The Neunaber Seraphim Stereo Shimmer is a reverb pedal with a dedicated shimmer effect, made by Neunaber Audio Effects. It combines the company's Wet Reverb with a shimmer voice that can be switched on the fly, so a player can move between straight reverb and full shimmer mid-song without changing settings. Neunaber announced it in October 2014, and it was available for purchase on October 15, 2014 at a retail price of $2391.
A shimmer reverb built on the Wet
The Seraphim takes the circuit of the Wet, Neunaber's reverb pedal, and adds a variable shimmer on top. As MusicRadar's reviewer Trevor Curwen put it, "Basically, this is a reverb pedal, based on the Wet, that can have variable amounts of shimmer added to the effect"2. Neunaber's own announcement described the pedal as "taking the 'choir of angels' sound to a whole new level!"1. The pedal was built on the same platform as the other pedals in Neunaber's Stereo Pedals line4.
The shimmer is not a permanent fixture of the sound. Vintage Guitar's news item noted that the pedal has "a shimmer effect that can be switched on the fly"3, and the Mix knob can go to 100 percent effect, so the pedal can run fully wet as an ambient unit in a loop or parallel setup3.
Controls, presets and expression
The Seraphim keeps the control layout simple, with three knobs:
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Effect Mix | Blends the effect with the dry signal, up to 100 percent wet13 |
| Reverb Depth | Sets the depth of the reverb13 |
| Shimmer Level | Sets how much shimmer is added to the effect13 |
Beyond the knobs, the pedal is programmable. Using the Pedal Customizer software for PC and Mac, it can recall four programmable effects with two presets each1. The pedal is compatible with Pedal Customizer Version 2.01.
The Expansion Port allows access to four expression inputs: one for each knob and one for morphing between the two presets1. That means an expression pedal can sweep any of the three controls, or fade between two saved settings, while you play.
Stereo and mono use
The Seraphim accepts stereo or mono input and output13. In a stereo rig it processes a stereo signal and feeds two channels; with a single guitar cable it works as a mono pedal. It shares its platform with the rest of Neunaber's Stereo Pedals line4.
Bypass and the footswitch
Bypass is optional true-bypass3. The footswitch does more than bypass: MusicRadar's review noted that "Bypass works as normal but a long press on the footswitch adds or removes shimmer from the mix with a pleasant fade-in/o[ut]"2. In practice that gives a player two levels of the effect from one switch: straight reverb under the heel, shimmer under a long press.
What reviewers said
MusicRadar's verdict, from Trevor Curwen's review, was that the pedal "Delivers lovely shimmery backgrounds - not an effect for everyone, but you get straight reverb, too"2. The point both the review and the maker's material return to is flexibility: the shimmer is an addition to a working reverb, not the only thing the pedal does12.
Related Neunaber pedals
Players looking at the Seraphim Stereo Shimmer may also come across the mono Neunaber Seraphim and Neunaber Seraphim Shimmer, the Neunaber Wet Reverb and its Wet Stereo Reverb and Wet Mono Reverb versions, the Neunaber Slate, the Neunaber Immerse and Immerse Reverberator, and the Neunaber Illumine. For the wider field, see the site's page on Reverb Pedals.
Videos
Neunaber Audio
Neunaber Audio
Neunaber Audio
News
Questions
Does the Neunaber Seraphim work in stereo and mono?
Yes. The Seraphim Stereo Shimmer accepts stereo or mono input and output, so it can sit in a stereo rig with two amps or in a mono pedalboard with a single cable. It was built on the same platform as Neunaber's other Stereo Pedals, which share the same compact format and programmable features.
How do I turn the shimmer on and off on the Seraphim?
Bypass works as normal, but a long press on the footswitch adds or removes shimmer from the mix with a pleasant fade-in and fade-out, according to MusicRadar's review. The shimmer can also be switched on the fly, so you can bring it in and out of a part without stopping to adjust knobs.
Is the Neunaber Seraphim true bypass?
The Seraphim Stereo Shimmer has optional true-bypass, as reported by Vintage Guitar magazine. That means the bypass behavior can be set to true-bypass or left in the pedal's alternative buffering, depending on how you prefer it to sit in your signal chain.
What is the Pedal Customizer software for the Seraphim?
Pedal Customizer is Neunaber's software for PC and Mac that makes the Seraphim programmable. The pedal is compatible with Pedal Customizer Version 2.0, and through it you can set up four programmable effects with two presets each, then recall them from the pedal.
Where is the Neunaber Seraphim made?
The Seraphim Stereo Shimmer is made in Orange County, California, USA, according to Neunaber's announcement of the pedal.
Sources (4)
- Neunaber Launches Seraphim Stereo Shimmer Pedal, Premier Guitar, 2014-10-09
- Neunaber Seraphim Stereo Shimmer review, MusicRadar, 2016-02-19
- Neunaber Offers Seraphim Stereo Shimmer, Vintage Guitar magazine, 2014-10-15
- Neunaber Audio Effects Unveils New Stereo Pedal v2 Line, Guitar Interactive Magazine, 2014-10-16
