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Got a Microtubes B3K v2. Don't like it. What do I want instead?
- Thread starter EpicSoundtracks
- Start date
Posting a soundclip that includes the kind of bass tone you'd like to achieve would help if you want suggestions!
I haven't hopped on the Darkglass bandwagon yet (I'm clearly not in the target audience) but their dirt pedals sound interesting, it seems to be the new standard for metal bass. If I was regularly playing harder-hitting music I'd check them out (my main band is a funk outfit), along with the Tech21 dUg Pinnick pedal - really liked what I've heard of this one but can't justify getting one at this time.
One critic I have of this type of distortion (which may entirely be due to the DG demos I've heard) is that whatever bass you plug in to them, the output sounds exactly the same (to my ears, at least)...but on the flipside, it's a good sound for certain genres.
Funny you say this, as my main band now is also very much rooted in funk, rock, and a lot of the alternative stuff that came from the nineties.
I switched to a Darkglass X7 permanently precisely because of that. I really love the Darkglass Alpha Omicron and VMT pedals, especially in a mix with a couple guitars, but the X7? Oof.
Keeps my bottom and lower mids clean and chunky, and then I add some pop and sizzle to make it blend into a whole. Really helps glue the band together, for both our more intense and more mellow bits. And it actually sounds like my own clean bass in a mix.
And I think the perception of people using DG always ending up sounding the same comes from people literally aiming for that sound.
I've used DG for years now, been through all their pedals, and maybe once was able to sound like all those fancy vids.
Just saying that if you put the time in, most drives, including DGs and others, with blends, can do many sounds.
Have to admit, I picked up a B3k initially for pure filth which I found in many demos. Took me sometime to find a setting I liked, as with the blend/drive up high it would disappear in the mix. I could run it at a lower gain or blend at 12, but it wasn't really giving me what I need.
I have it paired with a BDI now in one loop, and a X7 running hot in another loop. The BDI helps to thicken up the drive of the B3k and gives a nice bite at low/medium gain.
I do however plan to replace both those with an X as I love the X's sound and controls. Or bankrupt myself with a X7U and put the X7 in place of the BDI/B3k
I have it paired with a BDI now in one loop, and a X7 running hot in another loop. The BDI helps to thicken up the drive of the B3k and gives a nice bite at low/medium gain.
I do however plan to replace both those with an X as I love the X's sound and controls. Or bankrupt myself with a X7U and put the X7 in place of the BDI/B3k
I would say the MXR Bass Distortion is a good option too reading this!
It has a clean level, effect level, tone, drive, and a switch for two different kinds of clipping.
And it's definitely not polite, haha.
OP seems to have a modded Rat, so the Cat Tail might be redundant. Though a clean blend with a Rat is an awesome thing (that's how I use my Turbo Rat).
And @LowRenzo , I think that MXR pedal was designed at least impart with help from Fuzzrocious and is essentially a Rat circuit with a clean blend.
I'll add my vote for the Alpha Omega. The EQ section gives you way more control over the tone of the pedal.
Just seconds after reading your post I remembered seeing one of Scott DeVine's videos where he uses a DG pedal (AO? X7? Can't remember...I think it had EQ sliders but I could be wrong) and the tone he had was not that extreme...so yeah, my perception is a direct result of the demos and to who is targeted by DG marketing department.
I love my X7. Takes a little tweaking, but I've been able to find usable sounds for different genres. And I don't lose the lows.
I tried both the AO and the MBD1. The AO stayed, but they were close for me. I got similar sounds from them, but the AO had a greater range of sounds for me.
They are both excellent pedals.
Some talk about "the Darkglass sound", but it's far from just one sound (even though the official demos might lead one to believe otherwise). The BxK series does have a mid notch, however the Vintage series has a mid bump. The Alpha Omega series is less polite, as others have said, with two colors of distortion (alpha and omega). The X series (multiband distortion) is very different, and amazingly versatile, offering traditional to modern dirt flavors, neutral or colorful.
Of course these days there are a butt-ton of other dirt options for bass. I think all of these have been mentioned but I own them and recommend them for non-scoopy distortion:
Damnation Audio MBD-1
Idiotbox Blower Box
Dunwich Olde Dirty Bass
P.S. My Tech21 YYZ pedal is coming in this week. Haven't tried it myself, but based on the many demos I've heard I'm sure I'll like it.
Of course these days there are a butt-ton of other dirt options for bass. I think all of these have been mentioned but I own them and recommend them for non-scoopy distortion:
Damnation Audio MBD-1
Idiotbox Blower Box
Dunwich Olde Dirty Bass
P.S. My Tech21 YYZ pedal is coming in this week. Haven't tried it myself, but based on the many demos I've heard I'm sure I'll like it.
i have the b3k and loved it but your right it is scooped. then i got the vintage.
it is my always on to add just a little dirt.
think of it this way:
the vintage covers od/distortion from the 70's to the 90's.(from strong mids to more scooped). the b3k picks up where the vintage leaves off, becoming more scooped and modern sounding.
i love the warmer sound of the vintage using the "90,s era" setting. that is the "era" knob all the way clockwise.
also i have these two pedals on a line splitter so i can blend the two together for even more goodness.
it is my always on to add just a little dirt.
think of it this way:
the vintage covers od/distortion from the 70's to the 90's.(from strong mids to more scooped). the b3k picks up where the vintage leaves off, becoming more scooped and modern sounding.
i love the warmer sound of the vintage using the "90,s era" setting. that is the "era" knob all the way clockwise.
also i have these two pedals on a line splitter so i can blend the two together for even more goodness.
Hello OP!
I didn't like the fizziness of the Darkglass pedals.
Tech 21 has a pedal called the DP-3x. I absolutely love mine.
Here's a demo!
I didn't like the fizziness of the Darkglass pedals.
Tech 21 has a pedal called the DP-3x. I absolutely love mine.
Here's a demo!
tried the Blower Box (huge Voivod fan!) and it didn't work for me, sadly. thanks for the tip tho!
I've a Big Muff Pi in line after my DarkGlass Vintage Ultra. They combine really well for a very big sound, especially hen I drop the voltage on the Big Muff a bit...
dude EXACTLY. these pedals seem to be for, like, Isis/Pelican guys and I am for sure not one of those guys.
