Since you're a beginner and have quite a diverse range of sounds you want to try out, I STRONGLY suggest getting a decent Multi-FX pedal.

The new Digitech RP150 or RP250 (With an Expression Pedal) should be around your price range, and they deliver quite a good range of tones for you to play with......

Maybe the Line6 FloorPod could also be in your budget...... call up CK Music (Their number is in our Music Shop/Jamming Studios sticky thread) and see how much a FloorPod is going for.........

Of course, there's always the Zoom 2.1u..........

Agree with Everdying. The Metal Zone, as much as we knock on it, still is a versatile pedal with lots of room to tweak and adjust.

Since your friend has a MT-2, try it out, but with different settings and see that it'll sound totally different.

Also, I would STRONGLY recommend a Wah pedal..... a necessary tool in any guitarist's arsenal.

Because the metal muff is too expensive to justify the cost, and the nano version has not enough versatility compared to the Metal Zone.....

Or how about the Digitech Distortion Factory? All the sounds covered.......

Then yeah, it's quite good.......
but still, I find the metal zone more versatile..... but the Metal Muff on it's own..... sounds REALLY good........

It's just me lah...... don't listen to this (ie: me) tired old fool......

A DI unit or DI box is an electronic device that connects a high impedance line level signal that uses an unbalanced cable with a 1/4" phono plug to a low impedance mic level input that uses a balanced cable and XLR connector. For example, one can connect an electric guitar to a DI box which can then be connected to a mixing console's microphone input. It performs level matching, balancing, and either active buffering or passive impedance bridging to minimise noise, distortion, and ground loops. (DI units do not perform impedance matching.)

DI is variously claimed to stand for direct input, direct injection or direct interface. DI units are extensively used with professional and semi-professional PA systems and in sound recording studios.

There are two types, active DI units and passive DI units.

Sauce