The Fender Compugilist is a two-in-one pedal that puts a compressor and a distortion in a single enclosure. Both effects are completely analog, and each can be switched on its own or stacked with the other, so one box can cover everything from a compressed clean tone to a boosted drive sound. Guitar.com announced it at Summer NAMM 2019 as "a straightforward comp/distortion combo," available that October at £129/$169.991.
What it does and how it is controlled
The Compugilist gives each effect its own controls and its own footswitch. On the distortion side there are Tone, Gain and Level knobs plus a bass boost switch; the compressor has Recovery, Comp and Level. A separate switch controls the LEDs on and off2.
| Side | Controls |
|---|---|
| Distortion | Tone, Gain, Level, bass boost switch |
| Compressor | Recovery (recovery time), Comp (compression), Level |
| Both | Bypass footswitches, LEDs on/off switch2 |
Guitar World notes that the discrete, all-analog circuits are independently switchable, allowing them to be used solo or stacked3. In a Sweetwater demo video from Summer NAMM 2019, presenters Don Carr and Stan Cody described the pedal as "great for mid-gain rock tones and rootsy kind of Americana type sounds"5.
Where it came from
The Compugilist pairs two circuits in one enclosure, and Guitar.com's review describes it as "a two-in-one pedal based on the Bends compressor and Pugilist distortion"2. Each half has its own controls: the distortion side carries tone, gain, level and a bass boost switch, while the compressor side carries recovery time, compression and level, with bypass footswitches and an LEDs on/off switch2. Fender describes the pedal as great for mid-gain rock tones and rootsy kind of Americana type sounds5.
What reviewers said
Guitar.com's Richard Purvis reviewed the Compugilist in February 2020 and scored it 8/10 overall, with this verdict2:
"A two-in-one pedal that represents excellent value"
Related effect types
If you are comparing the Compugilist's two halves against dedicated pedals, see the site's pages on Compressor Pedals and Distortion Pedals. Fender has also marketed the distortion side as closer to an overdrive in some listings, and the wider category is covered under Overdrive Pedals.
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Questions
Can you use the compressor and distortion on the Fender Compugilist separately?
Yes. The Compugilist houses two discrete, all-analog circuits that are independently switchable, so the compressor and the distortion can be used on their own or stacked together. Each side has its own footswitch and its own set of controls, and Guitar.com's review notes the two effects can be deployed either independently or together.
Is the Fender Compugilist analog?
Yes. Guitar World describes the Compugilist as having discrete, all-analog circuits, and Guitar.com reported at its announcement that both effects are completely analog. There is no digital processing in the pedal.
What pedals is the Fender Compugilist based on?
Guitar.com's review describes the Compugilist as a two-in-one pedal based on Fender's The Bends compressor and the Pugilist distortion. Both were already in Fender's pedal range, and the Compugilist combines the two circuits in a single enclosure.
Where is the Fender Compugilist made?
According to Guitar.com's review, the Compugilist is made in China.
How much does the Fender Compugilist cost?
At its 2019 announcement the Compugilist was listed at $169.99 in the US and £129 in the UK, with availability from October 2019. MusicRadar reported the price as $169 or £129.
Sources (5)
- Summer NAMM 2019 Video: Fender expands effects family with six new pedals, Guitar.com, 2019-07-19
- Review: Six new Fender effects pedals, Guitar.com, 2020-02-03
- Fender Introduces Six New Effects Pedals, Guitar World, 2019-07-25
- Summer NAMM 2019: Fender grows effects line with 6 wide-reaching new pedals, MusicRadar, 2019-07-18
- 6 New Fender Pedals at Summer NAMM 2019, Sweetwater, 2019-07-23
