Guyatone - Effektpedal - Japan - 1993 (Ingen mindstepris)

Brand: Guyatone
Model: MM-1 METAL MONSTER
Type: Tube Hybrid Distortion Pedal
Made in: Japan
Serial number: 93040653
Colour: Purple

Complete set with original box, warranty card, and instruction manual – increasingly difficult to find.

Estimated April 1993 production, supported by serial number analysis, original capacitor date codes, and footswitch markings.

This is a Guyatone FLIP VALVE MM-1 METAL MONSTER, a Japanese-made tube hybrid distortion pedal manufactured around April 1993.

Carefully cleaned, inspected, and fully tested, the pedal operates properly and delivers the aggressive high-gain character that made the MM-1 one of the most distinctive models in Guyatone’s FLIP VALVE series.

What makes this example particularly attractive is its unusually complete package. It includes the original box, original instruction manual, and original warranty card supplied with the pedal when new.

The original box remains in very good condition for its age. Please refer carefully to the photographs for its exact cosmetic condition.

The MM-1 reflects Guyatone’s unique Japanese approach to tube-enhanced effects pedal design. By combining solid-state distortion circuitry with an integrated FLIP-branded 12AX7A vacuum tube, it produces powerful distortion with tube coloration, sustain, compression, and a strong high-gain response.

A standout feature is its dual Middle and Middle Frequency control system. This semi-parametric style EQ allows the player to boost or cut the midrange while selecting the frequency range being adjusted, providing considerable flexibility for rhythm, lead, and high-gain applications.

**Estimated Production Period**

Estimated production: April 1993

Confidence level: Very high

The production estimate is supported by three independent dating sources that align closely with one another:

Serial number: 93040653

The serial number appears to follow a year-and-month format in which “93” indicates 1993 and “04” indicates April.

Original Marcon electrolytic capacitors

Documented capacitor date codes include:

9237 – 1992, week 37
9219 – 1992, week 19
9245 – 1992, week 45

The latest documented capacitor code is 9245, corresponding to the 45th week of 1992. Assembly in early 1993 is fully consistent with these component dates.

Original OHTO footswitch

Model: FPD63
Marking: 3C08

This marking is believed to correspond approximately to March 1993 production and closely supports the April 1993 serial number date.

The close agreement between the serial number, capacitor codes, and footswitch marking makes the estimated production period unusually well supported for a vintage Japanese effects pedal.

**Condition**

Good vintage condition for its age.

The pedal shows minor scratches, paint wear, dirt, and other cosmetic signs of genuine use consistent with its age.

The controls operate properly, and no significant scratchiness, abnormal noise, or operational problems were detected during testing.

The original box remains in very good condition for its age, although it also shows some storage wear and age-related cosmetic deterioration.

Please refer to the photos for the exact cosmetic condition of the pedal, box, documentation, and accessories.

**Includes**

Original box
Original instruction manual
Original warranty card

The AC adapter is not included.

Battery operation is not supported by the original factory design.

**Technical Highlights**

Made in Japan
FLIP VALVE series
Estimated April 1993 production
Serial number: 93040653
Original FLIP-branded 12AX7A vacuum tube installed
Compatible replacement tube types: 12AX7 / ECC83 / 7025
Compatible lower-gain alternatives: 5751, 12AT7 / ECC81
High-gain tube hybrid distortion design
Active High and Low EQ controls
Center-zero active Middle EQ
Sweepable Middle Frequency control, approximately 200Hz–5kHz
Semi-parametric midrange shaping capability
Original NJM4558L operational amplifiers documented
Original JRC 2039G components documented in positions U1–U6
Original K30A and 2SC1815 transistors documented
Original Marcon electrolytic capacitors documented
Original OHTO FPD63 footswitch documented
All major electronic components appear original
No modifications have been identified
DC 9V center-negative adapter operation only
Battery operation is not supported
Carefully cleaned and inspected
Fully tested and working properly

**Production Background**

Guyatone was one of Japan’s pioneering electric instrument manufacturers and played an important role in the development of Japanese electric guitars and electronic musical equipment throughout the post-war era.

Founded by Mitsuo Matsuki, who is widely regarded as one of the pioneers of electric guitar production in Japan, the company became known internationally for its innovative approach to musical instrument design and electronics.

While Guyatone produced guitars, amplifiers, and other musical equipment, the brand earned particular recognition for its effects pedals. Throughout the 1980s and 1990s, Guyatone developed numerous original pedal designs that combined practical engineering with distinctive tonal character.

The FLIP VALVE series represented one of the company’s more ambitious projects, incorporating genuine vacuum tube technology into compact effects pedal formats.

Unlike conventional solid-state distortion pedals of the period, FLIP VALVE models combined transistor and operational-amplifier circuitry with a real 12AX7A vacuum tube. This hybrid construction was designed to add tube coloration, compression, sustain, and harmonic character while retaining the control and consistency of solid-state electronics.

The MM-1 METAL MONSTER was one of the flagship high-gain models in the series. It was specifically voiced for heavier distortion sounds and equipped with active tone controls and a sweepable midrange frequency system, allowing considerably more tonal adjustment than many distortion pedals of its era.

This example is particularly collectible because it retains its original FLIP-branded 12AX7A tube, original box, instruction manual, and warranty card. Complete Japanese-made examples with their original documentation are becoming increasingly difficult to find.

Today, original Japanese-made Guyatone pedals are increasingly appreciated by collectors and players alike, particularly examples from the company’s final decades of production before the closure of Tokyo Sound in 2013.

The MM-1 remains one of Guyatone’s most distinctive distortion designs, combining aggressive high-gain performance, tube coloration, flexible active equalization, and Japanese engineering in a pedal that continues to attract collectors and players alike.

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