Darkglass Anagram

The Darkglass Anagram is a multi-effect processor and pedalboard platform designed for bass players who need flexibility, speed and precision¹. Announced in April 2025, it combines amp and cabinet modeling, a curated set of bass effects, and support for NAM and AIDA-X neural models and cabinet impulse responses in one unit¹². Darkglass describes it as a flagship bass platform, powered by a hexacore processor with 32-bit/48kHz audio processing, housed in a rugged anodized aluminum chassis².

The unit is built around a blocks-based architecture: you assemble signal chains on a high-resolution touch display, in series with up to 12 blocks or in parallel with up to 24². At launch it carried a street price of $1,199.99 USD²; Guitar World's review lists a launch price of $1,199/£907³², and Darkglass's own store listed it at £911.00 GBP, marked sold out, as of October 2026²⁴³.

Amp, cab and neural modeling

Anagram runs a modern DSP architecture with six cores, which Darkglass says handles complex effect chains and amp modeling with low latency¹. The pedal's effects include a curated selection tailored for bass, plus support for NAM and AIDA-X neural models and cabinet impulse responses¹. Premier Guitar's announcement described the feature set as including multiple effects and modeling, an on-board looper and tuner, with ultra-low latency and integration into the Darkglass ecosystem².

The manual's block list (firmware v1.18.1) shows the depth of the effects selection¹:

• Overdrive and distortion blocks: Entropia (multi-band distortion), Microtubes B3K, Vintage Microtubes, Alpha Omicron, Duality Fuzz, Chinchilla, Microtubes X, Atomic Sans, Green PiRate Fuzz, Bee Kolme OD, Arc Dreamer, Mood Fuzz⁷
• Delay and reverb blocks: Digital Delay, Analog Delay, Modulation Delay, and Room, Plate, Hall, Shimmer and Spring reverbs, each in mono or stereo⁷
• Cabinets: all bass cabinets have 6 microphone options with 6 position options each, plus artist cabinets from Dave, Forrester, Jon and Nolly⁷

Players can create signal chains in series (12 blocks) or parallel (24 blocks)⁵.

The controls: touchscreen, six knobs and three footswitches

Control comes from a 7-inch high-brightness touchscreen, six high-resolution endless rotary knobs and three footswitches². Guitar World's review lists the six rotary controls as assignable, so you can map them to the parameters you want under your hands³. One knob is the Tuner/Tempo control, which tunes the bass and sets global tempo between 40 and 300 BPM⁵.

Preset, Scene and Stomp modes, looper and mixer

Anagram features three control modes, Preset, Scene and Stomp, for instant switching, parameter adjustments and traditional pedalboard-style operation⁶. The other operating modes cover live and practice use:

• Mixer: set levels for line outs, XLRs and headphone output from a single view, with a Global EQ for overall tone⁸
• Looper: one-touch start, stop and overdub; loops run independently of presets, so you can switch tones without stopping playback⁸

Power and connections

Anagram is powered via 9V or USB-C (PD)². Darkglass specifies a minimum 1.7 A regulated power supply, 9-12 VDC center negative, and the unit includes a 9V DC power adapter⁵. It can also be powered from a USB-C supply that supports Power Delivery, such as compatible laptop chargers, phone chargers or power banks⁵.

The rear panel is built for flexible routing¹⁵:

Guitar World's review measured the unit at 210 x 105 x 62 mm and 815 g (1.8 lbs)³.

Firmware updates and the Guitar Essentials edition

Firmware updates arrive through the Darkglass Suite app over USB-C, which also gives access to the Darkglass library⁵. The manual documents the block list as of firmware v1.18.1¹.

In June 2026 Darkglass released a limited-edition Guitar Essentials version, created with UK retailer Andertons and Sweetwater in the US, which takes the same compact form factor as the regular Anagram⁹¹⁰. It ships with the Guitar Essentials package of 12 models of classic amps at launch, from Fender-style cleans to 5150-style high gain, and has access to the Anagram Marketplace for more models, free or paid, plus NAM captures and IRs¹¹¹⁰. Darkglass stressed it as a one-time-only, limited-edition launch⁹, and Guitar World reported the hardware costs $100 more to cover the pre-loaded package, with the guitar software element set to be available separately for a fee once the limited run sells through¹¹⁴.

What reviewers said

Guitar World's review of the bass Anagram praised its construction: the reviewer found an impressively sturdy, premium aluminum build, with rigid sockets and wobble-free rotary controls³. The same review listed true bypass and the assignable control set among its specifications³.

Of the Guitar Essentials edition, Guitar World's reviewer called the amp models and effects "fantastic"¹¹, while MusicRadar's Trevor Curwen found it suitably endowed to compete at the highest level, though noting the provided Guitar Essentials pack offers less range initially than some rivals¹⁰.

Reviewers also commented on the Anagram's physical construction. Bass Musician Magazine's reviewer found the build quality impressively sturdy, describing an Apple-like, clean aluminum chassis with rigid sockets and wobble-free rotary controls³.

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