The Neunaber Audio Effects Seraphim Mono Shimmer is a reverb pedal with a shimmer mode, built by taking the company's Wet Reverb and adding a shimmer effect on top of the wet reverb signal. Shimmer reverb adds an octave-up, choir-like layer to the reverb tail, and the Seraphim's version is what Mike B of Pedal of the Day described as "a powerful but beautiful vocal choir-type realm to the notes you play"1.
What it does and how it is controlled
The pedal keeps the Wet Reverb's core and adds a Shimmer knob in place of the Tone knob found on the original Wet Reverb. The Shim knob sets how much of the shimmer effect is mixed in, from a little to a lot, and Pedal of the Day's reviewer wrote that it "adds a whole new dimension to this colorful little pedal"1.
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Mix | Blends the wet reverb with your dry signal1 |
| Depth | Sets the reverb depth, carried over from the Wet Reverb1 |
| Shim | Sets how much shimmer is mixed in, from a little to a lot1 |
| Bypass footswitch | Engages the effect; held down, it switches into Shimmer mode1 |
Shimmer mode is entered from the front panel rather than a second switch: hold down the bypass footswitch for a few seconds and release it. The reviewer found that moving back and forth between regular reverb and the added shimmer becomes seamless, which makes it easy to pulse quick shimmery notes and phrases mid-song1.
Bypass behavior is also set with the footswitch: holding the switch down while powering the pedal up sets bypass mode for trails or no trails. With trails, the reverb tail continues after you disengage the effect; with no trails, it stops1.
Versions and updates
The Seraphim Shimmer was also made in a Stereo version, which Pedal of the Day noted suits players running a multiple-amp setup1.
| Feature | What it does |
|---|---|
| Shim(mer) knob | Adds more or less of the shimmer effect, replacing the Tone knob from the original Wet Reverb1 |
| Shimmer mode | Entered by holding down the bypass footswitch for a few seconds and releasing it1 |
| Bypass mode | Set for trails or no trails by holding down the footswitch while powering the pedal up1 |
The Shim(mer) knob replaces the Tone knob from the original Wet Reverb, so the Seraphim's controls work differently from the pedal it is based on1.
In September 2020, Neunaber updated the Seraphim Shimmer (as the Seraphim Shimmer v2) alongside the Wet Reverb v5 and Echelon Echo v2. The update brought:
- A Shim(mer) knob that adds more or less of the shimmer effect, replacing the Tone knob from the original Wet Reverb1
- Shimmer mode, entered by holding down the bypass footswitch for a few seconds and releasing it1
- Bypass mode set for trails or no trails by holding down the footswitch while powering the pedal up1
- An analog dry signal, keeping the original tone intact1
What reviewers said
Pedal of the Day's review is the main published verdict on the mono version. The reviewer summed up the appeal as ease of use: the seamless switch between plain reverb and shimmer means a player can dip in and out of the effect, pulsing quick shimmery notes and phrases without breaking a part1.
"a powerful but beautiful vocal choir-type realm to the notes you play"
Videos
Curtis Kent
Brendan Mowat-Smith
JJ Tanis
Questions
How do you get to Shimmer mode on the Seraphim Mono Shimmer?
Hold down the bypass footswitch with your foot for a few seconds and release it. The pedal moves into Shimmer mode, and because the transition back and forth between regular reverb and the added shimmer is seamless, you can pulse quick shimmery notes and phrases without an audible jump.
Is there a stereo version of the Seraphim Shimmer?
Yes. The Seraphim Shimmer also came in a Stereo version aimed at players running multiple amps. That stereo version was discontinued at the end of 2020, leaving the mono version as the only one still in production at that point.
Can the Seraphim Mono Shimmer keep reverb trails when bypassed?
Yes. The bypass mode can be set for trails or no trails by holding down the footswitch while powering the pedal up. Trails let the reverb ring out naturally after you switch the effect off, while no trails cuts it immediately.
Sources (1)
- Neunaber Audio Effects Seraphim Mono Shimmer, Pedal of the Day, 2015-05-07
