Spaceman Redstone Preamp adds 3-band EQ to Mercury platform
March 17, 2023 · 2 sources
The Spaceman Redstone Preamp is a redesign of the company's Mercury Harmonic Boost, which was also powered by a vintage NOS germanium transistor1. Delicious Audio published its coverage on March 17, 20231; Guitar Pedal X wrote about the pedal on May 6, 20222.
The Redstone is a preamp pedal with a wide range 3-band tone control and up to 40dB of gain1. Its core gain cell is a discrete opamp built around a hand-selected, vintage NOS germanium transistor, and the first stage and tone stack are built to closely emulate the input stage of a tube amp1. Spaceman lists the controls as Volume, Gain, Low, Mid and High2. The signal path is all analog, and higher headroom is available when the pedal is run at 12V1. Spaceman says the pedal suits bass and baritone in addition to guitar1.
The enclosure is cast aluminum with an engraved vinyl faceplate and a jewel indicator light, and switching is true-bypass relay with a soft-touch footswitch1. Each unit is hand-wired and built in Portland, Oregon1. Spaceman describes the Redstone as "an homage to the early NASA launch vehicle, and an alternate reimagining of our Mercury platform"1, and says it offers additional control over gain and tone compared to its older sister, in a smaller case than its older brother1.
Guitar Pedal X reported a US price of $2492. No UK price had been posted at the time of that publication2. Delicious Audio's page gives no price or availability1.
"The first stage and tone stack are built to closely emulate the input stage of a tube amp."
Guitar Pedal X describes Spaceman's presentation of the Redstone as a multipurpose preamp equally adept as a boost, line-drive or overdrive2. Spaceman's own notes say that at the beginning of a signal chain it can act as a tone shaper or overdrive, and at the end of a pedal board as a line driver and boost1.