Darkglass B7K or B3K + other preamp

[Darkglass]

Originally Posted by NoxNoctus

Amazing little thing you've made here, Douglas. I've wanted this tone for years! I've tried it out both ways, sounds best to me up front. Now, a Vintage Microtubes DI in place of a SansAmp VT DI at the end of my chain may be in order when the time comes

Great to hear you liked it!
Vintage-DI? Stop giving me ideas... the other guys at Darkglass can barely keep up with my own crazy machinations .

Regards,
Doug.

[belaxa]

Originally Posted by Darkglass

Great to hear you liked it!
Vintage-DI? Stop giving me ideas... the other guys at Darkglass can barely keep up with my own crazy machinations .

Regards,
Doug.

Vintage Microtubes seems to be an "always on" pedal. DI+EQ into it would be fine, but demandatory to put the monster at the end of a chain. BTW, the Vintage Microtubes acts like a head´n cab combination, so putting it before going to PA or amp it will be a natural place.

[yaksonator]

I've starting recording direct with the b7k and was wondering what some of you are doing for clean tones. I really like what the blend knob does to my tone without much drive.

[fivestringgecko]

Originally Posted by jwr

The B7K is better IMO because you can use it as an eq, DI and it has the same distortion/od as the B3K. If I had to chose between the two (and I did), I'd go with the B7K. The extra tone shaping options make this pedal come to life. SOOOOOOOOO amazing.

Originally Posted by willsellout

Mine is never off. All I do is reach down and turn the drive knob up or down depending on what I need.

These. I was nervous about parting with my (Finnish) B3K, but wanted the 7 pretty bad and needed the $ to help fund the purchase. I haven't regretted the switch for a single split second. The B3K is awesome, but the 7 takes it to a whole other level. Like Sellout, mine is never off. I usually run it completely clean (EQ section is POST Blend knob), but have the Drive set so I can just adjust the Blend knob as needed. The Lo Mid knob is killer.

Originally Posted by NoxNoctus

quick question: For those using a B7K for the DI, are you running it at the beginning of your chain still and just running your overdriven tone to FOH? Do you use any other effects?

Just wondering why have a DI at the front of your chain if you use other effects.

Like others have said, I also run it at the end of my chain so that all effects go to FOH. The pic below isn't the best shot I've ever taken, but you'll see my setup. The PT Mini is my main board, B7K at the end.

Originally Posted by yaksonator

I've starting recording direct with the b7k and was wondering what some of you are doing for clean tones. I really like what the blend knob does to my tone without much drive.

You can't see it the best in that pic, but here are my standard starting settings for my clean tone:
Blend - 7:00 (completely counter-clockwise)
Level - 10:00
Drive - 1:30
Grunt - Fat
Attack - Off
Low - 1:00
Treble - 12:30
Lo Mids - 2:00
Hi Mids - 11:30

Sounds killer through a board and in my live rig. Dial Blend to taste for adding overdrive as needed. Like I said above, that Lo Mids knob is where Doug added an extra helping hot sauce.

I've tried a few other preamps now (7 I believe) and I've kept and still use a couple others, but the B7K is definitely king of the hill.

EDIT: forgot to mention, got a USA B7K.

5sg.

[Adam Wright]

B3K with a pre-amp. I run mine with a 3Leaf Enabler. I had a B7K(finnish) and it was fine for live stuff but for recording, I had 2 engineers(both who are very good) who wouldn't take the DI signal because of lack of low end even when cranked and a noisy DI.

[Spencer!]

FYI we redesigned the D.I. for the USA version.

[mjac28]

I have to say the U.S version is really, really good I can actually use the tone controls of the B7K without it sounding like a bag of bees.

[Darkglass]

Originally Posted by Adam Wright

B3K with a pre-amp. I run mine with a 3Leaf Enabler. I had a B7K(finnish) and it was fine for live stuff but for recording, I had 2 engineers(both who are very good) who wouldn't take the DI signal because of lack of low end even when cranked and a noisy DI.

Originally Posted by Spencer!

FYI we redesigned the D.I. for the USA version.

Exactly! The DI signal now is the opposite: extremely loud, full and fat.

Originally Posted by mjac28

I have to say the U.S version is really, really good I can actually use the tone controls of the B7K without it sounding like a bag of bees.

Thanks!

[MSUsousaphone]

I'll throw in another voice for B3K at the end of my board. Sounds great there. Swell B-Max as my vanguard and B3K as the last stop before the phrase sampler. Killer combo.

[mjac28]

I agree these gentleman have a pedal that no other pedal sounds like the Darkglass stuff has its own voice and I love the addition of my Swell B-Pro to give it some additional flavor hats off to Mike O as well good stuff .

[Anarchyok]

My pick of all the preamps out there are the B7K if you like the ability to get dirty, or the 3 Leaf Enabler if you want a swiss army knife do it all clean box. Cause they're both rad, I use my B7K as a overdrive box, and the Enabler as a Preamp/Headphone amp/DI at end of chain.

[Darkglass]

Originally Posted by Anarchyok

My pick of all the preamps out there are the B7K if you like the ability to get dirty, or the 3 Leaf Enabler if you want a swiss army knife do it all clean box. Cause they're both rad, I use my B7K as a overdrive box, and the Enabler as a Preamp/Headphone amp/DI at end of chain.

Ha! I do the same with my pedalboard!

[Vlad5]

My signal is going:
in > Schism > B3K (12v) > Dispatch Master > BMC > Submarine Designer > out

I haven't tried the B3K very last yet, but I've found it best after the Schism overdriving all the other effect signals. I was using it in a dirt channel, but it's too good with everything not to put it last. I did try it first too, but it got lost in the fuzzes too much.

(B3K > Submarine) works very well. The Submarine after the B3K adds a few more flavors to what the drive can do. I've tried (BMC > B3K > Submarine,) but the BMC didn't change the character of the drive too much. I should try (Submarine > B3K) again, just for giggles.

I have been thinking about (B7K > Enabler) lately too though...

Right now my most basic pedalboard setup would be (B3K > BMC > Submarine). I could probably replace all three with a B7K and get by just fine... well, not the Submarine, no, not that... hmm.. now you have me thinking about trading up the B3K and BMC for a B7K.

dammit.... Honestly, regarding OP's original post, you could do well either way...

[BassMonstrum]

I bought the B3K and B7K, but only use the latter. I use the Sansamp BDDI as the "always on" preamp and the B7K as my on/off distortion.

[belaxa]

Today it´s the day. The First Darkglass B3K is coming to Argentina. Tonight I´ll plug the beast in a rehearsal.

[Vlad5]

So I sold the B3K and got a B7K... can't wait for it to get here!

[fivestringgecko]

Originally Posted by Vlad5

So I sold the B3K and got a B7K... can't wait for it to get here!

WIN.

5sg.

[Vlad5]

Originally Posted by fivestringgecko

WIN.

5sg.

Yeah I too was reluctant to part with my Finnish model, so much 'its from Finland!' cool factor, and built by the man himself.

But yeah, Spencer added some really great features and he's very good at what he does. (I so want a new Proton too...)

[DownFromTheSky]

I put my bk3 before my sansamp bass di and turn the presence on the di way up to get a high mid boost and it sounds baddass for some clear high gain stuff

[Josh Pelican]

I already brought up the Vintage DI in another thread. They thought I was crazy!