The Darkglass Electronics Microtubes Vintage is an overdrive pedal for bass, designed to deliver a wide spectrum of classic overdriven bass tones from the '70s up through the '90s, rather than emulating one particular amp model1. It came from Darkglass Electronics, the Finnish company whose earlier Microtubes B3K bass overdrive set the template, and it was released in early 20132. Darkglass describes it as "our tribute to some of the most legendary sounds in rock history," providing warm tube-like tones with a natural dynamic response3.
Despite the name, there are no tubes inside. Premier Guitar's reviewer put it plainly: "There are no 'microtubes' in this pedal (or any tubes at all for that matter), so don't let the name fool you"1. The maker's product page currently lists the Vintage Microtubes as sold out4.
A bass overdrive for classic '70s to '90s tones
The Microtubes Vintage is part of Darkglass's Core Series4. Where the B3K was described by the maker as "a perfect combination of brutality and clarity"7, the Vintage takes a different aim: classic, overdriven bass tones spanning three decades1. Aion FX's circuit analysis describes it as essentially the same circuit as the B3K, but with the two toggle switches removed and a new control called Era added, which is a midrange tone control2. Premier Guitar's reviewer noted the Vintage's predecessor, the B3K, apparently shares the same jack configuration1.
The pedal sits in a durable brushed aluminum housing1, with a footprint smaller than a standard tuner1. Pedal of the Day described the look as a "sleek metallic enclosure" with a simple graphic layout and retro font5. The power jack sits below the input jack on the right side of the pedal1, and a blue LED lights up when the pedal is active1.
The controls: Level, Blend, Drive and Era
The pedal has four knobs. Here is what each does, according to the maker's manual:
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Level | Sets the volume of the overdriven signal6 |
| Blend | Mixes the clean input signal with the overdriven signal. The clean signal stays at unity gain while the overdriven signal's volume is set by Level, allowing fine control of the blend ratio6 |
| Drive | Sets the amount of saturation in the overdriven signal3 |
| Era | Interacts with the Drive knob to shape the pedal's character. Dial it down for the warm midrange tones of the '70s, or crank it up for the punchy metallic tones of '80s and '90s rock6 |
The Blend control is the key to keeping low end intact. Because the clean signal remains at unity gain6, you can mix in as much or as little overdrive as you want without losing your bass's fundamental. Premier Guitar's reviewer found that pushing the blend to 100 percent gave a nicely compressed, usable tone1.
What the Era knob does
Era is the control that sets this pedal apart from the B3K. Premier Guitar called it "a tonal-time machine of sorts that acts as a filter and adds dynamic control at the same time"1. Set at its minimum, the Era knob boosts the mids and adds warmth to the overall tone1. As you roll it up, more definition is added and the tone becomes more aggressive1. Bass Musician Magazine's reviewer, Kilian Duarte, found that in '60s mode it rounds out the tone with some low end boost, as was common at the time3.
Power and connections: 9V, no battery
The pedal runs on a regulated 9V DC adapter with a center-negative plug only6. There is no battery compartment and no battery power option15, and no adapter is included in the box3. Bass Musician Magazine's reviewer called the missing adapter "one slight bummer"3. The pedal came with four rubber grippers to add on as an option3.
Where it came from and where it is made
Darkglass Electronics began shipping the Microtubes B3K bass distortion pedal in November 2010, with Level, Drive and Blend knobs, Attack and Grunt switches, and 9V battery or power supply operation8. The Vintage Microtubes followed in early 20132, stripping the toggles and adding Era2.
The pedal is designed in Finland and was handbuilt in Seattle, Washington, by Spencer Doren, the owner of 3Leaf Audio1. Pedal of the Day noted the pedal "comes to you all the way from Finland via Darkglass Electronics"5.
What reviewers said
Reviews were positive across the board. Bass Musician Magazine's Kilian Duarte rated it 4.7 out of 53, finding it studio capable and noting it tracked incredibly well, with the blend knob allowing a desirable balance with the natural bass tone3. He also found it well wired, with noise at a minimum even when cranked3.
Premier Guitar's verdict highlighted the pedal's strengths:
"Pros: Authentic and warm overdriven tone. Delivers vintage vibe without vintage cost."1
The Premier Guitar review was conducted using a vintage Ampeg B-15 while alternating between a Fender '75 Jazz reissue and a '78 Fender P1. Pedal of the Day's Mike B called it a fun overdrive whose Era and Blend controls produce usable sound in today's modern guitar world5.
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Questions
Does the Darkglass Microtubes Vintage have tubes inside?
No. Despite the name, there are no tubes or microtubes in the pedal. The name refers to the Microtubes circuit family rather than actual vacuum tubes. It is a solid-state overdrive pedal, and reviewers note the tube-like warmth comes from the circuit design, not from tubes in the box.
Can the Microtubes Vintage run on a battery?
No. There is no battery compartment and no battery power option. The pedal requires a regulated 9V DC adapter with a center-negative plug, which is not included in the box, so you need to supply your own power supply.
What does the Era knob do on the Darkglass Vintage Microtubes?
Era is a midrange tone control that interacts with the Drive knob. Set low, it boosts mids and adds warmth, giving the warm midrange tones of the '70s. Rolled up, it adds definition and makes the tone more aggressive, moving toward the punchy metallic tones of '80s and '90s rock.
Is the Darkglass Microtubes Vintage true bypass?
The pedal uses a soft bypass switch rather than true bypass. Reviewers describe it as a quiet, soft-touch switch for silent on/off switching, with a blue LED that lights up when the pedal is active.
Is the Darkglass Vintage Microtubes discontinued?
The maker's product page lists the Vintage Microtubes as sold out, and the B3K V2 page is also listed as sold out. The pedal sits in Darkglass's Core Series and was released in early 2013 as a follow-up to the B3K.
Where is the Darkglass Microtubes Vintage made?
The pedal is designed in Finland and was handbuilt in Seattle, Washington, by Spencer Doren, the owner of 3Leaf Audio, according to Premier Guitar's review. Darkglass Electronics is a Finnish company that later expanded into amplifiers and speakers.
Sources (8)
- Darkglass Electronics Microtubes Vintage Pedal Review, Premier Guitar, 2013-06-11
- Maelstrom Bass Drive / Darkglass Microtubes B3K, Aion FX, 2021-11-12
- Review - Darkglass Electronics Vintage Microtubes - Bass Musician Magazine, The Face of Bass, Bass Musician Magazine, 2015-07-01
- Vintage Microtubes, Darkglass
- Darkglass Electronics Microtubes Vintage Overdrive, Pedal of the Day (www.pedal-of-the-day.com), 2015-02-24
- Vintage Microtubes Manual, Darkglass
- Microtubes B3K V2, Darkglass
- Gear Watch: Darkglass Electronics Microtubes B3K Overdrive Pedal, No Treble (www.notreble.com), 2010-11-05
