The Neunaber Slate is a stereo "blank slate" effects pedal: a compact multi-effect that covers chorus, reverb, echo and hold, with a black enclosure top you can write or draw on with a marker and erase again. Pedal of the Day's reviewer described it as "a stereo 'blank slate' pedal by Neunaber," and later called the Slate V2 Stereo Effect "a definite HIT, cramming a ton of tonal candy and functionality" into the format12.
Connections and bypass
The Slate V2 has both mono and stereo inputs and outputs, so it works as a single mono pedal or at the end of a stereo chain2. Bypass is selectable between true bypass, which gives no trails when you switch off, and buffered bypass, which lets reverb and echo trails ring out, and the footswitch behavior is selectable as well2. The original Slate shipped buffered, with true bypass offered as an extra-cost option with a wait period1.
Buffered bypass is what keeps reverb and echo trails alive after you stomp off. If you want the effect to cut dead, the V2's selectable true bypass does that instead2.
The reviewer also noted a very high input impedance, with no "tone suck" ahead of the effect1.
Expression control
The Slate has expression inputs for both the right and left knobs; a 1/4-inch to 3.5mm adapter is sold separately1. With the optional ExP Controller attached, the pedal opens up further: four programmable effects with two presets each, three expression inputs (one for each knob), and a Preset Morph expression input2.
The write-on surface
The Slate's signature feature is its top surface. The enclosure is almost all black and made from a material you can write or draw on with a metallic Sharpie, which is how most players label their custom effect1. Neunaber's own guidance on the surface:
"The Slate Overlay may be written with permanent ink markers, such Sharpie-brand markers."
A few practical points from the maker:
- Opaque metallic ink markers are suggested, because translucent inks are not visible on the black surface4
- Only the Slate top surface is erasable4
- The edges, sides, bottom, knobs, LED, footswitch and washer are permanent if marked with permanent ink4
Where it sits in Neunaber's range
The Slate is a compact stereo pedal from Neunaber that combines chorus, reverb, echo and hold in one enclosure5. Beyond the Slate, the company's catalog is not described in detail here, so players comparing it with other Neunaber designs such as the Wet Stereo Reverb will find those covered on their own pages.
Videos
Neunaber Audio
Ryan Kiesshauer
Eli Friedmann
Questions
Is the Neunaber Slate true bypass?
The original Slate shipped with buffered bypass, and true bypass was available as a paid option with a wait period. The Slate V2 Stereo Effect makes it selectable: you can choose true bypass, which has no trails, or buffered bypass, which keeps the reverb and echo trails when you switch off, and the footswitch behavior is selectable as well.
Can the Neunaber Slate run in stereo and mono?
Yes. The Slate has both mono and stereo inputs and outputs, so you can run it as a single mono pedal in one chain or place it at the end of a stereo rig with two amps or a stereo rig downstream.
Does the Neunaber Slate take an expression pedal?
Yes. The Slate has expression inputs for both the right and left knobs, though a 1/4-inch to 3.5mm adapter is sold separately. With the optional ExP Controller, the pedal gains three expression inputs, one for each knob, plus a Preset Morph expression input.
What kind of marker works on the Neunaber Slate?
Neunaber says the Slate surface may be written on with permanent ink markers, such as Sharpie-brand markers. Opaque metallic ink markers are suggested, because translucent inks are not visible on the black surface.
Can you erase what you write on the Neunaber Slate?
Yes, on the top surface only. The Slate top is a re-writeable surface that can be written on with markers and erased. The edges, sides, bottom, knobs, LED, footswitch and washer are not erasable, so permanent ink on those parts stays.
Where is the Neunaber Slate made?
The Slate is made in Orange County, California, USA, according to Pedal of the Day's review.
Sources (5)
- Guest Reviewer Fridays: Neunaber Audio Effects Slate, Pedal of the Day, 2016-07-08
- Neunaber Audio Effects Slate V2 Stereo Reverb Chorus, Pedal of the Day (www.pedal-of-the-day.com), 2019-01-25
- Neunaber Slate, Pedal of the Day, 2016-06-11
- Slate Re-writeable Surface, Neunaber Audio Effects (Quilter Labs)
- Neunaber Audio promises “the ultimate reverb machine” with its feature-packed Illumine pedal, guitarworld.com, 2021-08-06
