A Must-See for Bassists! Introducing the Definitive Modern Sound Preamp

Today, I want to dive into the game-changing name in modern bass sound: Darkglass Electronics!
For many of you reading this, I’m sure you’ve already got your hands (or feet) on a Darkglass device.
I’m no exception.
I recently got my own Darkglass Electronics Microtubes B7K Ultra V2 With Aux In!

Darkglass Electronics / Microtubes B7K Ultra V2 With Aux IN

It took me about five years to finally make the purchase, and the reason?
Because it’s pricey!
Back then, I thought, “this feels too expensive” (I admit, I thought it was overpriced).
I was shocked at the time to see it cost about three times as much as my trusty MXR M80 Bass D.I+.
But this time around, I actually felt it was affordable and bought it.
Why? The current model includes an IR feature in the DI and headphone outputs!

https://www.darkglass.com/creations/microtubes-b7k-ultra-with-aux-in/

https://kcmusic.jp/darkglass/1706

The Microtubes B7K Ultra V2 With Aux In has built-in impulse response (IR) cabinet simulations!
It delivers incredible sound directly through the headphone out (3.5mm).
This was the major selling point for me.
With just this and a PC, it’s like getting the Darkglass head and about ten different cabinets for ¥55,000 (I might be exaggerating a bit...).
It’s truly the ‘ideal environment’ for apartment and studio artists.
With this and a compressor, it feels like anything is possible.
Let’s delve deeper into why that is.

Main Contents

• Loadable impulse response (IR) for cabinet simulation.
• Micro-USB B port allows connection to PC/Mac, enabling virtual cabinet loading via Darkglass Suite software.
• Equipped with a built-in cabinet simulation 3.5mm headphone output.
• Distortion perfectly embodies the modern sound! Even at high gain, the low-end remains robust.
• Versatile EQ controls.
• Produces a sound reminiscent of authentic tube warmth.

Loadable impulse response (IR) for cabinet simulation.

This cabinet simulation was the deciding factor for my purchase, and its usability exceeded my expectations.
It’s as simple as just selecting an option, making it easy for those who aren’t comfortable with PCs to use.
This technology has already been adopted by other manufacturers, but the Darkglass Ultra Series includes several cabinets released by Darkglass itself.
While there are, of course, cabinets from other manufacturers as well, the fact that Darkglass simulates its own cabinets means you can experience a more realistic sound (I believe this is true for others as well).
In fact, this was my first experience with IR, so I haven’t compared it to others.

Micro-USB B port allows connection to PC/Mac, enabling virtual cabinet loading via Darkglass Suite software.

It’s simple software that allows easy operation on a PC. While this may seem like a basic requirement, it’s actually the most important aspect.
I appreciate that the creators haven’t overcomplicated the system for their own satisfaction.
Additionally, I’m pleasantly surprised by the included Type B USB cable engraved with the Darkglass Electronics logo.
As a side note, it also comes with a pick and a sticker, which is another nice touch!

Equipped with a built-in cabinet simulation 3.5mm headphone output.

This might be the biggest motivation for my purchase.
The fact that the cabinet is already there is just amazing.
For those living in close-knit residential areas or apartment buildings, having the ability to play as loudly as you like at night through headphones is ideal.
It also resolves the nighttime noise issues!
Additionally, this model is equipped with an AUX in.
It has similar features to the ALBIT A1BP Vintage Mark II that I introduced earlier.
While this kind of equipment may be standard now, I think it’s a wonderful consideration.

Distortion perfectly embodies the modern sound! Even at high gain, the low-end remains robust.

Most Darkglass fans probably became interested due to the distortion from the B3K, right? (I certainly did!)
It feels like the bass itself is taking the lead!
To be honest, even the BOSS ODB-3 has amazing distortion, but this one offers an insane level of overdrive! It can produce a sound that’s almost like a hazardous material.
What’s impressive? This distortion goes incredibly deep without completely losing the low end; it maintains the low frequencies and outlines while still being distorted.
No matter how you set it, it surprisingly results in a great sound.
Even if it sounds heavily distorted on its own, it maintains clarity when combined with other elements.
I believe the EQ really hits the sweet spot.
Additionally, you can switch the level of distortion with a toggle.
Surprisingly, it can flexibly handle everything from a pronounced V-shaped to a flat response, even creating a mild distortion.
If anyone assumes that B7K equates to a pronounced V-shaped sound, I’d like to clarify that this assumption is incorrect.

Versatile EQ controls.

Like the distortion mentioned earlier, this section is also diverse! In fact, the lineup is so extensive that it can be overwhelming when it comes to choosing.
In addition to the Bass and Treble knobs, there are also Lo-Mid and Hi-Mid knobs. The Lo-Mid can be selected from 500Hz, 1kHz, or 250Hz, while the Hi-Mid can be chosen from 1.5kHz, 3kHz, or 750Hz.
Just tweaking these parameters allows for a wide range of sound creation, and even extreme adjustments won’t result in a drastic failure, which seems to be a common feature in recent preamps.
I believe the options will significantly vary depending on the type of pickups your bass has.
Moreover, the unique characteristic of this EQ is that it comes after the distortion in the signal chain.
By doing this, you can greatly alter the distortion’s tone using the EQ.

This is thoroughly explained by Tape-san from the now-popular Bass Line Laboratory.
My beloved MXR M80 Bass D.I+ is the opposite, with the EQ placed before the distortion, which led me to use both for different distortion characteristics at one point (in hindsight, that was quite efficient).
Nevertheless, Tape-san’s explanations are very easy to understand.

Produces a sound reminiscent of authentic tube warmth.

Now, the endangered species of tubes is only produced in Slovakia, China, and Russia (currently on export halt due to war), but this device simulates their sound to create a wonderful clean tone!
While the focus is often on the distortion, the clean sound is truly remarkable!
In fact, when I recently compared it to a real tube amp, the difference in sound quality was minimal (according to my amateur evaluation).
However, I would like to mention that some expressions may be a bit exaggerated.
One of the characteristics of tube amps is that they have a smooth sound, but there are certain parts here that feel a bit forced.
I think it would have been nice if the sound were a little sharper without feeling out of place.
Oddly enough, even when compared to a real tube amp, the sound is ‘soft’, which I believe makes it perfect for solo performances.
This may be a bit off-topic, but in Japan, there’s a next-generation tube called Nutube, created from a new concept developed by KORG and Noritake Ise Electronics (https://korgnutube.com/jp/).
I personally think it would be interesting to see products utilizing such technology emerge in the future (it has already been adopted by companies like Ibanez, KORG, and VOX).

Finally

I apologize to all the Darkglass fans for the boring article. To those considering a purchase, I want to say that while trying it out is great, I think it’s better to “just buy it and use it thoroughly.”
When you place it in your own environment, you’ll discover things you didn’t expect! (This is just my personal opinion.)
The reason is that we live in an era where you can easily sell items on online flea markets (https://www.soundmart.co.jp/).
Conversely, it’s also easy to buy.
If you have it on hand, you can try it out as much as you want, and if you like it, you can keep it forever, according to a collector.
There’s no need to hoard items like we did before, according to an employee on an allowance.
Above all, if the experience you gain here will be beneficial in the future, it’s a worthwhile investment. Let’s boldly pursue our ideals.
That said, please check out what my friends and I found worth buying last year.

Rāmsar Bass Designs Things I’m Glad I Bought in 2021

Everyone seems to be quite adventurous!
It’s a gathering of bassists with varying ages and interests, which makes it even more entertaining, haha!

Thank you for reading until the end this time!

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