Digitech Whammy

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The Digitech Whammy is a pitch-shifter effects pedal manufactured by Digitech. It gives musicians the ability to shift the pitch of their electric guitar up or down in real time by rocking a treadle pedal up and down with their foot, similar to how a wah pedal affects the tone of a guitar based on the position of the treadle.

Contents 1 Digitech WH-1 Whammy 1.1 Overview 1.2 Controls 1.3 Notable users 2 Digitech Whammy II 2.1 Overview 2.2 Controls 2.3 Notable users 3 Digitech XP-100 Whammy-Wah 3.1 Overview 3.2 Controls 3.3 Notable users 4 Digitech Bass Whammy 4.1 Overview 4.2 Controls 4.3 Notable users 5 Digitech Whammy IV 5.1 Overview 5.2 Controls 5.3 Notable users 6 Notes 7 External links

[edit] Digitech WH-1 Whammy

[edit] Overview

The WH-1 Whammy pedal, the original whammy, first manufactured in 1991, remains the most sought-after.^[1]

[edit] Controls

It is controlled by a rocker and a single rotary knob, from which 16 presets could be selected; five "Whammy" effects, nine "Harmony" effects, and two "Detune" effects.

Harmony effects Second up - third up Minor third up - third up Third up - fourth up Fourth up - fifth up Fifth up - sixth up Fifth up - seventh up Fourth down - third down Fifth down - Fourth down One octave down - one octave up

Detune effects Shallow Deep Whammy effects One octave up Two octaves up Two semi-tones down One octave down Two octaves down

[edit] Notable users

Notable musicians who have made use of the WH-1 Whammy include:

Trey Anastasio of Phish

• Tom Morello of Rage Against the Machine.^[2]
• Jonny Greenwood of Radiohead.^[3]
• Steve Vai.^[4]
• Joe Satriani.^[5]
• The Edge of U2.^[6]
• David Bryant of Godspeed You! Black Emperor.^[7]
• Jimmy Page of Led Zeppelin.^[8]
• Kevin Shields of My Bloody Valentine.^[9]
• Dimebag Darrell of Pantera.^[10]
• David Gilmour of Pink Floyd.^[11]

[edit] Digitech Whammy II

[edit] Overview

The Digitech Whammy II featured a black chassis (in contrast with the series' now famous 'Ferrari red' colour).

[edit] Controls

It is controlled by a rocker and a button which selects the settings, which are nearly the same as the WH-1. Its effects are as follows:

Harmony effects One octave down - One octave up Fourth down - Third down Fifth up - sixth up Fourth up - fifth up Minor third up - major third up Second up - third up Detune effects Detune

Whammy effects One octave up Two octaves up Two semitones down One octave down Two octaves down

also has the ability to store one preset setting

[edit] Notable users

Notable musicians who have used the Whammy II include:

• Herman Li of DragonForce.^[12]
• Buckethead.^[13]

[edit] Digitech XP-100 Whammy-Wah

[edit] Overview

The XP-100 Whammy/Wah was more complex, incorporating both whammy and wah-wah possibilities.

[edit] Controls

It is controlled by a rocker, and a button which selects the 29 different presets; "Volume" effect, five "Wah-Wah" effects, six "Auto Wah" effects, eight "Whammy" effects, and nine "Harmony" effects.

List in categories (with modulation action of the pedal):

Volume effects 01 - Volume Pedal - volume Wah 02 - Original Cry Wah - wah frequency 03 - Cry Wah 2 - wah frequency 04 - Dark & Deep - wah frequency 05 - Sweet Spot 1 - wah frequency 06 - Sweet Spot 2 - wah frequency Auto Wah effects 07 - Original Cry Auto - sensitivity 08 - Envelope Filter - sensitivity 09 - Brass Attack - sensitivity 10 - Original Cry Auto - attack time 11 - Envelope Filter - attack time 12 - Brass Attack - attack time

Whammy effects 13 - Up 1 Octave - pitch shift 14 - Up 2 Octaves - pitch shift 15 - Up 2nd - pitch shift 16 - Down 2nd - pitch shift 17 - Down 4th - pitch shift 18 - Down 1 Octave - pitch shift 19 - Down 2 Octaves - pitch shift 20 - Down 6 Octaves - pitch shift Harmony 21 - Down 1 Octave, Up 1 Octave - harmony pitch 22 - Down 4th, Down 3rd - harmony pitch 23 - Up 5th, Up 6th - harmony pitch 24 - Up 4th, Up 5th - harmony pitch 25 - Up minor 3rd, Up major 3rd - harmony pitch 26 - Up 2nd, Up 3rd - harmony pitch 27 - Down 4th, Up 5th - harmony pitch 28 - Up 5th, Up 1 Octave - harmony pitch Detune effects 29 - Detuner - detune amount

[edit] Notable users

Notable musicians who have used the XP-100 include:

• Munky and Head of Korn.^[14]

[edit] Digitech Bass Whammy

[edit] Overview

The Bass Whammy was a Whammy pedal built for bass guitar. It featured same chassis as the Digitech Whammy II, but blue. It features different harmony options than the other Whammy models.

[edit] Controls

Harmony effects One octave down - One octave up One octave down - Fourth down Fourth down - third up Fourth down - fifth up Fifth up - sixth up Fifth up - octave up

Whammy effects One octave up Two semitones up Two semitones down Four semitones down One octave down Detune effects Detune

[edit] Notable users

Notable musicians who have used the Bass Whammy include:

• Justin Chancellor of Tool.^[15]

[edit] Digitech Whammy IV

[edit] Overview

The Whammy IV; the current fourth edition, which is closer to the WH-1 in terms of design but with several new features, such as MIDI control and a 'Divebomb' feature.

[edit] Controls

The controls are identical to the WH-1 controls, along with two new presets, "Divebomb" and "Droptune".

Harmony effects One octave down - one octave up Fifth down - Fourth down Fourth down - third down Fifth up - seventh up Fifth up - sixth up Fourth up - fifth up Third up - fourth up Minor third up - third up Second up - third up

Detune effects Shallow Deep Whammy effects Two octaves up One octave up One octave down Two octaves down Dive bomb - three octaves down Drop tune - two semi-tones down

[edit] Notable users

Notable musicians who have used the IV Whammy include:

• Jack White of The White Stripes and The Raconteurs.^[16]
• John Frusciante of Red Hot Chili Peppers.^[17]
• Matthew Bellamy of Muse.^[18]
• Omar Rodriguez-Lopez of The Mars Volta and At the Drive-In.^[19]
• Ed O'Brien of Radiohead.^[20]
• Ichirou Agata of Melt-Banana.^[21]

[edit] Notes

[edit] External links

• Digitech's page on the Whammy
• Harmony Central's page on the WH-1
• Harmony Central's page on the XP-100 Whammy/Wah
• Harmony Central's page on the Bass Whammy
• Harmony Central's page on the IV Whammy
• MP3 of Brendon Small using a Digitech Whammy IV