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Darkglass

collapse expand iconDescription

Distorting bass has always been a very challenging engineering endeavor. In order to achieve a punchy, and aggressive distortion that is also full and fat-sounding, you need to reconcile two contradicting conditions: The tightness comes from attenuating bass frequencies before saturation, which will also result in a very thin signal. But boosting the lows will result in additional, unwanted fuzz.

The Darkglass Microtubes X is the company's solution to that problem in a very compact form: The signal is split by two variable low-pass and high-pass filters at the very very beginning. The high-pass signal (mostly mids and treble) is distorted using CMOS circuitry, just like older Microtubes pedals.

The low pass-signal (all bass) is left untouched. Letting the high side be all crunch, attack, and rich harmonics while mixing back the lows to add gargantuan size to the overall mix. The result is virtually unlimited fullness, size, aggression, and definition, regardless of how old the strings, and boomy or thin instruments. The Microtubes X offers all of this in a compact form, with very few controls to tweak, making it almost impossible to dial wrong.
Darkglass Microtubes X Distortion Bass Effects Pedal
Darkglass Microtubes X Distortion Bass Effects Pedal
Darkglass Microtubes X Distortion Bass Effects Pedal

collapse expand iconSpecs

Controls
  • High-pass frequency: controls the cutoff frequency to be
  • distorted, ranging from 100Hz (for thicker, fuzzier saturation) or
  • 1kHz for ultra-sharp definition.
  • Low-pass frequency: controls the cutoff frequency to be mixed
  • back to the high-pass side. Ranging from 50Hz (for only
  • sub-bass) and 500Hz to preserve some clean mids.
  • Level: Sets the overall output volume of the unit.
  • Drive: Sets the amount of distortion for the high pass side.
  • Mix: Sets the blend between low-pass and high-pass signals.
  • Mids: Active mid control placed after the Mix control. +-12dB @
  • 500Hz.
  • Input: 1/4" connector for the instrument.
  • Input Impedance: 1M_ impedance.
  • Output: 1/4" connector for the amplifier or next effect in the
  • chain.
  • Output Impedance: 1k_.
  • 9VDC: Center negative, regulated 9VDC only.
  • Current Consumption: 30mA

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collapse expand iconReviews

3.75

4 Reviews

50%

of respondents would recommend this to a friend

Filters
Best Uses
  1. Amateur Recording3
  2. Home Studio2
  3. Performances2
  4. Professional Recording2
Cons
  1. Poor Sound Quality1
  2. Does not have true bypass1
  3. Must buy separate adapter1
Describe Yourself
  1. Experienced2
  2. Professional Musician2
Pros
  1. Compact2
  2. Excellent Sound Quality2
  3. Responsive2
  4. Versatile2
  5. Good Selection Of Effects1

Reviewed by 4 customers

  • Cool Concept but the Drive Sounds Awful

    2

    submitted2 years ago

    byDaniel

    fromFort Worth, TX

    I like the two channel blend with low and high pass filters, but I found the drive sound to be brittle and unappealing. I could get a great clean mid-scooped sound out of it with the drive below noon, but if I turned up the drive enough to add a little hair to the tone it instantly became ear-grating. For a clean scooped sound, there are less expensive options. If someone made the exact same pedal with a TS808 or TS9, instead of CMOS, it would probably be perfection.

  • Gnarly!

    5

    submitted4 years ago

    byAndrew B

    fromWisconsin

    Great variety of tones in a small package. Simple to use, sturdy build, should last long time.

  • Great crushing bass tones

    5

    submitted6 years ago

    byCrusher

    fromModesto ca

    This little pedal has evolved bass tone.

  • It's a Tone monster, but.......

    3

    submitted7 years ago

    byDragondave

    fromMemphis

    The pedal really gives the bass a nice fat growl. nice smooth distortion on the highs and mids leaving the low end clean, tight and punchy The only bad things about it are first, it cannot accept battery power so an adapter must be used, but it isn't included and must be purchased separately. The pedal does not have true bypass capability, so if you lose power you have to physically remove it from the chain or else you lose signal. You cannot just click it off and keep playing. This could be a real problem in a live situation. It would be so easy to add a click switch to bypass it, but Darkglass support doesn't seem to be concerned with it. Otherwise, it's a well built, phenomenal sounding pedal.....

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