DigiTech Whammy

The Whammy pedal is a digital eects pedal designed

for guitar and manufactured by DigiTech. The Whammy
was the rst widely known eects pedal that could do
foot controlled pitch shifting eects. The pedal emulates sounds that a guitarist normally makes using the vibrato (whammy) bar on the guitar, but with a greatly
enhanced pitch range and without tuning hassles associated with traditional vibrato bars.

Use

Pitch shifters typically combine the workings of an

octaver (which adds a synthesized sound one or two A DigiTech WH-1 Whammy with power adapter
octaves higher or lower than the original) sound with
pitch bends and harmony shifts.[2] The Whammy digitally produces such sounds in a variety of preset set- 3 DigiTech Whammy II
tings and controlled by the foot pedal. A noteworthy user of the Whammy is Tom Morello, who with
Rage Against the Machine and Audioslave used the 3.1 Overview
Whammy to create otherwise impossible eects.[3] Besides Morello, Dimebag Darrell, Steve Vai, Joe Satriani,
and Jack White of The White Stripes are often mentioned as expert users.[2] David Gilmour has been using
one since his Pink Floyd song Marooned (instrumental)
(The division Bell, 1994). Noel Gallagher of Oasis has
also been seen using a Whammy IV in his pedalboard
for the Dig Out Your Soul tour in 2008-2009. Recently
Kevin Shields of My Bloody Valentine is also known to
use two Whammy IV pedals whIle on tour for the album
MBV. Other users include Jimmy Page and Page Hamilton.

2
2.1

DigiTech WH-1 Whammy

A DigiTech Whammy II with power adapter

Overview

The DigiTech Whammy II featured a black chassis (in

contrast with the series now famous 'Ferrari red' colour).

The WH-1 Whammy pedal, the original whammy, rst

engineered and manufactured in 1989 by IVL Technologies and discontinued in 1993.

3.2 Controls
2.2

Controls

It is controlled by an expression pedal and a button which

selects the settings, which are nearly the same as the WHIt is controlled by a pedal for the pitch, and a single rotary 1. It also has the ability to store one preset setting, which
knob that selects from 16 presetsve Whammy eects, allows the user to choose any two modes and toggle benine Harmony eects, and two Detune eects.
tween them using the setting select button.
1

4
4.1

9 WHAMMY MIDI CONTROLLERS

DigiTech XP-100 Whammy-Wah

Overview

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

4.2

Controls

It is controlled by a rocker, and a button which selects

the 29 dierent presets; Volume eect, ve Wah-Wah"
eects, six Auto Wah" eects, eight Whammy eects, DigiTech Whammy DT
and nine Harmony eects.
(exhibited at NAMM Show 2013)

5
5.1

DigiTech Bass Whammy

footswitches, one of which is momentary, have been

added for the new Drop Tune section of the pedal.

Overview

The Bass Whammy is a Whammy pedal built for bass

guitar. Originally released alongside the Whammy II, it 8 Whammy V
was built in the same chassis but in a deep blue color. It
also featured a dierent set of shift and harmony options,
8.1 Controls
more appropriate for use with a bass instrument. Since
the original Bass Whammy has been discontinued, they
are now known to fetch very high prices on the used mar- The new Whammy has most of the same eects as the
Whammy DT, but without the Drop Tune controls. It reket.
names the 'Drop Tune' setting of the Whammy IV with
DigiTech re-released the Bass Whammy at the 2014 Win- a 'Second Down' setting, and eliminates the 'Second Up'
ter NAMM show. Housed in the same chassis as the setting from the DT altogether. A new feature on this verDigiTech Whammy V, but again in blue, it also features sion of the Whammy is a Classic/Chords switch. When
the new classic/chords switch and true-bypass switching. the 'Classic' option is selected, the Whammy makes
Like the original, it is equipped with a unique set of shift noises described as a glitch-fest by a Digitech Repreand harmony options more appropriate for bass.
sentative when playing chords, because it is not polyphonic. The 'Chords option activates polyphony, making
chords ring out much clearer.[4]

6.1

DigiTech Whammy IV
Overview

9 Whammy MIDI Controllers

The Whammy IV; the fourth edition, is closer to the WH1 in terms of design but with several additional features, The 4 modern Whammy pedals (4, 5, DT, and Bass) can
such as MIDI control and a 'Dive bomb' feature.
all be controlled via MIDI program changes and control
changes.

DigiTech Whammy DT

The Whammy DT; the fth edition (released in 2011), is 9.1 Molten Voltage
the rst Whammy model to use polyphonic pitch shifting
In 2009, Molten Voltage released a dedicated MIDI conas well as a host of new features including true-bypass.
troller for the Whammy called Molten MIDI.[5] Molten
MIDI is used by a variety of artists including Ed O'Brien
of Radiohead.[6] In 2015, Molten Voltage released G7.1 Controls
Quencer, which works with all 4 modern Whammy pedThe controls are similar to the controls on the previ- als and provides 8 unique ways to control the Whammy
ous model, but one additional knob and two additional and expand its sonic potential.[7]

10

References

[1] Whammy (4th Gen)". DigiTech. Retrieved 23 April

2015.
[2] Brewster, David M. (2003). Introduction to Guitar Tone
& Eects: An Essential Manual for Getting the Best
Sounds from Electric Guitars, Ampliers, Eect Pedals,
and Digital Processors. Hal Leonard. pp. 3839. ISBN
9781617743757.
[3] Newquist, H. P.; Maloof, Rich (2004). The New Metal
Masters. Hal Leonard. ISBN 9780879308049.
[4] new digitech whammy WH-5?". The Gear Page. Retrieved 2016-08-27.
[5] Dan Kern (2015-05-19). MIDI Madness: Interview with
Molten Voltage. Six String Soul. Retrieved 2016-08-27.
[6] the King of Gear. the King of Gear. Retrieved 201608-27.
[7] G-Quencer || Guitar Sequencer Eect Pedal by Molten
Voltage by Molten Voltage. Kickstarter.com. Retrieved
2016-08-27.

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External links

Digitechs page on the Whammy

DigiTech Whammy DT Pedal Review by Premier
Guitar with sound clips

12

12
12.1

TEXT AND IMAGE SOURCES, CONTRIBUTORS, AND LICENSES

Text and image sources, contributors, and licenses

Text

DigiTech Whammy Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DigiTech_Whammy?oldid=746439553 Contributors: Dj ansi, Andrewman327,

Robbot, Hadal, Insomniak, SarekOfVulcan, Antandrus, Bobo192, Bugo, Beyondthislife, Rural, Wdw~enwiki, Someoneinmyheadbutitsnotme, Zntrip, Jccalhoun, GregorB, Rjwilmsi, Koavf, SchuminWeb, GreyCat, Mahahahaneapneap, C777, Ozzykhan, Sandstein,
Wikieizor, Closedmouth, Pb30, Jogers, Tall Midget, SmackBot, KnowledgeOfSelf, Bigbluesh, Deon Steyn, Skalkoto, Evanreyes, Bluebot,
Colonies Chris, RAlafriz, Thom, OrphanBot, Joaoxsouls, Krich, Evilspoons, Derek R Bullamore, BrownHairedGirl, Ndrly, JohnI, Swmbuk, Bella Swan, Slakr, Beanmedic, Deke42, King of the North East, Dycedarg, Jrb007, ShelfSkewed, Doctormatt, Fargas, Synergy, JLD,
After Midnight, Luminifer, Olliemilne, Cmontheplane, Mentisto, Screamingngers, Okcomputer, Kuppa, Zagsa, Reel Brave, Leuko,
JMalky, Goldenglove, Christo jones, TheLetterM, DerHexer, Leif Erikson~enwiki, MartinBot, Maskake, In A Conundrum, Jevansen,
Andyroo g, Ukbulla, Esy191, CursedMonk87, EuqirtaP, Rockerc2, Seven762097, Joel181, Martin451, Mzmadmike, Veggieburgersh,
Fash414, Kilmer-san, StAnselm, Bennerz, Invisible Noise, Fishmaw, Iamfarridhusin, Fratrep, Bugsbeddow, Tothcjt, Atif.t2, ClueBot, Superzote, Brady Clarke, Drmies, Scarecrow5150, Trivialist, Kenageboy, DumZiBoT, Iluvnuns2, Jax 0677, XLinkBot, Rror, Petchboo, Wowicedtea, HexaChord, Yngvae2, Judgment Flame, Addbot, Percivl, Matt Tomlinson, Joshbob10, Fieldday-sunday, ThapersonwhodoesSTU,
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BG19bot, Cheezor2, Maxhld, Przygodzinskihc, Mg.audio, Bender the Bot and Anonymous: 519

12.2

Images

File:DigiTech_WH-1_Whammy_Pedal_with_power_adapter.gif Source: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/7d/

DigiTech_WH-1_Whammy_Pedal_with_power_adapter.gif License: CC-BY-SA-3.0 Contributors: Transferred from en.wikipedia to
Commons. Original artist: The original uploader was Thom at English Wikipedia
File:DigiTech_Whammy_DT_(2011)_-_NAMM_2013.jpg Source: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/a2/DigiTech_
Whammy_DT_%282011%29_-_NAMM_2013.jpg License: CC BY 2.0 Contributors: Flickr: NAMM 2013 Original artist: Greg Gebhardt
File:DigiTech_Whammy_II_with_power_adapter.jpg Source: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/18/DigiTech_
Whammy_II_with_power_adapter.jpg License: CC-BY-SA-3.0 Contributors: Transferred from en.wikipedia to Commons. Original artist:
The original uploader was Thom at English Wikipedia
File:Question_book-new.svg Source: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/9/99/Question_book-new.svg License: Cc-by-sa-3.0
Contributors: ? Original artist: ?

12.3

Content license

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