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Intro

Cougatronix is a small, family-owned business that specializes in the design and manufacture of custom overdrive and distortion "footless pedals" integrated directly into electric guitars.

By building the sound effects circuit and controls directly into the guitar itself, we eliminate the need for traditional floor-based gear. In addition to our flagship footless pedal guitars, we design and build classic guitar foot pedals and educational Montessori boards.

Footless Pedals

The Problem with Traditional Foot Pedals

Electric guitar players commonly use effects pedals to enhance and boost their sound. However, traditional stompboxes and amplifier-built effects present several drawbacks:

  • Accessibility: Musicians who do not have feet or the use of their feet are physically restricted from operating traditional stomp switches.
  • Clutter & Hazards: Traditional setups require two extra cables (guitar to pedal, pedal to amp), cluttering the stage and creating trip hazards.
  • Power Constraints: Pedals require dedicated power adapters or external power sources, introducing even more cords to the stage.
  • Immobility: To toggle the effect or tweak equalizer dials (Level, Gain, Tone), the musician must remain tethered near the pedalboard or amplifier faceplate.

The Fun Solution: Cougatronix Footless Guitar Pedals®

The initial Cougatronix footless guitar pedal was designed in 1985 by founder and Principal Engineer, Peter J. Cougan Sr.

While the term "footless pedal" is an oxymoron (since a pedal is defined as a foot-operated device), our design eliminates the foot entirely. By integrating the overdrive circuit, on/off switches, and equalizer controls directly into the guitar's body, the player is set free. No extra cables, no stage clutter, and no need to stand next to an amplifier—you can move about the stage and blast the audience with the flick of a switch!

We rebuild Gibson Les Paul style guitars (and other models) by incorporating the circuit. Simply reach down near the standard volume knobs to engage the effect and dial in your sound.

Custom Options

Every Cougatronix guitar with an integrated Footless Guitar Pedal® is custom-made in the USA. We offer a wide range of models and configurable options to choose from:

Configuration Options

  1. The Guitar: Our base model uses a LyxPro 39" (or similar). Gibson Les Paul style guitars (and other brands) can be custom built upon request with additional costs.
  2. Select-A-Sound: Switch sounds instantly with a built-in toggle. The base model features both Overdrive and Distortion circuits. A single-sound option (Overdrive only) is also available.
  3. Equalizer Knobs: Adds three dedicated controls to the guitar face (Level, Gain, Tone). Choose none, or choose all three. Optional features include:
    • "No-load Tone pot" on the Tone control.
    • "Variable treble bleed" on the volume control.
  4. LED Indicators: Custom colored LEDs let you visually verify which sound is selected before you play a single note:
    • Combo 1: Red and Green (Standard model: Green for Overdrive, Red for Distortion) or Blue.
    • Combo 2: Yellow and Blue.
  5. Ignition Switch: Replaces the traditional floor stomp switch:
    • True Bypass Pushbutton: A large pushbutton that engages the circuit using our custom "True bypass surgery" circuitry. Optional upgrades include an integrated indicator LED and a custom "11" dial top (signifying that the volume goes past 10!).
    • Traditional Toggle: A classic toggle switch offering True Bypass without LEDs or numeric graphics for a simpler, traditional look.
  6. Kill Button: An optional percussive Kill Button can be custom-squeezed into the guitar body.
  7. Powering:
    • External: A 9Vdc battery mounted to the bottom of the guitar near the jack (toolless replacement).
    • Internal: Battery housed inside the control cavity (requires a screwdriver; may limit other features due to space constraints).

The Circuit

Model # MV12685

Each custom build incorporates the Cougatronix custom-designed circuit board assembly, Model MV12685. Initially designed in 1985 by founder Peter Cougan Sr., the circuit sat on a shelf for 35 years until the Covid pandemic. Over the following 5 years, we resurrected the product, researching and tweaking every component until it was perfected. Today, it stands as one of the finest analog electric guitar overdrive circuits on the market.

Retro Analog Engineering

The MV12685 is engineered entirely with legacy analog components, producing a sharp, crisp sound with a smooth, milky edge that modern digital chips simply cannot match:

  • 741 Operational Amplifier: The heart of the circuit, utilizing the legendary Op Amp designed in 1968 by Fairchild Semiconductor Corporation.
  • Dual 1N4001 Silicon Rectifier Diodes: Boosts output and provides low-frequency rectification, reverse polarity protection, and voltage spike suppression.
  • Capacitor Harmonization: A hand-selected mix of electrolytic and film capacitors chosen for optimum filtering and tone performance.
  • Precision Tuning: Each board is individually hand-soldered in the USA and fine-tuned using internal variable resistors to ensure all components harmonize perfectly with the Op Amp, delivering extended sustain and a smooth, musical ramp-down.

Contact

For current stock availability, custom options, and pricing, please email us directly at:

Cougatronix@yahoo.com

*Note: Cougatronix is not affiliated with Gibson Les Paul, LyxPro, or Fairchild.

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