MAESTRO FUZZ-TONE FZ-1A by GIBSON

Vintage germanium guitar effect pedal – a Maestro Fuzz-Tone dating from around 1966.

This is the second variant of the ‘Satisfaction’ fuzz pedal that kicked off our obsession with fuzz and pedals.

This is a great player’s pedal in excellent condition and sounding amazing.

This is the three transistor design – similar to the original FZ-1 that Keef used in 1965 and the same variant as used by Pete Townshend in ’67 (notably at Monterrey). Germanium transistors are notoriously unreliable and prone to failure. One of the original germanium transistors in this unit was not great, resulting in a weak thin fuzz. A correct spec replacement was fitted but this was also found to be lacking. It was decided to sacrifice correctness for tone and a different germanium transistor was installed – it works beautifully and the pedal sounds great. The original transistor and the ‘correct’ spec replacement are included, should the new owner wish to put things back to original condition.

Circuit is quiet, pots scratch-free, controls effective, stomp foot switch positive action.

This pedal is in great working order & excellent cosmetic condition for a pedal dating from the mid 60s.