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I just De-Darkglassed

#41
Nice. I’ve been using a Rusty Box at the end of my chain for years! Darkglass’ offerings have been fun to try out but they’ve always taken away from my overall tone rather than add to it.
Using them by themselves though? Pretty gnarly.
I was stacking a B3K into a B7K Ultra for a short while and it sounded great. Snagged an Omicron & just couldn’t grow to like it. Ended up selling all of my Darkglass to fund a Verellen Meatsmoke preamp, which was next level great!
 
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#42
Dark Glass? What's that?

Board-front-Noble-closer.JPG
 
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#43
The audience didn't notice. :)

Ok ok, but you know. Darkglass is wonderful, but there are several older and recent proven alternatives too. Good tone is good tone. However you get it. I like the VT Bass, but also dug the DG vintage ultra.

I personally found the Darkglass tone sounded amazing by itself but didn't work in a live or band setting. The scoop and sizzle got lost in the mix and seemed baked in, particularly with the B7 and B3 etc series.
 
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#46
Looks like a pretty great setup you have there, and if it's working for you and inspiring you, that's all that matters. Rock on!

I'm still leaning pretty heavily on Darkglass for my distorted tones, I find the B7K especially so easy to get clarity in a dense mix of heavily distorted downtuned guitars.

I do think it is ironic that people feel like this tone is "tired" or "played out" and has been common in the genre for "so many years" (what, like the last 5 years or so?), when you still have folks rocking a P-bass with flats into an SVT trying to emulate that same exact sound that has been heard on like every record since the 70s (not referring to the OP with this comment, just a general observation). I think this sound just works well for the genre, nothing wrong with that and I don't think there is any need to move on from the sound. I'm really enjoying the fact that you can actually hear the bass in the mix in a lot of modern metal bands. But it is cool to see people trying different things as well. Variety is great.

Just my rambling 2 cents.
 
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#47
keatz said:
So for the first time in 5 years my board has no Darkglass on it, and for some reason it feels kind of......... liberating.......anybody else shared a similar experience?

Over that 5 years I've had:
Alpha Omicron (X2)
Alpha Omega
Alpha Omega Ultra
B3K (X2)
B7K
B7K Ultra
B7K Ultra v2
Harmonic Booster v2
Hyper Luminal (X2)
VMT (x3)
X
X7

And here is my current board (that needs tidying up) minus a blender and wah which are still to come.
View attachment 4058503
Click to expand...

I recently picked up an X7 ultra for headphone practice. Digging it for sure, but would never stand a chance trying to kick my Blower Box off the board (which I've had almost 5 years). Grey stache is a great one too!
 
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#50
I tried a couple of the earlier darkglass stuff and that satiated my interest for not trying anything else. Its a fun process how our tastes change over time. Good on ya for finding something you enjoy; won't be the last time thank goodness.
 
#52
I did that once. Then I tried the VMTDeluxe!! It’s a keeper!
keatz said:
So for the first time in 5 years my board has no Darkglass on it, and for some reason it feels kind of......... liberating.......anybody else shared a similar experience?

Over that 5 years I've had:
Alpha Omicron (X2)
Alpha Omega
Alpha Omega Ultra
B3K (X2)
B7K
B7K Ultra
B7K Ultra v2
Harmonic Booster v2
Hyper Luminal (X2)
VMT (x3)
X
X7

And here is my current board (that needs tidying up) minus a blender and wah which are still to come.
View attachment 4058503
Click to expand...
 
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#54
VolverseLoco said:
There is a "DarkGlass" sound. Its the sound of 25 marbles being swirled around in an empty coffee can. I have the Microtubes X. I tried to 'like' it, I just can't, so I put it up for sale.
Click to expand...
I only use the clean side of my microtubes B7K ultra v2, and all kidding aside, the Darkglass sound is warm and dark. At least that's how it sounds in my rig, with my hands, and my ears lol
 
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#55
I am with the cats who still use the Hyper Luminal and nothing else. It's not that I don't like their stuff, it's all great - I am just trying out other options. I think all of their trademark tones sound great, but the same Dingwall + crossover tones that many are using these days...it's like hearing Sweet Home Alabama on the radio for the 1000th time. :D
 
#56
TonyRo said:
I am with the cats who still use the Hyper Luminal and nothing else. It's not that I don't like their stuff, it's all great - I am just trying out other options. I think all of their trademark tones sound great, but the same Dingwall + crossover tones that many are using these days...it's like hearing Sweet Home Alabama on the radio for the 1000th time. :D
Click to expand...

...or possibly worse...hearing Sweet Home Alabama played wrong by 1000 bands! ;)
 
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#58
therhodeo said:
If we're honest the nobel is right up there in trendy bandwagon gear.
Click to expand...

I think the Noble sounds fantastic.

If I were playing a passive P Bass in a situation that wasn't dropped tune 7 string guitarists who know what's what, I would consider dropping the coin for one.

My gig doesn't make sense to use it when other more appropriate equipment is available and offers much more flexibility and options.
 
#59
This is all part of the journey. I’ve bought and sold a ton of DG stuff. Funny enough it’s led me back to having a DG head. And I’ve run through quite a few heads. Tech21, GK, Mesa Boogie and they all led back to here. Now pedal wise my old school Sans Amp has never left my board. But I’ve had damned near every DG pedal. Now I have just my Sans Amp Bass Driver a B7K the Hyper Luminal (for live and recording) and now the Element pedal which allows me to practice and record quietly. And I play from punk to hardcore to rock and RB. It’s all in how you use your pedals and head. My Sans Amp provides tube like warmth and the B7K IF grit is needed just adds that nice touch of gain. But again it’s all personal taste. I don’t think it’s a cult, they make good stuff. I mean if you had the option of getting g hear which helps you quickly set up and get to playing why not get it
 
#60
misterCRUSH said:
I only use the clean side of my microtubes B7K ultra v2, and all kidding aside, the Darkglass sound is warm and dark. At least that's how it sounds in my rig, with my hands, and my ears lol
Click to expand...


You know, I really wish it could work like I *almost* have it set. I still have it, but it is up for sale. Maybe I have the wrong DarkGlass pedal and someone can tell me what I might try. My settings are in the pic here. I do REALLY like the sound on the E string. Its got that tight crunchy/clangy sound, its magnificent. It all falls apart on the A string. Forget about the D & G string here, I have already made a pact with myself to never play those 2 strings while the DG is on, the sound is so bad. The A string has that marbles/coffee can sound so pronounced and its terrible. I have the HPF all the way clockwise, as anything from there going counter-clockwise just opens up the mids more, again, with the marbles sound. How is it that I have such a beautiful DG 'SignatureSound' if you will on the E string and the rest are not good? I also did try the Vintage Microtubes for 2 days and I can see that pedal is an overall fuzz pedal. It does do a good job at what it was designed for, but I want the punchy/tight but clangy sound on all my strings as the E has now.

tubes.JPG
 

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