Spaceman Effects releases revised Apollo VIIb Voyager Tremolo Preamp / Overdrive Pedal - with distinct Asymmetrical clipping option

So back in 2019 we also got a selection of different editions of the Apollo VII - including a Standard black variant - as also pictured above. Back then the Standard Edition was just $199 (£179 in the UK), while the hand-made Purple Sparkle edition went for @ $319. For this new release - the price is universally at $299 - which is still $100 more than the Standard Original that I have. The question is - if a new Asymmetrical Clipping option is sufficient to encourage you to buy a minorly revised edition of the pedal!

UPDATE! Spaceman have corrected me on a number of my assumptions. It should really be called the Apollo VIII as it’s 80% different from the original There’s some strange use of language in this launch - in part by keeping the core product reference mostly the same - and then framing this as a revision. While it’s actually more of an entirely re-engineered project. They use the word ’Correction’ here in an odd way - in terms of their correcting the output profile of the pedal - which makes the original sound somewhat like a flawed mistake. So it’s understandable that I grabbed the wrong end of the stick here! 

Here follows Spaceman’s further clarification, verbatim :

"Just to clarify: over 60% of the components and/or values have been changed to “correct” the Apollo circuit. The overall frequency curve, gain structure, clipping balance and dynamics have all been refined because of this."

"The VIIb is also 100% analog w/ mechanical bypass, has battery option and is fully soldered & wired by hand in the old style. 2019 version has digitally controlled relay bypass & no battery snap, with the standard edition being an SMD build. There were many adjustments & changes made for this pedal to meet my original vision for the Apollo.

"Love what you do, just wanted offer more clarity on the changes & differences"

:The original had as its 3 clipping options - Symmetrical Silicon / None / Semi-Symmetrical LEDs, while the new one has Semi-Symmetrical LED’s / None +Boost / Asymmetrical Silicon - so really just a single different clipping option - albeit a significantly more textured one - with more harmonics also.

Seems like Spaceman has slightly adopted the Pettyjohn Electronics modded editions playbook - while Pettyjohn lists its options / mods at the start of every release - and gives you options on which ’version’ to buy. Spaceman though is doing similar as a ’Revisions’ Release Path - which first started with the revised Sputnik IIb. That exercise did very well, and presumably there were several that ended up with both editions.

I’m still making my mind up on this one. Of my various Spaceman Effects Overdrives - I have a few that I prefer to this one. I’m not sure I need this new version? How about you?

Controls - Level, Gain, Tone, Clipping : VOY (Semi-Symmetrical LEDs) / None +Boost / ALT (Asymmetrical Silicon).

As mentioned, the new Apollo VIIb Revision is available in limited quantities Spaceman Effects Webstorepre-orders - for the 3 new colourways as listed - Blue, Black, and White. If I were to hit the trigger - it would likely be the white one - as I much prefer the crystal lens covers!