For this review we were lucky enough to get our hands on the Afterneath, a reverb pedal produced by Earthquaker Devices. As we have played around with many reverb pedals in the past, this should be quite the treat to review!
To achieve high quality reverb it is essential to invest in a good pedal. In the right hands reverb can bring music to life, providing depth, making space for instruments, and give a sense of distance. The Afterneath goes well beyond the standard of reverb pedals, coined as an ‘otherworldly reverberation machine’. The Akron, Ohio based manafacturer has been developing guitar pedals by hand since 2004, releasing products such as their ‘Ghost Echo’ and ‘Talons’.
Check the lowest price on Amazon.
CONTROLS
The Afterneath features a foot switch and six knobs corresponding to length, diffuse, dampen, drag, reflect and mix. It might appear daunting to some, but the amount of flexibility the controls give allows you to tailor the perfect reverb for your needs. It wouldn’t surprise me if a competitor came into the market in an attempt to emulate the sound captured by this pedal.
Specifications for each of the six tone knobs can be found below:
[tablee class = “table table-striped”]
Knob,Function
Length,Sets the delay.
Diffuse,Adjusts the spread of the reverb.
Dampen,Moves between brighter and darker tones.
Drag,Separates the delay lines to create scattered rhythmic effects.
Reflect,Controls the reverb/delay regeneration.
Mix,Blends the wet signal into the dry.
[/tablee]
Visit EarthQuaker Devices for more info about the Afterneath.
THE PEDAL
Time was spent toying around with each of the six tone knobs, understanding each of their functions by seeing their effects firsthand. Altering the position of the drag knob separates the wash of short delays. Turning this knob clockwise adds more reverb to the mix, whereas turning it counterclockwise finds a greater increase in delay.The diffuse knob allows you to spread out the reverb for a majestic ambient wash, or focus it for a tighter attack. Clockwise for sharper, counterclockwise for ambient and washy.
Dampen influences the overall treble content produced. Turning this knob clockwise produces brighter tones, and counterclockwise produces darker tones. Regeneration of the Afterneaths reverb is controlled by reflect, allowing for the adjustment of the wetness.
While each of the functional elements of the pedal have been addressed, it is hardly enough to scratch the surface of what can be achieved. A journey into ambient discovery through knob-turning is where you will understand how much the pedal really does have to offer. EarthQuaker Devices really allows for the creative freedom to achieve a unique and signature sound.
The unit has a 9 volt DC power supply with a negative center 2.1mm barrel. It should be mentioned that it is recommended to use pedal-specific, transformer-isolated wall-wart power supplies or multiple isolated-output supplies.
FINAL VERDICT
The EarthQuaker Devices Afterneath is a prime example of a pedal that’s perfect for creating enormous ambiance with a tonne of room for experimentation. The Afterneath steers away from traditional reverb pedals, providing something unique that cannot be compared to other pedals in the market.
Agree or disagree with our review? Let us know what you think in the comments below!
Alex is a man of many talents. He’s been playing music since he was young, and has been the main content writer at Tone Start for the past few years. Alex loves to play around with different styles of music and enjoys listening to anything from country to classical.