The Fender Compugilist is a versatile dual-effect unit that combines two of Fender's popular pedals: The Bends Compressor and the Pugilist Distortion. This pedal is designed to help musicians achieve a classic "mastered" rock tone in a single, compact unit. Both effects within the Compugilist are independently switchable, allowing for flexible use and a wide range of tonal possibilities. The pedal features straightforward controls, making it accessible for various users.
Function Description:
The Compugilist offers two distinct effects: distortion and compression, each with its own set of controls and bypass footswitches.
Distortion Section:
The distortion side of the pedal is based on the Pugilist Distortion and provides familiar controls for shaping your distorted tone.
- Distortion Bypass Footswitch & LED (1): This footswitch allows you to engage or bypass the distortion effect. The integrated LED illuminates when the distortion effect is active, providing a clear visual indicator of its status.
- Level (Distortion) (3): This control adjusts the overall output level of the distortion effect. It allows you to balance the volume of the distorted signal with your clean tone or other effects in your signal chain.
- Tone (4): Similar to a tone control on a guitar, this knob shapes the frequency response of the distorted sound. Turning it counterclockwise decreases treble frequencies, resulting in a warmer, darker tone. Turning it clockwise increases treble frequencies, providing a brighter, more cutting sound, and offers a full-range tone at its maximum setting.
- Gain (5): This control determines the amount of distortion added to your signal. Higher gain settings will produce more aggressive and saturated distortion, while lower settings will offer a milder overdrive.
- Bass Boost (6): This feature boosts low-end frequencies within the distortion circuit. It can add fullness and punch to your distorted tone, particularly useful for single-coil pickups or when you want a thicker sound.
Compressor Section:
The compressor side of the pedal is based on The Bends Compressor and offers controls for dynamic shaping and sustain.
- Compressor Bypass Footswitch & LED (12): This footswitch engages or bypasses the compressor effect. The LED illuminates when the compressor effect is active, indicating its operational status.
- Recovery (7): This control adjusts the compressor's recovery time, which is the speed at which the compressor releases its gain reduction after the input signal drops below the threshold. A faster recovery time can make the compression sound more aggressive, while a slower recovery time can provide a smoother, more sustained effect.
- Compression (8): This knob controls the amount of compression applied to the signal, effectively adjusting the compression ratio. Higher settings will result in more pronounced compression, reducing the dynamic range more significantly.
- Level (Compressor) (9): This control adjusts the overall output level of the compressor effect. It allows you to compensate for any perceived volume loss due to compression or to boost the signal if desired.
- G.R. (Gain Reduction) LED (10): This LED illuminates when gain is actively being reduced by the compressor. It provides a visual indication of how much the compressor is working, helping you set the compression and recovery controls effectively.
General Features and Connectivity:
The Compugilist is designed for ease of integration into any pedalboard setup.
- Input Jack (11): This is a high-impedance input suitable for a variety of instruments, including electric guitars, bass guitars, acoustic guitars with pickup systems, keyboards, and other instruments.
- Output Jack (2): This is a low-impedance output jack that connects to your amplifier or to the next effect pedal in your signal chain.
- DC Power Connector (15): The pedal requires a standard center-negative 9VDC power supply. This ensures compatibility with most common pedal power supplies.
- LED Kill Switch (14): This switch deactivates the illumination of the control knobs' LEDs. This can be useful in dark environments where the knob illumination might be distracting, or to conserve battery life if using an internal battery (though the manual primarily focuses on DC power).
- Low Battery Indicator (13): This indicator provides a visual alert when the pedal's battery (if used) is running low, prompting you to replace it or connect to an external power supply.
Important Technical Specifications:
- Input Impedance: 820kΩ
- Output Impedance: <6kΩ
- Power Supply: 9VDC regulated adapter, 5.5 x 2.1 mm barrel connector, center negative.
- Power Requirements: 75mA @ 9VDC.
- Dimensions: 3.75" x 4.9" x 2.5" (95.25mm x 124.5mm x 63.5mm).
- Weight: 1.2lbs (0.54kg).
Usage Features:
- Independent Effects: Both the distortion and compressor effects can be engaged or bypassed independently, offering maximum flexibility in crafting your sound. This allows users to use distortion alone, compression alone, or both in combination.
- Versatile Tonal Shaping: The comprehensive controls for both distortion (Level, Tone, Gain, Bass Boost) and compression (Recovery, Compression, Level) enable a wide range of tonal possibilities, from subtle sustain and mild overdrive to aggressive distortion and tight, punchy compression.
- Visual Feedback: The LEDs for each bypass footswitch and the Gain Reduction LED for the compressor provide clear visual feedback on the pedal's status and operation, which is crucial in live performance settings.
- Compact Design: The pedal's dimensions make it a suitable addition to most pedalboards without taking up excessive space.
- Designed in California, U.S.A.: Reflects Fender's commitment to quality and design.
Maintenance Features:
- Cleaning: To clean the unit's exterior, unplug the AC power adapter and use only a damp cloth. Ensure the unit is completely dry before reconnecting it to power. This prevents potential damage from moisture.
- Power Adapter: Always use an appropriate power supply that meets the specified 9VDC center-negative requirements. Do not alter the AC plug of the connected power adapter.
- No User Serviceable Parts: The manual explicitly states that there are no user-serviceable parts inside the unit. Any servicing should be referred to qualified personnel, ensuring safety and proper repair.
- Safety Warnings: The manual includes important safety instructions to prevent damage, fire, or shock hazards. These include not exposing the unit to rain or moisture, not dripping or splashing liquids on the unit, and ensuring it is connected to a safety agency certified, regulated power source.
- Hearing Protection: A warning is provided regarding the potential for high sound pressure levels from amplifiers and loudspeaker systems, or ear/headphones, which can cause temporary or permanent hearing damage. Users are advised to use care when setting and adjusting volume levels.
The Fender Compugilist is a robust and versatile pedal designed for guitarists and other instrumentalists seeking to combine high-quality distortion and compression effects in a single, user-friendly unit. Its independent controls and clear indicators make it a powerful tool for shaping a wide array of tones, from subtle enhancements to full-on rock aggression.
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