The Neunaber Seraphim Shimmer is a shimmer reverb pedal from Neunaber Technology LLC, a builder Delicious Audio describes as "a boutique gear builder out of Santa Ana, CA" that "prides itself on using modern tech to make the best tools possible"1. It puts two sounds in one small box: a straight reverb and a shimmer voice layered over it, with the shimmer switchable on the fly. It belongs to the wider family of reverb pedals and sits alongside Neunaber's other space effects such as the Wet Reverb and the Immerse Reverberator.
What it does
The pedal combines a conventional reverb with a shimmer effect, and the two can be used together or separately. The original stereo version was announced with a small footprint and "controls for Effect Mix, Reverb Depth and Shimmer Level"3, and Vintage Guitar's news item added that it offered "a shimmer effect that can be switched on the fly" and "a Mix knob that can go to 100 percent effect"4.
Controls
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Mix | Controls the mix between the dry signal and effect; full clockwise is 100% effect, typically used with a parallel effects loop2 |
| Depth | Controls the depth of the straight reverb sound, from a slight hint of echo to a full cavern of ambient sound5 |
| Shimmer (Shim) | Sets the shimmer level; disabled when the pedal is in reverb-only mode2 |
Pedal of the Day's reviewer, Mike B, described the range of the Depth control in the mono version: "The Depth control has a big, booming range for the straight reverb sound as well, from a slight hint of echo to a full cavern of ambient sound"5.
Footswitch and LED
The single footswitch does two jobs depending on how long you hold it2:
- Short press (less than half a second): enables or bypasses the effect, both reverb and shimmer.
- Long press (greater than half a second): enables or bypasses the shimmer only, leaving the reverb untouched.
The LED reports the state at a glance2:
- Constant off: effect bypassed
- Constant on: effect enabled
- Short pulse: shimmer enabled
- Long pulse: shimmer disabled, reverb only
In reverb-only mode the Shim knob is also disabled, so turning it has no effect until the shimmer is switched back on2.
Versions and history
The pedal reached players first as the Seraphim Stereo Shimmer, announced by Neunaber Audio Effects and available for purchase on October 15, 20143. Pedal of the Day reviewed the mono Seraphim Shimmer in May 20155.
The stereo version of the Seraphim Shimmer was made available for purchase on October 15, 20143. In reverb-only mode, with the shimmer effect disabled, the Shim knob is also disabled2.
Neunaber built the Seraphim Shimmer around a small set of controls: the Mix knob sets the balance between the dry signal and the effect, with full clockwise giving 100% effect, typically used with a parallel effects loop Mix knob2. A short press of the footswitch, less than half a second, enables or bypasses the whole effect, both reverb and shimmer, while a long press enables or bypasses the shimmer only2. The stereo version of the pedal was made available for purchase on October 15, 20143.
Videos
Knobs
Neunaber Audio
Neunaber Audio
Questions
What is the difference between the Seraphim Shimmer and the Seraphim Stereo Shimmer?
The Seraphim Stereo Shimmer was the original stereo version, announced in October 2014 with controls for Effect Mix, Reverb Depth and Shimmer Level and a shimmer effect that can be switched on the fly. It was discontinued at the end of 2020 along with the rest of the Expanse Series, leaving the mono Seraphim Shimmer as the version still in production.
How does the footswitch work on the Seraphim Shimmer?
A short press, less than half a second, enables or bypasses the whole effect, both reverb and shimmer. A long press, greater than half a second, enables or bypasses the shimmer only, leaving the reverb running. The LED shows which state you are in: constant on means the effect is enabled, a short pulse means shimmer is on, and a long pulse means shimmer is disabled with reverb still active.
Sources (5)
- Neunaber Seraphim Shimmer, Delicious Audio, 2021-01-25
- Elements User Guide, Neunaber Technology LLC, 2016
- Neunaber Launches Seraphim Stereo Shimmer Pedal, Premier Guitar, 2014-10-09
- Neunaber Offers Seraphim Stereo Shimmer, Vintage Guitar magazine, 2014-10-15
- Neunaber Audio Effects Seraphim Mono Shimmer, Pedal of the Day, 2015-05-07
