Spaceman Sputnik IIb Deluxe

The Spaceman Sputnik IIb Deluxe is a germanium fuzz pedal from Spaceman Effects. It is a reissue and evolution of the Type II format of the Sputnik fuzz, specifically the Type IIb, built around NOS Soviet-era germanium transistors and diodes in a discrete, all-analog circuit using through-hole components¹.

What sets it apart from a standard fuzz is the footswitchable Drift mode, which layers oscillation, pseudo-octaves and 8-bit style artifacts on top of the fuzz, plus an X-Former switch that takes the input transformer out of the circuit for wilder behavior. Spaceman sold it on a 48 hour preorder window at $399 MAP, in three signed and numbered colors¹.

Where it came from

The Sputnik IIb Deluxe sits in a line of Sputnik fuzzes that Spaceman has revisited throughout its anniversary year. The original Sputnik was an all-germanium fuzz featuring vintage Soviet transistors, with three main control knobs, a Filter switch enabling a second tone-circuit variation, and a mini Scan knob that became especially interactive in the Drift setting². The Deluxe is described by Spaceman as a further evolved take on the Sputnik II, specifically the Type IIb format, keeping its control layout largely intact while relabeling one knob¹.

The 48 hour preorder was itself unusual for Spaceman. As Guitar Pedal X's Stefan Karlsson put it¹:

The pedal arrived in a year of anniversary reissues from the builder, including the Rumblefuzz II revival of its first pedal and the updated Spacerocket II octave fuzz. A later Sputnik III and a follow-on Sputnik IIb have since appeared in the range³.

The controls: knobs, switches and footswitches

The Deluxe carries four knobs and three toggle switches, plus the two footswitches. Three of the knobs are carried over from the Type II, with one label change¹.

On the follow-on Sputnik IIb, Spaceman describes the Range control as governing the fuzz gain and the Calibrate control as adjusting tone with an uncommon sweep, and the Scan knob on the original Sputnik added a layer of control over the pedal's two personalities, with all controls becoming very interactive in the Drift setting³².

What the Drift footswitch does

Drift is the pedal's wild side. In normal operation the Sputnik IIb is described by its maker as mild-mannered; the footswitch-actuated Drift mode adds what Spaceman calls "a level of corruption," resulting in oscillation, pseudo-octaves, 8-bit artifacts and more³. Guitar Pedal X summarized it as a mode for "wild oscillation, octave and 8-bit artifact tones"¹.

Because Drift is on its own footswitch, it can be kicked in and out mid-performance, which is the practical difference between this and a fuzz where the unstable behavior is always live. The Scan knob shapes how far the corruption goes¹³².

What the X-Former switch does

The X-Former switch bypasses the pedal's input transformer. Spaceman describes the transformer's effect on the follow-on Sputnik IIb in concrete terms: with it out of the circuit (Out), the pedal has a looser feel and a wider frequency range; with it in (In), it plays nice after other pedals and sounds more focused³. On the Deluxe, Guitar Pedal X describes the switch's purpose as bypassing the transformer "for even wilder sounds"¹.

For a player, this is effectively an impedance and character choice: transformer in for a pedalboard placement after other effects, transformer out for maximum openness when the fuzz is first in the chain³¹.

Build, editions and availability

The Sputnik IIb Deluxe is completely soldered and wired by hand in Portland, Oregon, in a cast-aluminum enclosure with a heavy duty engraved vinyl faceplate and large jewel indicator lights¹³. It shipped in three signed and numbered color options: Black, Gray and White¹.

The later Sputnik IIb also brought practical changes over the previous version: top mounted jacks and a smaller footprint³. Guitar Pedal X noted the Deluxe format itself was "somewhat non-pedalboard friendly"¹.

What reviewers said

Guitar Pedal X's Stefan Karlsson covered the announcement in detail but was measured about the need for another evolution of the pedal¹:

He filed it among nice-to-haves rather than something for his own needs, while still documenting the full feature set for players who favor Spaceman's larger-format designs¹.

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