DigiTech Whammy

The Digitech Whammy is a pitch-shifter effects pedal manufactured by Digitech.

History

Since its original release, there have been several incarnations of the Whammy:

Digitech WH-1 Whammy

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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. Tom Morello was the first guitarist to make liberal use of the Whammy pedal's possibilities, and has become his trademark sound, appearing on nearly every song on Rage Against the Machine's debut album. Morello is a devout user of the first generation Whammy, due to the synthetic sound and the slow tracking it can generate.

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

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

• Tom Morello of Rage Against the Machine and Audioslave (used on virtually every album from RATM and Audioslave.)
• Jonny Greenwood of Radiohead (can be heard on 'Just', 'My Iron Lung', and 'Subterranean Homesick Alien')
• Kevin Shields of My Bloody Valentine
• Dimebag Darrell of Pantera
• Steve Vai
• Eddie Van Halen
• Joe Satriani
• David Gilmour (first used on "Marooned" and "Wearing The Inside Out" from Pink Floyd's The Division Bell, also used on "The Blue" from his solo album, On an Island)
• Joe Perry
• The Edge of U2 (used for the beginning of "Even Better Than the Real Thing" from the 1991 album Achtung Baby and the chorus and ending of "Gone" from Pop)
• Nels Cline
• T.M.Stevens
• Vernon Reid of Living Colour
• Doug Wimbish of Living Colour
• Jimmy Page of Led Zeppelin [1][2]

Digitech Whammy II

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A Digitech Whammy II with power adapter

The Digitech Whammy II featured a black chassis (the series is now famous for the striking red colour).

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

Notable musicians who have used the Whammy II include:

• Reb Beach of Winger , Dokken and Whitesnake
• Robert Fripp
• Trey Anastasio of Phish, Trey Anastasio Band, and Oysterhead
• Herman Li of DragonForce
• Buckethead
• Armandinho
• Kirk Hammett
• Michael Ferrier of Electropolis

Digitech XP-100 Whammy-Wah

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, Six "Wah-Wah" effects, seven "Whammy" effects, and eight "Harmony" effects.

[3]

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

• Munky of Korn
• Brian "Head" Welch of Korn
• Herman Li of DragonForce
• John Scofield
• Trey Anastasio of Phish
• Russell Lissack of Bloc Party
• Stu G of Delerious

Digitech Bass Whammy

The Bass Whammy (Features same chassis as the Digitech Whammy II, but blue).

It features different harmony options than the other Whammy models.

Notable musicians who have used the Bass Whammy include:

• Justin Chancellor of Tool
• Brian Gibson of Lightning Bolt
• Jeff Ament of Pearl Jam
• Stu Hamm of Stu Hamm
• Victor Wooten of The Flecktones

Digitech Whammy IV

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".

Notable musicians who have used the IV Whammy include:

• Matthew Bellamy of Muse (can be heard on "Muscle Museum", "New Born", "Dark Shines" (live), "Time Is Running Out","Sunburn, "Fury", "Invincible"). Matt has a Whammy on the floor which can also be controlled by a MIDI strip, built into his custom made Manson guitars.
• Omar Rodriguez of The Mars Volta and At the Drive-In(can be heard in the opening of the song "Roulette Dares (The Haunt Of)" from the album De-Loused in the Comatorium)
• Jack White of The White Stripes and The Raconteurs It is used to create a "fake" bass tone on "Seven Nation Army", as well as leads on songs such as "Ball & Biscuit". He also uses it on live renditions of "The Hardest Button to Button" to create quick divebombs.
• Richard Wong
• Ed O'Brien of Radiohead
• Munky of Korn
• Tobin Esperance of Papa Roach
• Scott Ian & Paul Crook of Anthrax
• Dave Baksh of Brown Brigade
• Daniel Lanois
• Mark Linkzowski of Galactose
• Michael J. Wentworth-Bell of Red Savina
• K. K. Downing of Judas Priest
• Chad Kroeger of Nickelback
• Gary Cunningham of Elroy
• James Root of Slipknot
• Brendon Small of Home Movies (TV series) (Can be heard in the episode Guitarmigeddon) and Metalocalypse (Can be heard in the opening theme song)
• Sergei Butylin of Other Noises
• Steven LaFashia of Jealousy Curve
• Patrick Fitzroy of Evereal
• Dave Knudson of Minus the Bear
• Jack Robinson of Ash Road

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