Maestro Comet Chorus

The Maestro Comet Chorus is an analog chorus pedal released in early 2022 as part of Gibson's relaunch of the Maestro brand, where it was the only modulation effect in a five-pedal series that also included the Ranger Overdrive, Invader Distortion, FZ-M fuzz and Discoverer Delay¹². It is built on bucket brigade device (BBD) technology, the classic analog approach to chorus, and it is mono with a simple three-knob, one-toggle layout¹.

What sets the Comet apart from a standard three-knob chorus is its two modes. Earth mode is a clean, classic analog chorus, while Orbit mode layers amplitude modulation, essentially a tremolo, over the chorused signal to simulate the character of a rotary speaker³¹. GuitarPlayer (www.guitarplayer.com)'s reviewers described it as "sweet sounding chorusing with a trippy vibrato function" and concluded that it "puts more sounds at your fingertips than might be expected from a three-knob chorus pedal"³.

The controls

The Comet keeps its control surface minimal: three knobs and a two-position mode switch, plus a bypass footswitch⁶³.

The enclosure opens clamshell-style to make battery changes easy, and a 2.1mm jack on the front handles external power³. Guitar World's reviewer found a sweet spot on the Mix knob at around 11 o'clock, where the pedal produces "a washed out flange-like effect"⁶.

Earth and Orbit modes

Earth mode is the straightforward setting. Guitar World's Trevor Curwen called it "a standard chorus effect, swirly, floaty and rich, that sounds instantly familiar"⁶, while GuitarPlayer's reviewers found it "does indeed provide a nice range of syrupy analog chorusing, up to the point where higher depth settings" push it into vibrato territory³. Performer Mag's Chris Devine noted "it's certainly got a darker tone and overall warmth in the Earth mode"⁸.

Orbit mode is where the Comet does something a standard chorus does not. Delicious Audio describes it as adding "some amplitude modulation to the chorused sound, simulating the sonic complexities of a rotary speaker"¹. Guitar World's take: Orbit "is a little more intense. Switching to Orbit appears to add a tremolo effect to the chorus to create something that sounds more like a rotary speaker"⁶. That tremolo aspect is most apparent with the depth turned up full, where the on/off sharpness of the effect can really be felt⁶. The internal trimpot controls how much of it you get⁶³.

Guitar.com's Richard Purvis summed up the character in Earth mode with mix around halfway⁴:

Where it came from

The Comet is not a reissue. Gibson revived the Maestro name in 2022 with five new pedals, but only the FZ-M is actually based on anything Maestro originally did³². The Maestro designers intended the Comet as a "different take on chorusing"³, and it launched in January 2022 at $149⁵. By the time of Guitar World's later review the price was listed at $159⁶.

What reviewers said

Published reviews of the Comet were largely positive, with a few reservations:

• GuitarPlayer: "Puts more sounds at your fingertips than might be expected from a three-knob chorus pedal," with quiet operation listed among its pluses and no reasons to avoid listed³.
• Guitar World: Found the familiar, swirly Earth mode and the flange-like Mix sweet spot, and detailed the rotary-style Orbit behavior⁶.
• Guitar.com: Called it "eminently likeable" in Earth mode, with Leslie-esque color rather than 80s lushness⁴.
• MusicRadar: Found the "Comet Chorus is a little limited in range"⁷.
• Performer Mag: Noted "some slightly darker feel from the Chorus and Delay may not appeal to all players"⁸.

For a player weighing the Comet against other analog chorus options, the honest summary from the press is that it does the classic warm BBD chorus well and adds a rotary-flavored Orbit mode most three-knob choruses lack, at the cost of a somewhat limited overall range and a darker tonal bent that not every player will want⁷⁸¹.

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