The Neunaber Wet Mono Reverb is a compact digital reverb pedal that offers a single, studio-quality reverb in a roughly MXR-sized box1. It sits in what Premier Guitar called "a logical, largely neglected middle ground" between bare-bones one-knob reverbs and full-featured multi-mode units: a simple, 3-knob layout with no toggles or LCD readouts, and no distracting bells or whistles1. It carries street pricing of $1791.
The pedal is part of Neunaber's Wet Reverb line, which Guitar World reviewed in its V4 form as "the essence of simplicity when it comes to digital reverb effect pedals"2. The current mono pedal is documented in the Quilter Labs Wet Mono Reverb v3 user guide, which covers the same circuit now sold under the Quilter Labs name3.
Three knobs and a soft-response footswitch
The control surface is deliberately minimal: three knobs, a bypass footswitch, and an LED that lights when the effect is active31. There are no toggles or LCD readouts1.
The Mix knob's taper is tailored by the maker so you can easily dial in everything from just-a-touch of reverb to completely awash3. Premier Guitar's reviewer noted that higher tone settings add "an addictive sheen reminiscent of mild shimmer-mode settings on the BlueSky or BigSky"1.
The footswitch is a soft-response type, a feature Guitar World highlighted as new in the V4 revision of the Wet Reverb, which also added a tone control over earlier versions2. On the Wet Mono Reverb, the soft-response footswitch does double duty: during power-up you can use it to select between normal, trails, or two-stage bypass modes1.
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Mix knob | Tapered so you can dial from just-a-touch to completely awash in reverb3 |
| Bypass footswitch | Soft-response; also selects bypass mode at power-up1 |
| LED | Lights when the effect is active3 |
Two versions: buffered and true bypass
Two Wet Mono versions are available: the standard v4, which Premier Guitar tested, features buffered bypass, while the v4tb has true-bypass switching1.
The buffered bypass circuit always buffers the signal whether the pedal is on or off, as Guitar World described for the standard version of the Wet Reverb V42. The v3 user guide specifies a buffered "trails" bypass, meaning reverb trails decay naturally after you bypass the pedal rather than being cut off, with gain matched to within +/-1 dB between enabled and bypass (dry signal only)3.
On the earlier Wet Reverb V4, Guitar World noted that a true bypass option was available for $20, and that it changed the bypass modes to buffered trails, true bypass/normal (without trails), and two-stage bypass2.
Which bypass version you choose matters for your signal chain: the buffered v4 keeps a buffer in the path at all times, while the v4tb true-bypass version passes your signal untouched when the pedal is off21.
Two-stage bypass explained
Two-stage bypass allows already-played notes to continue at their normal rate of decay while you hold the footswitch down1. Release the switch and the pedal bypasses fully. It is one of the three power-up-selectable modes, alongside normal and trails1.
Build, warranty and where it is made
The Wet Mono Reverb is designed and built in Orange County, California1. Premier Guitar's reviewer raised one durability concern: the plastic pot shafts have some vertical give, leaving the reviewer wondering how much the Mono will stand up to gig abuse1.
Removing the bottom plate voids the warranty. The manual warns that the circuit is sensitive to electro-static discharge, and opening the cover can expose those parts to ESD, resulting in permanent damage31.
What reviewers said
Guitar World's review of the Wet Reverb V4 found it "a deceptively simple stompbox that provides a wide variety of professional-quality reverb" effects, textures and useful performance features2.
Premier Guitar's verdict on the Wet Mono Reverb was similarly positive on sound, with reservations on price and hardware1:
"Pros: Great digital fidelity in an incredibly easy-to-use package. Cons: Pricey. Plastic pot shafts don't inspire confidence."
Related Neunaber pedals
The Wet Mono Reverb sits within a wider Neunaber reverb line covered elsewhere on this site, including the Neunaber Wet Reverb, the stereo Neunaber Wet Stereo Reverb, the Neunaber Immerse Reverberator and the Neunaber Illumine, along with the Quilter Labs Wet Mono Reverb v3 documentation of the current pedal.
Videos
Premier Guitar
Ryan Kiesshauer
Curtis Kent
Questions
Is the Neunaber Wet Mono Reverb true bypass?
It depends on the version. The standard v4 uses buffered bypass, while the v4tb version has true-bypass switching. On the earlier Wet Reverb V4, a true bypass option cost $20 extra and changed the bypass modes to buffered trails, true bypass without trails, and two-stage bypass.
Does the Neunaber Wet Mono Reverb have trails?
Yes. The pedal implements a buffered trails bypass, so the reverb decays naturally after you switch the effect off rather than cutting off abruptly. Trails is one of the bypass modes you can select at power-up, alongside normal and two-stage bypass.
What is two-stage bypass on the Wet Mono Reverb?
Two-stage bypass lets already-played notes continue decaying at their normal rate while you hold the footswitch down. Release the switch and the bypass takes full effect. It is one of three bypass modes, selected with the soft-response footswitch during power-up.
Is the Neunaber Wet Mono Reverb analog or digital?
It is digital. Premier Guitar described it as offering a single, studio-quality digital reverb in a roughly MXR-sized box, and Guitar World likewise reviewed the Wet Reverb line as digital reverb effect pedals.
Does opening the Wet Mono Reverb void the warranty?
Yes. The manual warns that removing the bottom plate voids the warranty, because the circuit is sensitive to electro-static discharge and opening the cover can expose those parts to permanent damage.
Where is the Neunaber Wet Mono Reverb made?
It is designed and built in Orange County, California, according to Premier Guitar's review of the pedal.
Sources (3)
- Neunaber Wet Mono Reverb Review, Premier Guitar, 2014-09-21
- Review: Neunaber Wet Reverb V4 Pedal, Guitar World, 2017-02-03
- Wet Mono Reverb v3 User Guide, Quilter Labs
