Spaceman Effects releases revised Apollo VIIb Voyager preamp/overdrive

April 11, 2025 · 3 sources

Spaceman Effects opened limited pre-orders for the Apollo VIIb, a revised version of its Voyager-derived overdrive and preamp, on April 11, 2025, in Blue, Black and White at a universal price of $299¹.

The Apollo VIIb is a medium-gain overdrive and preamp derived from the preamp section of the Voyager tremolo, according to PedalPedia²³. It has Gain, Tone and Level controls and a three-position clipping switch offering VOY, ALT and Boost modes for different response and breakup characteristics²³. PedalPedia describes the circuit as fully analog and true bypass²³; Guitar Pedal X reports it as 100% analog with mechanical bypass, a battery option, and hand soldering and wiring¹. PedalPedia lists the pedal as built in Portland, Oregon²³.

The clipping switch differs from the 2019 model. Guitar Pedal X reports the original offered symmetrical silicon, none and semi-symmetrical LEDs, while the new pedal offers semi-symmetrical LEDs (VOY), none plus Boost, and asymmetrical silicon (ALT)¹. The same report says the 2019 version had digitally controlled relay bypass and no battery snap, and that its standard edition was an SMD build¹.

Spaceman told Guitar Pedal X that more than 60% of components or values were changed, making the pedal 80% different from the original, and that the frequency curve, gain structure, clipping balance and dynamics were refined as a result¹.

Guitar Pedal X reports the 2019 Standard Edition sold for $199 and the hand-made Purple Sparkle edition for about $319¹. The Apollo VIIb is listed as a tremolo preamp derivative rather than a tremolo pedal itself²³.