• Home
  • Darkglass Microtubes X Ultra Multi-Band Bass Drive Pedal
Home

Darkglass Microtubes X Ultra Multi-Band Bass Drive Pedal

Versatile Bass Drive, Equalizer, D.I. & Cab Simulator Stompbox

£399.00

Loading...

FREE UK Delivery

Free & Next Day delivery to most UK locations when spending over £149

Earn 1197 Loyalty Points

You’ll get £11.97 to spend on your next order.

Click and Collect

Available to collect by request.
Looking to try or buy at our Guildford store?
How does click and collect work at Andertons?

SKU: DGMICROX7U

Product Description

Darkglass has become the go-to brand for modern bassists, with their popular Microtubes pedals offering immensely powerful and focused distortion tones. The Microtubes X Ultra is another model to join their enviable lineup; an all-encompassing stompbox that offers cutting-edge overdrive, unrivalled tone-shaping, D.I. connectivity and switchable I.R. cab simulation.

Here's what Darkglass says about the Microtubes X Ultra:

In 2018 Darkglass Electronics launched their Microtubes X series of versatile multiband drive pedals to great acclaim. The new Microtubes X Ultra rounds out the range and greatly expands on the already immense versatility of the X pedals, for those players that want the ultimate studio or live bass fly rig in a pedal format.

Featuring all the great controls that the X Series is known for, allowing users to select exactly what frequencies they want to compress and saturate for the low and treble respectively, Microtubes X Ultra has four major additions providing an additional layer of flexibility, while maintaining the same compact footprint, making it an extremely complete tool for the modern bassist.

Key Features

  • Selectable Clean Channel/ Unique Multiband Bass Distortion
  • Pure Analog Signal Path
  • Variable LF compressor
  • 6-band Graphic EQ
  • Balanced XLR output with switchable IR cabinet simulation
  • Connect to your PC/Mac to load different Virtual Cabinets (one at a time) via Micro-USB and free ‘Darkglass Suite’ software
  • 3.5mm Headphone output and Auxiliary input, perfect for practicing etc.

Distorting bass has always been a very challenging engineering endeavour. In order to achieve a punchy and aggressive distortion, that is also full and fat-sounding, you really need to reconcile two contradicting conditions. The tightness comes from attenuating bass frequencies before saturation, which will also result in a very thin signal, however boosting the lows can also result in additional, unwanted fuzz. To solve this paradox, audio engineers have been using multiband distortions in the studio for a few decades now.

With the Microtubes X Ultra, the audio is split by two variable low-pass and high-pass filters at the very start of the signal chain. The high-pass signal (mostly the mid and treble tones) is distorted using CMOS circuitry, just like our other regular Microtubes pedal circuits. The low pass-signal (all bass) is left clean and then is processed by the variable built in compressor. This lets the high frequencies be all crunch, attack and full of rich harmonics, all while mixing back in the undistorted lows to add gargantuan size to the overall mix. The result is virtually unlimited fullness, size, aggression and definition, regardless of how old the strings are or even if your instrument is just boomy or thin sounding. 

Microtubes X7 Ultra adds a 6-band graphic equalizer with perfectly tailored mid controls for maximum tonal flexibility. Plus, by equipping the pedal with our award-winning impulse response cabinet simulation module, to the already über versatile multiband distortion engine and graphic equalizer, all helps to make Microtubes X Ultra the complete rig-in-a-box for studio and live performing.

Pressing the Distortion footswitch, selects a Clean channel that bypasses the low pass filter, all while leaving the full range, clean signal, compressor, EQ and cab-sim engaged, so you can now switch from a crystal clean to massive distortion with a simple stomp.  In addition, the Auxiliary Input and Headphone Output, with cab sim, makes the pedal perfect for practicing. This allows you to connect your PC or mobile device to your pedal to play along with your favourite songs and backing tracks in total silence.

Controls

  • High-pass frequency: Controls the cutoff frequency to be distorted, ranging from 100 Hz (for thicker, fuzzier saturation) or 1 kHz for ultra-sharp definition
  • High Drive: Sets the amount of distortion for the high pass side
  • High Level: Sets the output volume of the distorted high-pass signal
  • Low-pass frequency: Controls the cutoff frequency to be mixed back to the high-pass side Ranging from 50 Hz (for only sub-bass) and 500 Hz to preserve some clean mids
  • Low Comp: This control is also used to control the compression amount when the compressor is enabled for clean signal
  • Low Level: Sets the output volume of the low-pass signal

Sliders

  • Master: +-12 dB - sets the overall volume of the unit. 
  • Low shelf: +-12 dB @ 80 Hz
  • 250 Hz: +-12 dB
  • 500 Hz: +-12 dB
  • 1.5 kHz: +-12 dB
  • 3 kHz: +-12 dB
  • High shelf: +-12 dB @ 5 kHz

Specifications

  • Input: 6.5mm / ¼” Jack
  • Main Output: 6.5mm / ¼” Jack
  • Direct Output: Balanced output via XLR connector with switchable ground lift - Cabinet Simulation can be switched with the Cab Sim push-button
  • USB: Connect to Darkglass Suite (PC/Mac) to load impulse responses to the pedal
  • Output impedance: 1k Ohm
  • Powered by optional 9V PSU (9V DC, centre -, 2.1 mm, ~200 mA current draw)
Elliot Stent author picture

Written by Elliot Stent

Customer Reviews

5.0

2 reviews

Value

Looks

Durability

Sound

Mr Mark Milner10th Jan 2023

Value 3Looks 5Durability 4Sound 5

Mr Richard Kerr24th Nov 2020

A brilliant pedal. The high and low pass filters make dialling in a distortion do easy. Having the cab SIM built in is another plus. Could use live with nothing else if required

Value 4Looks 5Durability 5Sound 5

Finance Options

Select deposit amount

0% = £0.00

Total amount payable £0.00. APR representative. Finance is subject to status. Terms and conditions apply.

Total Cash Price
£0.00
Deposit
£0.00
Amount of Credit
£0.00
Duration of Agreement
0 Months
0 Monthly Repayments
£0.00
Cost of Credit
£0.00
APR Representative
0%
Annual Rate of Interest (Fixed)
0%
Settlement Fee
£0.00
Total Amount Payable

£0.00

How do I use instant finance?

It's simple! Just add the products you want to your basket and click the "Checkout" button in your basket. Go through the checkout process and tick the "Finance" option under "Select Your Payment Method". You can then choose which finance term you'd like to apply for, and change your deposit if you wish.

At the end of the checkout you'll be taken to the V12 Finance web site. This is where your finance application is processed. Assuming your application is accepted you'll be able to place your deposit and confirm your order right there.

Then, your order will come through to Andertons and we'll send you the goods. Get approval before 3pm and we'll send your order out the same working day (stock permitting) for next working day delivery!

Who can apply for finance?

You must: spend over £300, be at least 18 years of age, have been a UK resident for 3 years or more, be able to make repayments by Direct Debit, be in regular employment (minimum of 16 hours per week) including self-employment, or in permanent residence with your partner who is in regular employment.

Read More About Online Finance

Andertons Music Company's Registered Office: 58-59 Woodbridge Road, Guildford, GU1 4RF. Andertons Music Company acts as a credit broker and not a lender and only offers credit products from Secure Trust Bank PLC trading as V12 Retail Finance. Not all products offered by Secure Trust Bank PLC are regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. Andertons Music Company is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority, firm registration number 716155. Credit provided subject to age and status.