Tighten up your tone — eliminate the buzz, hiss, and chaos.
If you’re running high-gain amps or stacking distortion pedals, you know the struggle: unwanted noise, squealing feedback, and muddy stops. That’s where a noise gate pedal becomes essential — especially for metal guitarists who want surgical precision and brutal tone clarity.
Here are five of the best noise gates for metal guitarists, all available on Amazon, from pro touring rigs to bedroom shredders on a budget.
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⚔️ Top 5 Noise Gate Pedals for Metal (Amazon Edition)
| Rank | Pedal | Best For | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1️⃣ | ISP Decimator X | Pro-level gating for live & studio | 💰💰 |
| 2️⃣ | Boss NS-2 Noise Suppressor | Versatility + effects loop integration | 💰💰 |
| 3️⃣ | TC Electronic Sentry | Multiband gate with TonePrint | 💰💰 |
| 4️⃣ | Donner Noise Killer | Budget option, 2 modes | 💰 |
| 5️⃣ | MXR M135 Smart Gate | Smooth, responsive gating | 💰💰💰 |
1️⃣ ISP Technologies Decimator X
Why It Slays for Metal:
The gold standard. The Decimator X uses ISP’s patented Time Vector Processing for ultra-fast response and natural decay. Perfect for tight stops, djenty chugs, and death metal precision. It’s used by pros for a reason.
- ✅ Tracks ultra-fast palm mutes
- ✅ Works great with high-gain amps & pedals
- ✅ Link two pedals for stereo or loop control
- ⭐ Best For: Touring & recording metal guitarists who want elite control
2️⃣ Boss NS-2 Noise Suppressor
Why It Slays for Metal:
A classic that’s stood the test of time. The NS-2 suppresses noise without killing your tone. Its dedicated effects loop lets you isolate only the noisy parts of your chain — like your distortion and boost — for more natural gating.
- ✅ Great for pedal-heavy setups
- ✅ Threshold + decay controls
- ✅ Boss-tank durability
- ⭐ Best For: Players running distortion pedals or complex pedalboards
3️⃣ TC Electronic Sentry Noise Gate
Why It Slays for Metal:
The multiband gate gives you studio-grade control — it won’t clamp down on your tone across all frequencies. You can also tweak it via TonePrint to fine-tune your gate curves, thresholds, and sidechains.
- ✅ Multiband = preserves highs & mids
- ✅ TonePrint lets you download pro presets
- ✅ Send/return loop for isolation
- ⭐ Best For: Players wanting precision gating without tone sacrifice
4️⃣ Donner Noise Killer Guitar Pedal
Why It Slays for Metal:
Incredible value. The Donner Noise Killer has two modes (Soft and Hard) and gets the job done for under $50. It’s not as transparent as premium gates, but for practicing or tight budgets, it’s unbeatable.
- ✅ 2-mode switch: Soft (gradual) or Hard (tight chug control)
- ✅ Compact + true bypass
- ✅ Fits any beginner metal rig
- ⭐ Best For: Budget metalheads and noise-curious beginners
5️⃣ MXR M135 Smart Gate Noise Gate
Why It Slays for Metal:
Smooth and responsive, the Smart Gate works across playing styles. Its 3 trigger modes let you tailor how aggressively it clamps down, which is great for everything from heavy palm mutes to legato solos.
- ✅ 3 modes: Full, Mid, Hiss
- ✅ Noise reduction without tone loss
- ✅ Used by pros like Zakk Wylde
- ⭐ Best For: Versatile metal players switching between riffs and leads
🎸 Metal Gating Buyer Guide: Which Pedal Is Right for You?
| You Want… | Best Pedal |
|---|---|
| Pro-tier, fast gating | ISP Decimator X |
| Effects loop support | Boss NS-2, TC Sentry |
| Budget starter | Donner Noise Killer |
| Multiband / TonePrint | TC Sentry |
| Smooth, adjustable gating | MXR Smart Gate |
🛒 Final Verdict: Best Noise Gate for Metal?
If you want total control and pro performance, ISP Decimator X is the clear winner. For pedalboard integration and solid all-around gating, the Boss NS-2 and TC Electronic Sentry offer great flexibility.
If you’re on a tight budget? The Donner Noise Killer absolutely gets the job done for a fraction of the price.
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