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HM-2 Mod

1) The document provides steps to modify an Hm-2 pedal to make it more usable as an overdrive/distortion pedal. The first step is to replace components to allow it to work with a 9V power supply. 2) Subsequent steps include replacing capacitors to adjust tone, removing "fuzzy" diodes, and optionally removing other diodes to alter the distortion character. 3) Additional modifications include replacing other capacitors and a resistor to further tweak the tone by removing fuzziness and increasing output level. A table also lists component value changes and their effects.

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João Vitoretti
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107 views

HM-2 Mod

1) The document provides steps to modify an Hm-2 pedal to make it more usable as an overdrive/distortion pedal. The first step is to replace components to allow it to work with a 9V power supply. 2) Subsequent steps include replacing capacitors to adjust tone, removing "fuzzy" diodes, and optionally removing other diodes to alter the distortion character. 3) Additional modifications include replacing other capacitors and a resistor to further tweak the tone by removing fuzziness and increasing output level. A table also lists component value changes and their effects.

Uploaded by

João Vitoretti
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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You are on page 1/ 5

,

Here are the steps to modify the Hm-2 and turn it into a way more usable Od /dist pedal:

1)First of all, If you own an older "ACA" type Boss pedal designed for power supplies up to 12Volts DC, simply replace
D1 and R2 with two jumpers and use a regular 9Vdc regulated power supply. If you own and old ACA type psu and
the Led indicator of the pedal lights up bright, just skip this 1st step.

2)Replace the C11 capacitor with a 1nF to 10nF one. Less capacitance equals more trebly, british-like response and
less "muddy" tone. If you like fat tones, skip this step.

3)Remove the D6 and D7 Germanium-type diodes and place jumpers in their place. This will remove the "nasty"
fuzzy crossover distortion character of the hm-2 and turn it into a normal distortion pedal.

4)Remove the D3,D4,D5 "overdrive" diodes completely to get a different distortion "DS-2"-like character. Keep them
in place while removing D8,D9 for more overdrive-like tones. I chose to keep the D8,D9 and removed the D3,D4,D5
for this mod. You could also replace these diodes with LEDs. The red leds are closer to the diode distortion character
while green leds sound softer. You can mix the colors of the LEDs (eg. D8 = red Led, D9 = green Led) for assymetrical
clipping which sounds more tube-like.

5)Replace C16 with a 10nF, 22nF or 47nF capacitor. This will remove many of the nasty fuzzy highs and make it sound
amp-like (it's sort of like a cab sim). Higher capacitance = less treble and fuzz.

6)Replace R53 with a jumper for extra output level. This mod will increase the output level so you can dial in
"booster" like tones with less gain and more output.

Cheers,

GuitarDreamer

Jan 2017

This mod comes from the Brian Wampler book but it is for the HM-2. I don't know if it is the same circuit. I did this
mod to a HM-2 and really liked the sound after the changes.

A pic of the pcb is copied below so you can see if it is the same as yours

Boss HM-2 mod

Location Stock

value

Mod value What it effects

C30 .068uf change to .022uf Lower value for more bottom end

C6 .047uf change to 1uf Adds bottom end


D3 1n4148 change to 1n4001

D5 1n4148 change to led

D8 1n4148 change to Led

D9 1n4148 change to led

D6 Germaniu remove and Jumper

D7 Germaniu remove and Jumper

These changes will remove as much of the

fuzziness as possible, making it as rich and

full of a distortion as the circuit will allow.

C15 1uf elec change to 1 uf (film cap) Will quiet some of the background noise.

C12 1 uf elec change to .033 uf Will lower the bass before clipping, this will

help eliminate some fuzz as well.

*any size/shape/color led will work the same when used as clipping diodes as they are

with this pedal.

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