Spaceman Nebula

The Spaceman Nebula is a fuzz pedal built around what Spaceman Effects calls a dual-mode IC fuzz circuit, with two extra signal layers you can blend in independently: a high octave and your clean signal¹. Rather than a straight fuzz, the maker presents it as a "fully blendable, multi-function tone manipulator," where fuzz, octave and dry circuits can be mixed together at the same time¹. Spaceman says the range runs from gentle harmonic sweetening and overdrive to layered octave fuzz, and "to combinations that are simply unexplainable"².

The pedal is a limited release and Spaceman lists it as sold out¹. Each unit carries a hand-hammered number on its nameplate stating its limited availability, and is signed and numbered inside¹.

Fuzz, high octave and clean signal blended together

Most fuzz pedals give you one distorted voice and a couple of knobs. The Nebula instead runs three circuits at once: the fuzz itself, a high octave layer, and your untouched dry signal, each with its own level in the blend¹. That structure is what lets the pedal sit in more than one category. With the octave and clean layers low, it behaves like a normal fuzz; bringing the dry signal up keeps your low end and attack intact under the fuzz; pushing the octave layer moves it toward octave and pitch territory¹.

Delicious Audio, covering the pedal at launch, described the design as one that "plays on a classic circuit in interesting and original ways," presented as a Fuzz/Octave Blender³. Pedal of the Day called it "the somewhat wacky and definitely fun Nebula, a Fuzz/Octave Blender"⁴.

Inside, the Nebula is built the way Spaceman builds its limited pedals: a hand-soldered PCB, military-spec wiring, open-frame Switchcraft jacks, and a custom Spaceman heavy-duty battery connector, all hand-soldered and handmade in Portland, Oregon¹. The enclosure is cast aluminum with an engraved vinyl faceplate and a jewel indicator light¹.

The controls: Emission, Spectrum and Infinity Mode

Emission is the gain control, and Spaceman says it spans smooth bluesy tones at one end and thick harmonic-laden fuzz at the other¹. Spectrum is a three-shape control the maker describes as giving "the power to fine tune your tone to perfection"¹. Volume sets your overall output level⁴.

Infinity Mode is the pedal's distinctive feature. Spaceman describes it as taking "this fuzz to another universe, adding a second octave instance shrouded in fuzz"¹. With Emission cranked, the maker says the fuzz-octave "collapses on itself and blooms into sustain"¹. Pedal of the Day found the same thing in practice: with the Emission knob cranked, the fuzz-octave collapses on itself and adds a ton of sustain into the mix, which the reviewer found suited soaring lead tones and fast note runs⁴.

Limited editions and finishes

The Nebula was released in small numbered runs, and Spaceman's product pages show how small some of them were¹⁴⁵:

• Red & Black edition: Limited Edition of 6, with a textured red powdercoat, solid aluminum control knobs and a red jewel indicator⁵
• Black & Blue edition: Limited Edition of 3, with a light blue heavily textured powder-coating, aluminum control knobs and an aqua jewel indicator light²

Both of these editions are listed as sold out⁵². Beyond them, Spaceman's page shows the Nebula in a range of finishes: Silver, Black, Moonrock, Nebula, Ruined, Chrome, Purple, Teal and Gloss Steel¹. Every pedal, whatever the finish, is individually numbered with a hand-hammered nameplate stating the number and availability of that model, a detail Pedal of the Day also noted⁴.

What reviewers said

Pedal of the Day reviewed the pedal in January 2020 and summed it up as "a Fuzz/Octave Blender that will absolutely rock your world"⁴. The reviewer highlighted the sustain available with Emission cranked in Infinity Mode, and the individually numbered, hand-hammered nameplates that mark each unit's limited availability⁴. Delicious Audio's launch coverage emphasized the blendable design and the hand-made Portland construction³.

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