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NPD: I'm a jerk. Sorry Darkglass.

monsterthompson

monsterthompson

The Eighth Note Wonder Of The World
Nov 25, 2008
20,318
37,700
Hollywood
#1
I've been pretty quick on the draw about my distaste for Darkglass distortion, over the years. I've not been shy mentioning it in threads about their boxes. The truth is, I really didn't like what I heard a few years back. I first tried an early Finland version with a Dingwall ABZ5. I later tried a VMTD. There was a fizzy quality to the top end, and not enough oomph in the lows and lo-mids, with either box.

Well, I recently ordered a B7K out of the classifieds, and it arrived today, and I need to admit that I've changed my tune. I've moved on in my choice of head and cab, and bass, which I'm sure played a big role in that.

I just plugged in my new B7K, which is a USA generation model. I grabbed my Ric 4003, and plugged into my Demeter head and Barefaced BB2, with the crossover dialed down. Boom. I liked it. I wondered if this was related using lower output single coils, so I grabbed my EMG hum bucker 5 string Spector. There it was. A tone I liked. I tried to dial in that fizz I hated, but it wasn't coming through the way I recalled. I could hear traces of it, but it wasn't there as prominently.

I was able to dial in quite a nice clean tone, with each bass. This is why I ordered the pedal. I had an idea for some signal routing and DI recording, where the clean DI and the parallel out would be a potential source for blending tones I'm trying to get.

I'm not sure what to attribute the difference to. Probably a combination of factors. It isn't my new favorite box, nor the end-all to my tone quest, but it's not what I remembered and have described on TB in other threads. It just goes to show that there are lots of variables at play, as we all go hunting for tone.

I'd like to apologize to @Darkglass for casting any and all shade I've hinted at, implied, or probably boldly stated. I know there's plenty of support for your products in this forum, and I knew there must've been a reason why, but I just couldn't hear it, until now.
 
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#10
monsterthompson said:
I've been pretty quick on the draw about my distaste for Darkglass distortion, over the years. I've not been shy mentioning it in threads about their boxes. The truth is, I really didn't like what I heard a few years back. I first tried an early Finland version with a Dingwall ABZ5. I later tried a VMTD. There was a fizzy quality to the top end, and not enough oomph in the lows and lo-mids, with either box.

Well, I recently ordered a B7K out of the classifieds, and it arrived today, and I need to admit that I've changed my tune. I've moved on in my choice of head and cab, and bass, which I'm sure played a big role in that.

I just plugged in my new B7K, which is a USA generation model. I grabbed my Ric 4003, and plugged into my Demeter head and Barefaced BB2, with the crossover dialed down. Boom. I liked it. I wondered if this was related using lower output single coils, so I grabbed my EMG hum bucker 5 string Spector. There it was. A tone I liked. I tried to dial in that fizz I hated, but it wasn't coming through the way I recalled. I could hear traces of it, but it wasn't there as prominently.

I was able to dial in quite a nice clean tone, with each bass. This is why I ordered the pedal. I had an idea for some signal routing and DI recording, where the clean DI and the parallel out would be a potential source for blending tones I'm trying to get.

I'm not sure what to attribute the difference to. Probably a combination of factors. It isn't my new favorite box, nor the end-all to my tone quest, but it's not what I remembered and have described on TB in other threads. It just goes to show that there are lots of variables at play, as we all go hunting for tone.

I'd like to apologize to @Darkglass for casting any and all shade I've hinted at, implied, or probably boldly stated. I know there's plenty of support for your products in this forum, and I knew there must've been a reason why, but I just couldn't hear it, until now.
Click to expand...

All though no apology is needed I really appreciated your words, thank you!

I think we could make visiting Bodom lake count ;).
 
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#11
Don't worry, they are all too busy swimming in money to worry about your initial negative reviews:)
Personally I really liked the DG B3K and B7K's initially. Now I find that my tastes have changed. The pedals haven't changed, my tastes have. I think it's normal. Really glad you found a pedal you like, especially with the Ric. The Ric's have their own issues but they sound great with so many things and in so many situations I'm glad I have one in my arsenal.
 
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#12
Well, better late than never as they say here in Russia :)

I had a similar case with @Darkglass initially, based on 2 reasons:

1) I dislike all popular things, never owned an IPhone and never will. When I heard about Darkglass, I also thought it was a bit of hype without even trying it myself. I tried to find other pedals which will give similar results and be less expensive.

2) Darkglass pedals were not readily available at any store here, so you had to order them and wait like 1.5 months, quite a long time for an impatient guy like me. Then, a miracle happened and I found one guy selling a second-hand B7K Ultra, almost never used, and decided to give it a try. Trying that, I have seen myself that it was no hype and really worth the cost with that punchy sound I have been searching for.

Then I bought the Microtubes 900 head, adding more to my satisfaction. It really goes well together with B7K Ultra, I am more or less done with settings on both to my liking, doing some small trials to finetune the sound. I am also keen on a Darkglass cab and have been pushing on Facebook to see if it will come out at this winter NAMM 2017, but it looks like it will not. Dual Distortion Jon Stockman pedal will also be a quick buy for me I think, after I hear some initial videos.

Then they lived happily after...
 
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#14
Funny enough, most of the bassists I meet are either A)Unfamiliar with anything other than Boss and maybe Way Huge, or B)if they know what "a Darkglass" is, they usually follow up with "huh, I thought they were for metal?". Seems the stigma is you need to be in a metal band and play a Dingwall to own one lol

For my electronic-alt-rock infused band that sits somewhere between Mutemath and Twenty One Pilots, I guess I'm the odd one out :p
 
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#15
I tried a lot of different bass pedals that left me unimpressed live. I've had a bunch of pedals that sounded amazing with my practice rig but as soon as I played my gig rig I was instantly disappointed. I just thought that some pedals sounded better at bedroom levels. Several great pedals fell victim to this fallacy. I played a big Mesa 2x15. There's no way my rig was the problem. Until I tried out a small cheap 2x10 cab that had noticeably more low end than my mighty 2x15.

So I sold the 2x15 and bought a cheap 4x10 to pair with my cheap 2x10 all of my pedals sounded great again. Now I'm on a hunt again for some of the pedals that got away.

I have to constantly remind myself that it's the whole chain that decides your sound.
 
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#16
NoxNoctus said:
Funny enough, most of the bassists I meet are either A)Unfamiliar with anything other than Boss and maybe Way Huge, or B)if they know what "a Darkglass" is, they usually follow up with "huh, I thought they were for metal?". Seems the stigma is you need to be in a metal band and play a Dingwall to own one lol

For my electronic-alt-rock infused band that sits somewhere between Mutemath and Twenty One Pilots, I guess I'm the odd one out :p
Click to expand...

Yes you are the odd man out. You play piano rock with a rig of doom.
 
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#18
monsterthompson said:
I've been pretty quick on the draw about my distaste for Darkglass distortion, over the years. I've not been shy mentioning it in threads about their boxes. The truth is, I really didn't like what I heard a few years back. I first tried an early Finland version with a Dingwall ABZ5. I later tried a VMTD. There was a fizzy quality to the top end, and not enough oomph in the lows and lo-mids, with either box.

Well, I recently ordered a B7K out of the classifieds, and it arrived today, and I need to admit that I've changed my tune. I've moved on in my choice of head and cab, and bass, which I'm sure played a big role in that.

I just plugged in my new B7K, which is a USA generation model. I grabbed my Ric 4003, and plugged into my Demeter head and Barefaced BB2, with the crossover dialed down. Boom. I liked it. I wondered if this was related using lower output single coils, so I grabbed my EMG hum bucker 5 string Spector. There it was. A tone I liked. I tried to dial in that fizz I hated, but it wasn't coming through the way I recalled. I could hear traces of it, but it wasn't there as prominently.

I was able to dial in quite a nice clean tone, with each bass. This is why I ordered the pedal. I had an idea for some signal routing and DI recording, where the clean DI and the parallel out would be a potential source for blending tones I'm trying to get.

I'm not sure what to attribute the difference to. Probably a combination of factors. It isn't my new favorite box, nor the end-all to my tone quest, but it's not what I remembered and have described on TB in other threads. It just goes to show that there are lots of variables at play, as we all go hunting for tone.

I'd like to apologize to @Darkglass for casting any and all shade I've hinted at, implied, or probably boldly stated. I know there's plenty of support for your products in this forum, and I knew there must've been a reason why, but I just couldn't hear it, until now.
Click to expand...

Way cool man!! Now we can finally talk shop on DG ;) hehe I'm really glad you rediscovered DG man, really awesome.
 
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#19
NoxNoctus said:
Funny enough, most of the bassists I meet are either A)Unfamiliar with anything other than Boss and maybe Way Huge, or B)if they know what "a Darkglass" is, they usually follow up with "huh, I thought they were for metal?". Seems the stigma is you need to be in a metal band and play a Dingwall to own one lol

For my electronic-alt-rock infused band that sits somewhere between Mutemath and Twenty One Pilots, I guess I'm the odd one out :p
Click to expand...

It's a good point. I never play metal and I use my VU as a clean pre-amp most of the time, or add just a little hair. It's really amazing to get a vintagey grind without coloring the tone as much as Tech 21 stuff does. Just makes the bass sound pro to my ears.
 
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