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DarkGlass Microtubes X Ultra Noise

Smooth Operator

Smooth Operator

Mar 13, 2017
257
589
South Jersey
#1
I just purchased a used X Ultra from a seller on Reverb. It looks like its mint but there is so much noise from the drive section. Its quiet when the Clean EQ is engaged, but sounds like a jet engine when the Distortion pedal is engaged With the Drive knob on 0. Also with drive on 0 it has more drive than my B7KU at 50%. Has anyone heard about this issue? Also is the MTXultra supposed to have so much drive with the High drive turned down? If the pedal is damaged I would hope either Reverb would refund me or DG would repair it.
 
#3
opivy3056 said:
Before you do anything, try updating the firmware first in the darkglass suite. Helped me with an issue I was having with my X ultra.
Click to expand...
Thanks. I already checked, it has the updated firmware. I didn't realize how much drive is in this pedal when set to its lowest setting. It seems more subtle in Video demos and reviews, unless there is an issue affecting the drive setting along with the noise. Anything past 3(9 o'clock) is unusable. If I lower the High Level, then I lose too much high end for my liking. Anyway the Seller agreed on a refund after an argument, even though I within his refund window he gave me a hard time.
 
#4
Smooth Operator said:
Thanks. I already checked, it has the updated firmware. I didn't realize how much drive is in this pedal when set to its lowest setting. It seems more subtle in Video demos and reviews, unless there is an issue affecting the drive setting along with the noise. Anything past 3(9 o'clock) is unusable. If I lower the High Level, then I lose too much high end for my liking. Anyway the Seller agreed on a refund after an argument, even though I within his refund window he gave me a hard time.
Click to expand...

I generally use mine with the drive set VERY low...like sub 9:00 and I find it great for a biamped Squire/Geddy type tone playing my jazz bass with an audere preamp. When I use my passive T-40 I have to bring the gain up a decent bit to get the same amount of grit. Def sounds like you've got some sort of issue going on there.
 
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#6
I am having that exact problem with mine right now.

I’ve determined through troubleshooting that it is in fact the drive engine that the noise is coming from. It is not coming from my headphones, amp, power cord etc.

Weird thing is, I’ve used this pedal several times in the last 4 months. Only just now has that become a problem.

Sorry this isn’t super helpful to you. Just offering my empathy
 
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#8
tpain91 said:
I am having that exact problem with mine right now.

I’ve determined through troubleshooting that it is in fact the drive engine that the noise is coming from. It is not coming from my headphones, amp, power cord etc.

Weird thing is, I’ve used this pedal several times in the last 4 months. Only just now has that become a problem.

Sorry this isn’t super helpful to you. Just offering my empathy
Click to expand...

I am sending my pedal BK7 Ultra off to my tech to see what he can do for it, and if he can identify the issue. I cant believe these issues are not mentioned and talked about more on Youtube or any where else other than talk bass for the most part.

I would have reconsidered switching from my Tech 21 VT.
 

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