Pricing and availability
We compare 600+ stores and found this item at 8 stores. Prices updated .
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Price
Average Price: $124
Standard/Professional
$50
$201+
Price Tier
Budget
Standard
High-end
Price History
Based on price data from 5 merchants for "Fender The Bends Compressor". Prices shown reflect NEW condition. Tracking began Apr 2, 2026.
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Description
Introducing the Fender The Bends Compressor, the ultimate tool for musicians looking to achieve total control over their sound dynamics without sacrificing their unique tone. Created with an in-depth understanding of a musician's needs, this pedal effortlessly tames wild volume spikes, delivering a well-balanced and vibrant performance every time. The Bends Compressor comes with Drive and Recovery controls, allowing you to fine-tune the compression level to perfectly complement your playing style and sustain. The Blend control is a unique feature that lets you merge the dry signal to maintain your natural pick attack. Additionally, the Amp Jewel LED color changes in response to your playing, providing a visual guide to when the compression circuit is engaged and the duration of your signal's effect. Designed by Fender's expert in-house team, The Bends Compressor is an all-original circuit, developed in consultation with several professional players. It's packed with stage-ready features, all housed in a lightweight, durable anodized aluminum chassis that gives your pedalboard a classic Fender look. The LED-backlit knobs ensure you can easily see your control settings on a dim stage. What's more, the magnetically latched 9V battery door makes battery swapping quicker and easier than ever before.
Key Features:
- Studio-quality stompbox for sound dynamics control
- Drive and Recovery controls for fine-tuning compression
- Blend control for mixing in the dry signal
- Amp Jewel LED for visual guidance
- All-original circuit designed by Fender's in-house team
- Lightweight, durable anodized aluminum chassis
- LED-backlit knobs for visibility on dark stages
- Magnetically latched 9V battery door for quick battery swapping
Product specs
| Pedal Type | Compressor |
| Analog/Digital | Analog |
| Inputs | 1 x 1/4" (instrument) |
| Outputs | 1 x 1/4" |
| Power Source | 9V DC power supply required (sold separately) |
| Batteries | 1 x 9V |
| Power Usage | 60mA |
| Height | 2.5" |
| Width | 2.75" |
| Depth | 4.87" |
| Weight | 1 lbs. |
FAQs
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What type of compression can I expect from the Fender The Bends Compressor?
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The Fender The Bends Compressor provides smooth, transparent compression that preserves your guitar's natural tone while enhancing sustain and clarity. It's designed to even out your playing dynamics without coloring your sound.
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Does the Fender The Bends Compressor work well with both electric and acoustic guitars?
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Yes, the Fender The Bends Compressor is versatile and works effectively with both electric and acoustic guitars, providing consistent compression and sustain across different guitar types.
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Where should I place the Fender The Bends Compressor in my effects chain?
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It's recommended to place the Fender The Bends Compressor early in your effects chain, typically after your tuner but before modulation and time-based effects, to maintain the integrity of your guitar's signal and dynamics.
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What power supply does the Fender The Bends Compressor require?
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The Fender The Bends Compressor requires a 9V DC power supply, which is sold separately. It can also run on a 9V battery for convenience.
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Is the Fender The Bends Compressor suitable for live performances?
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Yes, the Fender The Bends Compressor is well-suited for live performances, offering reliable compression and dynamic control, ensuring your guitar sound remains consistent and clear on stage.
Videos
Fender
The Bends Compressor | Effect Pedals | Fender
The Bends Compressor | Effect Pedals | Fender
Fender
Fender "The Bends" Compressor Pedal Review
intheblues
Fender The Bends Compressor (Ambient Guitar Gear Demo)
Chords Of Orion
First Look: Fender The Bends Compressor Pedal
astringsuk
Fender: THE BENDS Compressor
Brett Kingman
Fender The Bends Compressor Pedal Bass Demo / Review
Bass Series
Fender The Bends Compressor - Review & Demo
PMTVUK
Fender The Bends Compressor Effects Pedal
Musician's Friend
Fender THE BENDS compressor pedal demo with Humbuckers & Princeton Reverb
gearmanndude
Fender The Bends Compressor | Gear4music demo
Gear4music Guitars
Reviews
PROS
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Innovative battery compartment design for easy changes
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Can be used as a clean boost for driving amps or pedals
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Transparent sound, doesn't color tone excessively
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Very low noise, even at high compression settings
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Versatile, works well for both guitar and bass
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Easy to use, doesn't require technical knowledge to dial in
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Light-pipe knobs and power light useful on dark stages
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Blend knob allows for subtle control over dynamics
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Sturdy build quality feels substantial and durable
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LED lights and sleek design enhance visual appeal
CONS
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Some users report unit being overly transparent, not enhancing tone as expected
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One unit experienced unwanted distortion, possibly defective
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Difficult to achieve desired sustain with blend knob, according to one review
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Extra bright LED in amp jewel considered overkill by some
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Compression effect may be too subtle for those seeking more pronounced squish
Owner Insights
We analyzed real musician discussions from forums and Reddit to find what players love, question, and tweak about Fender The Bends Compressor.
Features and functionality
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The Bends' LED changes from white to pink when compression is active, offering a visual cue to monitor the effect in real-time.
Source -
The pedal includes a blend feature, allowing users to mix compressed and uncompressed signals for greater control over the sound.
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The Recovery knob acts as a sustain control, while the Drive knob sets the volume threshold for compression activation.
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The Bends is noted for its neutral tonal impact, maintaining the guitar's original sound while managing dynamics effectively.
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Comparisons
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The Bends is described as quieter than the Keeley Compressor Plus, though it offers less sustain.
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The MXR Dyna Comp Script is mentioned as a superior alternative to several other compressor pedals, including The Bends.
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The Keeley Compressor Plus is recognized for its distinctive top-end "squish," offering a more colored tone compared to the transparent sound of The Bends.
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The Bends is likened to the EarthQuaker Devices Warden for its neutral tonal characteristics, contrasting with the Keeley's more pronounced tonal coloration.
Source
Use cases and applications
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Users find The Bends effective as an "always-on" compressor for subtle note enhancement and blooming.
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It's recommended for players who are more experienced with compressors due to the complexity of dialing in release times.
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The Bends is favored for players seeking a subtle compression effect without altering the guitar's inherent tone, making it suitable for genres where transparency is key.
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The Walrus Audio Deep Six is recommended for doom, black, and death metal players, suggesting a preference for that genre's compression needs over The Bends.
Source
Value and pricing
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It's suggested that the pedal is worth approximately $50 to $60, indicating it may be priced higher than its perceived value.
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Build quality
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The pedal is noted for its robust construction, suggesting durability and reliability in its physical build.
Source
Critic Reviews
4.5 out of 5
Based on 3 Reviews and 7 Ratings
10745
Fender makes amazing bass guitars, but they literally Line 6'd this compressor. AVOID!
So with my modelling gear adventure having gone south, I decided to go back to analog, and the Fender compressor caught my initial attention because of how several people were talking about how the Bends compressor was transparent compared to Keeley or Xotic compressors.
Transparent, yes, but there is such a thing as being TOO transparent! The compressor literally does nothing to enhance the clean tone! In fact, I would even say that it sounds rather depressing. The blend knob is absolutely useless as even at max compression the compressor does nothing to make the clean tone sustain as consistent as possible, and the Drive and Level knobs are extremely difficult to work with. It's like FOR FUCK'S SAKE! WHAT WERE THE GUYS AT FENDER SMOKING WHEN THEY DESIGNED THIS POS COMPRESSOR?!
Fender is a legendary brand! I could go on and on for hours JUST talking about how amazing their guitars, bass guitars and amplifiers are! The Twin Reverb clean tone is THE clean tone that I've been searching for years! If Fender wanted to provide something worthwhile to stompbox fanatics, maybe they should spend some time recreating their Fender Twin Reverb clean tones into an amp-in-a-box package.
But let's not mince words here. This compressor does NOT deserve the Fender badge, and for that, I plan to sell it back to Long and McQuade. This has been $180 poorly spent, and I cannot, for the love of my own life, recommend that anyone else buy this piece of crap.
Dear Fender, PLEASE rename this compressor to something else, like Fender "The Lame" Compressor, 'cause at least that'll sound a LOT more honest.
1086
Good sound and good looks
Great compressor with probably the best power light I've seen, and as a bonus, when the pedal "compresses" the light glows red instead of white. The visually sleek design is a bonus and the back lit knobs are a great feature (with the ability to turn them off to save your battery). All round an excellent pedal.
179
great fun
Compressor's are great for funk. And also on slower stuff to get ya chords ringing out longer. Not the most impressive pedal ever but useful
Artist usage
Add artist
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A Fender The Bends Compressor can be seen in this photo of Johnny's pedalboard which was taken from an interview with Radio X on June 14, 2018.
Somewhat visible in this Instagram video in between the Electro-Harmonix Nano POG and the BOSS NS-2 Noise Suppressor (in the top row of the pedal board). Although not crystal clear, I believe this is the Fender The Bends Compressor based on the unmistakable Fender logo on the pedal, as well as the colour of the unit and the layout of the knobs. It seems like this compressor replaces his green Fender Micro Compressor, at least in this instance.
Gerard Way posted this picture with FX pedals he got from Fender (see second picture). The 'Fender The Bends Compressor' pedal is seen in the middle of the bottom row.
"The 2nd photo is of Fender’s new pedal line, which I am very excited to check out and discover sounds with."
In this vlog at 4:47 Joe shows his pedalboard at the time, including the Fender The Bends Compressor
In an Instagram post, Orla Gartland's pedalboard features the Fender The Bends Compressor, positioned next to the Polytune, during her Berlin show.
The Fender The Bends Compressor pedal can be seen on John's pedal board on the far left of the photo.
Genre Usage
Based on how artists on Equipboard use this gear, it is most commonly found in the following genres.
Used With
Based on how musicians on Equipboard use Fender The Bends Compressor, it is most commonly used with the following gear.
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Community setups
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