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. 

Basic settings for Heavy tone using a Keller Push style overdrive (no buffer) before EHX NMM GAIN minimum - 0 VOLUME 12+match to your amp’s input sensitivity. BASS MID TREBLE at 1 o’clock - Overdrive pedal - 12 o’clock to Maximum Volume - Gain -not much Tone 10-2 o’clock -adjust based on your guitar’s brightness. Start at 12 and tweak to taste.. 

The noise gate works when you close the guitar volume. This makes your guitar’s volume knob a dynamic tool. The fact that it cleans up well means your overdrive and amp are working in harmony, letting the guitar’s volume knob act like a gain control.

 Alternatives like the Speaker Cranker or DOD 250 work well here because they’re raw, simple. The key in this setup is no buffer, so the signal stays direct and reactive.

Each pedal offers a different way to contour the signal before it hits the Metal Muff.

Amp Considerations

• Use a clean or slightly broken-up amp setting. 

• Avoid built-in amp gain—let the pedals do the work.

If you're using something like a Seymour Duncan Distortion, Invader, EMG 81, or even a passive DiMarzio Super Distortion, you're in the sweet spot. This setup thrives on high-output humbuckers that can really drive the front end of your overdrive and push the Nano Metal Muff into that tight, saturated zone.

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, s cooped 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.