EHX Nano Metal Muff Settings

The Electro-Harmonix Nano Metal Muff is a versatile distortion pedal with a powerful 3-band EQ and built-in noise gate — perfect for sculpting tones across multiple genres. Here's a breakdown of suggested settings tailored to different styles:

 Genre-Based Settings for Nano Metal Muff

Genre	Gain	Gate	Bass	Mid	Treble	Tone Character
Doom / Sludge	Max	9–10	Max	2–3	~8 o’clock	Saturated, dark, fuzzy wall of sound
Thrash Metal	8–9	10–11	2–3	3–4	2–3	Tight, aggressive, scooped mids
Classic Rock	5–6	Off	5	5	5	Balanced crunch with vintage edge
Hardcore Punk	7–8	10	6	6	6	Raw, mid-forward distortion
Djent / Modern Metal	6–7	11–12	4	7–8	3–4	Focused mids, tight low-end
Stoner Rock	Max	9	Max	4–5	~9 o’clock	Thick, fuzzy, warm distortion
Industrial / Noise	Max	12	3	Max	Max	Harsh, compressed, cutting tone

Tips for Tone Shaping

• Gate: Turn clockwise for tighter decay; counter-clockwise to disable.

• Treble: Roll off for darker tones (doom, stoner); boost for cutting through (thrash, industrial).

• Mid: Scoop for classic metal; boost for modern clarity and punch.

• Bass: Crank for doom/sludge; tame for tighter genres like djent.

Using small gauge strings (e.g. .009–.042 or lighter) with the Nano Metal Muff can result in a brighter, more articulate tone — but also more nasal highs and less low-end punch. To compensate, here’s a set of optimized settings for different styles:

 Nano Metal Muff Settings – Small Gauge Strings

Genre	Gain	Gate	Bass	Mid	Treble	Tone Result
Doom / Sludge	Max	~9	Max	2–3	~8 o’clock	Adds warmth and saturation to thin strings
Thrash Metal	8–9	~10	3–4	3–4	2–3	Tight, aggressive tone with clarity
Classic Rock	5–6	Off	5	5	5	Balanced crunch with vintage edge
Djent / Modern	6–7	~11	4	7–8	3–4	Focused mids, tight low-end

    Tips for Small Gauge Optimization

• Lower Treble: Small strings emphasize highs — roll off treble to avoid harshness.

• Boost Bass: Adds body and compensates for reduced low-end.

• Mid Control: Slight boost helps cut through mix without sounding nasal.

• Gate Sensitivity: Set lower (~9–10) to avoid cutting off lighter string dynamics.

 Doom Settings for Nano Metal Muff

Control	Suggested Setting	Tone Result
Gain	Max (full clockwise)	Saturated, fuzz-like wall of sound
Gate	~9–10 o’clock	Keeps decay natural, avoids harsh cutoff
Bass	Max	Thick low-end for crushing riffs
Mid	~2–3 o’clock	Slight push for doom presence
Treble	~8 o’clock	Rolled-off highs for darker tone
Volume	To taste	Match amp or push for saturation

      Doom Rig Tips

• Strings: Use .012–.060 Pure Nickel in Drop C or B tuning for weight and warmth.

• Amp: Run into a clean channel with high headroom — let the pedal do the heavy lifting.

• Ambient FX: Add modulated reverb (e.g. Afterneath) or analog delay post-distortion for atmosphere.

• Cab Mic: Use an SM57 slightly off-center for a darker capture, or blend with a ribbon mic for warmth.

 Mod Chain #1 – Doom / Sludge Wall

Guitar
  ↓
EQ Pedal (e.g. MXR 10-Band) → Pre-shape mids & roll off highs
  ↓
Nano Metal Muff → Gain maxed, Treble ~8 o’clock, Gate ~9
  ↓
Modulated Reverb (e.g. Afterneath) → Ambient decay
  ↓
Clean Amp Input

💡 This chain creates a saturated, fuzzy wall of sound with ambient depth — perfect for funeral doom or drone.

 Mod Chain #2 – Thrash / Death Metal Punch

Guitar
  ↓
Noise Gate (e.g. Boss NS-2) → Tightens signal
  ↓
Nano Metal Muff → Gain ~8, Mids scooped, Gate ~11
  ↓
Boost Pedal (e.g. TC Spark) → Solo lift
  ↓
Amp Input (High-gain channel)

💡 Scooped mids and tight gate settings deliver classic thrash aggression with surgical precision.

 Mod Chain #3 – Industrial / Harsh Noise

Guitar or Synth
  ↓
Nano Metal Muff → Gain maxed, Treble & Mids boosted
  ↓
Bitcrusher or Ring Mod (e.g. Death By Audio Absolute Destruction)
  ↓
Stereo Delay → Chaotic echoes
  ↓
Amp or Mixer

💡 This chain turns the Metal Muff into a brutal texture generator — ideal for experimental or noise sets.

 Pairing the Nano Metal Muff with other boost, overdrive, or EQ pedals can unlock a whole new level of tone shaping — from tighter metal riffs to ambient doom textures. Here’s how to combine it effectively:

Boost Pedal Combinations

Boost Pedal	Purpose	Result
TC Electronic Spark	Clean boost before or after	Adds punch or solo lift
MXR Micro Amp	Pre-distortion gain	Tightens response, more saturation
Wampler Tumnus	Transparent boost with slight grit	Adds warmth and mid push

💡 Place before the Nano Metal Muff for more gain, or after for volume lift.

 Overdrive Pedal Pairings

Overdrive Pedal	Purpose	Result
Ibanez TS9 / TS Mini	Mid boost, tightens low-end	Classic metal tone, tighter chugs
EarthQuaker Plumes	Smooth clipping, low noise	Adds warmth and articulation
MXR EVH5150 OD	High-gain stack simulation	Layered distortion, amp-like feel

💡 Use as a pre-drive to shape the input tone or stack for layered distortion.

 EQ Pedal Integration

EQ Pedal	Purpose	Result
MXR 10-Band EQ	Full-spectrum sculpting	Tame harshness, boost doom frequencies
Boss GE-7	Compact 7-band EQ	Mid scoop or boost for genre-specific tone
Source Audio EQ2	Preset-based tone switching	Live flexibility, genre switching

💡 Place before for input shaping, after for output polish. Try scooping mids for thrash or boosting 800Hz for doom.

 Sample Chain: Doom / Sludge Setup

Guitar
  ↓
EQ Pedal (MXR 10-Band) → Boost mids, cut highs
  ↓
Overdrive (TS9) → Tighten low-end
  ↓
Nano Metal Muff → Doom distortion
  ↓
Ambient Reverb (Afterneath) → Depth & decay
  ↓
Amp Input (Clean channel)

Bonus Tricks
Neck Pickup: Switch to neck pickup for a rounder tone.
Stack with EQ Pedal: Use a Boss GE-7 or MXR 10-Band EQ before the Nano Metal Muff to pre-shape the tone.
Lower Tuning: Drop C or B tuning naturally shifts the tonal balance downward.
 The Nano Metal Muff has a powerful EQ, but small tweaks make big changes. 
Pairing the Nano Metal Muff with a DOD 250 Overdrive can unlock some seriously versatile tones — from tight, articulate metal to saturated doom fuzz. Here's how to make the most of this combo:
 Signal Chain Options
1. DOD 250 → Nano Metal Muff
Result: The DOD acts as a pre-boost, tightening the low end and pushing the Nano into more saturation.
Best for: Thrash, death metal, modern metal.
Tip: Set DOD gain low (~9–10 o’clock) and level high to boost without coloring too much.
2. Nano Metal Muff → DOD 250
Result: The DOD adds warmth and grit after the aggressive distortion — great for sludge or doom.
Best for: Doom, stoner, drone.
Tip: Use DOD with moderate gain (~12 o’clock) to smooth out the Nano’s edge.
 Suggested Settings for Doom Combo
Pedal
Control
Setting
Nano Metal Muff
Gain
Max
Bass
Max
Mid
~2 o’clock
Treble
~8 o’clock
Gate
~9 o’clock
DOD 250
Gain
~12 o’clock
Level
~2–3 o’clock
This setup gives you a saturated wall of fuzz with enough mid presence to cut through — perfect for doom riffs and ambient layering.

Thanks for exploring this deep dive into the Nano Metal Muff settings.
Have you tried stacking these pedals in your rig? Found a killer setting?  
Drop a comment with your own setups, mods, or tonal discoveries.