The Maxon APEX 808 Tubescreamer Pedal Review
This article will cover my experience testing and reviewing the Maxon Apex 808 Tubescreamer pedal. I recently had the pleasure of testing the Maxon APEX 808 overdrive pedal. I currently own several Maxon overdrive pedals and was very interested in testing the APEX 808.
For transparency, Maxon sent this out for review on my YouTube channel. They have not paid me in addition to letting me keep the effects pedal. No pedal companies or manufacturers have any say in my reviews and opinions presented online.
About the Maxon APEX 808
On the 40th anniversary of the original Tubescreamer, Maxon teamed up with Tubescreamer creator Susumu Tamura to create the APEX 808. Susumu Tamura tested and compared over 100 current and vintage Tube screamer pedals and found that one pedal from the 1980s was by far the most dynamic.
This standout pedal invoked a deep-dive study on what made this pedal shine in terms of tone, headroom, and note clarity. Mr. Tamura found that this one pedal used a specific brand of IC from a particular company at one particular point in time. This discovery led Susumu Tamura to source as many new old stock parts as possible, and then the Maxon APEX 808 was born.
Sound Quality
This pedal sounds like a premium Tubescreamer. The difference between a premium Tubescreamer and a regular release is very little. This difference means that you might not even hear a difference if you don’t have a finely tuned ear. I can confirm from my testing that the APEX 808 is different from the regular OD808. There’s a slightly enhanced high-end and low-end frequency response. Interestingly, even with this added EQ, the mid-hump is still prominent. The result is that the APEX 808 gives you the impression that the pedal sounds fatter overall, which it does.
The Maxon APEX808 will appeal to blues and classic rock players first and foremost. Additionally, Metal players will love the added mid-frequency boost to their higher-gain amplifiers. I was surprised to find out several years ago that these pedals aren’t for dad-rockers and blues players.
Build Quality
First impressions
My first impression of the Maxon APEX 808 was that it sounds like a Tubescreamer! No kidding, right? Initially, I thought it sounds precisely like the regular Maxon 808, but it is different. After a few moments, I started to realize that the pedal had a thicker tonality about it as well as an extended high-frequency response. I’ll talk about that more in a moment.
I am a massive fan of the Maxon Overdrive pedals and have been using them live and on recordings for years. If you have ever picked up a regular Maxon OD808, the APEX feels like a slightly more premium pedal in hand. While the build quality won’t be too different, the APEX 808 features a fancy faceplate to separate it from the OD808.
How different is the Maxon APEX 808 to the OD808?
The APEX 808 will appeal to fans of Vintage Tubescreamers and will appeal to buyers at the higher end of the market. The reason why is because the APEX 808 has new old stock parts initially found in the 1980s.
With this in mind, how different does it sound? While any guitar one is hard to quantify in terms of numbers, you’ll hear about a 10% difference in terms of treble. The APEX 808 also has a slight boost in the low-end frequencies than the regular OD808.
There’s not a lot of difference overall. When it comes to what works for you, these slight differences can mean a world of difference. To other players, these small differences do not justify the price.
Not everyone will need a Tubescreamer with a more extensive EQ range. If you already own a Tubescreamer and you love it, you might want to give the APEX 808 a miss. If you have some cash to splurge on a boutique overdrive that will provide you with a unique tone signature, this is worth a look.
Is the APEX 808 different from the Maxon Overdrive Pro?
Yes! The Maxon Overdrive Pro OD-820 and APEX 808 are very different. They both do the classic overdrive tone, but the OD-820 is quite different. The first thing that makes the OD-820 different is that it doubles as a clean boost. With the gain control on the Overdrive Pro down under 3, the pedal changes from overdrive into a pure, clean boost. This feature allows flexibility that isn’t possible on the Overdrive Pro OD-820.
An advantage to the APEX is that it has more high-frequencies and is also far smaller. This compact size will appeal to players where room on a pedalboard is minimal. The Overdrive Pro is one of the most massive pedals ever, and some players will find the size a turn-off.
Below is my video review of the Maxon APEX 808 Overdrive Pedal.
Is the Maxon Apex 808 worth it?
While Maxon mentioned that the APEX 808 is not a limited run, it won’t be around forever either. With Susumu Tamura back on board for this effect will appeal to collectors and fans of the original circuits.
For guitarists who already own a Maxon or Ibanez Tubescreamer, it’s a hard sale. The difference is noticeable, but it’s not a night and day type difference. Unsurprisingly, if you are on a budget, you will want to give this pedal a miss. The APEX 808 pedal sells for quite a lot more than the regular Maxon OD808.
The Maxon APEX 808 isn’t breaking any new ground sonically. What it does do, though, is taking the classic tones of the OD808 and enhancing them ever so slightly. If you never loved the classic Tubescreamer sound or found them too rolled out in the hight and low frequencies, this might be the go-to!
Maxon APEX 808 Price
The Maxon APEX 808 sells for $300 at the time of this article. For the best deals shop using the links below:
Sweetwater | Thomann | Amazon UK | Amazon Canada
The Final Verdict
Would I add this to my list of best Tubescreamer pedals? Yes, but only just. I wouldn’t add it in terms of value, but the tone and build quality speak for themselves. While I understand that the price will only appeal to a selective crowd, the quality of Maxon pedals is some of the best in the Word. If you always wished your Tubescreamer had a little more highs and lows, then give this a look.
Coming up soon, I will post a massive comparison video between all of the Tubescreamer pedals I own. This should help guitarists know how each compares and which is the best.