The Maestro Arcas is a Maestro compressor pedal, currently around $59. Close alternatives include the HomeBrew Electronics CPR Compressor Retro and the Movall Audio Pandora Comp. It pairs well with the Magnatone Super Fifteen 15W 1x12 Combo and the Gibson Les Paul LP-1 Preamp.
Maestro Arcas
Maestro · pedal
The Maestro Arcas is a compressor pedal from Maestro (the iconic Chicago-based effects brand, now reissued by Gibson), delivering compression in the reissued Maestro format for dynamic control and sustain at the Maestro heritage quality. Maestro pioneered guitar effects with the original Fuzz-Tone in 1962, and the reissued product line brings the Maestro name to modern guitar effects performance.
- compression
- compressor
- fuzz
- sustain
- modern
- pioneering effects brand
- modern guitar effects performance
Price updated Aug 27, 2026
Genres the Maestro Arcas is commonly used in
- Country Pop
cited
Inferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag. - Country
cited
Inferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag.
Amps that pair well with the Maestro Arcas
Magnatone Super Fifteen 15W 1x12 Combo
Magnatone
17% matchPut Magnatone Super Fifteen 15W 1x12 Combo in front and the fuzzy tone leans further toward modulated
Gibson Les Paul LP-1 Preamp
Gibson
tonal matchPut Gibson Les Paul LP-1 Preamp in front and the fuzzy tone leans further toward modulated
Magnatone 280
Magnatone
tonal matchRun fuzzy into Magnatone 280 for more modulated on top
Pedals that stack with the Maestro Arcas
Aguilar Octamizer (Bass Octaver)
Aguilar
19% matchRun fuzzy into Aguilar Octamizer (Bass Octaver) for more octave on top
JHS Colour Box V2
JHS Pedals
19% matchRun fuzzy into JHS Colour Box V2 for more clean boost on top
Hungry Robot The Borderland
Hungry Robot
13% matchPut Hungry Robot The Borderland after Maestro Arcas in the signal chain, clear of Maestro Arcas's own gain stage — goes in the amp's FX loop (or last, into a clean amp)
Electro-Harmonix Stereo Memory Man Vintage
Electro-Harmonix
13% matchRun Electro-Harmonix Stereo Memory Man Vintage after Maestro Arcas in the signal chain, clear of Maestro Arcas's own gain stage — goes in the amp's FX loop (or last, into a clean amp)
SolidGoldFX Oblivion
Solidgoldfx
tonal matchSolidGoldFX Oblivion stacks octave on top of the fuzzy already here
Caroline Guitar Company Parabola State Tremolo
Caroline Guitar Company
tonal matchCaroline Guitar Company Parabola State Tremolo stacks clean boost on top of the fuzzy already here
Subdecay Octave Theory Octave Modulator Synthesizer
Subdecay
tonal matchPut Subdecay Octave Theory Octave Modulator Synthesizer in front and the fuzzy tone leans further toward octave
EarthQuaker Devices Swiss Things
EarthQuaker Devices
tonal matchRun fuzzy into EarthQuaker Devices Swiss Things for more clean boost on top
Cheaper alternatives
Caline CP-10 Hot Mushroom Compressor RED Script
Caline
66% similarityShared character: guitar_effects, compressor, compression
Moen AM-CP Compressor
Moen
98% similaritysimilar tone character
Donner Sustain
Donner
97% similaritysimilar tone character
Kokko FCP2 Mini Compressor
Kokko
96% similaritysimilar tone character
Donner Ultimate Comp
Donner
95% similaritysimilar tone character
Effects Bakery Plain Bread Compressor
Effects Bakery
95% similaritysimilar tone character
Boutique & premium upgrades
Dunlop MXR M228 Dyna Comp Stereo
Dunlop
67% similarityShared character: compressor, compression
Maxon Compressor CP101
Maxon
66% similarityShared character: dynamic_control, compressor, compression
SahBro? Audio Ross Kempressor
Sahbro Audio
66% similarityShared character: compressor, compression, sustain
J. Rockett Airchild Six Sixty
J Rockett
64% similarityShared character: compressor, compression
Henretta Engineering Golden Years
Henretta Engineering
96% similaritysimilar tone character
Similar charactersee all similar tone character →
HomeBrew Electronics CPR Compressor Retro
Homebrew
75% similarityShared character: dynamic_control, compressor, compression
Movall Audio Pandora Comp
Movall Audio
68% similarityShared character: dynamic_control, compressor, compression
NuX Sculpture
Nux
65% similarityShared character: dynamic_control, compressor, compression
Mooer SCS1 Spark Compressor
Mooer
98% similaritysimilar tone character
Rowin LEF-333 Comp
Rowin
98% similaritysimilar tone character
W-LM Compression Fracture
W-LM
96% similaritysimilar tone character
See all alternatives to the Maestro Arcas (cheaper + boutique) →
Questions people ask
What are good alternatives to the Maestro Arcas?+
The closest matches in character are the HomeBrew Electronics CPR Compressor Retro, the Movall Audio Pandora Comp, the NuX Sculpture. Budget picks: Caline CP-10 Hot Mushroom Compressor RED Script, Moen AM-CP Compressor, Donner Sustain. Boutique upgrades: Dunlop MXR M228 Dyna Comp Stereo, Maxon Compressor CP101, SahBro? Audio Ross Kempressor.
What pairs well with the Maestro Arcas?+
Strong matches from rig and tone-complementarity evidence: Magnatone Super Fifteen 15W 1x12 Combo, Gibson Les Paul LP-1 Preamp, Magnatone 280 — Put Magnatone Super Fifteen 15W 1x12 Combo in front and the fuzzy tone leans further toward modulated.
How much does the Maestro Arcas cost?+
Around $59 (live listing price, updated Aug 27, 2026).