The Neunaber Neuron is a digital preamp pedal from Neunaber Technology LLC, the company founded by Brian Neunaber1. Neunaber describes it as "a dynamic multistage guitar preamp with compressor, noise gate, speaker simulator, presets and MIDI in a compact pedal"2. What sets it apart from most digital amp pedals is its design approach: the maker states it is "not a model, emulation or simulation of any" particular amplifier, but a unique design built from years of research into the gain circuits of pedals and amps, both tube and solid state23.
The pedal was announced in January 2019 and was expected to ship in mid-February of that year at an MSRP of $2991. Gearnews reported ahead of NAMM 2019 that Neunaber was set to launch what the company called a "hyper-realistic" guitar preamp pedal4. The current list price on the maker's product page is $279.002.
What it does and how it works
The Neuron runs a multistage gain architecture in the digital domain at a 96 kHz sample rate, with minimum latency of 0.315 ms25. The signal path order of its functions is printed above their controls on the pedal6. Alongside the gain stages, the pedal includes a single-knob compressor, which the German manual describes as producing an even, harmonious tone, and studio-quality noise reduction for higher gain settings57.
The maker's 2019 manual is explicit about the design philosophy:
"Our goal was never to emulate or mimic other gear."
Neunaber Technology LLC, Neuron User Guide5
Instead, new algorithms were developed from studying the gain circuits of pedals and amps, both tube and solid state287. Pedal of the Day's reviewer read the result the same way, calling it "the culmination of years of researching both solid state and tube amplifiers" with "an original and distinct flavor," and concluding that it is "not an emulation of any specific gear, but a pathway to new and creative enjoyment"7.
Controls
The pedal keeps its knob count low, with several deeper functions tucked into setup controls53:
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Comp | Single-knob compressor5 |
| Level | Adjusts the output level of the signal3 |
| Tightness | Preset parameter stored with each preset6 |
| Tilt EQ (setup) | Global one-knob compensation for a variety of output connections, so you can adapt tone when changing where the pedal plugs in without changing presets; accessed by holding the Engage switch while turning the knob53 |
| Speaker Simulator (setup) | Turns the internal speaker simulator on or off3 |
The pedal also has a Manual Mode: when the preset LED is unlit, all settings come straight from the knobs9.
Speaker simulator
The Neuron has a switchable internal speaker simulator for running direct, or into a powered monitor or full-range powered cab10. The setup control toggles it: full counter-clockwise (yellow-green LED) is off, for use with an external speaker simulator, an amp head and cabinet, or a combo amp; full clockwise (blue LED) is on, for going direct to a recording interface, mixer, powered speaker or headphone amp3.
Two things a player should know:
- The Speaker Simulator is a global setting, independent of the preset selection3.
- Its filter is voiced to sound similar to Neunaber's Iconoclast with default settings and tone knobs at 12 o'clock, and it is not adjustable3.
Pedal of the Day highlighted this direct capability in its review, noting "you can even switch to a speaker simulator to run the pedal direct"7. For more on this category, see speaker simulation pedals.
Presets and MIDI
Preset storage is tiered by how you control the pedal:
- Up to 6 presets (7 including Manual Mode) are accessible from the Preset footswitch on the pedal itself, and these correspond to the first MIDI presets6.
- Up to 24 presets can be recalled via MIDI Program Change commands53.
- Unlimited presets are available through the optional Neuron Commander software210.
The pedal's MIDI implementation is compliant with MIDI Specification CA-033, and all controls are accessible from a MIDI controller3. A MIDI Control Change command can change the preset LED color, and CC 113 saves the current preset3. Gearnews and Pedal of the Day both confirmed the 6-preset footswitch count and the 24-preset MIDI count around launch47. See MIDI pedals for the category.
Power and connections
The Neuron runs on 9 to 12 V DC from a center-negative 5.5 mm OD x 2.1 mm ID connector, drawing 70 mA23. The maker's product page also lists a "less than 100 mA" figure alongside the 70 mA rating, so the two appear together on the same page2. There is no battery option implied by the spec.
Input and output details from the maker:
| Spec | Value |
|---|---|
| Nominal input level | -10 dBV, instrument level2 |
| Input impedance | 1 MΩ2 |
| Output impedance | 1 kΩ9 |
| Dimensions | 4.6" W, 2.8" L, 1.9" H (116 mm W, 68 mm L, 47 mm H)2 |
| Weight | 0.564 lbs (256 g)2 |
History and versions
Delicious Audio covered a prototype of the Neuron ahead of NAMM 2019 before the production pedal arrived11. The production version was announced on January 17, 2019, with shipping expected in mid-February at a $299 MSRP1.
Neunaber also built a limited edition skull graphic version of the Neuron drive/preamp, the Special Edition Halloween Neuron, which carried over the core feature set, including adjustable studio-quality noise reduction12. Preset recall works without MIDI too: up to 6 presets can be recalled via the pedal's own footswitch4. See the Neunaber Special Edition Halloween Neuron for that version.
The pedal also appears under the fuller name Neuron Gain Intelligence; see the Neunaber Neuron Gain Intelligence page. Neunaber states the Neuron is manufactured locally in Orange County, California, USA5.
What reviewers said
Pedal of the Day reviewed the Neuron in March 2019 and came away impressed with both the sound and the design philosophy, finding it "not an emulation of any specific gear, but a pathway to new and creative enjoyment" and praising its overall sound7. The same review noted that the true bypass "ensures consistent sound from your original source when the pedal is in bypass mode"7. Gearnews, reporting from NAMM 2019, relayed Neunaber's own "hyper-realistic" framing for the pedal's feel4.
Videos
Pete Thorn
Andertons Music Co
Neunaber Audio
Questions
Is the Neunaber Neuron analog or digital?
It is digital, running at a 96 kHz sample rate. Neunaber describes it as a dynamic multistage guitar preamp whose gain design came from years of research into amp and pedal circuits rather than from modeling any specific amplifier. Minimum latency is 0.315 ms.
Does the Neunaber Neuron have a speaker simulator?
Yes. A switchable internal speaker simulator lets you run the pedal direct to a recording interface, mixer, powered speaker or headphone amp. It is a global setting, independent of preset selection, and Neunaber says it is voiced to sound similar to the Iconoclast with default settings.
Is the Neunaber Neuron true bypass?
Yes. It uses relay-switched true bypass, so the input passes straight through to the output when the pedal is disengaged. Pedal of the Day noted that the true bypass keeps your original tone consistent when the pedal is in bypass mode.
Where is the Neunaber Neuron made?
Neunaber states that the Neuron is manufactured locally in Orange County, California, USA. The company behind it is Neunaber Technology LLC, founded by Brian Neunaber.
Sources (12)
- Neunaber Audio Announces the Neuron, Premier Guitar, 2019-01-17
- Neuron - Gain Intelligence - Quilter Labs, Quilter Labs (neunaber.net)
- Neuron Gain Intelligence User Guide, Quilter Labs, 2019
- NAMM 2019: Neunaber to present “hyper-realistic” Neuron guitar preamp pedal, gearnews.com, 2019-01-18
- Neuron - Gain Intelligence - Quilter Labs, Quilter Labs (neunaber.net)
- Neuron Commander User Guide, Neunaber Audio (Quilter Labs)
- Neunaber Audio Neuron Gain Intelligence Preamp, Pedal of the Day, 2019-03-29
- Neuron Gain Intelligence User Guide, Neunaber Technology LLC, 2019
- Neuron - Gain Intelligence (Deutsche) - Quilter Labs, Neunaber Technology LLC, 2019
- Neuron - Gain Intelligence - Quilter Labs, Quilter Labs
- Neunaber Neuron Gain Intelligence, Delicious Audio, 2020-03-24
- Go trick-or-treating with Neunaber's Special Edition Halloween Neuron pedal, Guitar World, 2019-10-30
