Digitech Whammy

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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

A Digitech WH-1 Whammy with power adapter
A Digitech WH-1 Whammy with power adapter

The WH-1 Whammy pedal, the original whammy, first manufactured in 1991, remains the most sought-after. The late Dimebag Darrell of Pantera and Damageplan became one the first "big name" guitarists to use the whammy pedal. Another artist famous for using the effect is Tom Morello of the rock band Rage Against the Machine.

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

Notable musicians who have used the WH-1 Whammy include:

"Blood & Tears" among others)

Thomas Erak on The Fall of Troy track "What Sound Does A Mastodon Make?"

Steve Vai has used the WH-1 on almost all of his albums since it came out

A popular misconception[citation needed] is that American musician Jack White, and English musician Matt Bellamy use the WH-1 Whammy; in reality, both use the Whammy 4 (See below)[6][7]. In Bellamy's case, it is especially evident he is using a WH-4 in songs such as "Invincible", where he is controlling the Whammy via a Kaoss pad, because the original WH-1 does not have a midi function.

A Digitech Whammy II with power adapter
A Digitech Whammy II with power adapter

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

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

Notable musicians who have used the Whammy II include:

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

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
  • Volume Pedal - volume
Wah
  • Original Cry Wah - wah frequency
  • Cry Wah 2 - wah frequency
  • Dark & Deep - wah frequency
  • Sweet Spot 1 - wah frequency
  • Sweet Spot 2 - wah frequency
Auto Wah effects
  • Original Cry Auto - sensitivity
  • Envelope Filter - sensitivity
  • Brass Attack - sensitivity
  • Original Cry Auto - attack time
  • Envelope Filter - attack time
  • Brass Attack - attack time
Detune effects
  • Detuner - detune amount
Whammy effects
  • Up 1 Octave - pitch shift
  • Up 2 Octaves - pitch shift
  • Up 2nd - pitch shift
  • Down 2nd - pitch shift
  • Down 4th - pitch shift
  • Down 1 Octave - pitch shift
  • Down 2 Octaves - pitch shift
  • Down 6 Octaves - pitch shift
Harmony
  • Down 1 Octave, Up 1 Octave - harmony pitch
  • Down 4th, Down 3rd - harmony pitch
  • Up 5th, Up 6th - harmony pitch
  • Up 4th, Up 5th - harmony pitch
  • Up minor 3rd, Up major 3rd - harmony pitch
  • Up 2nd, Up 3rd - harmony pitch
  • Down 4th, Up 5th - harmony pitch
  • Up 5th, Up 1 Octave - harmony pitch

Notable musicians who have used the XP-100 Whammy/Wah include:

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.

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

Notable musicians who have used the Bass Whammy include:

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.

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

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

Notable musicians who have used the IV Whammy include:

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