Back in 2018, Fender garnered much attention at that year's Winter NAMM by showcasing a then-new line of effects pedals.
By no means Fender’s first foray into the stompbox market, what captured the attention of the convention was the introduction of six core pedals that paired original circuit designs with a robust build quality.
Within no time, Fender’s V1 pedals were being seen on the boards of pros worldwide, from veterans like Johnny Marr and Adrian Belew all the way through to My Chemical Romance’s Gerard Way. Not only have a number of these circuits become modern classics, but Fender was also able to effectively price them so that you didn’t need a rockstar’s budget in order to obtain them.
This year, Fender has introduced the V2 line of pedals, effectively redesigning The Bends, Pugilist, Santa Ana Overdrive and The Pelt Fuzz for improved performance, functionality and tone.
With the original line being so successful, Fender strived to maintain the core tones that made the now-discontinued V1 line such a hit; however, improved component layouts for better noise control, top-mounted jacks to save pedalboard real estate, multi-function footswitches and redesigned aesthetics all coalesce to refresh the line for 2026.
Catch up on all the latest features here.
The Bends V2 Compressor
The Bends V2 Compressor excels in providing an intuitive and versatile Compression/Boost combo that is suitable for both guitar and bass. Fender has taken the guesswork out of compression, providing a three-speed attack switch, enhanced release control and an input control for setting the compressor’s threshold.
A Blend control gives the player an easy means to dial in parallel compression, with switchable bypass modes for both buffered and true bypass. Additionally, the handy Comp Pre/Post switch lets you change the pedal’s internal circuit to switch the order of compression and boost functions.
What really makes The Bends V2 stand out amongst the competition is its rear-mounted Vintage switch, which works to alter the circuit from surgical precision into a smooth classic-style compression with hints of sweet saturation.
Pugilist V2 Distortion
A favourite within the original line, the Pugilist V2 Distortion makes its triumphant return. Retaining its classic dual independent distortion engines, each distortion provides a distinct voicing that can be further dialled in via its own gain, tone and level controls.
Dual footswitches give the player immediate control of both voicings as well as the option to select momentary or latching functionality. However, what makes the Pugilist different to any other distortion on the market is its well-thought-out Path switch, providing not only a means of selecting which order the circuits run in, but also the added option to run them in parallel.
From cascading stacked gain sounds, through to individually nuanced saturation settings, the Pugilist has you covered when it comes to dialling in fantastic-sounding and versatile distortion tones.
The Pelt V2 Fuzz
Built around silicon transistors and an input stage that is buffer-friendly, The Pelt has you covered when it comes to providing a plethora of high-quality fuzz tones in a pro-level package, built to stand the rigours of both the road and the studio.
Sag and Bloom controls work in unison with the gain and EQ section to provide even more ways to custom-tailor the characteristics of your fuzz. Additional bass and mid switches let the player further contour the shape, leaving no shortage of ways to appease even the most diligent of fuzz worshippers.
What makes The Pelt stand out from the pack is the addition of its own Octave (Chaos) footswitch, which can serve up a buffet of traditional octave-up-based goodness or steamroll you with a monsoon of underlying glitchy maelstrom, as implied by the name of the switch itself. Equally at home with bass as with guitar, in its latest iteration, The Pelt is guaranteed to continue its legacy as a modern classic.
Santa Ana V2 Overdrive
The Santa Ana V2 Overdrive is a JFET-based Class-A overdrive that operates on 18 volts internally as opposed to the 9 volts associated with many of its competitors. This added headroom works to give the Santa Ana Overdrive touch-sensitive dynamics that many players would more likely associate with coveted tube amps than a standalone stompbox.
This time around, Fender has also opted to provide a footswitchable 3-Band EQ control, giving players a smorgasbord of options when it comes to the frequencies affected by the overdrive, from preventing unwanted loss of low frequencies through to subtle (or less subtle) mid humps to help solos poke through the mix.
The EQ Placement switch enables the user to decide where the EQ section is placed in the circuit, meaning that for a lot of players the Santa Ana V2 Overdrive has the potential to knock a pedal or two off their current board, offering more functionality than the competition. Whether you want to shape the tone of your drive pre or post, Fender has all options covered.
Check out the V2 Effects Pedals here.
