Demeter Compulator Problem and CS issues

[svtb15]

I think I have been patient.. Let me explain.
I used to think the Demeter Compulator was great.. Three of my friends have one and I have borrowed each, so that is why I bought one. I thought it was great until mine started to sound distorted no matter what the setting. No matter what the trim pot.. And it distorted on a passive bass too.
My friends and I did an AB test with their units and we all agreed mine is distorting.


I called Demeter and I told them it appears to sound like a Timing issue with the circuit.. Anyone that knows compressors well, knows that the lower freqs a compressor may have a distortion type tone and will sound fuzzy if you have a timing issue, such as when attack release times are too close to each other... So I told them on the first time I sent it out to them for repair.. There are no wat to adjust the timing on the compulator, it is part of the circuit design...

It has been back to Demeter 4 times now. They Said on the phone that they replaced the circuit PCB the first time. Which they did not, it had the same sharpie mark in the PCB as when I shipped it to them the first time..
Second time they said they will change out the Sensor.. Maybe they did..
They said they did not hear the distortion that I claimed.. I asked if they tried it with a bass guitar and the person in the office said YES they did.
Said they did not hear the distortion but will replace the two IC chips again.. James Demeter said in email to me that maybe I should by the new Compulator 2 and forget about the one I have.. ***????
So I sent it a third time..

I get it back but it is Still distorted.. And honestly it appears they did not replace anything. Then I spoke with James Demeter and he did say at that point they DID NOT test it with a bass, but a guitar instead.

So I made a WAV file on my protools rig and sent it to them by email 2 months ago.. The distortion was obvious. Finally James said in an email to me that they think it is a timing issue... Just exactly what I Told him a few months ago on my first shipment... This is not my first rodeo!


And now they won’t confirm that they ever replace the PCB or the chips, but that they are still working on it.. 5 months have passed... I have had it for 3 days in that time...
So far the CS at Demeter has been shoddy regarding this matter and I, and mis statements have been made about the way they tested it. Bass ==No Bass etc..
I would like to have my compressor for a Euro tour that is coming up..
I purposely waited a few months before saying anything here on Talkbass in order to at least give Demeter a good chance to get it right.. But Im think i have been more than patient.. I’m still waiting..
We will see.
I Sent an email to them on Monday and was told he will have his protools rig up and running this week to do a test..
I just want the thing back so I can sell it and be done with it..
I will go get an Aguilar at that point ... I’m done with Demeter.

Is there anyone else that gets that distortion issue with the Compulator

[Bob C]

I've never owned a Compulator, but did send my HBP-1 preamp in for a repair. After a year or so, the same problem occured, so I sent it in again.

James said the original repair (part replacement) was done incorrectly, so this time they fixed it for free. Both times the service was fast, and JD was very polite and professional.

In light of all this apparent drama, I'm surprised neither you nor Demeter has suggested that they send you a brand new Compulator for free.

[svtb15]

Oh James is very Polite and very professional to this point.. But the mess ups and time has been pushing the limit to ones patience.. That is one reason that i waited months to say anything.. I hate when a product has an issue and someone comes here to vent about , meanwhile the company has not had a chance to review the issue much less fix it.. So i waited ... but today was the day that i needed it so i figured that i will tel lmy part of the story.
Oh I need to be clear that the Pedal is OUT OF WARRANTY..... But I offered to pay...
that does not excuse the fact that one says they tested it with a bass and found no issue and James said they never tested it with a bass.. and the PCB not being changes as claimed..

What i think happened and now im being PARANOID. is that they played it with their guitar. did not hear anything... and just said ship it back nothing is wrong this guy is crazy...
I may be crazy but I also know my gear..

[bongomania]

I haven't had the distortion problem, but I can tell you I've sent three or four emails to Demeter over the last few years, and never got any response.

[svtb15]

Still waiting for a return phone call or email from 9-13... Heading for a European tour and will be back by OCT. 12.. Will call again at that time.. ughhhhhhhhhh

[iamdenialNJ]

Man...that sucks. I really hope Demeter has better customer service than that. I really liked my compulator when I had one. When the time comes again for me to buy a compressor it will most likely be a compulator.

[fitz420]

wow, this sort of makes me want to look elsewhere for a compressor. i was actually going to buy a compulator soon. i can't stand companies with bad customer service.

[svtb15]

You .. I got it for when i do a fly date.. Its small and can fit in my gig bag.. I am flying to Europe to do some gigs next week... Thi sis the third trip now since jine that i still dont have it. .And no call back.. No email in almost a month.. although the last email he sent me told me to why not just buy a compulator2... MMMMmmm . I think i will see if the compulator 1 works first.. Yeah Im whining now. but hey, good or bad CS need to be available for all to know.. Im sure in the end they will FINALLY fix what i told them was the problem the first time i shipped it to them... But in the mean time at least communicate with me and Dont Lie to me. Is that too much to ask?

[svtb15]

So after many months and 3-4 trips back to manufacturer for my DEMETER Compulator compressor. James Demeter still cant get it right. He lied to me at least once when he said he replaced the PC board... and he didn't replace it.. I placed a small black dot on the PBC.. came back with same dot same place.. mmmmm

Sent it back 3rd or 4th time around July, cant remember now...
I got it 2 days ago after the supposed original repair, and now the Blue LED does not light up when engaged.

Turns out a 10k resistor that is in series with blue LED burned out.
Not only does the Blue LED not light now... but the distortion that was originally in there is worse.. The compulator can now be used as a fuzz box...

I give up on Demeter..not gonna send it back once again...He (James ) seams to think that his products and himself are infallible.. There are many other companys that would want my business.
I really went into this in good faith but this is the outcome after months and months.. and as i said earlier on . i waited months to post as to not jump the gun and try to lay a load on a company.. I think that i have given them ample opportunityt to fix a defective unit... but instead work was not performed as stated by them ...and now its broken even more... no LED? how could anyone in there CS not notice that before shipping it out after 3 or 4 returns for repair...

**** job there DEMETER.. Wont buy another item from them.and heads up on **** customer support bass player buds..

[Grimoire]

A great pity.

I recently had my Compulator overhauled, as it started distorting, and the bypass switch was getting very noisy. It then completely failed to ever engage the effect. Turns out the switch was fine, it was an issue with the board, probably quite similar to your situation. BUT - I didn't send it to Demeter, I used my local solder monkey. Fixed relatively cheaply, works good as new. Looks like avoiding Demeter was the right decision on my part...

[svtb15]

I thought about it and I am going to send it back.. Im not gonna start poking around in there even if i do know about PC bd repairs. So i guess this trip will be trip 5 to get it fixed..
I will need to see him face to face at NAMM and ask him what the heck are you people doing out there

OK.. I was out on tour and got home.. Waiting for me was the fixed DEMETER Compulator..
I opened the box plugged it in and it did not work..as i said earlier..
I Opened it up and had to put a new battery in it.. OK. so they borrowed my new Durcell Pro cell 9v... And yes, i also tried the AC adapter..
Put a fresh battery in and tried again. .nothing.. The pedal worked.. But NOW THE BLUE LED DOES NOT LIGHT UP !!!!! ughhhh
I emailed Demeter again and told him about it and he said he sent me his personal pedal and was suprized the LED was not working..
...
I have sent it back 3-4 times now.. I cant remember...
I have to send it back again.... with an note asking if they can send me one that has a working LED lamp..
This is really ridiculous at this point!

[svtb15]

Thank you James Demeter...

After many months of back and forth , by sending the unit to Demeter to be repaired etc.. you can read above.
Demeter sent me a brand New Unit. In perfect working order.
Even though it took time to get me a fully working unit, Demeter went the extra mile.
A Huge, Thank you very much to them.
I had almost forgotten about it the last time i sent it back. And mentally just wrote it off as a loss. But UPS came to my door with a package.. I didnt remember ordering anything . It was the new Compressor.. Whoo hoo!

[Fran Diaz]

Originally Posted by svtb15

Thank you James Demeter...

After many months of back and forth , by sending the unit to Demeter to be repaired etc.. you can read above.
Demeter sent me a brand New Unit. In perfect working order.
Even though it took time to get me a fully working unit, Demeter went the extra mile.
A Huge, Thank you very much to them.
I had almost forgotten about it the last time i sent it back. And mentally just wrote it off as a loss. But UPS came to my door with a package.. I didnt remember ordering anything . It was the new Compressor.. Whoo hoo!

Kirk, congrats on getting the new unit. Your happiness sounds a lot to me like when we get tax returns; it was our money in the first place but we had already wrote it off as a loss.

If I have had to ship the pedal so many time from Spain, I'd have spent twice the price of a new unit.

I just got me an Aguilar TLC and like it a lot. Transparent, quiet and capable of peak limiting, just what I needed.