the best bass overdrive/distorsion?!!-darkglass electronics b3k

[Darkglass]

My pedals (in general, not the B3K in particular) get noisy whenever the bathroom fan is on...

If you're not nearby the bathroom the noise is probably due to harmonics contaminating the electric line of your house (inductive loads can inject current harmonics if they're not properly filtered with choke coils ).

OT: Hah! Apparently those courses on industrial electronics weren't a waste of my time after all.

Regards!

Doug.

 

[Bromosapian]

Not to be the hater, but whenever I hear recordings of this pedal it sounds really, really fizzy or clanky. Its like they refuse to either record it through a proper cabinet (without some godawful tweeter in it) and just DI it without running it through a cabinet sim or cutting the highs with an eq.

 

[Darkglass]

Not to be the hater, but whenever I hear recordings of this pedal it sounds really, really fizzy or clanky. Its like they refuse to either record it through a proper cabinet (without some godawful tweeter in it) and just DI it without running it through a cabinet sim or cutting the highs with an eq.

It might be that our pedals are just not your cup of tea, which is totally fine.

Let's try something fun! Tell me what you think of the two following B7K samples!

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EDIT: Nolly's sample was done directly, and Tapio's using the B7K with a Mesa M6 Carbine (Using the head's XLR Out) So they are both basically direct recordings

If you don't like these demos, then I'd say that you're probably looking for something else... if you do it might just been that the settings others have chosen are just not of your preference.

Thanks for the feedback and honesty!

Regards

Doug.

 

[father of fires]

Not to be the hater, but whenever I hear recordings of this pedal it sounds really, really fizzy or clanky. Its like they refuse to either record it through a proper cabinet (without some godawful tweeter in it) and just DI it without running it through a cabinet sim or cutting the highs with an eq.

I agree that some of the sound samples aren't so hot but it really is hard to judge based on youtube clips. There are some quality videos so I can tell that this pedal sounds great with some setups. It may just not be your cup of tea.

Edit: Doug beat me to it.

 

[smeet]

Not to be the hater, but whenever I hear recordings of this pedal it sounds really, really fizzy or clanky. Its like they refuse to either record it through a proper cabinet (without some godawful tweeter in it) and just DI it without running it through a cabinet sim or cutting the highs with an eq.

I have heard some bad recordings, but this one accurately depicts what I hear from mine: Microtubes B3K Bass Overdrive Demo by Will Davies - YouTube!

I actually run it with the drive all the way down. When I play lightly, there is almost no audible distortion, just a big clean scary tube-amp feel. When I dig in, there is breakup on the edges. There are a lot of highs and some clank, but very controllable, and it works really well in the mix.

 

[XXL]

I actually run it with the drive all the way down. When I play lightly, there is almost no audible distortion, just a big clean scary tube-amp feel. When I dig in, there is breakup on the edges. There are a lot of highs and some clank, but very controllable, and it works really well in the mix.

Ya exactly my experiences with the ole B3K.

 

[dustinfennessey]

Thinking it REALLY depends on whos recording, what they are recording on, what they are recording with, and what settings they are using. I personally wasn't impressed with any recordings I had heard, but ordered based upon talking to some TB'ers...then I got it and it was magical! I'm sure it comes down to taste, but for me this is the best...pedal...EVER!

The only way this pedal could impress me more was if it was delievered by Doug himself...riding a unicorn...on a rainbow...made of candy.

 

[father of fires]

Has anyone discussed the B3K with Flats? I used to play them but had to switch to rounds when using dirt pedals for my new band.

I prefer the feel and sound of flats (clean) but I hate how raspy they get when going through dirt boxes.

 

[Queg]

I play heavy flats, but I like the sound of them overdriven. I can go from motown thump on steroids to dark & grindy or bright & clanky depending on OD box & settings. What flats + OD don't do for me is that clean & twangy modern jazz / funk / versatile cover band sound. I don't mind.

 

[benthughes]

I got my brand spankin' new B3K in the mail from BassEFX.com a week or so ago after all the talk and love on these forums. Almost $300 for some dirt is pretty steep and I expected a lot from this pedal.

At first I didn't really like it. I expected it to be an "always on" kind of effect to strike fear into the hearts of man with all of my basses. I set it aside for a couple days and came back to it putting it in a chain with other effects and really tweaking it. I've got to say, now I really like it.

I think the problem was that I barely had my amp cracked open ( Mesa M9) and I wasn't really hearing it. I found that I like the boost on and the B3K switched to either Fat or Raw, the drive around 10:00, blend at noon or greater and level to taste. When I turned up the amp and heard the pedal talk it was pretty killer. I'm in love with running my bass into my Fulltone bass drive as a clean boost to the B3K for varying levels of devastation.

I like having the B3K on for a bit of edge, it adds some color and aggressive character to the sound without a lot of drive. When it's me supporting the band I kick on the Fulltone to boost the signal to the B3K which drives it harder and dirties it up nicely. Full, aggressive and dirty. Through a crappy amp the B3K may be underwhelming. Cranked it kills!

 

[topo morto]

If you're not nearby the bathroom the noise is probably due to harmonics contaminating the electric line of your house (inductive loads can inject current harmonics if they're not properly filtered with choke coils ).

OT: Hah! Apparently those courses on industrial electronics weren't a waste of my time after all.

Regards!

Doug.

Well I am near the bathroom (which is handy sometimes...)

Is that the same reason that dimmer switches are bad for causing hums and buzzes..?

 

[Vlad5]

benthughes: I hear you. Through headphones or with the M9 turned down, the B3K is cool. But with the volume notched up a bit (M9 'up a bit' is pretty freaking loud!), the B3K is amazing (if you like the grindy, like I do).

Definitely an effect best suited for pushing through an amp. Best suited, but certainly not only suited. asfaic...

 

[Dr Greenthumb]

Playing the B3K into a Mesa M9 is indeed incredibly awesome! Voice 4, gain and master noon'ish with a tiny cut for the first and last 2 sliders and the b3k screams like few ODs do..

 

[jpc]

Hello!

As for the noise, the power supply you're using (1spot) is the same one we use, so I doubt is the power supply (they tend to hum when they're the problem).
Is easier for me to help you out if you explain us what's your rig!
Also, devices like phones, mp3 players, halogen lights, tv's can induce noise through your pickups (which will be then amplified by the pedal).

A customer of us wrote us asking if the noise was normal and then he told me that the problem was solved by taking his iPhone out his pocket while playing .

Well, this should get us started, let me know and we can take it from there!

Regards

Doug.

It really seems to be the One Spot. If daisy-chained with other effects hell breaks loose and it's overly noisy. Tried it with three different setups. With only the B3K connected it's lower, but it's still there. So I'm gonna buy a power supply with isolated outputs and hope that will work.

 

[jpc]

Oh yes, another question: What is the power demand of the B3K? Couldn't find any numers for the mA. Thanks!

 

[dustinfennessey]

It really seems to be the One Spot. If daisy-chained with other effects hell breaks loose and it's overly noisy. Tried it with three different setups. With only the B3K connected it's lower, but it's still there. So I'm gonna buy a power supply with isolated outputs and hope that will work.

I run mine second in a chain of 8 pedals with no noise whatsoever. I use a dunlop power block.

 

[kenstee]

I play heavy flats, but I like the sound of them overdriven. I can go from motown thump on steroids to dark & grindy or bright & clanky depending on OD box & settings. What flats + OD don't do for me is that clean & twangy modern jazz / funk / versatile cover band sound. I don't mind.

If you haven't already you ought to try a set of D'Addario Chromes.......

 

[kenstee]

Oh yes, another question: What is the power demand of the B3K? Couldn't find any numbers for the mA. Thanks!

25mA at 9 volts. 30mA at 12 volts.

 

[kenstee]

Has anyone discussed the B3K with Flats? I used to play them but had to switch to rounds when using dirt pedals for my new band.

I prefer the feel and sound of flats (clean) but I hate how raspy they get when going through dirt boxes.

With D'Addario Chrome flats and the proper EQ on the bass and amp it can sound quite awesome.....

 

[Darkglass]

It really seems to be the One Spot. If daisy-chained with other effects hell breaks loose and it's overly noisy. Tried it with three different setups. With only the B3K connected it's lower, but it's still there. So I'm gonna buy a power supply with isolated outputs and hope that will work.

Hey! At high gain settings, with he Attack Boost switched on there will be some hiss, this is perfectly normal.
A power supply with isolated outputs is recommendable if you have many pedals (4 or more I'd say).

25mA at 9 volts. 30mA at 12 volts.

Yup that's it! haha thanks mate!

Sorry for not replying sooner, I've been in bed for the last few days with a pretty nasty flu .

Thanks everyone for the kind words and comments!

Regards.

Doug.