Spaceman founder Zak Martin returns, revises Apollo VII as Apollo VIIb

June 1, 2024 · 1 sources

Spaceman Effects founder Zak Martin returned to the brand in 2024, and the company says it found that the released Apollo VII circuit had been changed from his intended design. The Apollo VIIb Cadet is the company's response: an updated version of the Apollo VII, which Spaceman describes as the last pedal Martin was involved with before leaving the brand in 2019, prior to its release.

According to Spaceman, the original Apollo VII shared the general architecture of the Voyager preamp but had several changes made to the release, including significantly different op-amps and clipping LEDs, modified gain-staging and altered voicing. The company calls the original a fine overdrive but says it is not the Voyager preamp that Spaceman fans had asked for.

The Apollo VIIb is the preamp and overdrive section from the Voyager tremolo series in its own compact enclosure. Spaceman describes it as a medium-gain overdrive with a natural tone structure, with Gain, Level and Tone controls. A three-position toggle adds two options beyond the original Voyager preamp: VOY, the original semi-symmetrical LED-based clipping from the Voyager series; ALT, a new asymmetrical diode clipping option exclusive to the Apollo VIIb; and +, a boost mode that removes clipping diodes entirely. Switching is true-bypass relay via a momentary footswitch.

The Apollo VIIb Cadet is listed at $179.00 and is available in Cadet Series or PDX Custom Series builds, according to Spaceman. The Cadet Series uses repeatable, SMD-based designs with screen printed faceplates and raw metal enclosures, the company says. It requires an external 9V DC power supply.