What effect should i use for a better metal tone ( guitar )?

Question

i have a metal distortion pedal and an amp with bass, mid, and treble k***s but i cant get the sound i want. Even with the distortion all the way up, i can still hear the chords being strummed though the amp in and it sounds like a clean tone followed by distortion. is there a pedal that that will eliminate the sound of the picking so that you will just hear the note (if that makes any sense)?

Answer 1

Your metal distortion pedal is doing fine. Turn your tone all the way down on the guitar, but keep playing through the bridge pickup.

Also, a personal preference of mine is to cut your highs down a bit on your amp and pull up the mids. Everyone cuts out the midrange, but that's what gives a metal tone it's kick.

Also, I'd suggest blending your amp distortion and your pedal distortion a little. Try turning both down to 2 or 3, and fiddling up and down on both k***s. You can hit a real face-melting sweet spot most of the time. The band Entombed, and the other Sun Studios  bands from scandinavia, used this technique with Boss Metal Zones boxes and Peavey amps to get a truly evil death metal sound. Sounds like a cross between a flame thrower and a buzz saw.

Answer 2

Just a random thought, this may not make sense.  But if you are getting too much note articulation for your taste, you may try using a Fuzz pedal along with your metal distortion.  the fuzz may have a smoothing effect.

Answer 3

Try turning everything up on the amp and the guitar. Maybe even to full power.

( Not the volume on the amp though, unless you want it really loud. )

Might want to try strumming softer too. You dont have to strum hard at all on an electric guitar.