The Darkglass Alpha Omega is a bass distortion pedal with preamp features, made by Darkglass. Its defining idea is two distinct distortion circuits, named Alpha and Omega, wired in parallel and controlled by a single Mod knob that selects one or blends between them1. Darkglass describes Alpha as punchy, tight with a lot of definition, and Omega as simply brutal and raw1. It was launched at NAMM 2017 and co-developed with Jon Stockman, bassist of Australian rock band Karnivool2.
Darkglass positions the pedal as a departure from their earlier work: it is fully operational amplifier based, rather than built on the circuit approach of their earlier preamplifiers and overdrives3. The pedal is currently listed as sold out on Darkglass's own product page3.
Two distortion circuits on one Mod knob
The core of the pedal is its pair of distortion circuits. Darkglass says the two circuits, Alpha and Omega, are wired in parallel for responsive distorted tones, and the Mod knob selects one or mixes between them6. In the maker's words:
"Alpha is punchy, tight with a lot of definition, whereas Omega is simply brutal and raw178."
That single control is what separates the Alpha Omega from most two-channel drives: instead of footswitching between voices, you set a point on a continuous sweep between them, or park it at either end for one circuit alone1.
The same dual-circuit engine carries across the family. The Alpha·Omega Ultra keeps the two parallel circuits and the Mod knob69, and on the Ultra's Darkglass Suite software you can assign a footswitch to toggle the Mod between Alpha and Omega10. The Alpha·Omega Φoton, a later digital pedal, models the Alpha·Omega distortion circuit, developed in collaboration with Jon Stockman, and offers five distortion modes with a Drive knob that adds distortion and drive in modes 2 through 4 or blends in a tube preamp emulation in mode 181112.
The controls
The Alpha Omega's front panel, from the maker's manual1:
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Mod | Selects or mixes between the Alpha and Omega distortion circuits |
| Blend | Mixes the clean and processed signals; the clean signal stays at unity gain while the overdriven signal's volume is set by the Level knob |
| Level | Sets the volume of the overdriven signal feeding the Blend |
| Growl | Shelving bass boost for a fatter tone and increased low end saturation |
| Bass | ±12dB at 80Hz |
| Mid | ±12dB at 500Hz |
| Treble | ±12dB at 5kHz |
The Blend knob is worth a note for bass players: because the clean signal remains at unity gain, you can keep your fundamental low end intact while dialing in as much grind as you want on top of it1.
Darkglass's manual warns to use only a regulated 9V DC adapter with a center-negative plug. Unregulated power supplies or higher voltages may cause noise or damage and will void the warranty1.
An op-amp design with no clipping diodes
Most overdrive and distortion pedals get their clipping sound from diodes. The Alpha Omega does not. Independent circuit analysts Aion FX traced the pedal in 2025 and found that it contains no clipping diodes at all: the distortion comes entirely from overdriving standard op-amps13. Aion FX also found the circuits are distinct from Darkglass's B3K and not adapted from anything else they were aware of13.
That topology is what Darkglass means when they call the pedal fully operational amplifier based, a design they say differs greatly from their previous preamplifiers and overdrives3. For a player, it puts the Alpha Omega in a different category from diode-clipped drives: the character of the distortion comes from the op-amps running out of headroom rather than from diodes slicing the waveform.
Aion FX released their trace as a DIY project, the Empyrean Deluxe, so builders can construct the circuit themselves14.
The Alpha Omega family and the Omicron
The Alpha Omega is the flagship of a small family of pedals sharing the same dual-circuit idea15610:
| Pedal | What it adds or changes |
|---|---|
| Alpha Omega | The original: dual circuits, Mod knob, 3-band EQ, XLR output, parallel out13 |
| Alpha Omicron | A simplified version, launched at NAMM 2017, without the DI and active EQ1316 |
| Alpha·Omega Ultra | Deeper control over the distortion circuit, plus DI and headphone features; demoed at NAMM 20181517 |
| Alpha·Omega Φoton | A digital model of the Alpha·Omega distortion with 5 modes and a tube preamp emulation11 |
Aion FX's trace of both pedals found the component numbering is the same between the Alpha Omega and the Alpha Omicron, indicating the Alpha Omega was likely designed first and the Omicron was a simplified version of it13. Aion FX frames the relationship as analogous to Darkglass's B3K and B7K: the Alpha Omega is an upgraded version of the Alpha Omicron in the same way the B7K is an upgraded B3K, adding the 3-band EQ, XLR output and parallel out1316.
The Ultra draws considerably more power than the original, at ~130mA against the Alpha Omega's ~30mA91, and the Φoton more again at ~500mA8. All three run on 9V DC center-negative supplies198.
What reviewers said
Guitar World's writers found the dual distortion circuits "superb in offering more driven tones than you'll know what to do with," and called the Alpha Omega Ultra V2 "capable enough to replace your entire rig with a small box you can fit in your pocket or guitar case"1815. Reviewing the related Darkglass Kaamos, MusicRadar's Connor Flys noted that "if you can do without the octave, this Darkglass preamp offers far deeper control over the distortion circuit," pointing players back toward the Alpha·Omega Ultra as the deeper-control alternative19. Premier Guitar demoed the Alpha·Omega Ultra at NAMM 201817.
Videos
Darkglass Electronics
Scott's Bass Lessons
Rabea Massaad
Questions
What is the difference between the Alpha Omega and the Alpha Omicron?
The Alpha Omicron is a simplified version of the Alpha Omega, launched at NAMM 2017 as a smaller, more affordable pedal. The Alpha Omega keeps the same dual distortion engine but adds a 3-band EQ, an XLR output and a parallel out. Aion FX's trace found the component numbering is the same between the two, suggesting the Alpha Omega was designed first.
Who designed the Darkglass Alpha Omega?
The Alpha Omega was co-designed by Darkglass and Jon Stockman, bassist of Australian rock band Karnivool. Darkglass says the two worked together at their then Helsinki headquarters over 18 months, through tens of prototypes, before the pedal was finished.
Is the Darkglass Alpha Omega analog?
Yes. The Alpha Omega is an analog pedal, and Darkglass describes it as fully operational amplifier based. Aion FX's circuit trace found no clipping diodes at all: the distortion comes entirely from overdriving standard op-amps.
How much current does the Alpha Omega draw?
The Alpha Omega draws about 30mA from a regulated 9V DC center-negative power supply, according to Darkglass's manual. Darkglass warns that unregulated supplies or higher voltages may cause noise or damage and will void the warranty.
Is there a DIY clone of the Alpha Omega?
Yes. Aion FX traced the Alpha Omega circuit in 2025 and released it as the Empyrean Deluxe, a DIY distortion project. They traced the Alpha Omicron alongside it and released that as the Empyrean Dual Distortion.
Sources (19)
- Alpha Omega Manual, Darkglass
- Darkglass Electronics Reveal Alpha Omicron Dual-Voiced Distortion, Guitar.com, 2017-09-04
- Alpha Omega, Darkglass
- Alpha Omega, Darkglass
- Alpha Omega by Darkglass Electronics, RockBoard PedalPedia, 2026
- Alpha·Omega Ultra with Aux In, Darkglass
- [Alpha Omega Manual
- Alpha Omega Photon Manual, Darkglass
- Alpha Omega Ultra Manual, Darkglass
- Alpha·Omega Ultra with Aux In, Darkglass
- Alpha·Omega Φoton, Darkglass
- Alpha·Omega Φoton, Darkglass
- Tracing Journal: Darkglass® Alpha Omega & Alpha Omicron, Aion FX, 2025-03-28
- Empyrean Dual Distortion / Darkglass® Alpha Omicron, Aion FX, 2025-03-28
- Best bass preamp pedals: consistently great tone, anywhere, Guitar World, 2023-05-23
- Empyrean Deluxe Distortion / Darkglass® Alpha Omega, Aion FX, 2025-03-28
- Darkglass Alpha Omega Ultra Demo at NAMM 2018, Premier Guitar, 2018-01-30
- Best bass effects pedals: best pedals for every style, Guitar World, 2021-12-20
- “A versatile overdrive and a high-quality octaver, MusicRadar, 2025-07-11
