Darkglass Microtubes B3K V2 Bass Overdrive Pedal

Approximately seven years ago a little boutique effects pedal maker from Finland set the low-end world alight with the release of the incredible B3K - a CMOS overdrive/distortion pedal that had been crafted specifically for use with bass guitar. The hand-crafted B3K (and it's big brother, the B7K) took the bass-playing world by storm, and soon became one of the most popular and coveted bass guitar Overdrive circuits available.

Simplicity is the Key

The B3K from Darkglass Electronics featured an incredibly simple control layout, which arguably contributed to its initial success. Its 3 control knobs and toggle switches made finding the right tone super-simple, and each setting you dialed in would sound both useful and appealing.

Now in 2017, Darkglass have decided it was time to take this incredible pedal and, making use of some of the engineering tricks they've picked up in the subsequent seven years since developing the B3K, give the pedal the upgrade that it deserves. Introducing the Darkglass Microtubes B3K V2!

Little Dude, Big Attitude... Again!

With the Microtubes B3K V2 you get the same features as the original, but now you also get the ability to restore your tonal mid-range, giving your overall sound a more natural character if needed. Instead of an Attack switch you're presented with a Tone control knob, which grants you much more control over your bass's higher harmonic content (3kHz to 8kHz range).

Plenty of Grunt

As expected, the B3K V2 still features that lovely Grunt switch, but it now takes the form of a Mid-Boost, which gives your 300 Hz to 1 kHz range a nice 6dB increase. This makes the B3K V2 even better at cutting through busier-sounding mixes, whilst still offering you all the brutality and clarity of the original pedal.

V2 Technical Upgrades

Whilst the original B3K was already a very versatile CMOS bass overdrive, with the B3K V2 Darkglass have added some useful features to give you even more tone-shaping possibilities:

• Tone Knob - using a variable low-pass filter, the Tone control sculpts your bass's high harmonic content as precisely as you could wish for. Whereas the original B3K has an Attack Switch for the same purpose, the Tone control gives you a much greater range to play with, and plenty more control over the attack and treble
• Mid Boost Switch - this additional control adds an optional alternative to the characteristic mid-frequency response of the B3K. Once pressed in, it will result in a slightly flatter and more transparent character to your tone
• Grunt Switch - whilst the original B3K had the 3-way Grunt toggle, the B3K V2 instead has a simple push-switch with the popular Raw and Fat sound-modes available

If you've never experienced a Darkglass pedal first-hand, then don't just take my word as to how good they are: call into your local PMT Store and ask to speak to one of our Bass experts - I'm sure they'd be happy to set up an in-store demonstration for you!

Highlights

• Upgraded version to the original B3K - one of the best and most sought after bass distortion circuits on the planet
• Contains the exact same vibe as the originak B3k, but with additional tone sculptine options
• That familiar tone-crushing bass overdrive sound
• Rugged laser-etched enclosure that will last you a lifefime
• Controls: Blend, Tone, Level, Drive, Grunt, Mid Boost