Darkglass Electronics Tone Capsule Preamp

[DerekW]

I just ordered one. I've got a '98 streamer std, which is very similar to the rock bass but from when they were still made in Germany. I've had it for about 15 or so years so I figure it's okay to start modding it.

I think there's going to be some drilling involved but I'm going to have the input re-routed to the bottom of the bass and maybe an additional hole drilled for another pot.

streamer std

• ImaStupidBaby
• Jun 17, 2017
• warwick bass

streamer std interior

• ImaStupidBaby
• Jun 17, 2017
• warwick bass

Is that like a metal frame around the edge of the cavity?

 

[ImaStupidBaby]

Is that like a metal frame around the edge of the cavity?

no it's a plastic lip around the top of the cavity. it's just stained wood inside the cavity.

 

[ImaStupidBaby]

It looks like my tone cap is on back order until the 1st week of august

 

[protosoul]

Just wondering when you roll off the high mids, are you still left with the very high frequencies? Or it cuts everything 2.8 and above?

 

[ImaStupidBaby]

It looks like my tone cap is on back order until the 1st week of august

Talked to GC today, they kept saying it would come off of back order. Then they charged my credit card, didn't ship it and took the charge away from my CC. I called to ask what was going on and they said it was still on backorder and they would no longer be carrying the preamp.

It was a little bit of a confusing conversation so I just said cancel the order.

I went to chicagobassclub and ordered on there. I should have just done that in the first place.

Edit: Nevermind, they just sent an email saying they don't have any and reversed the charge on my cc. Said "check back in a few weeks".

Is this preamp REALLY worth the hassle?

 

[DangaDanga]

Talked to GC today, they kept saying it would come off of back order. Then they charged my credit card, didn't ship it and took the charge away from my CC. I called to ask what was going on and they said it was still on backorder and they would no longer be carrying the preamp.

It was a little bit of a confusing conversation so I just said cancel the order.

I went to chicagobassclub and ordered on there. I should have just done that in the first place.

Edit: Nevermind, they just sent an email saying they don't have any and reversed the charge on my cc. Said "check back in a few weeks".

Is this preamp REALLY worth the hassle?

I got mine from reverb and didn't have a hassle.

Personally it was the best gear purchase I've ever made. With a little color from a mxr m80 my amp head now serves as just a power amp because I get a ideal clean tone mostly from my bass.

The tone controls are really unique if you like onboard eq's. I'm not sure what most people use but I have a 18 volt setup and it made my bass absurdly powerful if your into that. Definitely the best onboard preamp I've played.

 

[CaneyBoniface]

using Darkglass Tone Capsule preamp

 

[5StringPocket]

using Darkglass Tone Capsule preamp

Thanks for posting the sound demo. I'm trying to decide between Aguilar Super Doubles and Bartolini Classic Dual coils to pair with my Tone Capsule. I'm considering an individual vol/tone stack for each pickup and an active/passive switch for the preamp. I spoke with Max at Best Bass Gear and he recommended .047uF cap for the neck pickup tone and .022uF for the bridge pickup.

 

[5StringPocket]

I bought a pair of Bartolini MK5CBC pickups for my Ibanez Cerro SRSC805 to replace the stock MK1 pickups. These series wired soap bars sound fatter and more even which is the direction I was hoping for. The MK1 preamp is useable but I have had this Tone Capsule sitting in a drawer waiting for the right application. I think the volume/blend configuration would work well with these pickups. Two features I'd like to add are a series/parallel switch and a passive tone control for both active and passive modes. Passive tone with a standard .047uF cap rolls off at a higher frequency and sounds different than the 2.8k hi-mid cut. I want to see how these two work together. Putting these two pickups in series has more beef and no mid scoop which should be a nice added flavor. In series, the blend would just need to be rolled to the active lead. I have read the blend with M/N taper is preferred because there is no volume loss at center position. One thing I want to verify is whether to go with 250k or 500k for the stacked volume/tone pot. Here is the wiring diagram. The Cerro has 5 pots and 2 switches.

 

[yaanmengk]

Hey I know this is an old thread but right now for my next bass I'm deciding between the tone capsule or a delano 3 ms/e
Most demos of the tone capsule or maybe even all of them showcase heavier kinds of music.
Was just wondering whether anyone has tried it for genres like jazz or rnb? (think nathan east/marcus miller)
I know darkglass is used by bassists who play heavier stuff but i'm very interested to try out the tone capsule

 

[Northfear]

Hey I know this is an old thread but right now for my next bass I'm deciding between the tone capsule or a delano 3 ms/e
Most demos of the tone capsule or maybe even all of them showcase heavier kinds of music.
Was just wondering whether anyone has tried it for genres like jazz or rnb? (think nathan east/marcus miller)
I know darkglass is used by bassists who play heavier stuff but i'm very interested to try out the tone capsule

Tone capsule works nice for heavier kinds of music because of the 2.8k EQ point (which corresponds to the higher frequency string clank). People usually don't need it that much in other genres.
It could sound nice with slap, but IMO lower frequency clank (1k-2k range) sounds better with it.

 

[sonojono]

Never knew about this thread and seeing it’s last activity is almost looking like a zombie. So to revive this thread I came here seeking questions that have already been answered a couple pages ago.. I would like to add if anyone has ever paired the TC with Nordstrand pickups (preferably big blades) for an ESP LTD F-104 I’m looking to restoring. Mainly seeking for an aggressive metal tone to suit the ESP from its stock config and 2 band EQ.

I too am also curious on how the TC can apply in a R&B, Jazz/Funk config as well.

Hope this thread isn’t too old for this post to be left read/unread

 

[NKBassman]

Hey I know this is an old thread but right now for my next bass I'm deciding between the tone capsule or a delano 3 ms/e
Most demos of the tone capsule or maybe even all of them showcase heavier kinds of music.
Was just wondering whether anyone has tried it for genres like jazz or rnb? (think nathan east/marcus miller)
I know darkglass is used by bassists who play heavier stuff but i'm very interested to try out the tone capsule

I've also been curious about this from the start. Any info would be appreciated.

 

[sonojono]

I've also been curious about this from the start. Any info would be appreciated.

My only way of finding that out is if I replace the original pre on my Ibanez Srff800 with the Tone Capsule despite liking the sound already stock of the SRFF..

 

[NKBassman]

My only way of finding that out is if I replace the original pre on my Ibanez Srff800 with the Tone Capsule despite liking the sound already stock of the SRFF..

Well don't go out of your way on my account. I prefer to play passive basses 99% of the time anyway.

 

[MaglorOnBass]

Would this work in an Ibanez SR605 (basically the ash version of the SR505)?

 

[mikezimmerman]

Would this work in an Ibanez SR605 (basically the ash version of the SR505)?

I can't think of any reason it wouldn't. You'd have to figure out what to do with the hole for the switch, though, since the DG doesn't have a mid frequency selector. Maybe use it for the bypass switch shown in the diagram?

 

[MaglorOnBass]

I’d love to have the option of switching to passive. That’s what the switch would be for?

 

[mikezimmerman]

I’d love to have the option of switching to passive. That’s what the switch would be for?

The bypass switch routes the signal straight to the output jack and bypasses the preamp.

 

[ctmullins]

Just wondering when you roll off the high mids, are you still left with the very high frequencies? Or it cuts everything 2.8 and above?

Anybody?

This has been asked several times through the years, with no definitive answer.

I’ll contact DarkGlass if I need to, but before I do, does anybody here know for sure?