MAESTRO

GIBSON LAUNCHED THE Maestro brand in 1962 and set the stage for stomp-box effects with its introduction of the FZ-1 Fuzz Tone, a two-knob box that etched its place in history thanks to Keith Richards’ use of it in 1965 on “(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction,” the Rolling Stones’ first number one hit. Maestro went on to produce numerous products—including amplifiers — throughout the ’60s and ’70s before fading away in 1979. Now Gibson has revived the brand with a series of pedals for 2022: the FZ-M Fuzz-Tone, Invader Distortion, Ranger Over Drive, Comet Chorus and Discoverer Delay.

While only the FZ-M is actually based on anything Maestro originally did, these colorful pedals exude vintage-style graphics, including a “three bugles” bypass indicator that lights up in red, yellow and blue. All have three knobs, a two-position mode switch that performs different functions depending on the effect, true-bypass switching and a mechanical on/off foot switch. They feature analog circuitry, which is laid out on glass-epoxy boards, and the housings open up clamshell-style to make it easy to change the battery (a 2.1mm jack for an external adapter is also provided). All are priced at $149, except for the Discoverer Delay, which is $159.

The five pedals we received for this review], a Hamer Newport with Duncan Phat Cat pickups and an early Gibson Johnny A, all running through either a Fender Deluxe Reverb reissue with Alessandro hand-wired circuitry or a Victoria Double Deluxe 2x12 combo with Celestial Heritage speakers.