The Horizon Devices Apex Preamp is a high-gain preamp pedal aimed at high-gain, tight-riffed djent and metal players1. It packs preamp gain, a three-stage noise gate, an analog cabinet simulator and a Tight switch into one box, so it can drive a real amp, sit in a pedalboard feeding front of house, or record straight into an interface. It was the second stompbox from Horizon Devices, following the Precision Drive, and was designed by Misha Mansoor of Periphery2.
The manual lays out four ways to use it: into a clean or dirty amp's input, into an amp's FX loop return, into an interface, or from a pedalboard to a FOH mixing board3. The output jack feeds whichever destination you choose, and the input takes your guitar cable3.
What it does
The Apex is built around a large gain range. The manual says it "comes with a massive amount of gain on tap" and recommends starting the Gain knob at 0 and turning up to the saturation you want3. The three-band EQ of bass, middle and treble is described as more fine-tunable than most, with a realistic, responsive amp feel; Horizon Devices suggests starting all three at noon3.
The Tight switch shapes the attack without adding gain. Horizon Devices says to engage it "for more aggressive rhythm tones without adding more gain" and disengage it "for buttery leads"4.
The built-in noise gate is a headline feature. In the maker's words:
"we developed a brand new, ultra powerful 3 stage noise-gate"
The gate is described as super powerful and super transparent, keeping the tone full bodied and noise free, which matters most at the high gain settings the pedal is built around3.
The cabinet simulator is analog rather than digital. Horizon Devices modeled it after a modern 4x12 loaded with V30 speakers, and because it is analog and built in, you cannot change the impulse response4. Gearnews noted at launch that the cab sim "has the ability to move around the virtual microphone," and the CAB SIM knob does exactly that: past the initial ON point it sweeps the virtual mic position, producing different cabinet sounds13.
The controls
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Gain | Sets the amount of saturation; start at 0 and turn up3 |
| Bass, Middle, Treble | Three-band EQ with a realistic, responsive amp feel; start at noon3 |
| Gate | Sets the three-stage noise gate; full left removes the gate circuit and bypasses it3 |
| Cab Sim | Sweep from OFF to ON, ON shown by a red LED; past ON it moves the virtual microphone for different cabinet sounds3 |
| Tight footswitch | Engage for more aggressive rhythm tones without more gain; disengage for leads4 |
| Bypass footswitch | Switches the pedal in and out5 |
Power: 9V or 18V
The Apex Preamp runs at both 9V and 18V3. Horizon Devices recommends 9V: "It will function at 18V but sounds best at 9V"4. Current draw is 29 mA at 9V and 50 mA at 18V3. A 9V battery also works3.
All power supplies must be DC. The manual warns that using an AC supply will most likely fry the circuit board and void the warranty3.
History: Misha Mansoor's second Horizon Devices pedal
Horizon Devices announced the Apex Preamp in July 2018 as its second stompbox, after the Precision Drive2. Gearnews called Misha Mansoor "the mastermind behind this pedal" and reported an initial production run of 500 units, with shipping in December or January1. Guitar.com listed it at $320 with a $299 pre-order price2. By 2024, Guitar Pedal X listed the Apex Preamp at $319 as part of a four-pedal Horizon Devices range alongside the Precision Drive, Flux Echo/Reverb and Clarity Compressor5.
Misha Mansoor himself uses the pedal, saying on the product page: "It's quickly become one of my favorite pedals for on-the-go recording!"4
Guitar Pedal X's Stefan Karlsson had the pedal on his personal wishlist long before writing about it5:
"I've meaning to get this one for a while - it's one of those that's been on the wishlist since it first materialised"
Videos
Pete Thorn
Horizon Devices
Horizon Devices
Questions
Does the Apex Preamp have a noise gate?
Yes. Horizon Devices fitted a three-stage noise gate that the manual describes as super powerful and super transparent, keeping the tone full bodied and noise free. The GATE knob controls it, and turning it all the way to the left removes the gate circuit from the board and completely bypasses it.
Can the Apex Preamp load impulse responses?
No. The cabinet simulator is analog and built in, so you cannot change the impulse response. It is modelled after a modern 4x12 loaded with V30 speakers, and the CAB SIM knob sweeps a virtual microphone position rather than loading different IR files.
Should the cab sim be on when using a real cabinet?
Turn the cab sim knob OFF when you are running into a real guitar cabinet, and turn it ON when you are going direct into an interface or a DI box. The knob is a simple sweep from OFF to ON, with ON shown by a red LED.
Does the Apex Preamp run on a battery?
Yes. The manual says a 9V battery will work fine, alongside the DC power input. The pedal draws 29 mA at 9V, and the maker recommends 9V operation because it sounds best there, though the pedal will function at 18V.
Is the Apex Preamp true bypass?
Yes. Gearnews reported at the pedal's announcement in 2018 that the Apex Preamp is true bypass. It also carries a Bypass footswitch alongside the Tight footswitch.
Who builds the Horizon Devices Apex Preamp?
The Apex Preamp comes from Horizon Devices, the pedal company founded around Misha Mansoor of Periphery, and the product page states it is built by MXR. It was the company's second stompbox, following the Precision Drive.
Sources (5)
- Horizon Devices' Apex Preamp pedal: A Swiss Army Knife for metal tones?, www.gearnews.com, 2018-07-30
- Misha Mansoor’s Horizon Devices unveils new pedal, Guitar.com, 2018-07-31
- Apex User Guide, Horizon Devices
- APEX PREAMP, Horizon Devices
- Guitar Pedal X, Guitar Pedal X, 2024-02-05
