The story: a Finnish bass specialist
Darkglass's own product pages place its headquarters in Helsinki at the time it co-designed the Alpha Omega pedal2. The company's roots go back further: its founder moved from Chile to Finland in 2010 and started Darkglass Electronics as a commercial entity38, and the firm has since become what Premier Guitar calls a household name in bass processing, with an artist roster that includes Alex Webster of Cannibal Corpse and Billy Gould of Faith No More38.
The line grew into a full bass range, plus the Exponent 500 amplifier head9:
- Overdrives and distortions, led by the Microtubes line
- Preamp pedals
- Compressors
- Multi-effects and digital processors
- The Exponent 500 amplifier head
Several of the company's product pages currently show a sold-out status, including the Microtubes X, Alpha Omicron, Kaamos and the Anagram platform10111213.
What Darkglass is known for: bass distortion with a blend
The idea Darkglass is most identified with is distortion that keeps the low end intact. Its own comparison in the Hyper Luminal compressor manual states it plainly: the compressor's blend, "unlike our distortions, is placed before the Output control," which tells you that in Darkglass distortions the Blend control sits after the effected signal mix14. For a bassist, that means the distorted character and the clean low end are mixed as separate signals rather than one smeared together.
The Microtubes X takes a studio approach: Darkglass describes it as bringing "the studio method producers have been using" to cover the whole bass distortion problem, splitting the signal so distortion is applied where it works and the low end stays clean10. At the other end of the range, the ADAM combines parallel distortion, multi-band compression, a 6-band EQ and a cab sim in one unit15.
MusicRadar's reviewers have been positive about the results, calling the Microtubes Ultra "a superb distortion pedal" and the Vintage Ultra "the similar and equally wonderful Vintage overdrive," suited to "stoner-rockers and doom-metallers" as well as blues bassists after a mild crunch16.
Darkglass Suite and digital pedals
Darkglass's digital pedals connect to a computer through the free Darkglass Suite software. For the Element, the manual describes using it to configure the pedal, load new impulse responses and download firmware updates; the pedal ships with a selection of cabinet IRs made by some of Darkglass's artists and also loads user IRs in WAV and AIFF formats17. The same software ecosystem backs the newer digital line, including the Microtubes Infinity, an "Advanced Microtubes distortion and compression pedal," and the Alpha Omega Φoton, an "Advanced Alpha Omega distortion and compression pedal"1819.
The Anagram is the company's platform play: Darkglass's manual describes it as "a multi-effect processor and pedalboard platform designed for bass players who need flexibility, speed, and precision"20. It is also the hungriest pedal in the range for power.
Power, warranty and support
Most Darkglass pedals run on the standard pedalboard supply, but the details matter7:
| Product | Power requirement |
|---|---|
| Typical Darkglass pedal | Regulated 9V DC, center negative7 |
| Element | 9 to 12V DC, center negative 2.1/5.5 mm barrel plug21 |
| Anagram | 9 to 12V DC, minimum 1.7 A regulated, center negative; or USB-C Power Delivery22 |
| MIDI Footswitch | 9V DC, USB, MIDI OUT/THRU or Darkglass amplifier connector23 |
Darkglass warns that unregulated power supplies or higher voltages may cause poor noise performance, damage the unit and void the warranty. Use a regulated 9V DC center-negative adapter unless the manual says otherwise7.
To activate the warranty, register the pedal at mypedal.darkglass.com and enter the serial number on the back of the pedal; the same instruction appears across the Element, Hyper Luminal, Microtubes B7K and Microtubes X manuals172425. Before shipping anything for service, email support@darkglass.com2627.
The people
Darkglass's pages credit bassist and producer Amos Heller as a collaborator on the Kaamos pedal, "designed in collaboration with legendary bassist and producer Amos Heller"12. The company also builds its artist relationships into its products: the cabinet IRs bundled with the Element were made by some of Darkglass's artists17.
The range (46)
News
Questions
Who owns Darkglass?
Korg USA acquired a controlling stake in Darkglass Electronics on 19 May 2022, for an undisclosed amount. Korg had already been distributing Darkglass products in North America before the purchase. The company's registered trademarks, including Darkglass and Microtubes, are held by Darkglass Electronics Oy.
Where are Darkglass pedals made?
Darkglass is a Finnish company, headquartered in Helsinki at the time it co-designed the Alpha Omega pedal. Its manuals list Darkglass Electronics Oy as the owner of the Darkglass, Microtubes and Microtubes Engine registered trademarks.
What power supply does a Darkglass pedal need?
Most Darkglass pedals take a regulated 9V DC adapter with a center-negative plug, the common 2.1/5.5 mm barrel standard. The Anagram is hungrier: it wants 9 to 12V DC at a minimum of 1.7 A, or a USB-C Power Delivery supply. Unregulated supplies or higher voltages can add noise, damage the unit and void the warranty.
How do I register a Darkglass pedal for warranty?
Register the pedal at mypedal.darkglass.com and enter the serial number printed on the back of the pedal. Darkglass asks you to email support@darkglass.com before shipping any product back for service. Using unregulated power supplies or higher voltages can void the warranty.
Can Darkglass pedals be used on guitar?
Darkglass designs its pedals for bass players, and its core distortion circuits are built around preserving low end. The company also makes guitar-focused versions of its platform, such as the Anagram Guitar Essentials editions of its multi-effect processor.
Which bassists use Darkglass?
Darkglass says its pedals are designed for bassists who need to be distinctively heard in any musical context, and it works with artists who make the cabinet impulses bundled with its digital pedals. MusicRadar's reviewers found the Vintage Ultra suits stoner-rock, doom-metal and blues bassists.
Sources (27)
- Darkglass Anagram Limited Edition Guitar Essentials review, Guitar World, 2026-07-21
- Alpha Omega, Darkglass
- Maelstrom Bass Drive / Darkglass Microtubes B3K, Aion FX, 2021-11-12
- Korg buys Darkglass Electronics in bid to become “a leader” in the bass gear market, guitarworld.com, 2022-05-20
- Has Darkglass just announced the ultimate overdrive pedal for bass guitarists?, Guitar World, 2022-09-09
- MIDI Footswitch Manual, Darkglass Electronics Oy
- Microtubes X Manual, Darkglass
- Review - Darkglass Electronics Vintage Microtubes - Bass Musician Magazine, The Face of Bass, Bass Musician Magazine, 2015-07-01
- Darkglass B7K Ultra Review by Kilian Duarte, Bass Musician Magazine, 2016-03-01
- Microtubes X, Darkglass
- Alpha Omicron, Darkglass
- KAAMOS - Darkglass, Darkglass
- Anagram Multi-Effects Unit, Darkglass
- Hyper Luminal Compressor, Darkglass
- Aggressively Distorting Advanced Machine, Darkglass
- Darkglass Vintage Ultra review, MusicRadar, 2016-08-10
- Element Manual, Darkglass
- Microtubes Infinity, Darkglass
- Alpha·Omega Φoton, Darkglass
- Anagram Manual, Darkglass
- Element Manual, Darkglass
- Anagram Multi-Effects Unit, Darkglass
- MIDI Footswitch, Darkglass
- Hyper Luminal Manual, Darkglass
- Microtubes B7K Manual, Darkglass
- Hyper Luminal Manual, Darkglass
- Microtubes X Manual, Darkglass