EBS multi comp clipping distortion?

[clauscaixa]

Hey TB effects list,

I have bought a used EBS multi comp pedal (mint condition, newest version, virtually unused).

I operate the pedal on battery power (brand new alkaline type thing).

Signal path: passive bass into pedal in, pedal out directly into amp (GK MB500). The pedal is set for passive instrument.

Instrument: 1972 Fender Jazz Bass, stock. Pickup coils have been rewound by instrument specialist a few months ago. I use roundwound strings. They probably have around 100 hours of playing on them.
The bass knobs are all at max (max output from both PUPs, and filter set to brightest possible tone.

Problem: last night, when trying the pedal for the first time I quickly noticed some distortion when running with even moderate compression levels. The distortion was in the high frequencies. Very noticeable when slapping and also for fingering when e.g. sliding into a note.

Problem fix: I had to dial back the HI potentiometer inside the pedal to around 10 o'clock (default factory setting 12 o'clock on both pots) in order to get rid of the distortion.

My question: why would an old passive bass cause a modern compressor pedal to clip in the high frequency band?

At Compressor Reviews there is a review of the pedal (EBS multi comp). The review mentions risk of clipping when using the pedal with some active basses, and the fix is supposed to be to dial the potentiometers CLOCKWISE, e.g. to set pots at say 2 o'clock, but I had to dial back to 10 o'clock.

Is what I experienced credible given your experiences/knowledge, or have I purchased a (slightly) mal-functioning pedal that needs to go to a repair shop?



Thanks

[thenothing]

I haven't had any of the aforementioned problems with mine clipping or distorting certain frequencies (with active or passive basses). Silly question but, you have the little button on the side of the pedal next to the output set to passive, right?

If all else fails, as long as you're willing to pay to ship the pedal and wait, EBS is pretty good about fixing/replacing faulty hardware.

[clauscaixa]

Originally Posted by thenothing

I haven't had any of the aforementioned problems with mine clipping or distorting certain frequencies (with active or passive basses). Silly question but, you have the little button on the side of the pedal next to the output set to passive, right?

If all else fails, as long as you're willing to pay to ship the pedal and wait, EBS is pretty good about fixing/replacing faulty hardware.

Yep, the little button on the side is set for passive. If I set it for active, the pedal is expecting a much higher signal and I don't get any compression at all, regardless of compression level setting.

Nice to know that I can get EBS to help, if need be ... but with my new pot setting the pedal is working TO THE BEST OF MY KNOWLEDGE, although I of course cannot say if I am actually getting all the performance the pedal has to offer.

[clauscaixa]

Bump for more people's experiences?

[mk197523]

EBS pedals seem to "go bad" over time, more noticeably than other pedal brands. They are great when new, and the positive comments in my review apply in that case. But over just a few years they can develop issues such as distortion, switches failing, increased noise, or erratic behavior. So I do recommend buying new EBS pedals, but I don't recommend buying older used ones. The MultiComp has been on my list of "the best" bass comp pedals ever since I started doing reviews, but I may have to take it off that list because of this problem with older units. Also, frankly, the new MXR Bass Comp pretty well beats the "old king" EBS in many ways.

[crguti]

Originally Posted by mk197523

EBS pedals seem to "go bad" over time, more noticeably than other pedal brands.

I call the above statement BS.

[cjmodulus]

Originally Posted by crguti

I call the above statement BS.

Don't you mean E BS?

Actually, that's an issue that's kept me from getting an EBS multi comp. I've heard theyre great when new, but that they do develop problems... I'd be interested in hearing more opinions on the subject...

[Salizander]

I've had mine for somewhere between 2-3 years with absolutley no problems whatsoever. It even still looks perfectly new cosmetically.

[bongomania]

Originally Posted by mk197523

EBS pedals seem to "go bad" over time, more noticeably than other pedal brands. They are great when new, and the positive comments in my review apply in that case. But over just a few years they can develop issues such as distortion, switches failing, increased noise, or erratic behavior. So I do recommend buying new EBS pedals, but I don't recommend buying older used ones. The MultiComp has been on my list of "the best" bass comp pedals ever since I started doing reviews, but I may have to take it off that list because of this problem with older units. Also, frankly, the new MXR Bass Comp pretty well beats the "old king" EBS in many ways.

Nice job, bozo, copy-pasting text from my review and posting like it was your own words.

The basis for my statement about them "going bad over time" is that I have received literally dozens of emails over the years from people who bought an EBS pedal used and it was noisy or it distorted; yet the people who buy them new seem to never have those complaints. Also the EBS pedals that I have owned myself were older and had problems with noise and distortion. But again, when you buy one new, odds are it sounds great! So there you go.