I just want to say that I appreciate you're reviews on these pedals A TON. Most of the advertisement/reviews for darkglass pedals is focused on metal and extreme bass tones. I want versatility out of my equipment so I want to hear how these pedals react to being pushed to the extreme, and how they handle subtlety.
Yes it’s great at bringing out the bass exactly as you describe 👍. I love this pedal. It’s an always on for me a bit like the guitarist booster Klon type of effect. Everything just sounds better with than without
Wow! Awesome playing. I really appreciate you showing the sound by itself and then in the context of the mix. I’m learning a lot about how you put together a sound with a particular goal and a particular context. Great stuff, thanks!
This is the best video on this pedal. I have used it for years on numerous albums. You nailed the most important aspect: Darkglass is NOT just about djent metal.
Thanks Luis! And I very much agree. I think they are *capable* of the more aggressive sounds, and have control and headroom to get you there, but they are useful in lots of other contexts.
For years, I used a SansAmp in the standard way - as a "sounds better" button. I got a Vintage Ultra earlier this year and am finding it to be a wonderful tool, but the distortion button is itself a bit of a "sounds better" button. I think you made a pretty good case for thinking of the Vintage pedal family as a broad-strokes tool in that way... they really do wonderful things to the sound and feel of everything put through them.
I primarily use my SansAmp as an always on pedal, but the drive gets distorted when you put it more than 75%. I've found that I like the Sans for the tone and I use the Darkglass for that drive that isn't as present with Sans. Use them together and you've got an amazing tone 🤌
Hello Amos, Thanks for the video. I own this pedal for quite some time, still learned some new things about the pedal: Level sets the drive tone volume en not the dry signal. And great to read your interview in the dutch magazine : De Bassist.
Thank you Amos. This review was very helpful in deciding between the B3K and the VMT. Bought the VMT to use as an always on fattener and it sounds great! 🤩
Just picked up one a Vintage Microtubes in a big part due to this review. But even more so than the gear review these videos are just inspiring to pick up the bass. Tried to hack my way through the intro groove in this video. I had literally never tried palm muting on the bass before but this got me trying it out thanks for the inspiration! Really enjoy all your videos.
Awesome Pro reviews & basslines! Since I've found your channel(also enjoyed listening on SBL needing out w IMA) I've grabbed a darkglass b3k v2 & harmonic booster. May have to add this to the roster to round out the pedal rig ! Cheers man
Motor City Vibes. What a cool little track. Nailed the feel and I love how you dialed in those settings. That Orlando bass is nice and beefy too! This sounds like the perfect drive pedal for my board. I’ve been meaning to do an overhaul. This video may have given me extra motivation. 🤟 Keep it up, Amos. You’re building a really special channel!
Thanx for you knowledgeable gear demo’s😃 My opinion is that you have the most informative og useful gear - demo on TH-cam😃 Very good listening examples, and good suggestion for settings that can be useful for us all😃🎸 You are also a awesome bass player, that is very inspirational for me😃🎸🎁 Keep up the good work, brother😃 Best regards Jarle Bjortjoennli Norway☀️🇳🇴
I really appreciate that you took a look at what this pedal sounds like in a low-gain application. Darkglass stuff has an interesting and unique tone aside from the distortion, and it's great to see some content exploring that. Fingers crossed that you will do something similar for the Vintage Deluxe pedal. Very curious if that is also useful as an "always-on" tone fattener with some added EQ.
Cool. I thought Darkglass pedals were for rock/metal only. But this pedal looks like you can get some usable sounds for any type of music if you keep the blend and drive low. I've always used SansAmp pedals. For volume-in-the-house reasons, I have to record bass direct. And it's not the same as miking up the bass amp. So I'm always looking for ways to get that authentic bass amp tone. This pedal looks like it'll work great.
Really dig your gear reviews! I use the vintage lightly on my MT500v2 as always on and then push it harder with an Alpha Omicron. I'd love to see you explore mixing and matching some of these DG tones and how you can actually do it effectively.
Loving the content as usual. Would love an in depth look at a couple of MXR pedals, one you have already shown briefly, M288 bass octave deluxe, and one you haven't so don't know if you have it, the M89 bass overdrive
Hey Amos, I love your channel! I was pointed here from r/DarkGlass, and your reviews have been 10/10. If you can, could you review the Darkglass Vintage Ultra V2? Thanks for the fantastic content!
Thank you so much for the review! Crazy to think I could ask a dynamite content creator to review something... and they go off and actually do it? What world is this? You're 11/10 Sir. I was, however, 6 days late to this party because I just picked up a Line 6 Pod Go and I've been lost in bass-tone-creation wonderland.
Awesome clip, Amos. 😎🤘🏻🎸I have this pedal and it is my most treasured bass overdrive pedal. It also sounds killer with Yamaha basses. I own 3 of them and they’re real keepers for me.
@@AmosHeller oh yeah. The Yamaha bb and trbx basses are definitely worth it. Underrated and phenomenal sounding basses. And the vintage series from darkglass are totally awesome bass overdrive pedals to own. I’ve always like the vintage microtubes for its warm heavy overdriven tones. It’s a definite keeper.
Unlike most "always on" pedals, you need to get your amp tone just right before you set the pedal. I use it in a couple of ways. First is to go back and forth between a clean percussive tone, and a slightly more overdriven tone, mostly to make a song or part cut through that sounds weak totally clean. I've never set the drive or blend above noon. Then again, I have an extensive fuzz collection (which I seldom use on bass) and an Alpha Omega 500.
@@AmosHeller👍 Last question please!! For use only one pedal with passive jazz bass best Vintage Microtubes or B3K? For rock sound. Thanks and regards!!
I'm so glad I found your content! I love the sound of this pedal, and the ability to add just a little sauce. Curious about thoughts on using this or the vintage ultra V2 in an amp-less board going direct to FOH. Been going direct into a Radial DI after a tuner. With a solid DI in hand should I splurge on the ultra, or use the savings on an extra pedal or two?
I should make a keyboard shortcut for “depends what you’re looking for.” 😂 I was really impressed with the VMT, and for the “always on” fattener, it works great. I actually have not done the ultra yet, but (in many ways) it would be good to try the least thing first.
Hi Amos, love your playing and your demos! Easily the best Darkglass demos on the web by a long, long shot! I went from thinking that DG pedals where only for terrible clacky treble buzz to really looking for to picking up a X7 and maybe a Vintage Ultra! I have a non DG question for you: What your favorite Yamaha BB in your collection? I have a few 80's BBs like a BB2000 and BB3000 and I'd really like to add a BBP34 or a BB2024, any picks between the two?
Amos...no sé si entiendes español... pero si es así... sería espectacular... Que tócaras unas líneas de bajo... de "Sepultura"...in honor...and tribute...!!! To great brasilian...thrash metal band...!!!🤘i think for your T shirt... saludos...😈
What does the drive knob do again? J/k. Great video. Wishing I heard this before I nabbed the Alpha Omega. Then again, one more pedal to the collection won't hurt lol. Great video as always.
That Orlando makes me thing two things: 1. That's a great sound! 2. That design is so goofy looking that it's momma must have to tie a pork chop around its neck to get the Hofner to play with it.
Thanks! Not a bad idea. I’ve thought about a “meet the gang” series … and yes it uses regular electric flatwounds. I got this bass maybe 10 years ago and I’ve never changed them
After watching your many DG pedal videos, I am hoping you can help me pick one. I currently have a Trace Elliot Transit B "fly rig". Its 5-band EQ is great, the 2-band compressor is pretty good, the drive section is kinda gross (buzzy, but with a blend knob). I can't seem to dial in the warm tone that goes with blues/rock from the 60s-80s. (I play no metal and no slap.) It has aux in and a headphone out, but it sounds very sterile, so I have a DG Element to do cab sims and practice silently. (Although it can store 5 IRs, I generally find one I like and stick to it.) When I play out loud, I use a Fender Rumble 40. (It's built-in drive section is nothing special.) I am thinking to replace the Transit B (and maybe the Element) with one of the DG pedal offerings. I like to keep things simple; once I find "my sound" I don't like to fiddle too much. Given my genre, one of the Microtubes seems appropriate. Also, maybe the Vintage line. - The X7 seems to be able to replace the Transit B - The X7 Ultra seems to be a replacement for both the Transit B and the Element (the X7 Ultra's cab sim affects the headphone out, right?) But can I get that warm tone from the X7s or should I be looking at the Vintage models? - Vintage Deluxe v3 as a replacement for the Transit B or - Vintage Ultra v2 as a replacement for the Transit B and the Element Your thoughts?
Sorry I’m so late to this- I haven’t found the X’s to be particularly warm overall. I see your comment below-given what you wrote I think you made the right call.
@@AmosHeller I listened to that riff a few times at work today, and it lifted my spirits. Tomorrow, I'll grab the bass, turn on the combo, and go try to feel it out. I got a massive urge to start practicing and playing again. By the way, I've only had another effects pedal unpacked and untested for two years - Darkglass Alpha Omega, and tomorrow it will have its premiere. Thanks, Amos, for the inspiration to get started ;-)
Here's a question 4 u, if you could have only 1 bass for a small home studio deal, maybe some live down the track, and your options were a DarkRay or Special 4HH, what would you choose, i know it depends on the player, WWAD, thanks in advance.
@@AmosHeller Thanks Amos, very generous of you to share your time and expertise, this sort of thing is really good for the industry, we just need more of the same, hoping to grab a 4HH Special in Harvest Orange, and happy to wait as MM are backed up. Cheers!
I do! I don’t really like pickup blend knobs. I never messed much with having one on only 30% or so, I never hear the difference. And I’d rather only use one master volume.
Dude thank you so much for shout out and support!❤️ ALSO THAT INTRO SONG IS SO GROOVY!!!
Thanks PH!
Good job man! Great breakdown!
I just want to say that I appreciate you're reviews on these pedals A TON. Most of the advertisement/reviews for darkglass pedals is focused on metal and extreme bass tones. I want versatility out of my equipment so I want to hear how these pedals react to being pushed to the extreme, and how they handle subtlety.
Yes it’s great at bringing out the bass exactly as you describe 👍. I love this pedal. It’s an always on for me a bit like the guitarist booster Klon type of effect. Everything just sounds better with than without
Bought one of these thanks to this video. Especially that Motor City Vibes tone. Love the tone build sections too. Thank you.
great pedal.
great playing.
great editing.
AND IF MESHUGGAH BASSIST USES THE BIG DADDY then even the jr is good enough for us mortals.
I think you have one of the best formats out there for this kind of demo.
Thanks for creating!
Sas aucun doute la meilleure démo du net sur la Darkglass Electronics Vintage Microtubes, merci beaucoup, j'ai hâte de me procurer cette merveille! :)
You not having more subs is a crime! Video quality is top tier for the bass community
Thanks Bass Man!
Great review! Also appreciated the juxtaposition of playing mellow, groovy tunes while wearing a Sepultura shirt.
What a fantastic demo
Amos, I am really digging the section where you explain how you build the tone, very unique content and I would love to see more in the future.
Appreciated! I think that’s the format for a while.
now THAT is a tube distortion! was really surprised with motor city vibes. that's it im going for this over the B3K
Wow! Awesome playing. I really appreciate you showing the sound by itself and then in the context of the mix. I’m learning a lot about how you put together a sound with a particular goal and a particular context. Great stuff, thanks!
This is the best video on this pedal. I have used it for years on numerous albums. You nailed the most important aspect: Darkglass is NOT just about djent metal.
Thanks Luis! And I very much agree. I think they are *capable* of the more aggressive sounds, and have control and headroom to get you there, but they are useful in lots of other contexts.
thumbs up just for the Beneath the remains T-shirt \m/
Thanks!
👌🏽😎
For years, I used a SansAmp in the standard way - as a "sounds better" button. I got a Vintage Ultra earlier this year and am finding it to be a wonderful tool, but the distortion button is itself a bit of a "sounds better" button. I think you made a pretty good case for thinking of the Vintage pedal family as a broad-strokes tool in that way... they really do wonderful things to the sound and feel of everything put through them.
Yeah it’s not quite the bone-crusher the other DG pedals can be. It’s more like pushing tubes the same way guitarists do.
I primarily use my SansAmp as an always on pedal, but the drive gets distorted when you put it more than 75%. I've found that I like the Sans for the tone and I use the Darkglass for that drive that isn't as present with Sans. Use them together and you've got an amazing tone 🤌
Hello Amos, Thanks for the video. I own this pedal for quite some time, still learned some new things about the pedal: Level sets the drive tone volume en not the dry signal. And great to read your interview in the dutch magazine : De Bassist.
Thank you Klaas! Glad it was helpful.
Thank you Amos. This review was very helpful in deciding between the B3K and the VMT. Bought the VMT to use as an always on fattener and it sounds great! 🤩
They’re so great for that! Almost like a cab sim. Such a powerful pedal
Just picked up one a Vintage Microtubes in a big part due to this review. But even more so than the gear review these videos are just inspiring to pick up the bass. Tried to hack my way through the intro groove in this video. I had literally never tried palm muting on the bass before but this got me trying it out thanks for the inspiration! Really enjoy all your videos.
Thanks so much for the kind words! Pick it up!
Awesome Pro reviews & basslines! Since I've found your channel(also enjoyed listening on SBL needing out w IMA) I've grabbed a darkglass b3k v2 & harmonic booster. May have to add this to the roster to round out the pedal rig ! Cheers man
Great tones throughout, Track Three sounds massive!
Cool shirt too
Thanks and thanks!
Hey been watching your vids lately and really appreciate the insight! Your pocket is crazy.
Motor City Vibes. What a cool little track. Nailed the feel and I love how you dialed in those settings. That Orlando bass is nice and beefy too!
This sounds like the perfect drive pedal for my board. I’ve been meaning to do an overhaul. This video may have given me extra motivation. 🤟
Keep it up, Amos. You’re building a really special channel!
Love that intro riff. Great vid.
Thanx for you knowledgeable gear demo’s😃 My opinion is that you have the most informative og useful gear - demo on TH-cam😃 Very good listening examples, and good suggestion for settings that can be useful for us all😃🎸 You are also a awesome bass player, that is very inspirational for me😃🎸🎁
Keep up the good work, brother😃
Best regards
Jarle Bjortjoennli
Norway☀️🇳🇴
Thanks so much for your kind words! I’m glad it’s helpful to you! I went to Oslo once and absolutely loved it.
I really appreciate that you took a look at what this pedal sounds like in a low-gain application. Darkglass stuff has an interesting and unique tone aside from the distortion, and it's great to see some content exploring that. Fingers crossed that you will do something similar for the Vintage Deluxe pedal. Very curious if that is also useful as an "always-on" tone fattener with some added EQ.
amazing playing.......super cool n super smooth
Great review format and production
I love this bassline! I want it!!!!!!!
Came for the pedal review. Stayed for those signature tasty riffs. Another great one, bud! 🙌🏻
Thanks for stopping by!
Great job, very informative video, and great playing! Thanks!
You're the best. I aspire to make bass lines that are as tasty as yours! Back to the shed.
Falling in Love!!! Lovely pedal.
Cool. I thought Darkglass pedals were for rock/metal only. But this pedal looks like you can get some usable sounds for any type of music if you keep the blend and drive low. I've always used SansAmp pedals. For volume-in-the-house reasons, I have to record bass direct. And it's not the same as miking up the bass amp. So I'm always looking for ways to get that authentic bass amp tone. This pedal looks like it'll work great.
Really dig your gear reviews! I use the vintage lightly on my MT500v2 as always on and then push it harder with an Alpha Omicron. I'd love to see you explore mixing and matching some of these DG tones and how you can actually do it effectively.
This! Also, the HB in front of any of the drives creates instant magic.
So good! 🔥🔥🧨
Nice shirt and demo.
WHO...HAS WON?
Just stumbled on your channel … really well done reviews!
Thanks!
As l said in another of your videos I just love this pedal. I got a V1 B3K and a V2 B7K ... But the VMT is my favourite!!
Excellent content and production. Really shows what the pedal does. Nice.
Unbelievable good taste in tone and note choice. Keep it up!
Thanks! I will!
Loving the content as usual. Would love an in depth look at a couple of MXR pedals, one you have already shown briefly, M288 bass octave deluxe, and one you haven't so don't know if you have it, the M89 bass overdrive
Thanks! I’ll look into it!
Awesome video. This made my decision between getting the vintage microtubes and the SolidGoldFX Beta Mk.II a lot harder to make now 😂
Hey Amos, I love your channel! I was pointed here from r/DarkGlass, and your reviews have been 10/10. If you can, could you review the Darkglass Vintage Ultra V2?
Thanks for the fantastic content!
Thank you so much for the review! Crazy to think I could ask a dynamite content creator to review something... and they go off and actually do it? What world is this? You're 11/10 Sir.
I was, however, 6 days late to this party because I just picked up a Line 6 Pod Go and I've been lost in bass-tone-creation wonderland.
What a wonderful place for losing yourself…
Sold.
Awesome clip, Amos. 😎🤘🏻🎸I have this pedal and it is my most treasured bass overdrive pedal. It also sounds killer with Yamaha basses. I own 3 of them and they’re real keepers for me.
I can’t believe it took me so long to get my hands on one. They’re so great.
@@AmosHeller oh yeah. The Yamaha bb and trbx basses are definitely worth it. Underrated and phenomenal sounding basses. And the vintage series from darkglass are totally awesome bass overdrive pedals to own. I’ve always like the vintage microtubes for its warm heavy overdriven tones. It’s a definite keeper.
love your videos. Thank you.
Awesome demo, always regret selling mine when I was broke.
Walrus Ages needs a bass review at this quality if you could tee it up.
Just messaged them. Thanks for the idea
You should do a rig run down and show us your pedalboard. I’d love to hear more about the noble preamp as well
The noble definitely deserves some attention
เยี่ยม! ขอบคุณสำหรับวีดีโอนี้🔥😊
Dat Sepultura shirt tho 👌
Unlike most "always on" pedals, you need to get your amp tone just right before you set the pedal. I use it in a couple of ways. First is to go back and forth between a clean percussive tone, and a slightly more overdriven tone, mostly to make a song or part cut through that sounds weak totally clean. I've never set the drive or blend above noon. Then again, I have an extensive fuzz collection (which I seldom use on bass) and an Alpha Omega 500.
Wtf why is this video so good?
Great demos!!!
Used only this pedal runs ok with passive bass?
Thanks and regards!!!
Yes it works great with passive basses
@@AmosHeller👍 Last question please!!
For use only one pedal with passive jazz bass best Vintage Microtubes or B3K?
For rock sound.
Thanks and regards!!
I'm so glad I found your content! I love the sound of this pedal, and the ability to add just a little sauce. Curious about thoughts on using this or the vintage ultra V2 in an amp-less board going direct to FOH. Been going direct into a Radial DI after a tuner. With a solid DI in hand should I splurge on the ultra, or use the savings on an extra pedal or two?
I should make a keyboard shortcut for “depends what you’re looking for.” 😂 I was really impressed with the VMT, and for the “always on” fattener, it works great. I actually have not done the ultra yet, but (in many ways) it would be good to try the least thing first.
I believe Dick Lövgren (meshuggah) uses the vintage microtubes. Almost every review reminds me of meshuggah*
Hi Amos, love your playing and your demos! Easily the best Darkglass demos on the web by a long, long shot! I went from thinking that DG pedals where only for terrible clacky treble buzz to really looking for to picking up a X7 and maybe a Vintage Ultra!
I have a non DG question for you: What your favorite Yamaha BB in your collection?
I have a few 80's BBs like a BB2000 and BB3000 and I'd really like to add a BBP34 or a BB2024, any picks between the two?
Cool Sepultura shirt bro..Hope all is well!!
Ha! Thanks man!
Amos...no sé si entiendes español... pero si es así... sería espectacular... Que tócaras unas líneas de bajo... de "Sepultura"...in honor...and tribute...!!! To great brasilian...thrash metal band...!!!🤘i think for your T shirt... saludos...😈
What does the drive knob do again? J/k. Great video. Wishing I heard this before I nabbed the Alpha Omega. Then again, one more pedal to the collection won't hurt lol. Great video as always.
They do different things for sure. No harm in having both…
Yeah. So many bass fuzz pedals suck out the low end, leaving only the buzz. DGVM keeps it. Impressive.
That Orlando makes me thing two things:
1. That's a great sound!
2. That design is so goofy looking that it's momma must have to tie a pork chop around its neck to get the Hofner to play with it.
Well that’s an image that won’t fade soon. 😂
@@AmosHeller Serious note- A video discussing that thing would be a great watch. Does it use regular electric flatwounds? It has a great sound to it.
Thanks! Not a bad idea. I’ve thought about a “meet the gang” series … and yes it uses regular electric flatwounds. I got this bass maybe 10 years ago and I’ve never changed them
After watching your many DG pedal videos, I am hoping you can help me pick one.
I currently have a Trace Elliot Transit B "fly rig". Its 5-band EQ is great, the 2-band compressor is pretty good, the drive section is kinda gross (buzzy, but with a blend knob). I can't seem to dial in the warm tone that goes with blues/rock from the 60s-80s. (I play no metal and no slap.) It has aux in and a headphone out, but it sounds very sterile, so I have a DG Element to do cab sims and practice silently. (Although it can store 5 IRs, I generally find one I like and stick to it.)
When I play out loud, I use a Fender Rumble 40. (It's built-in drive section is nothing special.)
I am thinking to replace the Transit B (and maybe the Element) with one of the DG pedal offerings. I like to keep things simple; once I find "my sound" I don't like to fiddle too much. Given my genre, one of the Microtubes seems appropriate. Also, maybe the Vintage line.
- The X7 seems to be able to replace the Transit B
- The X7 Ultra seems to be a replacement for both the Transit B and the Element (the X7 Ultra's cab sim affects the headphone out, right?)
But can I get that warm tone from the X7s or should I be looking at the Vintage models?
- Vintage Deluxe v3 as a replacement for the Transit B or
- Vintage Ultra v2 as a replacement for the Transit B and the Element
Your thoughts?
I went with the Vintage Deluxe. I am working through the basslines on Cream's Disraeli Gears, and this unit is perfect for it.
Sorry I’m so late to this-
I haven’t found the X’s to be particularly warm overall.
I see your comment below-given what you wrote I think you made the right call.
Does anyone know what the INTRO song is? That's so great ;-)
@@zssedmikraska7712 thanks! It’s an original.
@@AmosHeller I listened to that riff a few times at work today, and it lifted my spirits. Tomorrow, I'll grab the bass, turn on the combo, and go try to feel it out. I got a massive urge to start practicing and playing again. By the way, I've only had another effects pedal unpacked and untested for two years - Darkglass Alpha Omega, and tomorrow it will have its premiere. Thanks, Amos, for the inspiration to get started ;-)
That bass kicks so much ass
Here's a question 4 u, if you could have only 1 bass for a small home studio deal, maybe some live down the track, and your options were a DarkRay or Special 4HH, what would you choose, i know it depends on the player, WWAD, thanks in advance.
I think I would take the special. More tonal options, lower cost, you can always buy and switch out distortion pedals.
Thanks, a wider range of sounds is what i am after, bang for buck, good advice, cheers.
@@AmosHeller Thanks Amos, very generous of you to share your time and expertise, this sort of thing is really good for the industry, we just need more of the same, hoping to grab a 4HH Special in Harvest Orange, and happy to wait as MM are backed up. Cheers!
Are you going through the input or effects loop on your amp
UNDER A PALE GREY SKY
I dunno, I got more of a "training montage for the final boss fight, after suffering a demoralising loss" vibe.
I’ll accept that
MESHUUGAH BASSIST USES IT,,,and thats my yardstick
do you have your BB wired with a toggle? ala bb2000/3000 if so, YASSSSS!!!!!
I do! I don’t really like pickup blend knobs. I never messed much with having one on only 30% or so, I never hear the difference. And I’d rather only use one master volume.
Could you please tell me if the VMT uses soft-switching?
I believe all of Darkglass uses soft touch relays. I love them.
@@AmosHeller Awesome, thank you. I'm building a board where I would like everything on it to be soft-switching.
is it same drive with vintage ultra?
Get into my earholes!
I've ignored their stuff for far too long, I thought they were way too metal oriented. Turned out I was wrong!
Please, is this pedal true bypass?
skills not included
sepultura shirt and cannibal corpse cameo in the same video??? love the DG distortion box vids.
Thanks!!