a sonic journey waiting to be explored.

VS

Most Liked Negative Review

3

This is alright

I've used this both in the studio and live. It's not bad. Maybe it was just the one I received, but I couldn't get it to produce a thicker tone, and it always came through the mix thin and tinny. I guess it all comes down to what do you want from the pedal. If you want a thicker, crunchy, growly tone, this isn't that. That being said, I'm sure that other musicians will find a better use out of it than myself.

Filters
Best Uses
  1. Amateur Recording26
  2. Home Studio25
  3. Performances25
  4. Professional Recording16
  5. Outdoor Events / Games15
Cons
  1. Limited Selection Of Effects5
  2. Poor Sound Quality4
  3. Difficult To Use1
  4. Not Durable1
  5. Overrides natural guitar tone1
Describe Yourself
  1. Experienced25
  2. Novice10
  3. Professional Musician6
Pros
  1. Excellent Sound Quality33
  2. Compact29
  3. Responsive26
  4. Versatile18
  5. Good Selection Of Effects11
  • This is alright

    3

    submitted5 months ago

    byGrant

    fromKansas City

    I've used this both in the studio and live. It's not bad. Maybe it was just the one I received, but I couldn't get it to produce a thicker tone, and it always came through the mix thin and tinny. I guess it all comes down to what do you want from the pedal. If you want a thicker, crunchy, growly tone, this isn't that. That being said, I'm sure that other musicians will find a better use out of it than myself.

  • Says what it does and does what it says

    5

    Verified BuyerVerified Buyer

    submitted6 months ago

    byRace

    fromDenver, Colorado

    Submitted as part of a sweepstakes

    Sounds great. Warning: No power chord. It wouldn't work with a 9V charge cord I use for my other pedals. I ended up needing to buy a new charge cord. I'm unclear why this one was persnickety, but after I plugged it into a high-end 9V charger, it worked great.

  • Up your game with this pedal

    5

    Verified BuyerVerified Buyer

    submitted6 months ago

    byDarren

    fromRichlands, NC

    Submitted as part of a sweepstakes

    This pedal brings out a heavy, gritty tone to your playing. Kicking this on with some gain from your amp can really bring out the distortion tone. This pedal has excellent control over the mids allowing for more compressed or open sounds.

  • Yes I would try other pedal from this company

    4

    Verified BuyerVerified Buyer

    submitted6 months ago

    byRichard

    fromAnchorage Alaska

    Submitted as part of a sweepstakes

    I bought this pedal to try and it's not bad for the price if you're on a budget! The sound quality isn't to bad.

  • Great pedal

    5

    Verified BuyerVerified Buyer

    submitted6 months ago

    byJoshua

    fromMiami, Florida

    Submitted as part of a sweepstakes

    I love this pedal. I use it for both my guitar and my bass. Best pedal in my collection.

  • Great distortion pedal

    5

    Verified BuyerVerified Buyer

    submitted7 months ago

    byDavid

    fromMobile, Al

    Submitted as part of a sweepstakes

    I was pleasantly surprised by this pedal, you can get as dirty as you want to or back it off and get just the right amount of distortion. Works in hard rock, classic rack and metal situations

collapse expand iconQ&A

Have a question about this product? Our expert Gear Advisers have the answers.

  • asked byDaniel

    fromVentura, CA

    Does this pedal work for beatdown hardcore and melodic metalcore?

    Does this pedal work for beatdown hardcore and melodic metalcore?

    Open Reply - Gear-Support
    Yes, it will.
  • asked byQwerty

    fromundisclosed

    This may be dumb but does the distotion go into the eq or the eq into the distotion?

    This may be dumb but does the distotion go into the eq or the eq into the distotion?

    Open Reply - Gear-Support
    With a unit like this, the eq controls the effect.
  • asked byIvan

    fromMoreno valley CA

    Will this work well with a bass

    Will this work well with a bass

    Open Reply - Gear-Support
    Yes, the GAMMA Hades will work fine with a bass.
  • asked byTony

    fromSan Jose

    Is it better quality than a boss metal zone?

    Is it better quality than a boss metal zone?

    Open Reply - Gear-Adviser
    It's equivalent.