Introduction
Is the market for guitar amp modeling already saturated? Enter the Darkglass Anagram, accompanied by its Guitar Essentials package and exclusive hardware. This isn’t just another player in a crowded field; it brings unique features that make it a compelling choice.
Darkglass has established itself as a leader in bass processing, renowned for its extraordinary tone quality. Notably, one of its founders, Douglas Castro, has transitioned to Neural DSP, a brand celebrated for its cutting-edge guitar amp modeler, the Quad Cortex.
Perhaps the most exciting aspect of this launch is the integration of NAM A2 capture technology from Tone 3000. This open-source capture software is available at no cost and has garnered attention for its impressive capabilities,proving that quality doesn’t always come with a price tag.
Additionally, the Anagram Guitar essentials has been developed in partnership with renowned guitar retailers Sweetwater and Andertons, ensuring a wealth of expertise behind this launch, wich raises expectations considerably.
To clarify, the Anagram was initially designed for bassists as a multi-effects unit and amp modeler that can function as part of a pedalboard or as a standalone rig.
the Guitar Essentials Limited Edition version retains all the features of the original, with enhancements in the sleek black finish and the inclusion of the Guitar Essentials package, which comprises essential amplifiers and effects for guitarists.
Once the limited edition hardware (priced at $100 more to include the pre-loaded Guitar Essentials package) is sold out,the Guitar Essentials package will be available for all users of the original Anagram to purchase and integrate into their devices.
Stay updated with the latest guitar news, interviews, lessons, reviews, deals, and more, delivered straight to your inbox!
Watch on
Specifications
- Launch price: $1,299/£999
- Type: Bass amp modeler/multi-effects
- Controls: 6 rotary controls (assignable), 3 footswitches, 7-inch touch color display
- Features: Amp modeling and multi-effects, NAM captures, Darkglass Marketplace
- Connectivity: Input, outputs 1&2 (XLR), outputs 3&4 (1/4-inch jack), FX loop headphones (mini-jack), MIDI in/out (mini-jack), USB C
- Power: 9-12v DC, 2A
- Dimensions: 210mm x 105mm x 62mm/8.2″ x 4.1″ x 2.4″
- Weight: 815g/1.8lbs
- Contact: Darkglass
Quality of Build
Build Quality Rating: ★★★★
The Anagram’s premium quality is immediatly noticeable upon handling. Its aluminum chassis, finished in an elegant black, is a notable upgrade from the original.
This aluminum construction ensures durability,capable of withstanding the rigors of frequent performances. The knobs provide a satisfying resistance and click without any unwanted lateral movement.
The footswitches are designed with live performances in mind,and I have no doubts about their visibility even on brightly lit stages. The same goes for the display, which showcases high resolution with impressive imagery.
The input/output ports on the rear of the device exhibit no signs of looseness, which is a reassuring indicator of quality construction-something expected at this price point from a reputable brand like Darkglass.
The included soft-shell case enhances the premium experience, providing a secure home for the hardware. While it’s not designed to be tossed in with other band equipment, it offers a sturdy option among lightweight soft cases.
In comparison, competitors like the Neural DSP Quad Cortex Mini do not include a case, giving Darkglass an advantage in this regard.
One minor drawback is the mains adapter, which feels somewhat flimsy for a device that could potentially replace an entire rig. This concern is heightened by its 2A power requirement,which,while manageable,necessitates the use of the provided adapter since most pedalboard power supplies may not support this demand when combining outputs.
Usability and Features
Usability and features Rating: ★★★★
A compact yet user-pleasant array of physical controls
User-friendliness is crucial for devices like this. With numerous functions and parameters to navigate across various blocks, avoiding a steep learning curve is essential.
As highlighted in our earlier review of the Anagram, this unit excels in usability thanks to its compact yet effective set of physical controls (six encoders and three footswitches) along with a responsive touchscreen. The Guitar Essentials version maintains this setup, adding only the guitar-specific sounds.
Thus,in terms of usability,the positive aspects from the previous review remain unchanged,but it’s worth reiterating the key features.
The familiar modes of Presets, Stomps, and Scenes allow the footswitches to manage the entire rig, toggle individual effects, or smoothly transition between active blocks and parameters within a scene.
Users can customize their view of the rig by selecting Chain, Bindings, or Name. The Chain view displays the entire 24-block chain, which can be zoomed in to show five blocks at a time for easier navigation.
The Bindings view is especially useful, as it allows users to see the text depiction of each footswitch assignment, while also enabling the assignment of any function to the six encoders, whether it’s activating or deactivating a block or adjusting parameters within a block.
These assignments can be layered, and users can set limits on the minimum and maximum adjustments to prevent accidental changes during live performances, which is a thoughtful feature.
The Name view prominently displays the preset in large, easy-to-read text along with the footswitch assignments, making it the most practical option for live settings.
The touchscreen interface is user-friendly, simplifying tasks like saving presets, routing, adding blocks, and rearranging effects. However, a minor drawback is that when scrolling through effect icons, the reliance on small text within the images can make it challenging to identify effects quickly.
The Anagram features a robust I/O setup, including stereo 1/4″ and XLR outputs (separate left and right), MIDI connectivity, Bluetooth audio support, a headphone output, and a TRS stereo effects loop.
Though, there is a limitation: while the Anagram includes an expression input, it occupies the return of the effects loop. This can be worked around by using a MIDI controller if you wish to utilize the effects loop for external pedals, but a dedicated expression pedal input would be preferable given the number of guitarists who use them.
On the positive side, what makes the Anagram particularly exciting is not just its impressive sound quality (more on that shortly) but also its expandability through NAM and the Darkglass Marketplace.
NAM,or Neural Amp Modeling,is distinct from the similarly named Neural DSP.NAM is an open-source, capture-based technology that is completely free to use.
Users can browse and download captures from Tone 3000’s website, which is a straightforward process but requires the Darkglass Suite software and a USB-C connection to link the Anagram to a laptop for file imports.
The Marketplace functions similarly, allowing third parties to share blocks they’ve created for the anagram, with some being free and others available for purchase. Importantly, all core firmware updates and standard blocks developed by Darkglass for the Anagram will remain free of charge.
While the Anagram includes Bluetooth, there is currently no mobile app available, and as of now, there are no known plans to develop one. Consequently, utilizing the Marketplace and NAM will require a laptop, which feels somewhat outdated compared to devices like the Line 6 Helix Stadium, which features Bluetooth apps and Wi-Fi for similar functions directly on the hardware.
lastly, for those of us who may not be as familiar with bass-oriented blocks, there’s an option to hide these from the menus (this is the default setting on the limited edition model), which streamlines the interface by displaying only guitar-relevant options.
Sound Quality
Sound Quality Rating: ★★★★
when it comes to sound, the excitement truly begins. It’s critically important to note that the variety of guitar tones available here is not as extensive as those found in guitar-centric modelers like the Helix Stadium or Quad Cortex.
The name itself suggests a focus on essentials, so if you’re seeking a vast array of unique guitar sounds, you may be disappointed-at least for now.
At launch, the Anagram offers a selection of 12 classic amp models, ranging from clean Fender tones to aggressive 5150-style distortion. Additionally,there are thousands of NAM models available.
The effects include seven drive options, three delay types, five reverbs, ten modulation effects, and thirteen additional effects categorized under EQ, Filters, and Dynamics. While this selection may not rival other modelers, it still provides ample options for most users.
