• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join free Log in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

Demeter Compulator or Keeley Compressor. Much difference?

ric426

ric426

In my defense, I was left unsupervised.
Supporting Member
Mar 27, 2002
1,507
1,835
Southeast Michigan
#1
I've read all the info I could find here and have narrowed my compressor choices down to a Demeter Compulator, EBS MultiComp or Keeley Compressor. I haven't been able to try any of them in person, but from what I've read, the Demeter seems like my best choice. However, I saw a used Keeley Compressor locally and am wondering if there's really much difference between the two.
I'm looking for transparency, level control and maybe some sustain enhancement when using a Rob Allen fretless 5 when playing at low volume with unamplified acoustic players. One thing I do need to be careful of is not fattening the sound *too* much because those basses have a lot of low end to begin with. I find that the limiter in my PJB Briefcase doesn't like the Rob Allen and distorts noticeably on the low end, so I'd like to try an outboard compressor.
 
#3
OK, here's the quick version:

The Keeley is a really nice pedal, but it does roll off some of the lows. If you're a 4-string player, those lows won't be missed in a live-on-stage environment. But if you play a 5, or detune, or plan on recording with it, you'll hear something missing. From what I've read around the net, Keeley has given up on producing a bass version of this pedal, which means to me that it's not so simple as changing the input cap. It's just a fancy Ross clone, so perhaps somebody else who's done some Ross builds can chime in about the frequency range limitations of the design. FWIW, I'm glad I got the 4-knob version. The "attack" and "trim" knobs (not found on the standard 2-knobber) are frankly critical for getting this pedal to work well with bass. A slow attack setting helps reduce clipping and allows a more natural finger-articulation sound, and the trim knob made adjusting between my active and passive basses easy.

The Demeter doesn't have an attack control, but its fixed attack is just right for bass. The Demeter has a big fat bottom, whereas the Keeley has a brighter, sparklier high end. The Demeter adds only a tiny bit of noise of its own, and only at high comp settings does it amplify your line noise to an unpleasant level. The Keeley OTOH has a noticeable (but not bad) background white noise at all comp settings; but it doesn't get quite as noisy at the highest settings. However I think that's because it also doesn't have as wide a range of compression as the Demeter.

In short, I would happily use the Keeley live on stage with a 4-string, where the hiss and low-end rolloff would not be noticed, especially if I was a jazz fretless player looking for a bright, shiny, crisp top end to my tone. Any other circumstance, I'd quickly pick the Demeter. :)

Edit: re-reading the first post, I have no idea which one will suit you better. The Demeter will handle your low B, but it also fattens that low end, which you say is not desirable in this case. The Rane DC 24 would solve your problems, but it's a rack unit. :hmm:

Edit again: the Humphrey-modded Boss CS-3 might be your ticket! It also loses a bit of the low end, but in this case that can be corrected by replacing the input cap with a larger value. Humphrey's not the only guy doing these mods, but his is the only one I've tested. I've done those same mods myself, with fine success, but I don't have the time or space to offer that service right now.
 
#5
Thanks for the info guys! At this point you've got me thinking about getting more info about the mods to various models and making it a DIY project. I've been tinkering with bass gear for years and wouldn't mind another little project.
Bongo, I just PM'ed you with some questions. No need to clutter the forum with them.
 
#6
I just got a 4-knob Keeley a couple of weeks ago and have been using it live with great results. I haven't really noticed it being any noiser than other stomp box comps (in fact find it to be a bit quieter than some). I have no experience with the Demeter. What do the Demeter's sell for?

You still have adjustment pots for Trim and Attack with the 2-knob version, they are just internal (which is a pain and impossible to get to on the fly).

The Keeley 4-knob comp goes for $249 (2-knob for $220), but I totally agree, if you are using it with Bass...go for the 4-knob version. Traye the AR guy at Keeley told me Sheehan was the one that ask them to put controls for the Trim and Attack on top of the unit.
 
#8
4lPh4n0m3g4 said:
Consider a, http://www.analogman.com/rossmod.htm instead of the Keeley
Click to expand...

FWIW, I got very similar results to the Keeley from the one other boutique Ross clone I reviewed, by Retro-Sonic. I suspect that, within a certain margin of quality building, all Ross clones will have rolled-off low end and a bright high end. One good thing about the Keeley compared to the Retro-Sonic was the "release" time of the Keeley is a bit more natural-sounding at higher comp amounts, and I'm not sure what variation on the circuit would be responsible for that improvement.
 
#9
fishtx said:
I just got a 4-knob Keeley a couple of weeks ago and have been using it live with great results. I haven't reall nioticed it being any noiser than other stomp box comps (in fact find it to be a bit quieter than some).
Click to expand...

To be fair, while the Demeter is quieter than the Keeley at most settings, (a) the difference is pretty small, and (b) it's true as you say that the Keeley is quieter than many other stompbox comps. I'm just a picky princess about noise. :)
 
#11
bongomania said:
To be fair, while the Demeter is quieter than the Keeley at most settings, (a) the difference is pretty small, and (b) it's true as you say that the Keeley is quieter than many other stompbox comps. I'm just a picky princess about noise. :)
Click to expand...


No problem...My name is Gerry by the way...kind of new to the forum, and have just sort of "injected" myself into a lot of these discussions as I find them very interesting and helpful...

Another comment on Keeley is their customer service is second to none! They have been fantastic to work with. We played a gig recently in Oklahoma City (near where Keeley's offices are), and their AR guy "Traye" came out to the gig and went through the full "dog and pony show" for me on the 4-knob Comp. He was great!
 
#12
As an experiment, I replaced the input cap in the Keeley with a much larger one. The original cap was .01uF, and I put in a .47uF (both were polypropylene). It did improve the bottom end a little bit, but not completely. The more noticeable result was a thickening of the mids and much less brightness in the high end. I would say it is a really good fat useful tone, but not a recommended mod for getting more low end from the Keeley.

After the mod, I compared it directly to the Demeter again. Now they have almost the exact same top end tone, but the Demeter still goes lower. I would describe the Demeter as having a more flat, even response across all frequencies; where the Keeley (again, AFTER being modded) has a much punchier, thicker midrange.
 
#13
I decided to take the less expensive route for now and have a used CS-3 and mod kit on the way. What's the designation number for the input cap in the CS-3, or is it fairly obvious? I might as well put a .47uf cap in there while I'm at it.
 
#14
It's the first cap after the input jack, designated C2 on the board. It's a .022uF metal film, silver or gold in color, right near where the row of colored wires connect to the board. It's glued to a nearby electrolytic, but the glue breaks easily. You'll find that a physically large cap won't fit unless you extend the legs of the cap and bend it over to a spot a couple cm away. I'll post a pic later.
 
  • Like
Reactions: punchdrunk

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back