Demeter Compulator or EBS Multi?

[76JazzRay]

I've read the reviews of each and they seem very close. I use both a '76 Jazz w/Lindy Fralins and a Bongo w/dual humbuckers. I'd like to use this in an "always on" mode to give a bit more sustain and even things out. I also use a Demeter HBP pre.

Could you give me pros and cons of each?

Thanks.

Ray

[afroman]

I'm biased but I cna tell you that the Compulator is a studio-quality compressor. I always leave it on and while it is subtle (as any good compressor should be) , it does add something to my sound.

It balances out the notes and attack while being really transparent.
The pedal just reeks quality and it's heavy for a small pedal. I've recorded with it and have it on my pedalboard always.

The EBS may be more versatile with it's 3 settings.
I've read and heard great things about both. I think you should try them.
I don't use my Compulator as an effect, but as part of my sound.

I love it, a lot!

[TrevorOfDoom]

Compulator FTW!


i tried the EBS and couldn't get anything out of it that i like.
i always keep it on, and it sounds amazing.
compress knob at 10 o'clock, volume at 2, gives me unity gain with just a hair of compression when i dig in hard. clips in a pleasing way in the high frequencies, reminds me of Geddy. but that's just me.

[RickenBoogie]

Test drive both, use ears to decide.

[Silent Fly]

I tried both and I prefer the EBS.

They are both excellent compressors but I found that the Compulator release time is too short. With a bass with a good sustain, sometimes I can hear the Compulator increasing the volume during the note natural decay.

Apart from that, the Compulator is probably a little bit more “strong" compared to more subtle EBS.

[FreaqyFrequency]

Having tried both, I'm still loving my Compulator to death. If you boost the bass into it, it has this kind of envelope-opening effect that is absolutely great to run into fuzz or dirt. Other than that, it does what I most often need it for, which is subtle compression.

[bongomania]

I like both a lot. Lately I've been a tad biased against the EBS because they seem to "go bad" over time. Like somebody will post here about "problems with noisy EBS pedals", and it usually turns out the noisy pedals are older ones. And the one noisy one I had was older. Not older as in gray paint job, but early black paint ones.

I still prefer the Maxon CP9Pro+ over both of them. It lacks the flavor of the EBS, but it's easier to dial in effectively for different signal levels, and has more of a clear representation of the amount of compression being provided.

[fish slapper]

actually I own and like both. I like the Demeter for transparent super quiet compression. The EBS works well for more aggressive applications and the tube emulation mode is as advertised.

[a_magg]

The Demeter is the first pedal I ever bought, and its the only pedal (other than my EB Vol) to have remained on my board throughout its evolution. Never had an issue with it in the 3+ years I've had it, and I've always heard great things about customer service with Demeter.

I've heard a lot of great things about EBS, so I bet you'll be pleased with whatever you decide.

[76JazzRay]

I'll have to try to find a Demeter locally I can listen to. I know where to find the EBS but not the Demeter.

Will also look into the Maxon.

Ray

[Ebelow]

I had the Compulator and with my HH Stingray always got the overload problem, even after I set the trimpot to the min. While I loved the tone and transparency I went for the new type of EBS multicomp, and tataaa, finally I am happy with my always on EBS. I feel the EBS more like a dbx compression style, especially on the norm setup. For me the EBS still nice transparent comp. multi mode for an examp. No noise at all, no overload fuzz/dist. not even when I push it hard.
(I also had a dbx266 rack compressor, aphex punchfactor)

[Swift713]

I had the Compulator and while it sounded amazing through headphones it was way too subtle for my taste through my amp. My taste may have been refined since and my amp is more transparent now, however, the real deal breaker was that I couldn't get it not to overload when I dug in with my Stingray copy. It was also a little prone to noise, or picking up and amplifying noise, with my one spot.
I later A/Bed the EBS with the Maxon CP-9 + pro. The Maxon won by a landslide.
There were a bunch of things I didn't really like about the EBS. The construction felt a bit weak with some of the plastic parts, the tube sim sounded OK but not really like compression to my ear and a bit gimicky, the multi band was fussy, the normal mode was flat.
The Maxon was stupid easy to set, impossible to overload, super clean & transparent, easy to adjust to different instruments, built like a tank, exactly what I wanted.

[Toasted]

I've spent a long time with both and thought they both did an excellent job.

[Bassist30]

I had the the EBS and currently have the Demeter. If a non rack model is what you want I would take the Compulator.
You can basically max any pedal but the demeter sounds best when it is subtle. There is little tone loss and it really fattens the bass the way i like it, therefore i think it enhance the tone. I would also recommend a proper wall wart for it. With an active bass I could not get it to sound right. It would overload even with the trim knob all the way down with a fresh battery. Demeter recommends one. I use the standard 9 volt but with a proper end- mini plug, tip positive, 9 volt DC regulated (100 milliamp or more). There is a guy bongomania (not sure if its spelled right) who had done a review on alot of different compressors, you may want to check it out.......opps I just saw his name in this thread. Said he needs a break and i don't see a link to his reviews.... too bad they were good......... Not saying the ebs is bad and may be what you want. But I always felt the demeter made the sound fatter which is the reason you buy a compressor.

[rpsands]

I am super happy with my guttermouth modded BBE opto stomp Down to 63 with free shipping on the ebay. Well worth it. I use it exactly as you describe though I am not sure how much sustain it adds - makes it a little fatter and evens things out.

[stflbn]

Originally Posted by Bassist30

But I always felt the demeter made the sound fatter which is the reason you buy a compressor.

Um, definitely not the reason why I use a compressor.

I use a compressor subtly to even out high and lows in volume and make playing more consistent sounding live when I'm not necessarily paying as much attention to attack consistency.

[Bassist30]

Originally Posted by stflbn

Um, definitely not the reason why I use a compressor.

I use a compressor subtly to even out high and lows in volume and make playing more consistent sounding live when I'm not necessarily paying as much attention to attack consistency.

Fattness is so subjuctive also. We are basically saying the same.

[Jared Lash]

My personal preference between the two is the Demeter. I actually think the EBS in Normal or Multiband mode is actually more transparent than the Demeter which is fairly noticeable unless dialed way back. The EBS is obviously more colored in Tubesim mode, but otherwise is cleaner to me. That said, the Demeter has a thicker sound and is better at peak limiting which I need, being an envelope filter junkie.

I'd agree with Bongo that my favorite compressor for clean compression and/or limiting is the Maxon though I'd like to try the Diamond Bass comp. My favorite for "effecty" compression is the Retrospec Squeeze Box followed by the Frantone Sandwich.

[xikbastard]

i used the demeter and so far so good. its always on on my board after the bogdan polish love *boost off* as a clean booster and the demeter keep everything in check.