The Spaceman Aphelion is a harmonic overdrive pedal made by Spaceman Effects of Portland, Oregon. Spaceman describes it as "a harmonically rich overdrive pedal, with an emphasis on even-order harmonics," with "a wide gain range from light sparkle, to overdriven tube-amp bliss"1. Even-order harmonics are the ones players associate with a tube amp pushed into smooth breakup, which is the territory this pedal is built to cover.
It is a hand-made, limited-run pedal: completely hand-soldered in Portland, with total production around a few hundred units according to Premier Guitar2. As of late 2026 the maker's own page lists it as sold out1.
What it does and how it is controlled
The Aphelion shapes its overdrive with three controls, which Premier Guitar called "three very familiar parameters for shaping and producing its spacious textures"2.
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Drive | Sets the gain; Premier Guitar's reviewer found it "ranges from a sullied tinge to a nasty slash"2 |
| Tone | Balances highs and lows, with full range at the 12:00 position1 |
| Volume | Sets the output level |
The Drive control drew the strongest praise from Pedal of the Day's reviewer in 2014, who called it "the smoothest, butteriest, most enjoyable overdriven sound I have heard, or at least it's extremely close"3. That review described the pedal overall as delivering "true tube-amp overdriven tone"3.
Build and circuit
The Aphelion is built the way small-batch boutique pedals are: by hand, one at a time. Spaceman specifies a thick, high-quality PCB with military-spec wiring using vintage US-made heavy-gauge stranded wire, all inside a USA-cast aluminum enclosure topped with an engraved vinyl faceplate and a clear jewel indicator lit by a turquoise LED1.
Premier Guitar's reviewer examined the inside and found the construction held up:
"The point-to-point soldering is absolutely flawless. The chrome-reflective PC board sits firmly on its posts"
The exterior finish is a thin black vinyl veneer with recessed white lettering and tiny stars, on a cast-aluminum enclosure2.
Where it came from and who makes it
Spaceman Effects is based in Portland, Oregon2. The Aphelion dates back to at least 2014, when Pedal of the Day featured it on July 28 of that year4. The maker has since produced re-issues, which come with an upgraded five year transferable warranty1.
The Aphelion sits within a wider Spaceman line of overdrives and preamps. The Apollo VII launched in 2019, and the revised Apollo VIIb followed after founder Zak Martin returned to the company in 2024. The Polaris Resonant Overdrive and the germanium preamp/overdrive Redstone extend the range further.
Reissues and availability
Availability has always been the catch with this pedal. Premier Guitar noted in its review that "these effects are limited run and selling out fast," and that "with total production around a few hundred, chances are you won't see too many around either"2. The maker's page currently lists the Aphelion as sold out1.
The re-issue program is the practical route for players who want one. Spaceman states that "The new Aphelion re-issues also come with an upgraded five year, transferable warranty"1, which extends coverage beyond the original run and passes with the pedal if it is resold.
The Aphelion is a limited-run pedal that sells out quickly. When the maker's stock is gone, used units are the main route: Pedal of the Day advised buyers in 2014 to "wait patiently on eBay and Reverb for you chance to grab one of their excellent creations"3.
What reviewers said
Published reviews of the Aphelion have been positive on sound and build, with price as the main reservation231.
- Pedal of the Day (2014) called it "a true sonic marvel for true tube-amp overdriven tone" and "pretty powerful stuff from a little metal box"3.
- Premier Guitar praised the construction but flagged the cost, summing up the downside as "Pretty expensive for an overdrive."2
- Writing at Guitar Pedal X in 2022, Stefan Karlsson placed the Aphelion at the top of its category, calling it "a long-term / all-time even favourite of that genre" and his "poster-child" for the harmonic overdrive genre overall5.
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Questions
Is the Spaceman Aphelion discontinued?
The Aphelion is currently listed as sold out on Spaceman Effects' own product page, and Premier Guitar described the pedal as a limited run with total production around a few hundred units. Spaceman has produced re-issues of the Aphelion, which carry an upgraded five year transferable warranty, so the design has returned in small batches rather than being permanently retired.
Is the Spaceman Aphelion true bypass?
Yes. Spaceman Effects states that the Aphelion uses true-bypass switching, through what the maker describes as the heaviest duty mechanical footswitch available. When bypassed the pedal draws 2 mA, and it draws 8.5 mA when engaged.
How much current does the Spaceman Aphelion draw?
The Aphelion draws 8.5 mA when engaged and 2 mA when bypassed, running on a 9V DC input. That is a light draw by overdrive pedal standards, so it places little demand on a pedalboard power supply.
Where is the Spaceman Aphelion made?
The Aphelion is completely hand-soldered and handmade in Portland, Oregon, by Spaceman Effects. The enclosure is USA-cast aluminum with an engraved vinyl faceplate and a clear jewel indicator lit by a turquoise LED.
What is a harmonic overdrive?
A harmonic overdrive is an overdrive circuit designed around the harmonics it adds to your signal. The Aphelion emphasizes even-order harmonics, the ones associated with the smooth breakup of a pushed tube amp, rather than the harsher odd-order harmonics. Spaceman describes its gain range as running from light sparkle to overdriven tube-amp bliss.
Sources (5)
- Aphelion: Harmonic Overdrive, Spaceman Effects
- 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
- Spaceman Effects Aphelion Harmonic Overdrive, Pedal of the Day, 2014-07-28
- Guitar Pedal X, Guitar Pedal X, 2022-05-06
