Xploration • Curation • Recommendation
My Spaceman Effects Sputnik I Silicon Fuzz has landed - and it's every bit as good as the original Germanium Edition - with the self same sensibilities - but with significantly more range
So you can look at this as an updated and upscaled version of the Sputnik I Germanium Fuzz - with more volume and gain onboard in particular - and a refined Scan mode - per the Sputnik IIb.
It retains all the key facets of the original - with that singing searing tonality - there’s just more of everything onboard. It doesn’t quite have those Sputnik I Germanium Harmonics - but in most respects totally matches and exceeds the original pedal. Its core tonality is every bit as good - just with those Silicon characteristics in tow - rather than the enhanced grit of the Germanium.
For me the Germanium and Silicon varieties pretty much hit equally - Spaceman have done a superb job of replicating the original formula - making use of 6 x Silicon Transistors, and a JFET. The 7 Transistors are a mix of 2N3904, 2N4125, 2N7000, and one BA17 JFET - they really sound superb together - that’s quite the formula!
Controls : Signal (Volume), Scan (Scramble/Corruption), Range (Fuzz Gain), Drift/Sync (Engage Scan), Calibrate (Tone), Filter Engage : Engage = Bass Cut + Mid Scoop.
As mentioned - the Scan / Scramble / Corruption has been somewhat refined. It can still get quite squealy if you take the Scan over the half-way mark.
I really do love his one as much as the original - white that sill has some additional sentimental value to me - and indeed - certain Germanium Characteristics that can't be wholly recreated by Sillicon - while the Silicon version kind of makes up for that by delivering more range.
With Filter Engage on - you get a brighter and more searing tonality - as the core EQ gets a Bass Cut and Mids Scoop - which further accentuates the pedal's output profile. This project is a total triumph.
My preferred settings have the Level @ Noon, Scan @ Noon or just under, Range @ 3 o'c Drift / Sync mostly on Sync, Calibrate @ 5 o'c, and Filter Engaged.
I had to reach out to Spaceman Effects to get one of these Blue Dealer editions - as I could not find any in circulation, and there are currently no active UK Dealers - so thanks to Carl, Zak, and Matthew in particular for helping me out - it's much appreciated!
The Sputnik I Silicon Fuzz is priced mostly at $299 from the Spaceman Effects Webstore, where the limited Olive Drab Cyrillic Edition went for $359 - long since sold out.
Since I had the Red Germanium Sputnik I - it made ultimate sense for me to have the contrasting Blue Silicon Sputnik I !
2025 was a great year for me - and I picked up 3 Spaceman and adjacent pedals this year - to complete the very neat quartet below!
Demos
