THE PRIMITIVE

Guitarists have been using distortion for effect practically since the invention of electronic amplification, but it is the Maestro FZ-1 that has the distinction of being the first commercially available fuzz. Perhaps surprisingly, the FZ-1 was a product of the early 60s Nashville's Quonset Hut country music hit factory rather than the nascent rock 'n' roll scene. The story begins when session supremo Grady Martin plugged his 6-string bass directly into the mixing desk to get a backing track down on Marty Robbins' (wonderful) "Don't Worry". Martin hit a note with level turned up too high, promptly blowing the channel.