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Darkglass Microtubes 900 Class D Amp

#461
Any chance the attack and grunt switches make it onto the production model? I run my B3k as an always on preamp (blended mostly to my G&L2000 tone) and the 'fat' setting is integral to my sound. I'm very interested in purchasing this amp, but I can't imagine the one 'tone' knob will replicate both switches exactly. Would it be too complicated/expensive to include the switches on the final version? Thanks for the responses- it's always cool to be able to speak directly with the designer of a new product.
 
#462
nocalkind said:
Any chance the attack and grunt switches make it onto the production model? I run my B3k as an always on preamp (blended mostly to my G&L2000 tone) and the 'fat' setting is integral to my sound. I'm very interested in purchasing this amp, but I can't imagine the one 'tone' knob will replicate both switches exactly. Would it be too complicated/expensive to include the switches on the final version? Thanks for the responses- it's always cool to be able to speak directly with the designer of a new product.
Click to expand...

Well, your gonna love this then!!;) According to Doug the "Attack" will controlled by the "Tone" knob (so it'll be variable) and the amp will be hard-wired to the "Fat" setting from the "Grunt" switch!! I too love (and miss:()the Grunts "fat" setting, so this sounds like a winner to me!!:)
 
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#463
hintz said:
Well, your gonna love this then!!;) According to Doug the "Attack" will controlled by the "Tone" knob (so it'll be variable) and the amp will be hard-wired to the "Fat" setting from the "Grunt" switch!! I too love (and miss:()the Grunts "fat" setting, so this sounds like a winner to me!!:)
Click to expand...

Will the tone knob also function as an era knob for the VMT side? Or will it reflect the newer VMTD and remain as an attack knob?
 
#468
Nic. said:
Looking forward to seeing the final set of features... and the pricing. It's coming out this week, right?
Click to expand...

Pricing we are narrowing it down. So far we know it's going to go for around $999 (or less).

We are working on some really cool addititions though, the final version should feature a lot more than what we showed at NAMM!

Thanks again for the interest.
Regards,
 
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#469
Darkglass said:
Pricing we are narrowing it down. So far we know it's going to go for around $999 (or less).

We are working on some really cool addititions though, the final version should feature a lot more than what we showed at NAMM!

Thanks again for the interest.
Regards,
Click to expand...
Thanks! That's pretty useful, it does give an upper limit on the price... well, before shipping at least. Looking forward to hearing about the new features.
 
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#470
From darkglass facebook page
"Darkglass Electronics Yeah, makes sense if you need more than 1000W at 4 ohms.
The maximum power output on the Microtubes 700 is 1000W at 2.7Ohms. A more powerful version will definitely be in the works once the 700 gets rolling."

This really has me excited. I'd like to run a 4ohm 4X10 and 8ohm 2x10 to have multiple options for all size stages.
 
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#473
pablomigraine said:
Could someone Re-State what we know about this amp's specs / controls all in one spot please?

Thanks!
Click to expand...

Sure......class D, 700 watts at 4 ohms, "1,000 watts at 2.7 ohms"(news to me), same tone controls with eq centers as B7K *except* switchable midrange(hi mid: 1.5 khz, 3khz or 750hz, lo mid: 250 hz, 500 hz or 1khz)...
image1.JPG

and "Gain" knob to add grit to clean channel!

For "dirty" channel you have switchable vmt/b3k tone, with tone knob in place of attack switch, the grunt is hardwired into dirt as "grunt" at boost with blend and volume knobs!!

I was told it'll also feature a input pad and level for DI as well. Hope I'm not missing anything!?

EDIT: FX loop can run effects post drive(at least that was what I took away from it, I've never used an FX loop ever) and/or be used to run through different preamp or power amp! Oh yeah, and it'll be no more than $1k:)!!!
 
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#475
Want....loads and loads of want.
Estimated date for shipping?
Ramping up to go back out on the road in March through the summer.
Would be nice to check one out sometime/someplace.
 
#476
MikeBass said:
Want....loads and loads of want.
Estimated date for shipping?
Ramping up to go back out on the road in March through the summer.
Would be nice to check one out sometime/someplace.
Click to expand...

Thanks man. Doing our best to start shipping May/June.
 
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#478
Darkglass said:
I'm not saying there is because it wasn't the purpose (to emulate any particular tube design) when I developed it but the sound does have some of the characteristics I like about some tube amps.

Looking in retrospective the Microtubes circuitry does emulate slightly the topology of a tube amp but like I said, I didn't have any particular design in mind, at least that I'm aware of.

Hopefully some of our pedal users can chime in with their own experiences and opinions.
Click to expand...

Ha, I just looked on the "other side"(read: left effects forum) and I'd like to chime in. I feel the B3K can cop some of the great crunchy bass tones of some well known solid state heads and "colder" tube heads (like my Mesa Bass 400). I say "colder" as a compliment. The tone is crunchier and grittier than say, Ampeg.

Then there's the VMT, which I also have. It does the low end blossom of softer breaking tube amps (like the SVT) pretty well.

Combing the two is my favorite. It seemingly makes for one cohesive tone where the B3K's sharp attack is somehow glued to the fat low mids of the VMT. I have struggled with this for a long time. If I got the attack right, my bass would sound thin, get the fatness where it sounds like a proper bass with natural compression, I'd lose the attack and my tone would sound generic.

In fact, I now take back some of my statement about B3K vs VMT. Combining them has produced very convincing sounds of a few of my favorite bass tones. (Billy in Faith No More with his Peaveys, and Mew's 'The Glass Handed Kites' SVT+Marshall Ric biamped tones)

Hope that helps:)
 
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#479
Coming in below $1K is full win. I think these will be very popular amps. I suspect that Tecamp may be on the wane with Eich leaving. His new amp is $1300 iirc so it remains a great time to a bassist as you've got a spectrum of great new stuff:

Mesa D-800 - $699
Genzler Magellen - $749
Darkglass - $999 (or less)
Eich - $1299
Glockenklang BR - $1599
 
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#480
FaithNoMan said:
Ha, I just looked on the "other side"(read: left effects forum) and I'd like to chime in. I feel the B3K can cop some of the great crunchy bass tones of some well known solid state heads and "colder" tube heads (like my Mesa Bass 400). I say "colder" as a compliment. The tone is crunchier and grittier than say, Ampeg.

Then there's the VMT, which I also have. It does the low end blossom of softer breaking tube amps (like the SVT) pretty well.

Combing the two is my favorite. It seemingly makes for one cohesive tone where the B3K's sharp attack is somehow glued to the fat low mids of the VMT. I have struggled with this for a long time. If I got the attack right, my bass would sound thin, get the fatness where it sounds like a proper bass with natural compression, I'd lose the attack and my tone would sound generic.
Click to expand...

This is exactly the path I am heading down right now. Do you have or know of any sound clips combining the VMT with the B3K? I have searched but haven't really found anything.
 

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