Is Maestro poised for a come-back? The Gibson owned effects pedal brand made famous by bands like the Rolling Stones is now being reborn with a re-issue of the original Fuzz Tone.

You might remember the Fuzz Tone from tunes like "I can't get no satisfaction". Those of you that were rockin' back then will probably recognize it on a lot of other recordings as well. It's signature tone is quite unique and hard to miss.

The Fuzz Tone is in a sturdy metal box with the battery accessible by loosening two screws on the side of the unit. Surprisingly, the unit takes an "AA" battery which Maestro claims is exactly the same as the original unit. There is a footswitch for engaging the pedal in the usual position on top of the unit and two parameter knobs on the front face of the unit. One knob controls volume and actually has an "off" position where the knob "clicks" into place - great for saving battery juice when not in use. The other knob controls the attack on the signal coming through the pedal. There's no AC jack for a wall wart, so this pedal might be a little interesting to work into your effects line-up if you insist on AC power.

The pedal comes in it's original "retro" looking orange box with a copy of the original instructions from decades ago. The only thing missing is the "aged" look on the paper the original manual is printed on.

If you're like me, you've been playing for quite a few years. As I get older I start taking an interest in a more "boutique" type of sound. This Fuzz Tone re-issue is neither clean nor consistent. Some of you might balk at that after having played with most of today's gear. This, however, is one of it's most endearing qualities. If you're looking for a smooth distortion - go elsewhere. If you're looking for a consistent tone - don't even bother. The Fuzz Tone is all about grit and grind. It's got one of the most unique sounds I've heard from a guitar effects pedal in some time and it seems a little different every time I turn it on.

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