The Spaceman Effects Aphelion Harmonic Overdrive is a harmonic overdrive pedal from Portland, Oregon's Spaceman Effects1. It keeps things simple: three knobs, Gain, Tone and Drive, shaping what Premier Guitar called its spacious textures1. Pedal of the Day's Mike B described the result as "true tube-amp overdriven tone" from what he called a little metal box2.
It was built as a limited run, with total production around a few hundred units, and Premier Guitar reported the effects were selling out fast1.
Controls and what they do
The Aphelion's whole interface is three knobs, which Pedal of the Day summed up as "3 knobs of pure bliss"2.
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Gain | Sets overall loudness. Mike B found it gets really very loud but never turns into an ear bleed2 |
| Tone | A cut/boost control per Premier Guitar1. Mike B found a vast range, covering all the lows and highs that usually require a 3-band EQ2 |
| Drive | Sets the overdrive character. Mike B called it "the smoothest, butteriest, most enjoyable overdriven sound I have heard, or at least it's extremely close"2 |
"The Tone knob has a vast range, too, covering all the lows and highs usually require a 3-band EQ."
Build and looks
The pedal sits in a cast-aluminum enclosure whose face is covered with a thin, black vinyl veneer sporting recessed white lettering and tiny stars. When the effect is engaged, a turquoise LED illuminates a transparent jewel indicator1.
Inside, the construction is hand-wired: Premier Guitar's reviewer found "the point-to-point soldering is absolutely flawless. The chrome-reflective PC board sits firmly on its posts"1.
"The point-to-point soldering is absolutely flawless. The chrome-reflective PC board sits firmly on its posts."
What reviewers said
Both published reviews were positive, each from a different angle.
- Premier Guitar praised the tone control as "super-effective and expansive," noting it "loves almost every amp it interacts with"1.
- Pedal of the Day's Mike B found clarity and bite together: "Every note is crystal clear, but has bite, too, there just aren't a lot of gritty pedals that can do both so well"2.
Availability and price
The Aphelion carried a $269 price tag1. As a limited run of a few hundred, it is not readily available new. Pedal of the Day's advice was to "wait patiently on eBay and Reverb for you chance to grab one of their excellent creations"2.
Players looking at Spaceman's other overdrives can compare the Spaceman Apollo VII and the later Apollo VIIb, or the resonant-filter Polaris Resonant Overdrive.
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Questions
Is the Spaceman Aphelion still being made?
No. The Aphelion was a limited run with total production around a few hundred units, and reviewers noted the effects were selling out fast. It is not readily available new, so buyers have to watch eBay and Reverb for used units to come up.
Where can I buy a Spaceman Aphelion Harmonic Overdrive?
Not from regular new-stock retailers. Because the pedal was a limited run of a few hundred, reviewers have pointed players to the used market, watching eBay and Reverb patiently for a chance to grab one.
How many knobs does the Spaceman Aphelion have?
Three: Gain, Tone and Drive. Premier Guitar described these as three very familiar parameters for shaping the pedal's textures, and Pedal of the Day summed it up as 3 knobs of pure bliss.
Does the Aphelion work with most amps?
According to Premier Guitar's review, yes. The reviewer found the tone control loves almost every amp it interacts with, describing it as super-effective and expansive.
Is the Aphelion a limited-run pedal?
Yes. Premier Guitar reported that these effects are limited run and selling out fast, with total production around a few hundred, so you are unlikely to see many around.
Is the Spaceman Aphelion hand-wired?
Yes. Premier Guitar's reviewer found point-to-point soldering described as absolutely flawless, with a chrome-reflective PC board sitting firmly on its posts inside the enclosure.
Sources (2)
- Spaceman Aphelion Harmonic Overdrive Pedal Review, Premier Guitar, 2012-02-01
- Spaceman Effects Aphelion Harmonic Overdrive, Pedal of the Day (www.pedal-of-the-day.com), 2014-08-08
