The Fender Duel Pugilist Distortion is a dual distortion pedal: two independent distortion circuits, labeled Distortion A and Distortion B, each with its own Level, Tone and Gain controls and its own footswitch, in a single enclosure1. It carries the same distortion voicings as Fender's original Pugilist Distortion, but adds a Mode switch with three routing options, Mute, Series and Bypass (Parallel), and a two-band master shelving EQ to tame flubbing bass or shrill highs23. Fender announced it in October 2021 alongside the Dual Marine Layer Reverb, both doubled-up versions of existing Fender pedals2.
Designed by Fender's in-house team as an all-original Fender circuit, it listed for $229.99 at launch32.
Two Pugilist distortions in one pedal
The Duel Pugilist follows the pattern Fender set with its 2021 dual-format pedals: it duplicates the original pedal's control set so you get two independent settings or voicings, footswitchable in one box1. Where the original Pugilist Distortion has two individually voiced distortion circuits with separate tone and gain controls that can be blended for more complex, harmonically rich textures5, the Duel Pugilist gives each of its two channels a full set of controls.
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Gain (per channel) | Sets the amount of distortion on Distortion A or B1 |
| Tone (per channel) | Shapes the brightness of each channel1 |
| Level (per channel) | Sets the output volume of each channel1 |
| Footswitch A / B | Engages each distortion channel independently1 |
| Mode switch | Selects Mute, Series or Bypass (Parallel) routing1 |
| Master shelving EQ | Two-band EQ to tame flubbing bass or shrill highs2 |
Guitar.com's reviewer noted that the separate level, tone and gain knobs mirrored across the two channels grant access to completely opposing tones, so one channel can be set for one sound and the other for something entirely different4.
The pedal comes in a lightweight anodized aluminum housing with Fender's LED-backlit knobs that illuminate when powered, a feature Guitar World singled out as the standout fitting on both of the 2021 dual-format pedals1.
Mute, Series and Parallel modes
The Mode switch is what separates the Duel Pugilist from simply owning two distortions. Guitar.com's reviewer called it "the heart and soul of this pedal"4:
"The mode switch is the heart and soul of this pedal and gives you three options for setting how the pedals interact with one another."
- Mute: Distortion A takes the reins with Distortion B operating as a top layer4.
- Series: The two distortions stack as you would with two separate pedals, one feeding into the other2. Guitar.com's reviewer described it as unlocking "the ability to stack the separate distortion sounds just as you would with multiple distortion units on a pedalboard"4.
- Bypass (Parallel): The two distortions run side by side and can be mixed together with the blend knob, which Guitar.com's reviewer found delivers "another brilliant batch of tone-tweaking options, letting you mix the tw"4.
For a player who has ever wondered what two different distortion settings sound like layered rather than chained, Parallel mode is the draw; for a player who just wants more gain on tap, Series does what stacking two pedals on a board does, without the extra patch cable24.
How it differs from the original Pugilist
The original Fender Pugilist Distortion, launched in Fender's first effects pedal range in 2018, already had two individually voiced distortion circuits with separate tone and gain controls that could be blended56. The Duel Pugilist uses the same distortion voicings23, so the sound of each channel is familiar territory for Pugilist owners. What is new is the format: a larger dual-format enclosure with full control sets per channel, the three-way Mode switch, and the two-band master shelving EQ12.
The original Pugilist earned strong press over its life. The Duel Pugilist features the same distortion voicings as the original Pugilist, with more routing options2.
What reviewers said
Guitar World's Paul Riario reviewed the Duel Pugilist alongside the Dual Marine Layer Reverb and found both to have hardy builds, concluding1:
"most (like myself) will find the Duel Pugilist Distortion a satisfyingly worthy contender in the middleweight distortion"
Guitar.com's Matt McCracken reviewed it in December 2021 and highlighted the mode switch and the mirrored control sets as the pedal's core strengths4.
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Questions
Is the Fender Duel Pugilist true bypass?
Yes. Guitar World's review lists the Duel Pugilist Distortion with true bypass switching, so with both channels off the pedal passes your signal without coloring it. Guitar.com's review also lists true bypass switching among its features.
What power supply does the Duel Pugilist need?
It runs on 9V DC center negative mains power, per Guitar.com's review. That is the same standard supply as most modern pedals, so a typical 9V pedalboard power supply with a center negative output will run it.
What is the difference between the Pugilist and the Duel Pugilist?
The original Fender Pugilist Distortion has two individually voiced distortion circuits with separate tone and gain controls that can be blended. The Duel Pugilist carries the same distortion voicings but adds a Mode switch with Mute, Series and Parallel routing, and a two-band master shelving EQ, in a larger dual-format enclosure.
Can you stack both channels on the Duel Pugilist?
Yes. In Series mode the two distortions stack just as you would with two separate distortion pedals on a board, one feeding into the other. In Parallel (bypass) mode you can instead blend the two distortions with the blend knob.
Where is the Fender Duel Pugilist made?
Guitar.com's review lists the Duel Pugilist Distortion as made in China. It comes in a lightweight anodized aluminum housing with LED-backlit knobs that illuminate when the pedal is powered.
Sources (6)
- Fender Dual Marine Layer Reverb and Duel Pugilist Distortion review, Guitar World, 2022-03-02
- Hear Fender's new Duel Pugilist distortion and Dual Marine Layer reverb in action, Guitar.com, 2021-10-26
- Fender's New Duel Pugilist & Dual Marine Reverb, Premier Guitar, 2021-10-26
- Fender Duel Pugilist Distortion review: A heavyweight distortion with formidable punch combinations, Guitar.com, 2021-12-10
- Review: Fender Pugilist Distortion, Santa Ana Overdrive, Marine Layer Reverb and Mirror Image Delay, Guitar World, 2018-09-29
- Fender Pugilist Distortion review, MusicRadar, 2018-06-08
