--- product_id: 106289617 title: "Apex Preamp Modern Distortion Pedal For Electric Guitar" brand: "horizon devices" price: "VT2228" currency: VUV in_stock: false reviews_count: 8 url: https://www.desertcart.vu/products/106289617-apex-preamp-modern-distortion-pedal-for-electric-guitar store_origin: VU region: Vanuatu --- # Plug & Play Built-in Noise Gate Ultra Flexible EQ Apex Preamp Modern Distortion Pedal For Electric Guitar **Brand:** horizon devices **Price:** VT2228 **Availability:** ❌ Out of Stock ## Summary > 🎶 Elevate Your Tone: Where Precision Meets Power! ## Quick Answers - **What is this?** Apex Preamp Modern Distortion Pedal For Electric Guitar by horizon devices - **How much does it cost?** VT2228 with free shipping - **Is it available?** Currently out of stock - **Where can I buy it?** [www.desertcart.vu](https://www.desertcart.vu/products/106289617-apex-preamp-modern-distortion-pedal-for-electric-guitar) ## Best For - horizon devices enthusiasts ## Why This Product - Trusted horizon devices brand quality - Free international shipping included - Worldwide delivery with tracking - 15-day hassle-free returns ## Key Features - • **Punchy Performance:** Tight switch adds instant punch and clarity, even in low tunings. - • **Unleash Your Sound:** Experience the perfect modern metal tone with an organic, analog feel. - • **Noise-Free Experience:** Built-in adjustable noise gate keeps your signal pristine and tight. - • **Tailored Tone Control:** Ultra flexible EQ controls allow you to sculpt your sound to perfection. - • **Versatile Cabinet Simulation:** By-passable cabinet simulation with adjustable mic position for ultimate versatility. ## Overview The Apex Preamp Modern Distortion Pedal is designed for electric guitarists seeking a perfect blend of modern metal tone and analog warmth. With its user-friendly plug-and-play setup, ultra-flexible EQ controls, and built-in noise gate, this pedal ensures a pristine sound experience. The tight switch enhances clarity, making it ideal for low tunings, while the adjustable cabinet simulation offers versatile sound shaping options. ## Description The Apex Preamp is a simple, all-in-one solution for guitarists looking for modern metal tone live and in the studio. Use it to instantly transform clean tones into a high gain monster, add a new flavor to your existing distortion tone, or as an all-in-one solution for recording. 9V operation requires 29 mA and 18V requires 50 mA. We recommend running the unit at 9V. It will function at 18V but sounds best at 9V. ## Features - Plug & play perfect modern metal tone with organic & analog amp feel. - Ultra flexible & usable EQ controls with mountains of gain on tap. - Tight switch instantly adds punch and clarity to your tone, even when tuned low. - Built-in adjustable noise gate, developed specifically for the Apex Preamp, to keep your signal noise-free & tight. - Built-in by-passable cabinet simulation with adjustable microphone position. ## Product Details - **Brand:** Horizon Devices - **Style:** Distortion,Preamp - **Color:** black - **Voltage:** 9 Volts - **Amperage:** 50 Milliamps ## Images ![Apex Preamp Modern Distortion Pedal For Electric Guitar - Image 1](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/9188Wz669pL.jpg) ![Apex Preamp Modern Distortion Pedal For Electric Guitar - Image 2](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/81fRi8kExbL.jpg) ![Apex Preamp Modern Distortion Pedal For Electric Guitar - Image 3](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/81IJQ0ZwafL.jpg) ![Apex Preamp Modern Distortion Pedal For Electric Guitar - Image 4](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/71Tb+AWrijL.jpg) ## Customer Reviews ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ It's only smiles *by A***Y on November 16, 2019* This thing sounds killer and gives you a ton of tonal options. With the inclusion of a noise gate, this pedal is a huge value for the money; though it is expensive. ### ⭐ $300+ for Muddy Tones *by J***I on March 19, 2019* Great if you like muddy guitar tones. This pedal is a total disappointment! ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Great Pedal for just a little too much money *by D***D on June 29, 2019* The Apex is a damn good pedal. Built by MXR, it should feel familiar to anybody who's used their pedals before. When paired with a proper power amp and speaker it is capable of everything you could want for a modern metal tone, and then perhaps a little more. Running into a clean channel it acts like you'd expect any distortion pedal to, and it does it well, running into a distorted channel however, it is quite lacking. Regardless of the multitudes of Guides, suggestions, and videos on different ways of setting it up (some of which were provided by Horizon Devices themselves), I found it near impossible to find even a remotely useable tone running into a dirty channel. Running direct into my interface (two separate interfaces tried: Scarlett Solo, and Apollo Twin MKII) came with a challenge or two on it's own. Namely, output level. The Apex simply doesn't push enough wattage by itself to get a decent level without cranking the input gain on your interface to near ridiculous levels. Now, that is a relatively small inconvenience (honestly it barely has any bearing on this review) but the claim that it can "just plug right in" falls flat. The claim -should- read "Sounds great plugged right in after you set up a solid signal path with appropriate levels/gain stages". I typically run mine through a compressor (Variety of Sound's Density MKIII) and further color the tone with Ignite Amplification's (STL) TPA-1 power amp VST, and after some EQ work, it's ready to go. Now about EQ, the 3 band EQ on the pedal itself was a bit frustrating at first, because (and this is just my belief) it sits on a slightly shifted point in the indicated frequency ranges. Meaning, it won't sound quite right if you immediately dial in your go-to settings. It took me a little playing around with it to find a spot that I liked. The built in cab sim is a nice touch, and turning the knob simulates sweeping the mic across the speaker to give you a respectable range of different tones. Personally, I run it with the cab sim off, into IR's that I had already (Seacow Cab's Meshuggah IR's are absolutely devastating with it). The built in noise gate is excellent, as it was with the Precision Drive, and like the PDrive it has adjustable sensitivity. The 'Tight' switch does exactly what it implies: it tightens the low end up without affecting the gain structure. With all that being said, I think that it is a bit too expensive for what it is: a distortion/boost/noise gate combo pedal. Maybe $100 to $150 less and it'd be worth it entirely.TL;dr:Pros -Loads of gainRidiculous amount of tonal possibilitiesMXR built, build quality basically guaranteedBoost(tight switch) and Noise gate built in, saves pedal board spaceCons -Not as simple to set up as was claimedEQ curve will throw some people offDOES NOT pair with an already distorted channelPerhaps a bit overpriced --- ## Why Shop on Desertcart? - 🛒 **Trusted by 1.3+ Million Shoppers** — Serving international shoppers since 2016 - 🌍 **Shop Globally** — Access 737+ million products across 21 categories - 💰 **No Hidden Fees** — All customs, duties, and taxes included in the price - 🔄 **15-Day Free Returns** — Hassle-free returns (30 days for PRO members) - 🔒 **Secure Payments** — Trusted payment options with buyer protection - ⭐ **TrustPilot Rated 4.5/5** — Based on 8,000+ happy customer reviews **Shop now:** [https://www.desertcart.vu/products/106289617-apex-preamp-modern-distortion-pedal-for-electric-guitar](https://www.desertcart.vu/products/106289617-apex-preamp-modern-distortion-pedal-for-electric-guitar) --- *Product available on Desertcart Vanuatu* *Store origin: VU* *Last updated: 2026-05-02*