Digitech Whammy use by HARDTAIL Players

[Ripper]

Just wondering - for hardtail MM players out there, how many of you employ a Digitech Whammy (orig or re-issue) to get a whammy effect?

I personally flavour hardtails for my choice of geetar as I prefer less routing of wood and to keep weight as light as possible. I dont know if a pedal effect will make up for a vintage or floyd rose. Like to hear from you guys!!

 

[the24thfret]

I don't play hardtails, nor do I own a Digitech Whammy, but speaking from experience using a Whammy in stores and other Digitech products as well, the pedal will never recreate the sound of a floating bridge. IMO the whammy pedal is a unique digital sound that isn't meant to substitute for guitar hardware.

Have you played one before or are just curious?

 

[robelinda2]

Hardtails are great, very light. My Pinkburst AL is just incredibly light, amazingly so. Sometimes i like trems though, just for a bit, nice to have the option if you need it.

 

[Ripper]

I don't play hardtails, nor do I own a Digitech Whammy, but speaking from experience using a Whammy in stores and other Digitech products as well, the pedal will never recreate the sound of a floating bridge. IMO the whammy pedal is a unique digital sound that isn't meant to substitute for guitar hardware.

Have you played one before or are just curious?

Yo fret, I have tried one in the store but unfortunately not with my AL or Y2D. I have to say the sound is quite thin though (digital maybe?).. I like the extra option I will have, like what Rob said, but am worried it will take away the beautiful tone of all my MMs when in use ..

 

[the24thfret]

Yo fret, I have tried one in the store but unfortunately not with my AL or Y2D. I have to say the sound is quite thin though (digital maybe?).. I like the extra option I will have, like what Rob said, but am worried it will take away the beautiful tone of all my MMs when in use ..

That's exactly what I meant, it's not a guitar-trem replacement at all, it has it's own unique sound. And it's not warm at all, its totally digital-pitchshift-distorted.

Bottom line is test it out a lot and see if it can get you what you're looking for. I don't think it can, but who knows.

Side note, when I think of the Digitech Whammy I think of Dragonforce's "Valley of the Damned" solo section, and it's not a very pretty tone.

 

[Roxy]

The Digitech Whammy is a unique pedal, but it will not replace a tremolo bar. I think Paul Gilbert uses it in his instruction videos for dive bomb effects. Satriani and Vai put it to good use too. My favorite Whammy pedal player maybe John Scofield. He's come up with some amazing passages with that effect.

On a bad note, I find the Whammy Pedal to be a tone killer. I take it out of line when not in use. I emailed Keeley about offering a true-bypass mod, and he said it may happen in a year or so.

 

[Voo]

I use mine with my JP7 and love it. The detune is great for clean tone and i can honestly say I have never used the dive bomb setting. Its a fun pedal and I can say that my tone hasnt suffered at all

 

[Rossie]

The Digitech Whammy is a unique pedal, but it will not replace a tremolo bar. I think Paul Gilbert uses it in his instruction videos for dive bomb effects. Satriani and Vai put it to good use too. My favorite Whammy pedal player maybe John Scofield. He's come up with some amazing passages with that effect.

On a bad note, I find the Whammy Pedal to be a tone killer. I take it out of line when not in use. I emailed Keeley about offering a true-bypass mod, and he said it may happen in a year or so.

That is way cool!
But I've read on Analogueman's site that Mike said it isn't possible to true bypass a WH4? So he only do this mod for the original WH1.

 

[Rage]

I also emailed Keeley to ask about a true bypass mod but at the moment I have it in one of the G-System loops. They do suck tone but it's an effect so I don't look at it quite that way... I just don't like my tone messed with when it's off... hence the loop.

 

[greenwizard]

I'm a huge Whammy Pedal fan but if you're looking for a trem sound it won't deliver. The divebomb sound is roughly equivalent but if you want some flutters you can't get em out of the pedal.
Rage has the right idea, the Whammy does eat your tone up like no other and it belongs in a loop.

 

[MusicManJP6]

I bought a used Whammy once and in my experience, it was more of a novelty. It would be hard pressed to find a tasteful place for it in a song unless you are Satriani or Vai, etc. I returned it coz it kept cutting in and out on me. It had a short on the board. If you pressed down too hard (or not hard enough) it would short. I can do without. I'd rather use my JPs' trems...

 

[OrangeChannel]

I use the Whammmy quite regularly but not in a way that you might think. You're not relly going to get the bar effect there. It still is cool for some stuff tho'. I also run a buffer before all my pedals so they don't suck tone. It's goodtimes!

 

[beej]

These days I'm pretty much a hardtail player. Used to be different.

What I do miss is the odd slight vibrato you can give chords with the bar. I've god a Boss DD-20 and it has a modulation delay that gets that sound perfectly, though. Hit the chord and it delays and detunes nicely.

 

[Ripper]

Hey Guys, really thanks for all your kind advice and input.

Yup the Whammy is definitely no replacement for a trem on a guitar. I have again tried it out, this time using a CS-2 before it. The sound is a little bit less warm, but not that bad for a digital device. Like what Voo has mentioned, tone will not suffer much, and it is indeed a fun pedal.

The "drop tune"option gives you the effect when the trem bar is pressed down. Well greenwizard - you are right, it will not give you flutters, but with a little bit of training on the leg, I think we are quite close. The "detune" function with 2 chorus depth modes works great too - you instantly switch the whammy mode into a chorus device.

Lastly, the price is quite reasonable - at about $150usd brand new. I think it deserves some serious consideration.

Thank you guys once again for the advice!

 

[Rage]

... go on

Lastly, the price is quite reasonable - at about $150usd brand new. I think it deserves some serious consideration.

I would my friend... my G-System has a whammy effect built in, but there is something nice about the Digitech. However in my own humble opinion it is not in any way a suitable replacement for a bar. What it is, is a great effect that can be very cool if it's used well... and boy, the price that you pay over there is WAY cheaper than the UK.

 

[Ripper]

I would my friend... my G-System has a whammy effect built in, but there is something nice about the Digitech. However in my own humble opinion it is not in any way a suitable replacement for a bar. What it is, is a great effect that can be very cool if it's used well... and boy, the price that you pay over there is WAY cheaper than the UK.

Hey Rage, it seems like everything is expensive in the UK... By the way, I have purchased the Whammy! Very fun, though not the best. Well, for the price, its good enuff.

 

[Rage]

everything's a rip off here. It's a great toy though eh!... for the money!

 

[Tim O'Sullivan]

everything's a rip off here. It's a great toy though eh!... for the money!

Yes EVERYTHING is a total rip off here!

As for the Whammy, I have never tried one, but they seem like a novelty effect more than anything.

 

[lord lemons]

I just order a Whammy pedal


I love this vid. Especcially when Vai is balancing on the Whammy and Wah pedals, with McAlpine, Sardinas and Weiner (heh) pushing him back up.

[nomedia="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nhiGZKaDLYU&NR"]YouTube - Broadcast Yourself.[/nomedia]