the best bass overdrive/distorsion?!!-darkglass electronics b3k - Page 34

fivestringgecko · #**661** 12-21-2012, 10:50 AM

Good to hear you're digging it Sousa.

I ordered a B7K last night and should still have the B3K here long enough to do a quick A/B. Super stoked about the 7.

5sg.

yaksonator · #**662** 12-21-2012, 11:25 AM

Darkglass b7k is an amazing piece of gear! Just got it today and by far my go to from now on for my tone. I play a pbass which I love the tone and was looking for something to give it extra awesomeness. Goes from little grind to hairy in your face distortion, plus 4 band eq! I love it! Highly recommend!

fivestringgecko · #**663** 12-21-2012, 11:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by yaksonator

Darkglass b7k is an amazing piece of gear! Just got it today and by far my go to from now on for my tone. I play a pbass which I love the tone and was looking for something to give it extra awesomeness. Goes from little grind to hairy in your face distortion, plus 4 band eq! I love it! Highly recommend!

Good to hear. Having a B3K with an EQ/DI is why I ordered it.

5sg.

Darkglass · #**664** 12-23-2012, 09:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fivestringgecko

Good to hear you're digging it Sousa.

I ordered a B7K last night and should still have the B3K here long enough to do a quick A/B. Super stoked about the 7.

5sg.

A/B's are always good! And comments are always appreciated! Let us know your opinion once you've gotten them please!

Quote:

Originally Posted by yaksonator

Darkglass b7k is an amazing piece of gear! Just got it today and by far my go to from now on for my tone. I play a pbass which I love the tone and was looking for something to give it extra awesomeness. Goes from little grind to hairy in your face distortion, plus 4 band eq! I love it! Highly recommend!

Thanks mate, stoked to hear you're liking it!

Regards and happy holidays!
Doug.

Fafner · #**665** 12-30-2012, 04:23 PM

What is exactly the difference between the presets 'driven amp' and 'light overdrive' in technical terms?

dharmashawn · #**666** 12-30-2012, 05:49 PM

Just ordered my 2nd B3K (I was on the fence about the 7 and probably should have), but the Vintage is pre-ordered and the $$$ is at a low.....

I missed you B3 and will hold on to you tightly this time. I promise. Really looking fwd to this VINTAGE incarnation!!!!!

fivestringgecko · #**667** 12-30-2012, 06:11 PM

I sure understand the $$ thing. I sold some pedals recently though, so I did get in on the B7K (USA). I had to send my B3K (Finnish) out before the 7 got here, but I did crack out a few clips of the 3 at various settings before doing so.

My initial thoughts are that the gain available on the Drive knob and the dirt sound itself seem pretty identical on the two pedals. Even down to when you have it all the way turned down on the B7K, there's still just a tiny hint of grit when you start digging in. The EQ controls are a great addition to the B3K sound and that Lo Mids knob is pure sex! I've always had preamp pedals with a 2- or 3- band EQ that are great, but was quite pleasantly surprised at how much of a difference having a 4-band made. The DI sounds great at the board, the EQ section is clean, the Attack and Grunt switch are still there... for everything packed into it, the 7 still manages to be a pretty pedalboard friendly size. My Tone Hammer (which I still won't be getting rid of, it'll be going to board #2 I think) feels like quite a chunk by comparison.

Getting some clips recorded to compare will tell the true tale, but so far I'm pretty convinced that the 7 really is a B3K on steroids. I was nervous about giving up a Finnish version B3K for a USA 7, but Doug and Spencer totally nailed it. I know this is the B3K thread, but... If you love the B3K sound (like I do) and do a lot of DI'ing, the 7 is totally killer.

5sg.

ysand · #**668** 12-31-2012, 11:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fivestringgecko

Even down to when you have it all the way turned down on the B7K, there's still just a tiny hint of grit when you start digging in.

I think that this has to do with the output of the bass.
It happens with my Spector Rebop with active hot output, doesn't happen with my Squier VM P which is passive.

fivestringgecko · #**669** 12-31-2012, 12:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ysand

I think that this has to do with the output of the bass.
It happens with my Spector Rebop with active hot output, doesn't happen with my Squier VM P which is passive.

Interesting. I've used the B3K/B7K with several of my basses, one of which I *thought* was pretty low output but maybe not... Maybe it's just that my other basses are ridiculously high output? Hehehe

I actually like having that tiny bit of edge there... That's actually exactly the overdrive sound I like the most... Just barely there. Kinda like see through undies on a lady... It's there, but it's not! LOL

(Did I really just compare my B7K to lingerie?) LOLOL

5sg.

Darkglass · #**670** 01-02-2013, 02:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fivestringgecko

Interesting. I've used the B3K/B7K with several of my basses, one of which I *thought* was pretty low output but maybe not... Maybe it's just that my other basses are ridiculously high output? Hehehe

I actually like having that tiny bit of edge there... That's actually exactly the overdrive sound I like the most... Just barely there. Kinda like see through undies on a lady... It's there, but it's not! LOL

(Did I really just compare my B7K to lingerie?) LOLOL

5sg.

Hehe, I think a cool thing about the Microtubes is the dynamic range control you can get regardless of how high the bass' output or the pedal's Drive setting.
(Geek Alert)
It also is very related to the output and frequency response of different basses: A hot output bass will inherently distort more, but given that the Microtubes retains fairly cleanly the low end, if the output is Fat (punchy, modern) it may still sound fairly clean at low drive settings... whereas another bass, despite not being as hot, but with a more predominant, mid range oriented output (Pbass) may get the same amount of low drive grit without it necessarily being as loud.

nikki271027 · #**671** 01-08-2013, 11:25 AM

Could B3K use with BOSS PSA-120TW DC 9V?

Darkglass · #**672** 01-08-2013, 04:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nikki271027

Could B3K use with BOSS PSA-120TW DC 9V?

Some boss power supplies have been reported to be noisy. You'd have to try though

.
If it is the One Spot is your friend!

fivestringgecko · #**673** 01-08-2013, 06:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Darkglass

Some boss power supplies have been reported to be noisy. You'd have to try though

.
If it is the One Spot is your friend!

+1 for the 1-Spot... powered my B3K with one and now my B7K. Works great. Never had a problem with ANY pedal on the 1-Spot.

5sg.

XXL · #**674** 01-08-2013, 06:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fivestringgecko

Never had a problem with ANY pedal on the 1-Spot.

Me either. 1-Spot hasn't let me down once since I bought one in 07.

nikki271027 · #**675** 01-09-2013, 02:32 AM

How the blend on B7K works?
Mix (clean signal) and (through eq + overdriven)
or
mix (clean signal through eq) and (overdriven)?
If I trun the blend all down,which sound would I get? clean signal or clean signal through the 4-band eq?

Darkglass · #**676** 01-09-2013, 02:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nikki271027

How the blend on B7K works?
Mix (clean signal) and (through eq + overdriven)
or
mix (clean signal through eq) and (overdriven)?

The EQ is after the Blend control, so it'd be like the latter option, mix between clean and overdriven going to the EQ (and then DI and 1/4" Outputs).

Regards!

Doug.

willsellout · #**677** 01-09-2013, 08:52 AM

I've got a PP2 + coming in to power my pedalboard. Any issues I might run into with it and the B7K?

yaksonator · #**678** 01-09-2013, 09:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by willsellout

I've got a PP2 + coming in to power my pedalboard. Any issues I might run into with it and the B7K?

I run my b7k with my pp2 and I have no issues. I haven't tried giving it its own power supply like the one spot though. But for me it works great

Mark06 · #**679** 01-14-2013, 05:58 AM

I received my B3K "made in USA" last friday.
(Ordered from Prymaxe - USA 8 days before with 15% off offer so 236 US$ to France with shipping / no customs tax fee but no more stock available on Prymax)

After reading a lot of time this topic and other relatives to B3K I think I did the right choice :

First of all pedal quality is excellent : very nice finish, compact, light weight & strong box, true bypass relay (USA version revision) so really quiet and efficient footswitch, nothing comparable on this point with noisy or hard fs like the Bass Big Muff or EBS Wah ones...

After a first try at home to understand settings I then brought it to my drummer's space yesterday and heard immediately the contribution of the pedal to make my bassline clear in the mix : Drive is very versatile and tighter (thanks to Blend and Level) than I could hope / As claimed, bass tone is well kept and can be increased (thanks to Grunt Fat or Raw modes) / Attack is greatly improved --> I could get the impress to play a new set of strings when engaged even with my 6 months set mounted on my Wal 0_o

Negative : None until now

When I'll get used to the settings I will definitely record samples and write positive reviews on french websites, forums,etc...
This Darkglass product is great, congrats to Douglas and Spencer.
How do you say "splendid" in finnish ?

I took the "risk" to order the B3K since it should better fit my sound and style (rock/metal) than the Vintage but I'm really interested in a comparative between the 2 !

Cheers,

Marc - France

PS : Please excuse my French

Darkglass · #**680** 01-14-2013, 07:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mark06

I received my B3K "made in USA" last friday.
(Ordered from Prymaxe - USA 8 days before with 15% off offer so 236 US$ to France with shipping / no customs tax fee but no more stock available on Prymax)

After reading a lot of time this topic and other relatives to B3K I think I did the right choice :

First of all pedal quality is excellent : very nice finish, compact, light weight & strong box, true bypass relay (USA version revision) so really quiet and efficient footswitch, nothing comparable on this point with noisy or hard fs like the Bass Big Muff or EBS Wah ones...

After a first try at home to understand settings I then brought it to my drummer's space yesterday and heard immediately the contribution of the pedal to make my bassline clear in the mix : Drive is very versatile and tighter (thanks to Blend and Level) than I could hope / As claimed, bass tone is well kept and can be increased (thanks to Grunt Fat or Raw modes) / Attack is greatly improved --> I could get the impress to play a new set of strings when engaged even with my 6 months set mounted on my Wal 0_o

Negative : None until now

When I'll get used to the settings I will definitely record samples and write positive reviews on french websites, forums,etc...
This Darkglass product is great, congrats to Douglas and Spencer.
How do you say "splendid" in finnish ?

I took the "risk" to order the B3K since it should better fit my sound and style (rock/metal) than the Vintage but I'm really interested in a comparative between the 2 !

Cheers,

Marc - France

PS : Please excuse my French

Hi Mark!

Thanks for the detailed review and nice commentaries!
I am glad you liked the pedal - demos welcome for our collection of the latest/coolest videos on our website!

Splendid in Finnish would be "Mahtava" (It can also be used as great, powerful or mighty

).

Kind Regards,
Doug.