Sly and the Family Compression

[Nickweissmusic]

You know the pedal you like... but you’re not going to get it again. I think I’d explore that logic a bit more before throwing yet more money away. “I made a mistake” is a valid thing for a human to say/feel.

That said, if you’re just not going to be able to fit the Demeter, there are many small pedals out there, it’s a crapshoot as to which will do the trick properly for you. At this point I’d keep trying from sellers with good return policies. Mooer makes good pedals, Boss makes a couple compressor/sustainers, MXR does too, I’d just survey the field. FWIW I had a BlackFinger back in the day, I found it noisy and too subtle, stopped using it and sold it, no regrets nowadays I just ride the input levels on my Genz Benz’s preamp or my Firefly tube direct box to dial in clean, bouncy compression.

 

[Nickweissmusic]

Demeter also makes the Comp-1 which is normal pedal sized, I see it for as low as $159 on Guitar Center’s site...

 

[TrevorOfDoom]

You know the pedal you like... but you’re not going to get it again. I think I’d explore that logic a bit more before throwing yet more money away. “I made a mistake” is a valid thing for a human to say/feel.

That’s what my therapist keeps telling me...

 

[CapnSev]

The Quilter has a compressor?

 

[bongomania]

People keep recommending a certain cheap knock-off brand... IMO those are pedals for people who want to buy themselves something that looks and sounds a bit like what they wanted, at least on paper, but cheaper--and who have convinced themselves that it must be "just as good". When I was a kid, my mom only bought the "generic" cheese and other packaged foods, and she always insisted to me that it was "just as good" as the options we couldn't afford; when I grew up and bought my own foods, I found she had been lying the whole time. But she had convinced herself it was true!

 

[TrevorOfDoom]

People keep recommending a certain cheap knock-off brand... IMO those are pedals for people who want to buy themselves something that looks and sounds a bit like what they wanted, at least on paper, but cheaper--and who have convinced themselves that it must be "just as good". When I was a kid, my mom only bought the "generic" cheese and other packaged foods, and she always insisted to me that it was "just as good" as the options we couldn't afford; when I grew up and bought my own foods, I found she had been lying the whole time. But she had convinced herself it was true!

So you're saying that nothing does that Demeter sound in a pedal package except the Demeter?
well crap. I was hoping you'd say otherwise.

 

[bongomania]

Ah no that's not quite it. As a commercial user I'm not allowed to speak negatively of specific brands; but if you look through this thread you'll see a cheap knockoff brand being recommended. Don't fall for it.

As to the Demeter sound, IMO a dozen brands have done that sound just as well, or better, over the last decade. They just aren't $35 is all I'm saying.

 

[TrevorOfDoom]

Ah no that's not quite it. As a commercial user I'm not allowed to speak negatively of specific brands; but if you look through this thread you'll see a cheap knockoff brand being recommended. Don't fall for it.

As to the Demeter sound, IMO a dozen brands have done that sound just as well, or better, over the last decade. They just aren't $35 is all I'm saying.

Any particular pedals stand out to you? And any in a smaller enclosure?

 

[Nickweissmusic]

People keep recommending a certain cheap knock-off brand... IMO those are pedals for people who want to buy themselves something that looks and sounds a bit like what they wanted, at least on paper, but cheaper--and who have convinced themselves that it must be "just as good". When I was a kid, my mom only bought the "generic" cheese and other packaged foods, and she always insisted to me that it was "just as good" as the options we couldn't afford; when I grew up and bought my own foods, I found she had been lying the whole time. But she had convinced herself it was true!

Sure, trying to do something exactly like another device on the cheap is a fools errand, but sometimes you luck out with a cheaper piece that does the job even better to your ears. I like the Route 66 pedal better than a real tube screamer, the old Yamaha PB1 is still the best solid state preamp I’ve ever heard...

 

[mmbongo]

The Quilter has a compressor?

The BB800 does not.

 

[TrevorOfDoom]

The BB800 does not.

It sure does!
Dual-stage limiter!
It’s where the magic happens!

 

[mmbongo]

It sure does!
Dual-stage limiter!
It’s where the magic happens!

That's not really a 'built in compressor' though.

 

[Bassist30]

I had and still do the Demeter Compulator… As far a size it really isn't considered a large pedal. It isn't really bigger than a standard boss or am I wrong?

 

[Jim C]

When I was a kid, my mom only bought the "generic" cheese and other packaged foods, and she always insisted to me that it was "just as good" as the options we couldn't afford; when I grew up and bought my own foods, I found she had been lying the whole time. But she had convinced herself it was true!

I thought I was the only one!
As soon as I moved out, I found that Wonderbread is a million times better than the store brand.
Same with Coke, and many other brands.
I think that those folks (who went throught the depression) were so poor and scared about money, that they were happy just to have food and convinced themselves it was all the same.

Kinda like musicians....

 

[TrevorOfDoom]

Alright @bongomania,
how does the Madbean Afterlife compare to the Compulator?

 

[bongomania]

Hmm, tricky to say, as I did not directly compare them side by side. I think you would find them fairly similar overall, in terms of signal quality, smoothness, noise levels. Where I'd be reluctant to make any claim is in the subtleties of the action. To most listeners they would sound the same, but if you are really going hard for the specific exact Demeter action, you might hear/feel some differences. Definitely worth a try!

 

[Omega Monkey]

I think that those folks (who went throught the depression) were so poor and scared about money, that they were happy just to have food and convinced themselves it was all the same.

Kinda like musicians....

"My $250 Squier is totally as good as a $4000 Ken Smith!" Uh, no. No it is not. And I say that as a guy that owns a Squier and not a Ken Smith. It's not even as good as an Am Std. Whether it's as good as a MIM is up for debate since QC at those levels can be all over the place.

The key to getting the most value for your money, is to recognize where additional spending is gaining you proportional gains in quality or experience, and where it's really just a bunch of BS ($14,000 Fodera is NOT really that much better than the $4000 Ken Smith). The decisions you make will depend on your own budget, the rest of the gear you have (ie where it makes sense to prioritize spending), your sensibilities, and what you're used to and/or can tolerate. With pedals I've been heading in the fewer but better direction, which means it takes a lot longer to acquire the full pedal board I'm aiming at, but each piece is really nice and fulfills all of its expectations. Of course, I say that as a guy who just fell into a smokin deal on a very nice and expensive compressor for cheap I couldn't NOT buy it. But if you know what's out there and are careful with spending and watchful of craigslist, etc... those deals will present themselves. I know because I get them all the time, to the point that I find way more than I could actually afford (or even be able to use the gear).

Anyway, I reject artificial and arbitrary limitations like "I already had it and sold it" or "I allow myself 3 pedals and that's it" or other such nonsense. If you want something and can afford and it will improve your sound or playing or just make you happy, go for it. Because with your last breath, you DEFINITELY won't be saying "I wish I hadn't spent that extra $100 for the Demeter compressor 20 years ago that I used until I stopped playing because it was just what I wanted!". And instead of being preoccupied with wanting, you can get on with living and playing.

 

[Jim C]

"My $250 Squier is totally as good as a $4000 Ken Smith!" Uh, no. No it is not. And I say that as a guy that owns a Squier and not a Ken Smith. It's not even as good as an Am Std. Whether it's as good as a MIM is up for debate since QC at those levels can be all over the place.

The key to getting the most value for your money, is to recognize where additional spending is gaining you proportional gains in quality or experience, and where it's really just a bunch of BS ($14,000 Fodera is NOT really that much better than the $4000 Ken Smith). The decisions you make will depend on your own budget, the rest of the gear you have (ie where it makes sense to prioritize spending), your sensibilities, and what you're used to and/or can tolerate. With pedals I've been heading in the fewer but better direction, which means it takes a lot longer to acquire the full pedal board I'm aiming at, but each piece is really nice and fulfills all of its expectations. Of course, I say that as a guy who just fell into a smokin deal on a very nice and expensive compressor for cheap I couldn't NOT buy it. But if you know what's out there and are careful with spending and watchful of craigslist, etc... those deals will present themselves. I know because I get them all the time, to the point that I find way more than I could actually afford (or even be able to use the gear).

Anyway, I reject artificial and arbitrary limitations like "I already had it and sold it" or "I allow myself 3 pedals and that's it" or other such nonsense. If you want something and can afford and it will improve your sound or playing or just make you happy, go for it. Because with your last breath, you DEFINITELY won't be saying "I wish I hadn't spent that extra $100 for the Demeter compressor 20 years ago that I used until I stopped playing because it was just what I wanted!". And instead of being preoccupied with wanting, you can get on with living and playing.

You are confusing need vs. want.
Nobody needs a 2nd bass, special, pedal, etc, and I'm assuming you need one instrument to make a living.
It's OK to want them, and I do.

Food and shelter are not wants.
I have tons of gear because I can afford it and it makes me happy.
It doesn't make me a better player but it's fun and I've met some nice people along the way and made some money. Win/Win in my book.

"Anyway, I reject artificial and arbitrary limitations like "I already had it and sold it"

I bought a highly recommended Diamond compressor and hated it. It was sold a week later. The limitation was that I didn't like the way it rolled off the highs and the ratio was not high enough. Great for some players; garbage to me.

Back in the day, instruments had bad necks and could be really difficult to play in tune, or, at all. Those days are long over.
One could record a platinum selling record with Squire and the playing would be in tune and sound great in the right hands.

I have found the guys that complain the most about not having high end gear to "get their sound" are typically not great players to begin with.
.02

 

[TrevorOfDoom]

I had and still do the Demeter Compulator… As far a size it really isn't considered a large pedal. It isn't really bigger than a standard boss or am I wrong?

No, you're not wrong.
Arbitrary limits aside, I have a small board that fits in a case with my amp and cables. Real estate is pricey, not just for the usual reasons but because everything needs to fit in the case.
As such, I'm loathe to buy any pedal that isn't 1590a sized.
And since I don't have a huge budget (read: none at all), I can't just add pedals or upgrade cases or anything like that. I have to work within my limitations.

 

[superheavyfunk]

No, you're not wrong.
Arbitrary limits aside, I have a small board that fits in a case with my amp and cables. Real estate is pricey, not just for the usual reasons but because everything needs to fit in the case.
As such, I'm loathe to buy any pedal that isn't 1590a sized.
And since I don't have a huge budget (read: none at all), I can't just add pedals or upgrade cases or anything like that. I have to work within my limitations.

I mean, you could always just put the pedal on the floor beside the board. Or on top of your amp of its gonna be an 'always on' thing.. I think Occam's Razor applies here.