The HardWire Supernatural Ambient Reverb is a reverb pedal from HardWire, built in a substantial jet-black metal enclosure that houses dual ins and outs for true stereo operation1. Inside, a switch accessible from underneath the footswitch lets a player enable or disable reverb trail-off after bypassing the pedal1. It carried a street price of $179 at the time of Premier Guitar's review1.
Seven reverb types, from spring to Shimmer
The pedal's seven modes are selected with a 7-way rotary knob. Premier Guitar lists the range as classic spring and plate types, plate with modulation, and more out-there options like Shimmer, alongside Supernova, Pherb and Shine1. MusicRadar's review singles out "the phased Pherb" among the modes3.
On the spring setting, Premier Guitar's reviewer was enthusiastic: "the spring setting will bring a Stratocaster to life in a very big way. It's a very dimensional and expansive spring sim." The same review describes very real, analog warmth and clean decays without sounding digital in that mode1.
MusicRadar's verdict, from reviewer Michael Astley-Brown, was that the pedal is "not going to replace your amp's spring reverb, but for post-rock and ambient players, it could become a pedalboard lynchpin"3.
The controls
The front panel is simple: three knobs plus the mode selector.
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Reverb type | 7-way rotary knob for selecting the reverb type1 |
| Mix | Mix level1 |
| Decay | Reverb decay1 |
| Liveliness | Effectively a tone control with an emphasis on high frequencies1 |
Premier Guitar calls the mix and decay controls "more-or-less self-explanatory" and reserves the explanation for Liveliness1. MusicRadar adds a wrinkle worth knowing: the reverbs are controlled via mix, Liveliness and decay knobs, and each effect's intensity can be shaped through the interaction between the mix and Liveliness controls, which helps tame the more extreme modes3.
Power and stereo connections
The pedal houses dual ins and outs for true stereo operation in a substantial jet-black metal enclosure, and works in mono or stereo depending on how many jacks you use12. For power, there is a removable footswitch plate for replacing the 9V battery, so it can run without a supply on a small board1.
A switch accessible from underneath the footswitch, inside the enclosure, enables or disables reverb trail-off after bypassing. If you want the reverb tail to stop dead when you stomp the pedal off, that is where it lives1.
The Supernatural sits in the HardWire reverb line alongside the earlier Hardwire RV-7 Stereo Reverb, which also carries seven reverb modes and stereo output. For how this pedal compares with reverb pedals generally, see the site's Reverb Pedals page; the same circuit is also covered on the DigiTech Supernatural Ambient Reverb page.
Videos
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Questions
Does the HardWire Supernatural Ambient Reverb run on a battery?
Yes. Premier Guitar's review notes a removable footswitch plate for replacing the 9V battery, so the pedal can run on battery power as well as a DC supply.
Is the HardWire Supernatural Ambient Reverb stereo?
Yes. It has two input and two output jacks, giving players the option of stereo or mono operation. Premier Guitar describes the dual ins and outs as allowing true stereo operation.
Can the reverb trails be turned off when bypassed?
Yes. A switch accessible from underneath the footswitch, inside the enclosure, enables or disables reverb trail-off after bypassing, so players can choose whether tails continue when the effect is switched off.
Where is the HardWire Supernatural Ambient Reverb made?
Premier Guitar's review describes the Supernatural as American-made.
What does the Liveliness knob do?
Liveliness is effectively a tone control with an emphasis on high frequencies, according to Premier Guitar. MusicRadar's Michael Astley-Brown adds that each effect's intensity can be controlled through the interaction between the mix and Liveliness controls.
Sources (3)
- Hardwire Supernatural Ambient Reverb Pedal Review, Premier Guitar, 2012-09-05
- NAMM 2014: DigiTech launches Supernatural stompbox, MusicRadar, 2014-01-28
- DigiTech Supernatural Ambient Reverb review, MusicRadar, 2014-07-27
