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What the...Darkglass Vintage Microtubes?!?!
- Thread starter DeltaPhoenix
- Start date
Finally getting my VMT on Monday! 
I have a borrowed B3K that I've been (well, trying to at least) using for almost a month, and it's just not working for me. I know a lot of people think B3K is THE distortion/overdrive but it scoops my mids too much, adds a lot of high mid aggression and quite a bit of lows with the boost on. Turns my passive jazz into an active bass if I try to use it as an always on tone shaper/light OD. I tried fiddling with it but it sounds way too modern/metal for me. I just gave up on it and will be returning it as I prefer my GK 700RB II tone without it.
But then again, I'm shooting more for a vintage like tone, and I like my mids.
I guess it's all about amp/pedal combination, I already get enough snarl from my GK and now I just want to warm it up and add some nice dirt and mids. I cannot for the life of me hear how B3K would warm up anything. Different strokes I guess.
I got A LOT better results using a VT Bass v2.
Anyways, I hope VMT will provide more of that warmth, more mids (and less hi mid snarl) and more of a rounded tone. I really tried to like the B3K but it's not my thing at all.
I have a borrowed B3K that I've been (well, trying to at least) using for almost a month, and it's just not working for me. I know a lot of people think B3K is THE distortion/overdrive but it scoops my mids too much, adds a lot of high mid aggression and quite a bit of lows with the boost on. Turns my passive jazz into an active bass if I try to use it as an always on tone shaper/light OD. I tried fiddling with it but it sounds way too modern/metal for me. I just gave up on it and will be returning it as I prefer my GK 700RB II tone without it.
But then again, I'm shooting more for a vintage like tone, and I like my mids.
I guess it's all about amp/pedal combination, I already get enough snarl from my GK and now I just want to warm it up and add some nice dirt and mids. I cannot for the life of me hear how B3K would warm up anything. Different strokes I guess.
I got A LOT better results using a VT Bass v2.
Anyways, I hope VMT will provide more of that warmth, more mids (and less hi mid snarl) and more of a rounded tone. I really tried to like the B3K but it's not my thing at all.
^ I think it does have a lot to do with amp combination. I use a 1001rbII. And I love the B3K with a passive J or P. I think the low mids knob on the amp is the key. Everything at noon. Lowmids at about 3oclock, maybe 4. Contour and presence off. My case is a bit different because I use a 3way cab with an 8inch mid driver. So, I'm turning mids down sometimes. But even out of an svt 8x10. I know that I thought the B3K had a mid scoop when I first got it, and I hear people say it all the time. But its not scooped, I think its just the way certain freq are boosted.
Anyhow, you'll love the vintage, much more mid heavy. Perfect amount of grit. Good luck.
Anyhow, you'll love the vintage, much more mid heavy. Perfect amount of grit. Good luck.
That's how I feel about the B3K's mids as well, and I play a Ric.
Both have such pronounced high-mids that can easily be heard as a lack of low-mids.
But they are there. Paired with the right amp or preamp, my Ric/B3K changes character drastically.
I hear more of a ramp from low mids to 4k that starts to really rise in the very high mids. Smiley face would sound clicky and disappear in a mix. The B3K does anything but that as it more "grinds" its' way through a mix. But yeah, the low-mids are not its' strong area.
Here's an example of how it cuts with my bass:
https://soundcloud.com/centaurus_a/3chordcrunch
And using the grind as an slight edge at the top of a rounder tone:
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Something in between those two:
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I couldn't get along with the B3K without the Blend on 50% or more towards the Clean side (though the EQ on the B7K makes it work much better with less Clean depending on what you're looking for tonally), whereas I don't use any Clean blended on my VMT and much prefer it that way!
I just got new headphones (9 - 29000 hz Pioneer) and this came through so clear on them. Great tone FaithNoMan and I liked what you were playing as well.
I just got new headphones (9 - 29000 hz Pioneer) and this came through so clear on them. Great tone FaithNoMan and I liked what you were playing as well.
Thanks a lot, guys
Question...
What does the eq sound like as you turn the Blend knob clock-wise from clean?
I feel like the Bxk adds more of a boost in the high mids as you turn the blend clock-wise.
I've been reading on here that it adds more highs and sound clearer with the blend clock-wise. What do you guys think?
What does the eq sound like as you turn the Blend knob clock-wise from clean?
I feel like the Bxk adds more of a boost in the high mids as you turn the blend clock-wise.
I've been reading on here that it adds more highs and sound clearer with the blend clock-wise. What do you guys think?
- Dec 10, 2008
- 2,341
- 5,822
- Disclosures
- Douglas Castro, Founder: darkglass.com
What you hear as being added is basically the difference in frequency response between the clean and dirty sounds.
In the case of the Vintage it'll be whatever the ERA position is dictating... if ERA is set counter clockwise it'll probably remove some high harmonic content and boost mids and low end.
If the ERA is set higher it'll let through some more attack and high mids (never as much as the B3K though).
The key hero in the Vintage is the low and mid frequency content, whereas in the B3K is the Lows and High mid/treble content what is predominant (that's why one is so punchy and aggressive, and the other is much warmer and mellow).
Hope this helps!
Doug.
Doug, that's probably the most helpful description of the Vintage's operation I've read, yet. Thanks for posting it.
BTW, loving mine!
BTW, loving mine!
I agree. Perfect description Doug. Thanks!
I've had all three darkglass. The mids were incredible on the VMT but the highs were just not enough for me. That's all I remember about it but I regret not keeping it longer to see if I can get some highs back into it. I bought another from Rogue Guitars last night. I want to give it another shot.
I've had all three darkglass. The mids were incredible on the VMT but the highs were just not enough for me. That's all I remember about it but I regret not keeping it longer to see if I can get some highs back into it. I bought another from Rogue Guitars last night. I want to give it another shot.
You aren't the only one. I got rid of mine after 3 days. It sounded great but was having trouble cutting through. I returned it and got a B7K. Needed the funds for it. But now that I have the 7, I wish I still had the vintage.
Like a lot of overdrives, it tends to eat the incoming signal and convert it to it's own eq, so I've preferred it in front of my fuzzes so far (Muff clone and a Grey Stache). It drives them really well, adding a lot of low end plus the mid punch that cuts through the mix (extra lethal with the mids dialed up on the Stache). As for the TFR, I'll tell you later this week when mine comes in the mail.
Like a lot of overdrives, it tends to eat the incoming signal and convert it to it's own eq, so I've preferred it in front of my fuzzes so far (Muff clone and a Grey Stache). It drives them really well, adding a lot of low end plus the mid punch that cuts through the mix (extra lethal with the mids dialed up on the Stache). As for the TFR, I'll tell you later this week when mine comes in the mail.
I seem to prefer it in front of TFR as well. It adds some nice mids to it. After TFR, it muffles it a bit, cuts the highs, basically EQs it (sounds more compressed).
