The Spaceman Effects Saturn VI is a boost pedal that doubles as a low-gain overdrive. Spaceman describes it as "simultaneously a harmonic-laden boost and low-gain overdrive," a circuit that sits between the two categories rather than committing to either1. Used one way it is a clean-ish volume lift for pushing an amp; used another it adds textured, low-gain drive.
The pedal is an update to the Saturn V, which Spaceman released in 20121. The headline change in version VI is a new Tone circuit for shaping treble frequencies, something the original circuit never had2. Like other Spaceman pedals, it is hand wired and built in Portland, Oregon2.
What it does to your sound
The Saturn VI works as two interacting stages. The Boost control alone gives 18dB of harmonic gain, which Spaceman pitches as enough "to push your tubes through the event horizon"1. Turning up the Drive control adds more harmonic distortion while also raising the pedal's total output, and with both controls maxed the pedal delivers 35dB of boost "full of complex harmonic character"1.
The harmonic content is split between the two sides. According to Spaceman's builder's notes, the Boost side is focused on subtle even-order harmonics, while the Drive side increases those and brings in odd-order harmonics, so the drive texture is made up of both2. On That Pedal Show, Mick and Dan put the same idea more simply: "boost gives even, drive gives odd"4.
Spaceman says the pedal "brings a general openness to the top end of the frequency spectrum, while keeping bass frequencies fully present, tight and controlled"3, which matters for bass players and anyone running it into a clean amp.
The controls
The Saturn VI keeps the control set minimal: three knobs and a footswitch.
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Boost | Up to 18dB of harmonic gain on its own; the clean-boost side of the pedal1 |
| Drive | Adds more harmonic distortion while increasing total output; brings in odd-order harmonics12 |
| Tone | New in version VI; shapes the treble frequencies to taste1 |
Both knobs together at maximum yield the full 35dB of boost1. Switching is true-bypass relay switching via a soft momentary footswitch, so the pedal drops out of the signal path entirely when disengaged1. Delicious Audio's write-up confirms the same true-bypass relay switching with a soft-touch footswitch2.
Versions and editions
The Saturn VI has appeared in several forms since it launched, and the differences are mostly cosmetic apart from price5.
| Version | Details | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Harmonic Booster (Gold Edition) | First-edition, fully handmade and hand-wired circuits; limited to 3 units | $299.00, sold out3 |
| Harmonic Booster limited editions (2019) | Black (80 units), Red (55 units) and White (44 units), painted chassis, black machined aluminum knobs | 5 |
| Standard Edition (2019) | Unpainted steel enclosure, plastic knobs, otherwise the same components; made always-available | $1795 |
| Cadet (current) | The version listed on Spaceman's site today | $159.001 |
The Standard Edition's plastic knobs were the cost-cutting measure; Guitar Pedal X noted that "all other elements/components remain the same"5. As of 13 July 2026, Guitar Pedal X listed the Standard Edition at £1795. The enclosure across versions is cast aluminum with a durable, engraved vinyl faceplate and a red jewel indicator light2.
The original Saturn VI Harmonic Booster is listed as sold out on Spaceman's site. The current Cadet version at $159.00 is the one in production13.
Where it came from
The Saturn V, the pedal this circuit descends from, was released in 20121. Guitar Pedal X called the Saturn VI "an evolution of 2012's Saturn V with an added Tone control"5, and Delicious Audio's 2022 feature framed it the same way: an update that "really takes this unique circuit" forward with the new Tone knob2.
Within Spaceman's own range, the Saturn VI is voiced differently from the Apollo VII overdrive, which Guitar Pedal X described as voiced "toward fuzzy overdrive" by comparison6. The same reviewer's verdict on the Saturn VI itself was mixed: "the newer expanded MK VI version, while an improvement on the Saturn V, for me gets you nowhere near magical Aphelion"5.
What reviewers said
Delicious Audio's Paolo De Gregorio covered the pedal with builder's notes from Spaceman, highlighting the even- and odd-order harmonic split between the Boost and Drive sides and the new Tone knob that "allows to tailor the high frequencies to your likings"2.
On That Pedal Show's demo, Mick and Dan ran through the pedal's character, calling it a "harmonic laden boost and low gain overdrive done right" that "eludes categorization"4.
Videos
MAS Distro
Sean Gibson
Curtis Kent
News
Questions
What is the difference between the Spaceman Saturn V and Saturn VI?
The Saturn VI is an update to the Saturn V, which Spaceman released in 2012. The main circuit change is an added Tone control that lets you shape the treble frequencies, which the Saturn V did not have. Guitar Pedal X described it as an evolution of the 2012 pedal with that added Tone control.
Is the Spaceman Saturn VI true bypass?
Yes. Spaceman specifies true-bypass relay switching operated by a soft momentary footswitch, so the signal path is out of the circuit entirely when the pedal is off. Delicious Audio's write-up confirms the same true-bypass relay switching with a soft-touch footswitch.
How much does the Spaceman Saturn VI cost?
The current Saturn VI Cadet is listed at $159.00. The earlier Saturn VI Harmonic Booster was listed at $299.00 and is now sold out, and the Standard Edition launched at $179 in 2019, with Guitar Pedal X noting a price of £179 as of 13 July 2026.
Is the Saturn VI Standard Edition still available?
Spaceman made the Saturn VI Standard Edition an always-available, unlimited pedal in September 2019, priced at $179. The earlier Harmonic Booster version is listed as sold out on Spaceman's site, and the current Cadet version is listed at $159.00.
What is the Black edition of the Saturn VI?
The Black edition was a limited run of 80 units in a painted chassis with higher quality black machined aluminium knobs, offered alongside Red (55 units) and White (44 units) limited editions in the same 2019 batch. The Standard Edition by contrast used an unpainted steel enclosure with plastic knobs.
Where is the Spaceman Saturn VI made?
The Saturn VI is hand wired and built in Portland, Oregon, USA. Spaceman Effects is based in Portland, and the Gold Edition circuits were described by the maker as fully handmade and hand-wired.
Sources (6)
- Saturn VI: Harmonic Booster, Spaceman Effects
- Spaceman Saturn VI Harmonic Boost, Delicious Audio, 2022-11-28
- Saturn VI: Harmonic Booster Spacelab, Spaceman Effects
- Walrus Mako D1, Jam Retrovibe MkII, Vemuram Myriad Fuzz, Spaceman Saturn VI TPS Pedal Jams, That Pedal Show (YouTube), 2020-02-11
- Guitar Pedal X, Guitar Pedal X, 2019-09-11
- Guitar Pedal X, Guitar Pedal X, 2019-12-13
