The GFI System Specular2 is a stereo reverb pedal that packs seven reverb modes into a pedalboard-friendly enclosure. It uses 24-bit digital signal processing with an analog dry-through path, holds four banks of two fully programmable presets, and carries stereo input and output. Pedal of the Day reviewed it in March 2016 and found a lot inside a small box: "we were quite impressed with the amount of options that GFI had managed to squeeze into such a pedalboard-friendly enclosure"1.
Seven reverb modes
The Specular2 offers one Normal reverb plus six Atmospheric reverbs, covering a wide spread of reverb territory from conventional room and hall sounds to more experimental textures1.
| Mode | Character |
|---|---|
| Normal | Standard reverb |
| Modulated | Reverb with modulation |
| Shimmer | Octave-style atmospheric reverb |
| Echo | Reverb with echo character |
| Tremble | Reverb with tremolo movement |
| Voices | Vocal-style atmospheric reverb |
| Infinity | Sustaining, endless reverb |
Controls and operation
Four knobs on the face of the pedal shape the sound: Blend, Decay, Damping and Intensity1. Blend sets how much reverb is mixed with your dry signal, Decay sets the length of the tail, Damping shapes how the high frequencies behave over time, and Intensity adjusts the depth of the atmospheric effects in the six Ambient modes.
Two clickless footswitches handle preset and effect switching, and the pedal's reverb trails persistence means the tail keeps decaying naturally after a switch rather than stopping dead1.
"This is a reverb pedal, sure, but one really unlike anything you might have witnessed before."
Where it sits in GFI's range
GFI System has since built on the Specular line. The Specular Reverb V3 simplified the preset system and added an expression input and a Kill Dry function, and the company later released the Skylar reverb. For a broader look at the category, see the site's Reverb Pedals page.
Videos
Pedal of the Day
Questions
Is the GFI System Specular2 stereo?
Yes. The Specular2 has stereo input and output, so it can sit at the end of a stereo pedalboard or in an effects loop and feed two amps or a stereo interface. Pedal of the Day's review lists the stereo ins and outs among the pedal's core features.
Does the Specular2 have reverb trails?
Yes. The pedal offers reverb trails persistence, meaning the reverb tail continues to decay naturally after you switch the effect off rather than being cut off abruptly. That matters for ambient playing, where spillover between settings is part of the sound.
Is the Specular2 analog or digital?
The Specular2 uses 24-bit digital signal processing for its reverb, with an analog dry-through path. Your unaffected guitar signal stays analog while the reverb itself is generated digitally.
How many presets does the Specular2 hold?
The Specular2 holds four banks of two presets, for four times two presets in total, and they are fully programmable. You can store your own settings across its seven reverb modes and recall them from the footswitches.
Does the Specular2 have clickless footswitches?
Yes. Pedal of the Day notes that the Specular2 uses all clickless footswitches, so switching presets or bypassing does not produce an audible mechanical click in your signal.
Sources (1)
- GFI System Specular 2 Reverb, Pedal of the Day, 2016-03-15
