Are you seeking for a way to improve the quality of your guitar’s sounds and riffs? Then look no further because the best whammy pedals can help you do just that! Many guitarists are constantly on the lookout for new methods to make their riffs sound different like using pitch shifters. The Whammy pedal is a fantastic guitar tool for turning ideas into songs. You can obtain complete musical variety by modifying the pitch and tuning of your instrument. Many well-known guitarists have confessed that using a whammy pedal to get such distinct and overdriven tones is necessary.
Pitch-shifting effects, such as whammy pedals, do exactly what they say on the tin: they lower or raise a note’s pitch, either digitally or by physically bending the note’s guitar strings. This is how whammy bars operate, which is why the DigiTech Whammy series has this naming scheme. Although there are additional excellent options in this category for octave pedals and other pitch-shifting devices like the Boss Harmonist, the term “Whammy” has traditionally been reserved for this specific DigiTech line.
The majority of guitar players use pedals to create strange and fascinating new sounds as we are always looking for fresh and original ways to express ourselves. You may apply one of the most dramatic effects to your electric guitar by investing in a top-notch pitch-shifter pedal, which enables you to quickly change the pitch of your input signal and produce some killer tones.
Pitch shifting has been employed to deadly success by many of the greatest guitar superstars in history, with players like Tom Morello, Jack White, Mike Kerr, Matt Bellamy, Johnny Greenwood and Joe Satriani fully utilising this potent effect to produce some of the most terrifying riffs ever. Therefore, whether you want to add dramatic dive bombs to your playing, beef up your riffs with a thick lower octave, elevate your lead lines, or both, then this guide to the greatest pitch shift pedals is definitely for you.
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Digitech Whammy 5 Multi-Effects Pedal
- Instrument Input Type: 1/4" Unbalanced TS
- Max Input Level: +5 dBu
- Input Impedance: 1MO
The Digitech Whammy 5 Multi-Effects Pedal, the 5th generation of the DigiTech whammy pedal, is perhaps their best product. It is our Editor’s Choice because of its great versatility in producing incredible riffs, as well as its overall high quality. Because this is DigiTech’s most recent model, it has more features and is an updated version of the iconic whammy interface that guitarists will recognize.
Because it was the first foot-controlled pitch changing effect on the market, it was a little ahead of its time when it was initially released, but as Rage Against The Machine’s Tom Morello began to use it prominently on the band’s debut album, it’s safe to say that its popularity skyrocketed! The Whammy is a very unique effect and songwriting instrument, with renowned users including Dimebag Darrell, Steve Vai, Joe Satriani, Jack White, and David Glimour.
Each of the 18 pitch settings adjusts the pitching of the expression pedal’s heel and toe positions from –2 octaves to +2 octaves and anything in between. Harmony and Whammy are the two sides of the selector matrix. Harmony assigns a pitch to both the heel and toe positions of the expression pedal while allowing the guitar signal to flow through – the idea being that you can use the expression pedal to harmonize with your dry signal while changing the interval of the harmony by changing your heel/toe. On the other hand, the Whammy side of the pedal is completely wet and moves from your dry, regular pitch in the heel position to the chosen pitch in the toe position.
This 5th generation DigiTech whammy pedal offers real bypass mode, much like the rest of the DigiTech whammy pedals. In terms of effects, this one includes the well-known hair-raising dive bomb effect, as well as the harmony and whammy effects you’ve already heard. This version also has a Classic/Chords mode that allows you to easily swap between single notes and chords. This is the heart of this model, which also includes the best pitch-shifting effects!
Despite the dramatic pitch-shifting effects, this 5th generation model will always keep your deep tones, resulting in significantly richer and smoother riffs. This whammy pedal also comes with its own AC adaptor and is not battery powered. The vast majority of people who have purchased this whammy pedal are really pleased with it. Those who weren’t, on the other hand, had a lot of concerns, including that the product they got didn’t even work. This is the Best Whammy Pedal in 2023.
DigiTech Whammy DT Drop Tuning Pedal
- True Polyphonic Pitch Shifting and Whammy effects in a single pedal
- Drop or Raised tuning by 7 half steps or an entire octave
- Momentary footswitch for Hammer-on and Pull-off effects
You’ll be hard-pressed to find a whammy bar that does more than the DigiTech Whammy DT if you’re looking for one. Quality and effects, on the other hand, come at a cost, and the Whammy DT is our top pick.
The Whammy DT is the largest and most feature-rich pedal in the lineup, combining the Whammy V and the Drop to offer a complete pitch-shifting solution. The Whammy V – Whammy & Harmony modes with 18 pitches are all controlled by the built-in expression pedal on the left side of the pedal. The right side of the pedal is fairly similar to the Drop, but with a few additional features.
The Whammy DT is substantially more expensive than the other DigiTech models on our list, as the name implies. It’s because of its high-quality construction and design, as well as the large number of effects it provides. Additionally, if you want nasty, overdriven tones, this pedal is for you! The effects of this real bypass whammy pedal include harmony, detune, whammy, dive bomb, and drop tune. The last one is likely the most essential since it may change the pitch of your tune up or down, and you can combine it with the harmony and whammy effects to create some unusual sounds.
In addition, the Whammy DT has a momentary switch that allows you to drop tune settings in and out without having to add other effects to the chain. Its dimensions are 7.7 inches broad by 8.2 inches height, making it fairly small. It is 3.53 pounds in weight and, like the other whammy pedals, is fairly portable. The Whammy DT is very popular among guitarists. Some of them, on the other hand, desire it could produce more distinct tones. This is the Best Whammy Pedal for Guitar in 2023.
DigiTech Whammy Ricochet Pitch Shifting Guitar Effects Pedal
- (1) DigiTech Whammy Ricochet Pitch Shifting Guitar Effects Pedal
- (1) Planet Waves PW-CT-9V AC Adapter Power Supply for PW-VT-11 (9v 300mA)
- (2) Strukture S6P48 Right-Angle Guitar Patch Cable 6 in.
The Ricochet is the smallest form factor and newest member of the Pitch Shifting quartet. The Ricochet replaces the expression pedal with a simple footswitch and has a greatest hits selection of popular “whammy” effects that are activated by pressing and holding the footswitch. Because of this one-of-a-kind versatility, the Ricochet is the same size as a standard DigiTech pedal and will fit neatly into your gig bag or pedalboard.
The price of a product can sometimes be the most important aspect in your purchasing choice. While most of the best whammy pedals are reasonably priced, some are more pricey than others. If you’re searching for a whammy pedal that can accomplish the basics and is less expensive, the DigiTech Whammy Ricochet is our Best Value pick. True bypass switching and a line IN and OUT are also included. Pitch, ballistics, momentary, and range effects are all possible with the Ricochet.
To get the proper pitch, use the toggle to choose between a 2nd, 4th, 5th, 7th, Octave, Double Octave, and Octave+Dry pitch. While the finest whammy pedals aren’t particularly heavy, this polyphonic tracking pedal is especially light compared to the other versions on our list, weighing in at under one pound! It’s also incredibly easy to carry around because it’s only 5 inches tall, 3 inches broad, and has a depth of less than 2 inches. T
This pedal also includes an AC adapter (it does not run on batteries) and two Strukture S6P48 right angle guitar patch cables that are roughly 6-inches long. The basic effects created bwere well received by the majority of those who purchased it. However, a few folks expressed an interest in seeing more of them.
Digitech Bass Whammy Effect Pedal
- (1) Digitech Bass Whammy Effect Pedal
- (2) Strukture S6P48 Right-Angle Guitar Patch Cable 6 in.
- (2) Strukture SC186R Rubber Instrument Cable 18.6 ft
We didn’t forget about bassists and their desire to use a whammy pedal to create distinctive sounds. Everything is possible with the DigiTech Bass Whammy 5. The distinction between this whammy pedal and the others on this list is that this pitch-shifting effects pedal is designed specifically for bass frequencies. It has true bypass, just like the other whammy pedals on our list, and many of the same effects as the other old school DigiTech whammy pedals, such as harmony, whammy, detuning, and dive bomb.
It features a whopping 21 distinct pitch settings in all. The whammy preset gives you access to all of the pitch-bending ranges, which makes it a lot of fun to experiment with. By bending each tone, the harmony setting can provide a lot of fun. This bass whammy pedal comes with a 9V AC adaptor as well as a variety of wires. The dimensions of this bass whammy pedal are quite comparable to those of other models.
It does, however, weigh 4.34 pounds, which is a little more than prior models of this octave pedals. This bass whammy pedal is extremely popular among bassists. However, despite the pedal being in the off position, a couple of them reported that the whammy setting may cause signal variations. This is the Best Whammy Pedal for Bass in 2023.
DigiTech Whammy DT Drop Tune Guitar Effects Pedal
- True Polyphonic Pitch Shifting and Whammy effects in a single pedal
- Drop or Raised tuning by 7 half steps or an entire octave
- Momentary footswitch for Hammer-on and Pull-off effects
It would be difficult to find a whammy pedal that offers more than the DigiTech Whammy DT if you’re looking for one that truly has it all. Quality and impact do, however, come at a cost, and the Whammy DT is our most expensive selection here.
The Whammy DT is substantially more expensive than the other DigiTech models on our list, as the moniker suggests. It is because to its excellent construction and design, as well as the vast array of effects it provides. Also, if you enjoy those gritty, overdriven tones, this pedal is ideal for you. The effects produced by this real bypass whammy pedal include harmony, detune, whammy, dive bomb, and drop tune.
The final effect, which can change your tune up or down and be used with harmony and whammy effects to produce some unusual sounds, is possibly the most significant. A momentary switch on the Whammy DT also lets you drop tune settings in and out, saving you from having to add more effects to the chain.
Given that it is 8.2 inches tall and 7.7 inches broad, it is rather small in size. Similar to the other whammy pedals, it is incredibly portable and only weighs 3.53 pounds. Moreover, a lot of guitarists adore the Whammy DT. Some of them would prefer it to generate tones with more clarity, though.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where does my Whammy pedal go on the pedalboard?
Connecting your whammy pedal is simple and may be done the same way you would any other pedal. Connect your instrument to the whammy pedal’s input jack first. Connect your whammy pedal to a distortion pedal or amp via the output jack to bring the sound to life. After that, put the converter into a wall outlet, turn on your amplifier, and set the volume to the proper level to start playing. Many users prefer to set their whammy pedal first in their chain, as we just mentioned, so that it tracks better, while a few musicians prefer to put it after compression and distortion. You should absolutely experiment with it in various locations to determine how you like the sound.
When did whammy pedals become popular?
Whammy pedals have been available since the late 1980s, but they truly took off in the 1990s as a great method to create pitch-shifting effects. Many renowned rock bands, like Tom Morello of Rage Against the Machine, Jack White of The White Stripes, and Noel Gallagher of Oasis, have employed this foot-controlling, pitch-shifting gadget for decades. All of these musicians have been utilizing the whammy pedal for years and swear by its convenience and efficacy in producing a wide range of pitches and sounds. Whammy pedals, as you can see, aren’t all that old.
In what musical genres can I use whammy effect?
Broadly speaking, the whammy pedal may be used in just about every musical style that benefits from pitch-altering. The whammy pedal, however, often works better in rock and roll and alternative forms of music because of the intensity of the chords that are played and their need for various pitches. The song “Killing in the Name of” by Rage Against the Machine is a nice illustration of a song featuring a variety of pitches. Also, you can hear the various effects of a whammy pedal being used in one song to provide outstanding pitch-altering effects and a singular and distinctive sound. Whammy pedals are also excellent for those who simply want to jam and produce their own vivid sounds.