• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join freeLog in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

Darkglass Alpha Omega or Microtubes X7

Hi everybody!
I'm trying to decide between these two...
I like both, I prefer slightly the A/O because i think is more “organic”, but for what i need i think the x7 is more suitable.
I will use the pedal to play meshuggah, tool, primus, and death metal stuff.
 
AFAIK neither Meshuggah, Tool or Primus use these pedals.
Yeah, how dare he try to get tones that would fit those three bands in just one pedal, in stead of buying literally every single piece of gear they use!

Hi everybody!
I'm trying to decide between these two...
I like both, I prefer slightly the A/O because i think is more “organic”, but for what i need i think the x7 is more suitable.
I will use the pedal to play meshuggah, tool, primus, and death metal stuff.

Hey OP, I used to have an AOU and A/Om, but sold them both because they didn't work out well enough in my death metal band. Got the X7 in stead, and it is perfect! Solid clean low end with clanky, gnarly highs, perfect for any (death) metal mix
 
Yeah, how dare he try to get tones that would fit those three bands in just one pedal, in stead of buying literally every single piece of gear they use!
:thumbsup:

Hey OP, I used to have an AOU and A/Om, but sold them both because they didn't work out well enough in my death metal band. Got the X7 in stead, and it is perfect! Solid clean low end with clanky, gnarly highs, perfect for any (death) metal mix

Thank you, i will take x7, maybe in the future i will add an A/Om for dirtier sounds!
 
  • Like
Reactions: Hypocrite
Pretty different in terms of character. I really like the X7 for Tool tones; you can dial in a punchy bottom and a high mid, low gain sizzle/sparkle and do a decent JC imitation. The AO is better used as a full on distortion, in my opinion - a tool I reach for more rarely. The Omega side can get some Claypool style dirty/fuzzy tones, but for the bands you mentioned, I think you'd be happier with the X7.
 
X7 couldn't be further from organic, but when I play Meshuggah, there's quite literally nothing better in my arsenal. And I've tried a lot.

The trick is to dial in a LOW gain, park the high filter at a high freq, and boost those trebles in the EQ. Solid bass left untouched, the very top of those trebles matching distorted guitars.
 
  • Like
Reactions: ElBarto
Another good Meshuggah sound is high gain with a low "high volume." This works better with their harmonically sparse songs that can be played on an E string entirely, think Straws Pulled At Random.

But the above low gain / high volume setup generally works better for most extreme metal. The X7 really only starts to get offensive when you crank both volume and gain.
 
B7K is also worth of trying. I haven't tested X7 to see how they compare but heard that X7 may be more difficult to dial in a good sound. In youtube videos they have similarities.

B7K has 2 switches that select saturation range for highs and lows and pedal keeps lows clear no matter what you do.

One might think that more distortion means heavier sound in metal but it doesn't work that way always. Too much takes out the precision of notes and looses the punch. I use B7K for tech death in drop A tuning and it's fast to dial in a good sound, but this is no fuzz or super heavy distortion.
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: ElBarto