Blackstar LT-METAL Distortion Pedal (Half Price)

Quick Product Summary

The Blackstar LT-METAL is a compact analogue high-gain distortion pedal designed specifically for modern metal and heavier guitar styles. It delivers everything from tight aggressive rhythm sounds through saturated distortion to extreme lead gain, while keeping the controls straightforward enough to dial in quickly.

At the heart of the LT-METAL is Blackstar's patent-applied-for clipping circuit, developed to reproduce characteristics of the company's valve-driven HT pedals in a smaller conventional pedal format. Gain, Level, Tone and Blackstar's patented ISF control give you plenty of scope to tailor the distortion around different guitars, pickups and amplifiers.

For players who want a dedicated metal distortion pedal with serious gain, compact dimensions and more tonal flexibility than a basic distortion box, the LT-METAL is a strong pedalboard option.

At A Glance

Feature	Details
Brand	Blackstar
Series	LT Pedals
Model	LT-METAL
Condition	New
Effect Type	High-gain distortion
Controls	Gain, Level, Tone, ISF
Technology	Analogue
Bypass	Buffered bypass
Power	9V DC or 9V PP3 battery
Main Appeal	Aggressive metal gain with flexible ISF tone shaping
Best For	Metal, hard rock, drop tunings and high-gain lead playing

What's Included?

• Blackstar LT-METAL Distortion Pedal

Why Choose The Blackstar LT-METAL?

Designed Specifically For High-Gain Guitar

The LT-METAL is not simply a conventional overdrive with extra gain. Its circuit is designed around the tighter, more saturated response required for modern metal rhythm and lead sounds, with enough gain available for aggressive riffing and sustained solo tones.

Blackstar ISF Tone Shaping

Blackstar's patented ISF – Infinite Shape Feature – control works alongside the Tone control to change the overall character of the distortion. Move towards the US side for a tighter response with a more aggressive mid character, or towards the UK side for a warmer, woodier British-style response.

Valve-Pedal-Inspired Clipping

Blackstar's patent-applied-for clipping circuit was developed to reproduce characteristics of the company's valve-driven HT pedals. The aim is to combine heavy saturation with a more natural sense of compression and playing response than a basic hard-clipping distortion circuit.

Straightforward Four-Control Layout

Despite the amount of gain available, the LT-METAL remains easy to operate. Gain controls saturation, Level determines output volume, Tone adjusts brightness and attack, while ISF changes the broader tonal character.

Compact Pedalboard Format

At just 60mm wide, the LT-METAL takes up relatively little pedalboard space. Its rugged metal enclosure, buffered bypass and silent switching make it suitable for both simple one-pedal setups and larger live rigs.

Blackstar LT-METAL vs Popular Alternatives

Blackstar LT-DIST

The LT-DIST covers a broader range from boost and crunch through to full distortion, making it better suited to players who need classic rock and general-purpose drive as well as heavier sounds. Choose the LT-METAL when aggressive high gain is the main priority.

Blackstar LT-DUAL

The LT-DUAL gives you two separately adjustable gain channels, making it particularly useful when you need different rhythm and lead settings from one pedal. The LT-METAL is simpler and more specifically focused on delivering a dedicated modern metal distortion sound.

BOSS MT-2 Metal Zone

The BOSS MT-2 Metal Zone offers an extremely broad EQ section with semi-parametric mids and a thick dual-stage high-gain circuit. It is ideal for players who want very detailed frequency control. The LT-METAL offers a simpler approach, using Tone and ISF to move quickly between different high-gain characters.

BOSS ML-2 Metal Core

The BOSS ML-2 Metal Core is designed around particularly extreme gain, sharp attack and powerful low frequencies for modern heavy styles and dropped tunings. The LT-METAL provides its own high-gain approach with Blackstar's ISF control offering broader American-to-British-style tonal shaping.

Who Is The Blackstar LT-METAL For?

The LT-METAL is particularly well suited to:

• Metal and hard-rock guitarists

• Players using drop tunings

• Guitarists who need tight high-gain rhythm sounds

• Lead players looking for saturated sustain

• Players running a clean amplifier as a pedal platform

• Guitarists who want high gain without buying a dedicated metal amplifier

• Pedalboard users who need a compact distortion pedal

• Players who want more tonal variation than a fixed-voice metal pedal

Looking for advice on choosing the right metal distortion pedal, high-gain guitar effect or pedalboard setup? Our experienced team of musicians can help by phone, online or in-store.

Suitable Genres & Playing Styles

The LT-METAL is built primarily for heavy metal, modern metal, hard rock, alternative metal and other high-gain styles where tight rhythm definition and substantial saturation are important.

Its Tone and ISF controls also let you adapt the pedal around different guitars. Humbuckers, active pickups, extended-range instruments and lower tunings can all require different EQ decisions, so the extra tonal flexibility is particularly useful when moving between instruments or amplifier setups.

How Do You Get A Tight Modern Metal Tone From A Distortion Pedal?

High gain alone does not automatically create a good metal rhythm sound. Too much low-end before the distortion stage can make palm-muted riffs feel loose, while excessive Gain can reduce definition.

Start with the LT-METAL's Gain below maximum, adjust Tone for enough attack to keep riffs clear, then use ISF to change the wider midrange and low-end character. Once the rhythm sound is defined, add Gain only until you have the saturation and sustain you actually need.

Where Should The LT-METAL Go On A Pedalboard?

The LT-METAL works naturally towards the front of a conventional effects chain, before modulation, delay and reverb.

A noise gate can be particularly useful with very high-gain rigs, while a boost placed before the LT-METAL can change the response and attack of the distortion. Delay and reverb are normally better positioned after the main distortion stage, or in the amplifier's effects loop where available.

Story & Context

Blackstar developed the LT pedal series as a compact, pedalboard-friendly extension of ideas established with its larger HT valve-driven effects pedals.

The LT range uses a patent-applied-for clipping circuit designed to recreate characteristics of the response and compression associated with those valve pedals while allowing the compact pedals to operate from conventional 9V power.

Within the range, the LT-METAL is the dedicated high-gain model. Rather than trying to cover every possible drive sound, its design concentrates on the aggressive distortion and tonal control required for modern heavy guitar.

Technical Specifications

Specification	Details
Product Type	Electric guitar effects pedal
Effect Type	High-gain distortion
Technology	Analogue
Controls	Gain, Level, Tone, ISF
Tone Shaping	Blackstar patented ISF
Clipping Circuit	Blackstar patent-applied-for valve-pedal-inspired circuit
Bypass	High-integrity buffered bypass
Switching	Silent switching
Input	1 x Input
Output	1 x Output
Power	9V DC / PP3 battery
Maximum Current Draw	Less than 20mA
Dimensions	60 x 54.5 x 122 mm
Weight	450g

Power Requirements

The Blackstar LT-METAL can operate from a standard 9V PP3 battery or a suitable 9V DC power adaptor.

Maximum current draw is less than 20mA, making it straightforward to integrate into a compatible multi-output pedalboard power supply.

When using battery power, unplug the input cable when you have finished playing to help preserve battery life.

Fair Deal Music Verdict 🎵

★★★★★ 5/5

The Blackstar LT-METAL is a strong choice for players who know they want dedicated high gain rather than a general-purpose overdrive pedal.

The combination of serious saturation and Tone plus ISF control is what makes it particularly useful. You can move between tighter, more aggressive modern sounds and warmer British-style heavy tones without needing a complicated multi-band EQ.

Best suited for: Metal, hard rock and high-gain guitarists
Customers usually upgrade from: General-purpose distortion pedals and amplifier-only gain
Most commonly paired with: Humbucker-equipped guitars, high-headroom amps, noise gates and pedalboard power supplies
Our tip: Do not automatically run the Gain at maximum. Backing it off slightly can give palm-muted riffs more definition and leave enough saturation for powerful rhythm playing.
Showroom feedback: A particularly straightforward option for players who want convincing heavy distortion without the learning curve of a highly detailed parametric EQ section.

Why Buy From Fair Deal Music?

When you buy from Fair Deal Music, you're choosing one of the UK's most established, independent family run music retailers since 1987.

Our Birmingham showroom is backed by a knowledgeable musician-led team who understand effects pedals as part of a complete guitar rig. Whether you're choosing your first distortion pedal, building a modern metal setup or adding another gain stage to an existing pedalboard, we're here to help you make the right choice.

When you shop with Fair Deal Music, you can buy with confidence thanks to:

• Expert advice from knowledgeable musicians

• Carefully checked new, used, pre-owned and ex-display equipment

• Competitive prices on leading music brands

• Secure UK-wide delivery

• Friendly support before and after your purchase

• Decades of experience with new and pre-owned musical equipment

• A large Birmingham showroom where you can speak directly with our team

• Practical advice on guitars, amplifiers, effects and complete pedalboard rigs

Trade In. Trade Up. Save More.

Thinking about upgrading? Your next piece of gear could cost less than you think.

We're always happy to consider part exchanges and trade-ins on a wide range of musical instruments and equipment. Whether you're looking to upgrade your guitar, keyboard, amplifier, drum kit or studio gear, your existing equipment could help reduce the cost of your next purchase.

Simply get in touch with our team for a no-obligation valuation, and we'll be happy to discuss the options available.

It's an easy way to unlock the value of the gear you no longer use while making your next instrument even more affordable.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Blackstar LT-METAL only suitable for metal?

It is designed primarily for high-gain metal and heavier rock styles, but its Tone and ISF controls allow enough adjustment for other situations where powerful saturated distortion is required.

What does the ISF control do?

ISF changes the wider tonal character of the pedal. Towards the US side, the response becomes tighter with a more aggressive mid character. Towards the UK side, it becomes warmer and woodier, with a more traditionally British-style response.

How much gain does the LT-METAL have?

The LT-METAL is specifically designed for aggressive high-gain sounds. Increasing Gain progressively adds distortion until the pedal reaches extreme saturated lead territory.

Will the LT-METAL work with a clean amplifier?

Yes. It can provide the main source of high-gain distortion into a suitable clean amplifier, making it useful for players whose amp does not already have the heavy gain sound they need.

Can I use the LT-METAL with an already distorted amp?

Yes, although results depend on the amplifier and settings. Running very high pedal gain into an already heavily distorted amp can reduce clarity, so starting with less gain on one of the two stages is usually more effective.

Is a noise gate useful with the LT-METAL?

A noise gate can be useful in any very high-gain setup, particularly when using high Gain settings, several gain stages or playing in electrically noisy environments.

Can the LT-METAL run from a battery?

Yes. It accepts a 9V PP3 battery and can also run from a suitable external 9V DC power supply.

What is the difference between the LT-METAL and LT-DIST?

The LT-DIST covers a wider range from lower-gain boost and overdrive through distortion. The LT-METAL is specifically voiced for more aggressive high-gain sounds and is the stronger choice when heavy rhythm and metal lead tones are the priority.