The Spaceman Polaris is a Spaceman overdrive pedal. Close alternatives include the Rainger FX Air Space Invader 2 and the Source Audio Soundblox Multiwave Distortion. It pairs well with the Traynor YCV40 Custom Valve Combo and the Divided by 13 JRT 9/15.
Spaceman Polaris
Spaceman · pedal
The Spaceman Polaris is a dynamic, medium-gain overdrive built around a 2-pole resonant filter, offering Level, Drive, Initial, and Filter knobs alongside two mode switches and an expression pedal input for real-time, hands-free filter sweeps. The resonant filter design pushes the overdrive beyond a standard drive pedal's territory into synth-like, sweeping filtered textures, drawing 16-17mA and accepting a wide 9-24VDC input range. Part of Spaceman's Cadet Series, it's built for players wanting overdrive with genuinely unconventional, filter-driven tonal movement.
- filter
- resonant
- synth
- overdrive
- medium gain
- drive
- driven
- expressive
Genres the Spaceman Polaris is commonly used in
- Experimental
- Funk
cited
Inferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag.
Amps that pair well with the Spaceman Polaris
Pedals that stack with the Spaceman Polaris
Walrus Audio Iron Horse
Walrus Audio
8% matchWalrus Audio Iron Horse's own gritty character is the real reason this is worth trying
Wampler Plexi Drive
Wampler
8% matchWhat Wampler Plexi Drive brings here leans toward crunchy — that's worth building a pairing around
Caroline Guitar Company Somersault
Caroline Guitar Company
6% matchCaroline Guitar Company Somersault's modulated voice goes after Spaceman Polaris in the signal chain — it's not there to compete with Spaceman Polaris's own medium gain character
Ashdown Macchiato Compressor Guy Pratt Signature
Ashdown
6% matchWhat Ashdown Macchiato Compressor Guy Pratt Signature brings here leans toward compressed — that's worth building a pairing around
Keeley Halo
Keeley
5% matchRun Keeley Halo after Spaceman Polaris in the signal chain, clear of Spaceman Polaris's own gain stage — goes in the amp's FX loop (or last, into a clean amp)
Walrus Audio Fable
Walrus Audio
5% matchPut Walrus Audio Fable after Spaceman Polaris in the signal chain, clear of Spaceman Polaris's own gain stage — goes in the amp's FX loop (or last, into a clean amp)
Alternativessee all similar tone character →
Rainger FX Air Space Invader 2
Rainger Fx
69% similarityShared character: overdrive_circuit, mono_synth, resonant
Source Audio Soundblox Multiwave Distortion
pedal
67% similarityShared character: mono_synth, overdrive
Hermida Zendrive
Hermida
65% similarityShared character: live, boutique_stuff
Analog Man King of Tone
Analog Man
65% similarityShared character: overdrive
Strymon Riverside
Strymon
65% similarityShared character: overdrive
Alexander Pedals Hot Pink Drive
Alexander Pedals
65% similarityShared character: filter, overdrive, boutique_stuff
Colorsound Power Boost
Colorsound
65% similarityShared character: overdrive
Wampler Pedals Tweed '57
Wampler
64% similaritySimilar voicing: medium gain, dynamic
Death By Audio Crossover Fuzz Dual-Band Fuzz
Death By Audio
93% similaritysimilar tone character
Death By Audio Evil Filter
Death By Audio
92% similaritysimilar tone character
Ashdown Woodsman Acoustic
Ashdown
92% similaritysimilar tone character
Fairfield Circuitry The Unpleasant Surprise
Fairfield Circuitry
92% similaritysimilar tone character
See all alternatives to the Spaceman Polaris (cheaper + boutique) →
Questions people ask
What are good alternatives to the Spaceman Polaris?+
The closest matches in character are the Rainger FX Air Space Invader 2, the Source Audio Soundblox Multiwave Distortion, the Hermida Zendrive.
What pairs well with the Spaceman Polaris?+
Strong matches from rig and tone-complementarity evidence: Traynor YCV40 Custom Valve Combo, Divided by 13 JRT 9/15, Walrus Audio Iron Horse — What Traynor YCV40 Custom Valve Combo brings here leans toward spring — that's worth building a pairing around.
Compare
- vs Death By Audio Crossover Fuzz Dual-Band Fuzz
- vs Death By Audio Evil Filter
- vs Ashdown Woodsman Acoustic