The Menatone Wreck'T Preamp is a preamp pedal from Brian Mena's Menatone company, built to capture the Trainwreck Express amp circuit in pedal form1. Menatone describes it as based on one of the last amp designs from the late, great Mr. Fischer, a reference to the Trainwreck Express, and calls the Wreck'T a beautiful mix of British amp tones2. Guitar Pedal X listed it among the year's distortion pedals as the Menatone Wreck'T Preamp (Trainwreck Express)3.
The Wreck'T is not a stock-and-ship pedal. Guitar Pedal X noted in its November 2024 review that the pedals are "entirely made to order these days", so you correspond directly with Brian Mena, and Menatone's own page gives a build time of approximately 4 to 6 weeks12.
The controls
The Wreck'T carries a full amp-style control section. Guitar Pedal X lists the controls as Level, Drive, Gain, Mid, Bass, Treb, Hi-Cut, Presence, an internal Hi-Cut trimmer adjustment, and an Amp Match dip-switch1. Menatone says the new 2025 Wreck'T contains the complete control section of the amp it is based on, adding the presence and the cut controls2.
| Control | What it is |
|---|---|
| Level | Output level2 |
| Drive | Drive1 |
| Gain | Gain1 |
| Mid | Midrange EQ1 |
| Bass | Bass EQ1 |
| Treb | Treble EQ1 |
| Hi-Cut | Panel hi-cut control1 |
| Presence | Presence control1 |
| Internal Hi-Cut Trimmer | Internal trimmer adjustment1 |
| Amp Match | Dip-switch1 |
The presence of a full bass, mid and treble EQ plus presence puts the Wreck'T closer to an amp's front panel than a typical overdrive or distortion pedal, which is the point of a preamp design: Menatone's description of the 2025 version stresses that it carries the complete control section of the amp it is based on2.
What reviewers said
Guitar Pedal X's Stefan Karlsson reviewed the Wreck'T in November 2024 and returned to it in the site's year-end roundup of new distortion pedals, where he wrote3:
"While even more incredibly - the Wreck'T sounds even better - as a fatter and bolder plexi style amp - as if on steroids"3
Guitar Pedal X's reviewer found that the Wreck'T goes beyond the amp-in-a-box role, writing: "While even more incredibly - the Wreck'T sounds even better - as a fatter and bolder plexi style amp - as if on steroids"3.
That verdict frames the Wreck'T as a pedal take on a larger-than-life plexi-style amp voice, in line with Menatone's own description of the circuit's British amp character23.
Related pedals
Menatone also makes the TWE-1 Trainwreck Express, which Guitar Pedal X describes as an overdrive and distortion pedal, a related take on the same amp's sound4. For other preamp-style designs, see the site's Preamp Pedals page.
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Questions
How much does the Menatone Wreck'T Preamp cost?
Menatone lists the Wreck'T at $219 on its product page as of October 2026. Guitar Pedal X also carried the pedal at $219 in its December 2024 roundup of the year's distortion pedals, so the price has held steady since the pedal first drew press attention.
Is the Menatone Wreck'T Preamp made to order?
Yes. Guitar Pedal X noted in its November 2024 review that the pedals are entirely made to order these days, so buyers need to correspond directly with Brian Mena. Menatone's own product page gives a build time of approximately 4 to 6 weeks.
What does the Amp Match dip-switch do on the Wreck'T?
The Amp Match dip-switch is one of the Wreck'T's controls, listed by Guitar Pedal X alongside Level, Drive, Gain, Mid, Bass, Treb, Hi-Cut, Presence and the internal Hi-Cut trimmer. Menatone describes the 2025 Wreck'T as containing the complete control section of the amp it is based on, so the switch is part of how the pedal matches itself to that amp design.
What is the Hi-Cut trimmer on the Menatone Wreck'T for?
The Hi-Cut trimmer is an internal adjustment on the Wreck'T, listed by Guitar Pedal X as the Internal Hi-Cut Trimmer Adjust. It sits alongside the panel-mounted Hi-Cut control, giving a set-and-forget internal voicing adjustment on top of the external controls.
Who designed the Menatone Wreck'T?
The Wreck'T comes from Brian Mena of Menatone, as Guitar Pedal X's review credits. Menatone's product page describes it as based on one of the last amp designs from the late, great Mr. Fischer, meaning Ken Fischer of Trainwreck, whose Express amp the pedal takes its circuit from.
Sources (4)
- Guitar Pedal X, Guitar Pedal X, 2024-11-08
- Wreck'T | menatone, menatone.com
- Guitar Pedal X, Guitar Pedal X, 2024-12-17
- Guitar Pedal X, Guitar Pedal X, 2025-06-11
