(USED) Darkglass Electronics Microtubes 900 Limited Edition "Medusa" Bass Amplifier Head
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Darkglass Electronics Microtubes 900 Limited Edition "Medusa" Bass Amplifier Head
Christopher Lovell's iconic Medusa artwork on Darkglass's original 900-watt flagship — 900 watts of Class D power, dual Microtubes voicings, a 4-band active EQ, and a presence that's as commanding visually as it is sonically.
What This Head Is and Why It Matters
Darkglass Electronics introduced the original Microtubes 900 in 2016 — their first bass amplifier, and an immediate statement about what a modern bass head could be. Finland-based and boutique in their approach to electronics, Darkglass had already established a devoted following through their acclaimed Microtubes pedals. The amp took that same signal-path philosophy — transparent clean foundation, switchable saturation engine, exceptional dynamic response — and scaled it into a stage-ready 900-watt head that weighs under seven pounds. The Limited Edition Medusa, released in 2018 in a deliberately limited production run, took that platform and added Christopher Lovell's stunning Medusa painting to the enclosure: a beautifully sinister interpretation of the mythological figure, created originally for Lovell's YouTube channel and selected specifically for this collaboration. The result is an amp that serious bass players reach for on tone grounds and that collectors value for its rarity. The Medusa edition has been discontinued, making used market examples the only way to acquire one. At Spotts Music Center, we're glad to have one available.
Key Highlights
- Limited Edition 2018 Medusa artwork by British artist Christopher Lovell — no longer in production
- 900 watts of Class D power — massive output in an enclosure weighing approximately 6.4 lbs
- Microtubes Engine — switchable saturation circuit covering mild overdrive to high-gain distortion
- B3K/VMT voicing selector — B3K delivers aggressive, percussive drive; VMT brings warmer, mid-forward vintage character
- Drive control — adjusts distortion intensity from soft warmth to full meltdown
- Tone control — variable low-pass filter over the Microtubes Engine's harmonic content
- Level control — sets Microtubes Engine output volume independently
- Blend control — mixes clean signal with Microtubes Engine from clean to full drive
- 4-band active EQ — Bass (80Hz), selectable Low Mids, selectable High Mids, Treble (5kHz), ±12dB each
- Passive/Active input selector — accommodates both passive and active basses
- Mute button — for silent tuning or between-song silence
- XLR DI output — balanced direct signal for FOH or recording
- Speakon/1/4" combo speaker output
- Effects loop (send/return)
- Proprietary Intelligent Footswitch included — one tap engages/disengages Microtubes Engine; hold 3 seconds to Mute
- Durable aluminum chassis — compact dimensions: 9.13" x 7.48" x 2.87"
Why You'll Love It
The Microtubes Engine Is the Core
The Microtubes Engine is what built Darkglass's reputation before they ever made an amplifier — it's the circuit behind the B3K and Vintage Microtubes pedals that have appeared on countless modern metal, prog, and alternative bass recordings. In the Medusa head, it sits upstream of the clean EQ section, meaning you can dial in the overdrive character and then further shape the combined signal with the 4-band EQ. The Blend control is the key to making this feel natural: at lower Blend settings, the clean signal dominates with just an edge of drive; at higher settings, the full Microtubes character comes forward. At no point does it feel like an artificial layer placed on top of your tone — it sounds like the amp itself is being pushed.
900 Watts in 6.4 Pounds
The Class D power section in the Microtubes 900 is a genuinely remarkable engineering achievement. Six and a half pounds is lighter than most single effects pedals on a modern pedalboard — and yet the output is 900 watts into 4 ohms, enough to push any speaker cabinet you'd realistically encounter on stage. For bass players who have been moving heavy traditional tube heads or large solid-state heads to gigs, the Microtubes 900 represents a fundamental shift in what touring amplification feels like. The Medusa edition adds the visual identity of a limited production run to this practical advantage.
The Artwork Is the Point
Christopher Lovell's Medusa was not commissioned for this project — it was a personal painting he made for his YouTube channel that Darkglass selected for its visual impact and thematic resonance with the brand's aesthetic. Lovell described wanting to depict Medusa as "beautifully sinister as opposed to her demon form" — and the result is a piece that sits between mythology and modern illustration in a way that's visually striking at stage distance and genuinely detailed up close. This is the only bass amplifier to carry Lovell's Medusa, and with the edition discontinued, it stays that way.
Great Fit For
- Professional and gigging bassists who need serious power output in a genuinely portable format
- Metal, prog, post-rock, and modern heavy music players who want the Darkglass Microtubes Engine in their amp head
- Recording bassists who want a versatile direct-recording head with switchable drive character and XLR DI
- Collectors and Darkglass enthusiasts looking for the original Microtubes 900 Limited Edition Medusa — which is no longer available new
- Bass players who stack drives and want an amplifier that plays well as both a clean platform and a saturated front end
- Players coming from heavy, large traditional heads who want to dramatically reduce the physical demands of their touring rig
Sound and Use Case
The Microtubes 900's clean channel is wide, clear, and genuinely transparent — well-suited to players who want an accurate representation of their instrument's natural tone reinforced rather than colored. The 4-band active EQ offers ±12dB at each frequency, with switchable mid frequencies that allow the head to be tuned to different cabinet characters, room acoustics, and playing styles. Low-mid heavy rooms, scooped slap tones, or forward midrange punch for cutting through dense arrangements are all accessible through the EQ section without engaging the Microtubes Engine at all.
When the Microtubes Engine is engaged, the character shifts significantly. B3K mode brings a percussive, articulate modern distortion that retains note definition even at high gain settings — the kind of drive that sustains hard-picked notes and handles dropped tunings without losing bottom. VMT mode is warmer and more vintage in character, with a mid push that recalls overdriven tube amplifiers rather than modern high-gain design. The Blend control determines how much of this character overlays the clean signal, allowing the Microtubes engine to enhance rather than replace the bass's fundamental tone. Players who have used Darkglass pedals will find the amp's drive section immediately familiar — this is the same circuit topology brought to a stage-ready platform.
Specifications
There aren't many bass amplifiers that function simultaneously as a serious pro tool and a collectible piece of art, but the Darkglass Medusa is one of them. The Microtubes 900 platform earned its reputation on sound alone — the limited edition artwork just makes it the kind of thing you don't walk past without stopping. If you've been watching for one, this is your moment.
We're happy to go over the current condition in full detail, talk about how it fits your rig, or answer any question before you make a move. This is a genuinely special piece of gear and we want to make sure it goes to someone who'll appreciate it. Call or text us at 814-371-5666. Spotts Music Center — helping you make music.