The Neunaber Wet Stereo Reverb is a compact reverb pedal built around a reverb algorithm that MusicRadar's reviewer Trevor Curwen described as unique and holding a US patent. Where a plain mono reverb sits at the end of one signal path, the Wet adds stereo inputs and outputs and an expansion port, and it can be used in mono when a stereo rig is not in play1. It came out of Brian Neunaber's small California workshop, as Bass Musician Magazine described the company's operation2.
Controls
The Wet keeps its front panel to three knobs, which the maker's manual for the Wet Reverb and Pedal of the Day's reviewer describe consistently4:
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Mix | Controls the amount of reverb you have in your overall mix4 |
| Depth | Controls the length of the reverb tail, or in other words, the size of the room4 |
| ^ (Wet) | The tone control for the Wet, a knob that can soften or brighten to suit your needs14 |
The Mix knob is where the pedal gets its name. Pedal of the Day's reviewer Cameron K noted that you can keep it cleaned up by not turning this knob up much and then can go very Wet, hint the name, by cranking it to the max4. Depth works across the same spread: you can give it a huge "reverb tail" or keep it short and sweet4.
The controls change depending on which algorithm is uploaded onto the pedal. Neunaber's stereo pedals can be programmed with any of the company's other algorithms, so a Wet can be loaded with a different effect entirely4.
Mono, stereo and the expansion port
The stereo inputs and outputs and the expansion port are what set this version apart from the mono Neunaber Wet Reverb, and Curwen said the expansion port opens up a whole new world of versatility1. On the software side, the maker's manual explains that the pedal may be updated using Expanse Software to select between trails or normal bypass5.
Bypass and trails
The bypass is buffered, which the maker's manual says eliminates the tone change that can be caused by some bypassing schemes, and bypassing does not significantly change power consumption5. For players who want the reverb to keep ringing after they stomp the switch, MusicRadar highlighted bypass that lets the reverb trail linger when you switch it off1, and the manual confirms the trails behavior can be chosen in Expanse Software5.
Pedal of the Day also flagged a practical benefit of that buffer: "The Wet reverb has a high quality buffer that helps with those long cable runs"3.
What reviewers said
The Wet picked up warm notices from the press on both sides of the Atlantic of its release window. MusicRadar's verdict was that it is "An easy-to-use reverb pedal with a natural illusion of space that suits guitar tones."1
Pedal of the Day reviewed the pedal twice and liked it both times. In 2014 the site's reviewer Rick summed it up: "My favorite pedal. Best pedal I ever used. Highly recommended."3 When Cameron K returned to the pedal in 2015, writing about his own V1 Stereo Wet, he called it "The Stereo Wet is a phenomenal reverb pedal."4 Describing its range, the 2014 review reached for imagery: "Going from deep beneath the ocean into dark emotional area to the sunny side of the your neighborhood's pool."3
Where it sits in Neunaber's range
Players who want the Wet sound in a mono pedal have the Neunaber Wet Mono Reverb, and players who want more reverbs in one box can look at the multi-algorithm Neunaber Immerse Reverberator and the preset-equipped Neunaber Illumine. The same programmable platform also produced pedals like the Neunaber Slate and the Neunaber Seraphim4.
Videos
Premier Guitar
Neunaber Audio
Matt Bell
Questions
Can the Neunaber Wet be used in mono?
Yes. Although the pedal has stereo inputs and outputs, MusicRadar's reviewer notes that you can still use it in mono, so it works on a standard single-channel pedalboard as well as at the end of a stereo rig.
Does the Wet reverb trail continue after bypass?
Yes. MusicRadar describes bypass that lets the reverb trail linger when you switch the pedal off. The maker's manual for the Wet Reverb adds that the pedal may be updated using Expanse Software to select between trails or normal bypass, with trails bypass allowing the reverb to trail off naturally after bypassing.
What does the Depth knob do on the Wet?
The Depth knob controls the length of the reverb tail, or in other words the size of the room. Pedal of the Day's reviewer put it the same way: you can give it a huge reverb tail or keep it short and sweet.
What is the expansion port on the Neunaber Wet?
The Wet Stereo Reverb has an expansion port alongside its stereo inputs and outputs, which MusicRadar said opens up a whole new world of versatility. Pedal of the Day notes that Neunaber's stereo pedals can be programmed with any of the company's other algorithms, and that the controls change depending on which algorithm is uploaded onto the pedal.
Sources (5)
- Neunaber Wet Stereo Reverb review, MusicRadar, 2016-02-18
- Neunaber Stereo Chroma Chorus Pedal, Bass Musician Magazine, 2012-01-01
- Neunaber Audio Effects Wet Stereo Reverb, Pedal of the Day, 2014-04-08
- Neunaber Audio Effects Wet Stereo Reverb, Pedal of the Day (www.pedal-of-the-day.com), 2015-05-27
- Stereo Effect Pedal (v1) User Guide, Quilter Labs
