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Darkglass Harmonic Booster. Opinions>?
- Thread starter Driven Crane
- Start date
This would be the perfect pedal to Darkglass my VT Bass pedal.
From most videos it sounds like it does the same thing as the Boss Bass Driver BB1X. I live with the BB1X on all the time for the harmonic boost. I never use the drive.
The Darkglass Harmonic Booster is a clean EQ/boost pedal, no distortion. I understand the confusion: some of the demos (such as the first one I saw by Darkglass) feature dirty and clean tones. The dirt does not come from the HB -- the point was to illustrate how the HB can shape a dirty tone. But that point was not explained well, if at all.
You don’t have to use the distortion the BB1X provides (I don’t) “and in that sense the BB-1X is much more like an outboard preamp voiced for harmonic coloration. the BB-1X is usable not just for its obvious distortion effects, but for adding thickness and color to an otherwise dry bass sound, like a specialty direct box.” -Bass Player Magazine.
I bought one. Absolutely excellent. It doesn't seem to change anything in a major way, just boosts everything across the range. Mids are more distinct and punchy. The main difference is separation of the sonics (is that right?) so a chord sounds like 3 notes played in harmony, not one noise...I run it after an EBS Pro Compressor and nothing else. Certainly more output which is interesting given that the EB Ray35 already puts out plenty.
Just received one today. I was expecting it would find its way into my dirty chain. I tried it all over the chain, last, second to last before another preamp, and as a booster first in chain. I liked it as a booster, for a second I thought it kicked my existing one off the board, but I eventually went back to what I had.
I could see it working last in chain for different dirt setups but my dirty tone already has loads of high mids and adding the DG character knob to it didn't do anything good.
I'm absolutely keeping it for now though because it's a wicked good clean tone shaper that makes sitting in a mix while still popping out a total breeze. With a 6 string, dual soapbars, finger style, it never actually made me think "Darkglass." Instead, it made me feel like I was a gospel player on a Ken Smith or MTD.
I saw a thread a while back asking which onboard preamp you'd like to have as a pedal and vice versa. Well, I'd like to make this pedal into an onboard preamp.
My only sort of gripe is the bass control. I've owned a b3k and B7K and currently own a Vintage Ultra, and with all three I've felt like the bass control could be tighter. There's something about either the center frequency or it's spread that's too boomy for me. This is the case for me with the HB2.0 as well, though that just means I find a setting and stick with it.
I could see it working last in chain for different dirt setups but my dirty tone already has loads of high mids and adding the DG character knob to it didn't do anything good.
I'm absolutely keeping it for now though because it's a wicked good clean tone shaper that makes sitting in a mix while still popping out a total breeze. With a 6 string, dual soapbars, finger style, it never actually made me think "Darkglass." Instead, it made me feel like I was a gospel player on a Ken Smith or MTD.
I saw a thread a while back asking which onboard preamp you'd like to have as a pedal and vice versa. Well, I'd like to make this pedal into an onboard preamp.
My only sort of gripe is the bass control. I've owned a b3k and B7K and currently own a Vintage Ultra, and with all three I've felt like the bass control could be tighter. There's something about either the center frequency or it's spread that's too boomy for me. This is the case for me with the HB2.0 as well, though that just means I find a setting and stick with it.
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Just got one this week and thought I would comment.
Im not a DarkGlass fanboy as I have no need for bass distortion or overdrive. However I do like this pedal for my applications, which is a bit ironic , as I like it because I think it does LESS than most other "tone/eq" pedals.
Boost knob: seems fairly transparent but adds low end in my opinion. It also does add a very slight hiss, when it goes past 12 o'clock. I can deal with that by keeping it at 10 and adjust the bass/amp. Its also the freq that will likly not get noticed in a mix.
Bass and Treble: just a little seems to be enough, though it can get extreme. Def useful for adjusting a passive bass.
It does sound like it is doing the kind of things you want an onboard preamp to do.
Mid Eq and Level: sim to bass/treble knobs, subtle until you dime it. I was using this on a P bass trying to add more mid frequency, and it sort of works, however I believe when you are planning to add mid, you are somewhat fighting the Character control, which is sort of the secret weapon. In general, better implemented semi parametric than most.
Charachter seems to me to do a very slight mid scoop /compression, not unlike the Tech21 Driver type, though no where near as excessive. The manual sure doesnt say what this knob does. Can be set to a near zero blend, when maxed it gives a bit too much of the "enhance" mid squashing, so this knob sort of works against boosting mids with the semi parametric. I found it best to set this effect before tweeking any mids.
The overall pedal in "neutral" setting is not transparent, which is fine, since there is a bypass, for me, without the need to drive a dirt pedal it is best used as an outboard preamp for passive basses. In that use it produces a lot of sounds that are not only useable but also generally pleasing due to the slight scoop of the charachter knob, which is why one can say its hard to get a bad sound, and can definately be an "always on" pedal. Tried a bass with new bright/brottle roundwounds and this pedal easily takes the edge off of them, as an example of what it can do.
I dont think they make any claims to it but dare i say it gives a much better "tube like" tone than a LOT of the pedals claiming to be tubey. Pretty expensive for what it is, but I guess sometimes less is more.
Im not a DarkGlass fanboy as I have no need for bass distortion or overdrive. However I do like this pedal for my applications, which is a bit ironic , as I like it because I think it does LESS than most other "tone/eq" pedals.
Boost knob: seems fairly transparent but adds low end in my opinion. It also does add a very slight hiss, when it goes past 12 o'clock. I can deal with that by keeping it at 10 and adjust the bass/amp. Its also the freq that will likly not get noticed in a mix.
Bass and Treble: just a little seems to be enough, though it can get extreme. Def useful for adjusting a passive bass.
It does sound like it is doing the kind of things you want an onboard preamp to do.
Mid Eq and Level: sim to bass/treble knobs, subtle until you dime it. I was using this on a P bass trying to add more mid frequency, and it sort of works, however I believe when you are planning to add mid, you are somewhat fighting the Character control, which is sort of the secret weapon. In general, better implemented semi parametric than most.
Charachter seems to me to do a very slight mid scoop /compression, not unlike the Tech21 Driver type, though no where near as excessive. The manual sure doesnt say what this knob does. Can be set to a near zero blend, when maxed it gives a bit too much of the "enhance" mid squashing, so this knob sort of works against boosting mids with the semi parametric. I found it best to set this effect before tweeking any mids.
The overall pedal in "neutral" setting is not transparent, which is fine, since there is a bypass, for me, without the need to drive a dirt pedal it is best used as an outboard preamp for passive basses. In that use it produces a lot of sounds that are not only useable but also generally pleasing due to the slight scoop of the charachter knob, which is why one can say its hard to get a bad sound, and can definately be an "always on" pedal. Tried a bass with new bright/brottle roundwounds and this pedal easily takes the edge off of them, as an example of what it can do.
I dont think they make any claims to it but dare i say it gives a much better "tube like" tone than a LOT of the pedals claiming to be tubey. Pretty expensive for what it is, but I guess sometimes less is more.
Back when I was running Ampeg gear, I'd sometimes kick in the Ultra Lo switch (mid scoop) and then voice the mids with the switchable midrange knob. That way, I could get my bass to fit in the mix around guitar, keys, whatever. The 5-position mid on the SVP-Pro rack preamp was a lot more effective than the 3-position one on the original SVT. Of course the HB2 ups the game even more with its sweepable mid, and Character is essentially a variable mid cut (as you said): starts at flat, and goes fairly deep. But I agree with you: even when maxed, Character isn't as severe as the Tech 21 BDDI scoop... or the classic Ampeg Ultra Lo, for that matter.
I bought a Harmonic Booster a month or so back. I cant give further comparisons, or add anything else on a technical description, but I've been really enjoying the additional range of tones the HB can offer my set up. Particularly the mids. I use it clean, as it is, without any added drive, as I don't really use distortion. So I dont know if Im only getting 'half the picture'?
I wanted some additional EQ to help give my sound more presence in the mix, as I use flatwounds. I was persuaded by demos describing the HB as having some unique 'flavour'. It certainly does. There's not one way of describing the character, or what the character knob does exactly. Yes it scoops but also adds some 'width' and 'darkglass essence', if that's a thing?
I love how different EQ & character settings can really bring out the sounds of each pickup, on my fender J. When dialled (mostly) to one pickup, the HB really accentuates and broadens the character of that pickup sound - comes alive. I used to only use the bridge pickup solo occasionally, for a bit of 'honk', but now, because there's so much more 'umph', the neck pickup is awesome on its own. Not a P Bass, but wow, meaty with indescribable presence.
Boosting the low mids, touch of bass and 3 o clock on the character knob and I've got some deep, warm dub. A wide range of high mid possible sounds to explore, as well.
Its possibly expensive, as its not a 'proper' pre-amp as such but I dont feel money wasted. Certainly lifts my flatwounds into a whole new world. Not tested it live yet but looking fwd to when that might happen....
I wanted some additional EQ to help give my sound more presence in the mix, as I use flatwounds. I was persuaded by demos describing the HB as having some unique 'flavour'. It certainly does. There's not one way of describing the character, or what the character knob does exactly. Yes it scoops but also adds some 'width' and 'darkglass essence', if that's a thing?
I love how different EQ & character settings can really bring out the sounds of each pickup, on my fender J. When dialled (mostly) to one pickup, the HB really accentuates and broadens the character of that pickup sound - comes alive. I used to only use the bridge pickup solo occasionally, for a bit of 'honk', but now, because there's so much more 'umph', the neck pickup is awesome on its own. Not a P Bass, but wow, meaty with indescribable presence.
Boosting the low mids, touch of bass and 3 o clock on the character knob and I've got some deep, warm dub. A wide range of high mid possible sounds to explore, as well.
Its possibly expensive, as its not a 'proper' pre-amp as such but I dont feel money wasted. Certainly lifts my flatwounds into a whole new world. Not tested it live yet but looking fwd to when that might happen....
Slight Zombie Revival-
I don't use pedals with the exception of a HPF (with SWR) or maybe some compression.
My buddy comes over to A/B a Streamliner against my SVT IIP pre/power rig as well as an SVT-CL through a GB 2x12. And then he brings out this Darkglass pedal that I'm certain is not for me.
It's not a compressor but I hear some compression at some settings
It's not a straight up EQ as it seems somewhat interactive
It does seem to be a "more better" pedal. It cleans things up and as mentioned by @MarkEO. A chord sounds like 3 distinct strings.
This is the first pedal I've ever used in front of an SVT that made things sound better! Of course this was based on a 30 minute test.
Anybody on this thread buy one and decided they didn't like it?
I don't use pedals with the exception of a HPF (with SWR) or maybe some compression.
My buddy comes over to A/B a Streamliner against my SVT IIP pre/power rig as well as an SVT-CL through a GB 2x12. And then he brings out this Darkglass pedal that I'm certain is not for me.
It's not a compressor but I hear some compression at some settings
It's not a straight up EQ as it seems somewhat interactive
It does seem to be a "more better" pedal. It cleans things up and as mentioned by @MarkEO. A chord sounds like 3 distinct strings.
This is the first pedal I've ever used in front of an SVT that made things sound better! Of course this was based on a 30 minute test.
Anybody on this thread buy one and decided they didn't like it?
