Fender Compugilist review

Fender's distortion and compressor combo offers an array of practical tone-boosting options

Fender Compugilist review
(Image credit: © Future / Olly Curtis)

Guitar World Verdict

Compression and distortion in one box is a smart idea - and while you don't get the full feature set of their respective standalone pedals, the combination is well implemented here.

Pros

  • +

    Compression and distortion are a good fit in one box.

  • +

    Effects are separately switchable.

  • +

    Well-designed enclosure.

  • +

    Value for money.

  • +

    Works as a boost.

Cons

  • -

    You only get three controls on the compressor.

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Fender has drawn on its The Bends compressor and Pugilist Distortion to create the Compugilist, which puts separately switchable compressor and distortion in one pedal. 

While you don’t get the full feature set here, you do get the essential controls for each. 

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Trevor Curwen has played guitar for several decades – he's also mimed it on the UK's Top of the Pops. Much of his working life, though, has been spent behind the mixing desk, during which time he has built up a solid collection of the guitars, amps and pedals needed to cover just about any studio session. He writes pedal reviews for Guitarist and has contributed to Total Guitar, MusicRadar and Future Music among others.