Maxon is the brand name used by Nisshin Onpa, a Japanese electronics manufacturer with roots in the mid-1960s. The company originally supplied pickups for Greco-brand electric guitars before transitioning into effects pedal manufacturing in 1969. Through the 1970s and into the early 2000s, Nisshin Onpa was the OEM manufacturer behind many of Ibanez's most celebrated stompboxes, including the TS-808 Tube Screamer, the TS9, the FL9 Flanger, the CS9 Chorus, and the AD9 Analog Delay — circuits that became foundational to modern guitar tone.

After parting ways with Ibanez in 2002, Nisshin Onpa began marketing its designs under the Maxon name in earnest. The flagship Reissue Series brought back the original 1970s circuits — most notably the OD808 Overdrive, a direct descendant of the TS-808 — while the Nine Series offered evolved versions of the classic lineup, featuring true-bypass switching and refined circuitry. Models like the OD-9, SD-9 Sonic Distortion, AD9 Analog Delay, PT9 Phase Shifter, and CS9 Stereo Chorus represent the breadth of their analog catalog. A Custom Shop line produced limited-run and artist-collaboration pedals, including variants developed with noted metal producers.

Maxon occupies a unique position in the effects world: it is simultaneously the originator of the Tube Screamer circuit and a brand in its own right, giving players access to what many consider the authentic source of that sound. The OD808 in particular has earned a devoted following among blues, rock, and metal guitarists who prize its midrange character as both an overdrive and a clean boost in front of an already-driven amplifier.

Maxon has 126 products cataloged on Equipboard, including Overdrive Effects Pedals, Delay Effects Pedals, and Distortion Effects Pedals. Their gear is featured by 309 artists, with the strongest followings in Rock, Metal, and Pop. Notable users include Yuji Adachi (You), Yusuke Chiba, and Jim Root. Maxon's catalog spans the full price spectrum — from entry-level options to high-end flagships.