Maestro

Maestro

57

Also known as: Maestro Electronics

Unclaimed

Maestro holds a singular place in music history as the brand behind the first commercially successful guitar effects pedal. Introduced in 1962 under the Gibson umbrella, the Maestro FZ-1 Fuzz-Tone — designed by engineers Glenn Snoddy and Revis V. Hobbs — became a sensation after Keith Richards used it to record the iconic opening riff of the Rolling Stones' "(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction" in 19...

more

Maestro holds a singular place in music history as the brand behind the first commercially successful guitar effects pedal. Introduced in 1962 under the Gibson umbrella, the Maestro FZ-1 Fuzz-Tone — designed by engineers Glenn Snoddy and Revis V. Hobbs — became a sensation after Keith Richards used it to record the iconic opening riff of the Rolling Stones' "(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction" in 1965. Beyond the Fuzz-Tone, Maestro produced several other groundbreaking effects throughout the 1960s and '70s, including the Echoplex tape delay (designed by Mike Battle and famously used by Eddie Van Halen on Van Halen's debut album) and the PS-1 Phase Shifter, developed by synthesizer pioneer Tom Oberheim.

After ceasing production around 1979, Maestro was revived by Gibson as a standalone effects pedal brand. The modern lineup carries forward the legacy with pedals like the Fuzz-Tone FZ-M, Ranger Overdrive, Invader Distortion, Comet Chorus, Discoverer Delay, Orbit Phaser, Mariner Tremolo, Titan Boost, Arcas Compressor/Sustainer, and Agena Envelope Filter. Each pedal in the Original Collection features a "two-in-one" design with a toggle switch between two distinct voicings, true bypass switching, and a pedalboard-friendly wedge profile. As the brand puts it: "While not everyone has heard of Maestro, everyone has heard Maestro."

Maestro has 74 products cataloged on Equipboard, including Effects Processors, Fuzz Effects Pedals, and Phaser Effects Pedals. Their gear is featured by 178 artists, with the strongest followings in Rock, Electronic, and Pop. Notable users include Alex Lifeson, Billy Gibbons, and John Martyn. Maestro's catalog spans the full price spectrum — from entry-level options to high-end flagships.

Artists Who Use Maestro

Alex Lifeson uses 4 Maestro products

Alex Lifeson

Guitarist · Mark Knopfler’s Guitar Heroes

Billy Gibbons uses 4 Maestro products

Billy Gibbons

Guitarist · ZZ Top

John Martyn uses 4 Maestro products

John Martyn

Guitarist, Singer

Melvin “Wah Wah” Watson uses 4 Maestro products

Melvin “Wah Wah” Watson

Guitarist, Singer · Otis Day & The Knights

Jimmy Page uses 3 Maestro products

Jimmy Page

Guitarist · Led Zeppelin

Jimi Hendrix uses 3 Maestro products

Jimi Hendrix

Guitarist · The Jimi Hendrix Experience

Adrian Utley uses 3 Maestro products

Adrian Utley

Guitarist, Keyboardist · Portishead

Martin L. Gore uses 3 Maestro products

Martin L. Gore

Singer, Guitarist · Depeche Mode

Jay Watson uses 3 Maestro products

Jay Watson

Guitarist, Drummer · Tame Impala

Bootsy Collins uses 3 Maestro products

Bootsy Collins

Singer, Bassist · Funkadelic

Moby uses 3 Maestro products

Moby

Music Producer · Hanzel und Gretyl

John Cipollina uses 3 Maestro products

John Cipollina

Guitarist · Quicksilver Messenger Service

Michio Kurihara uses 3 Maestro products

Michio Kurihara

Guitarist · YBO²

James Petralli uses 3 Maestro products

James Petralli

Singer, Guitarist · White Denim

Kurt Cobain uses 2 Maestro products

Kurt Cobain

Singer, Guitarist · Nirvana

Billy Corgan uses 2 Maestro products

Billy Corgan

Singer, Guitarist · The Smashing Pumpkins

George Harrison uses 2 Maestro products

George Harrison

Singer, Guitarist · The Beatles

Jeff Beck uses 2 Maestro products

Jeff Beck

Guitarist · Mark Knopfler’s Guitar Heroes

Brian May uses 2 Maestro products

Brian May

Singer, Guitarist · Queen

Dean DeLeo uses 2 Maestro products

Dean DeLeo

Guitarist · Stone Temple Pilots

Community setups featuring Maestro

Show yours
mkn_upa

mkn_upa

Gear IQ 1171

jimmarchi1

jimmarchi1

Gear IQ 40997

rothhandlestudios

rothhandlestudios

Gear IQ 1963

matthijs_koningstein

matthijs_koningstein

Gear IQ 208

D

donald_kuntze

Gear IQ 66

jimmarchi1

jimmarchi1

Gear IQ 40997

bios7

bios7

Gear IQ 97

adam_ries

adam_ries

Gear IQ 378

blondguru

blondguru

Gear IQ 2065

S

stjames3410

Gear IQ 69

rothhandlestudios

rothhandlestudios

Gear IQ 1963

adanowsky

adanowsky

Gear IQ 249

hubert_vigilla

hubert_vigilla

Gear IQ 193

Are you on the Maestro team?

  • Be the first to know when an artist is spotted using Maestro gear
  • Curate the Maestro catalog, images, and product details
  • Respond to community photos and reviews of Maestro gear
  • See how Maestro gear is trending on Equipboard