The brand's place in history rests on two things: putting a fuzz box in the hands of Keith Richards, and building the tape echo units that defined the sound of recorded guitar for a decade143.
The story: Gibson's effects brand, revived
Maestro began as Gibson's effects arm in the 1960s, and its FZ-1 Fuzz-Tone is described by Guitar.com as "the first commercially successful pedal, it changed everything, and set the entire world of pedals and effec[ts]"710. Originally, the FZ-1 was marketed as a device to make electric guitars sound like brass instruments5.
Gibson relaunched the brand in January 2022 under the Maestro Electronics name, officially announcing five new stompboxes8. A new Maestro Electronics Instagram account had teased the return earlier that month with a clip captioned "The Legend Returns 1/18/22"10. The revival came with trademark enforcement behind it: in 2021 Gibson went after Mojo Hand FX, requesting that it stop using the Mister-O brand for its phase shifter pedals, a move the press linked to the Maestro comeback10. The line is available worldwide at authorized Gibson dealers11.
In an interview with Guitar.com, Maestro's designers said the engineering team "did a lot of research and analysis of vintage Maestro circuits to ensure we captured that tone and vibe," and that future plans included "larger-sized 2-in-1 units as well as some mini units"12.
Known for the Fuzz-Tone and the first Echoplex
The Fuzz-Tone's fame comes from one riff. Keith Richards used the Maestro FZ-1, which Guitar World says "first saw the light of day in 1962," on the opening of the Rolling Stones' "(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction" in 19651. Maestro's own pages still lead with that riff when describing the brand's history13. Sources differ on the exact introduction year: tru-fi's history gives 196215, while a Guitar Player retrospective dates the FZ-1 to 19635.
Maestro was also the company that first manufactured the Echoplex3. The line ran from the tube-driven EP-2 of the 1960s to the solid-state EP-3 introduced in 1970, which Guitar World's Chris Gill calls "a wonderfully versatile tape echo effect unit"1410.
The revived Original Collection
The 2022 relaunch came in two waves of five pedals each.
| Batch | Pedals | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Original Collection (January 2022) | Fuzz-Tone FZ-M, Invader Distortion, Ranger Overdrive, Comet Chorus, Discoverer Delay | 8 |
| Second batch (late 2022) | Agena Envelope Filter, Arcas Compressor Sustainer, Mariner Tremolo, Orbit Phaser, Titan Boost | 15 |
The Fuzz-Tone FZ-M revisits the original: Gibson describes it as offering "two pedals in one functionality" with both an FZ-1 inspired fuzz sound and a thicker, more modern fuzz tone16. Guitar World's reviewer found it "should satisfy a lot of fuzz needs," covering "60s garage, through classic rock to hooligan"1. The Discoverer Delay's toggle engages modulation ranging from slight tape-like pitch flutter to seasick modulation, adjusted with two internal trimpots7. The Orbit Phaser is a descendent of the very first phaser pedal ever produced, according to Premier Guitar15.
Pricing at launch was $149 for all pedals except the Discoverer Delay at $15978, and the second batch was likewise priced between $149 and $15917. Performer Mag's reviewer called the collection "All great versions of classic and more expensive pedals with their own flair"18.
Three knobs and a toggle in a wedge enclosure
Every pedal in the revived line shares one format: three knurled knobs plus a toggle switch in the middle, a true bypass footswitch, and top-mounted jacks918. The toggle offers a secondary mode, which Gibson says makes each pedal "two pedals in one"19. The housings are wedge-shaped with hints of the vintage styling of the originals, and each faceplate carries unique patterns of shapes and colors that the designers say evoke the waveforms and graphs of sonic analysis12.
Guitar World's reviewer of the second batch found them "heavy and extremely robust," with all socketry at the top end so they butt up close together on a pedalboard19. Guitar.com's reviewer noted they are "surprisingly heavy chunks"9.
Three of the five launch pedals have an internal trimpot, two in the case of the delay, accessed by loosening the four side screws and letting the base flap open9. As designer Craig Hockenberry explained to Guitar.com:
"We used internally accessible trimmers for the controls that wouldn’t normally be adjusted very often,"12
The range (30)
News
Questions
What fuzz pedal was used on "Satisfaction"?
Keith Richards used the Maestro FZ-1 Fuzz-Tone, the fuzz pedal Maestro introduced in the early 1960s, on the opening riff of the Rolling Stones' "(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction" in 1965. It is widely described as the first commercially successful fuzz pedal.
Who owns Maestro pedals?
Maestro is a Gibson-owned brand. Gibson relaunched it in January 2022 under the Maestro Electronics name with five new pedals, and the line is sold worldwide at authorized Gibson dealers. Gibson has also enforced the Maestro trademark, including a 2021 dispute with Mojo Hand FX over its Mister-O phase shifter name.
How much do the new Maestro pedals cost?
At the January 2022 launch, the Original Collection pedals were priced at $149, except the Discoverer Delay at $159. The second batch of five pedals, announced in late 2022, was also priced between $149 and $159.
Which pedals are in the Maestro Original Collection?
The Original Collection launched with five pedals: the Fuzz-Tone FZ-M fuzz, Invader Distortion, Ranger Overdrive, Comet Chorus and Discoverer Delay. A second batch followed with the Agena Envelope Filter, Arcas Compressor Sustainer, Mariner Tremolo, Orbit Phaser and Titan Boost.
Do Maestro pedals have internal trimpots?
Yes. Three of the five launch pedals have an internal trimpot, two in the case of the Discoverer Delay, accessed by loosening the four side screws and letting the base flap open. Maestro's designers used internal trimmers for controls that would not normally be adjusted often, keeping the control surface clean.
Did Maestro make the Echoplex?
Yes. Maestro was the company that first manufactured the Echoplex, including the tube-driven EP-2 of the 1960s and the solid-state EP-3 introduced in 1970, a tape echo unit that remains influential among players.
Sources (19)
- Maestro Fuzz-Tone FZ-M review, Guitar World, 2022-05-09
- The Maestro Fuzz-Tone, tru-fi.com
- Echoplex, Stompbox Book (stompboxbook.com), 2019-03-03
- Best Tape Delay Pedals And Tape Echos In 2020 - A Shopping Guide, Delicious Audio, 2025-02-17
- FUZ-1 | Guitar Player (October 2005) | Demeter Amplification, Guitar Player, 2005-10
- Legendary pedal brand Maestro continues its modern day revival with 5 all-new effects pedals, Guitar World, 2022-11-08
- Gibson revives Maestro as a fully-fledged pedal brand with five new stompboxes, Guitar.com, 2022-01-18
- Gibson re-launches Maestro Electronics with Original Collection pedal range, gearnews.com, 2022-01-18
- The Big Review: Maestro Original Collection pedals, Guitar.com, 2022-02-10
- The new Maestro Electronics Fuzz-Tone promises to give you Satisfaction!, gearnews.com, 2022-01-06
- Gibson Launches Maestro Original Collection 2023, Premier Guitar, 2022-01-18
- Maestro Returns: The revival of the iconic brand that kickstarted the pedal revolution, Guitar.com, 2022-02-02
- Maestro Electronics, Maestro Electronics (Gibson)
- Maestro Echoplex EP-3: one of the most iconic guitar effects, Guitar World, 2022-09-20
- Gibson Expands Maestro Pedal Line with 5 New Models, Premier Guitar, 2022-11-08
- Maestro Fuzz-Tone FZ-M, Gibson (www.gibson.com)
- 5 New Maestro Pedals, Delicious Audio, 2022-12-06
- REVIEW: Maestro Original Collection Guitar Effect Pedals, Performer Mag, 2022-07-07
- Maestro Agena, Arcas, Mariner and Orbit review, Guitar World, 2023-02-08