DigiTech

ManualsBrandsDigiTech ManualsMusical Instrument AmplifierWhammy DT

126 Guitarist October 2011

DIGITECH WHAMMY DT £289

EFFECTS

DigiTech Whammy DT

£289

The newest incarnation of the classic treadle-operated

pitch shifter, which boasts a number of new functions

by Simon Bradley

irst released over two

decades ago, the DigiTech

Whammy has undergone

a number of evolutionary spurts

resulting in improvements in

both performance and the

choice of effects. Tom Morello

during Rage’s Killing In The

Name, Vai’s Touching Tongues

and David Gilmour’s lines in

Floyd’s Marooned are just three

very different yet equally

musical uses of the Whammy

and prove that, when used

sensitively and sparingly, it can

provide effective and ear-

hooking effects.

The pedal provides a number

of intervals to which a note can

be pitch-shifted by the player

using the onboard treadle. Turn

the effect on via the dedicated

switch and choose between the

harmony, whammy or detune

selections. The first will bend a

note either up to or down from

another shifted note while

keeping the original note in the

mix. The second will take the

note you’re playing and bend it

up or down to a maximum of

two complete octaves; the latter

also provides a chorus of two

intensity levels.

However, the main advance

with the Whammy DT is the

drop tuning function. It shifts

your tuning either up or down

by up to seven semitones, plus a

full octave and a dry/octave mix

The Rivals

The BOSS PS-6 Harmonist

(£129) features a usable

whammy effect via its

traditional pedal, while the TC

Helicon Harmony-G XT

(from £205) applies harmony

technology to a guitarist’s

vocals. Whammy is about all

that’s missing from the

incredible Eventide

PitchFactor (£399).

option. The drop tune switch

gives access to these effects and

you can even mix them in with

the harmony and whammy

menus to give some very

weird sounds indeed.

What’s more, the DT also

features a momentary switch

that turns the drop tune setting

in and out instantaneously. This

allows you, for example, to go

from playing a riff in E to D

without detuning the g uitar,

removing a capo or investing in

a seven-string guitar.

Additional features include

a MIDI in port that allows for

remote control of both the

effects and the position of the

The drop tune switch provides shifting for all intervals up and down to a seventh

PhotograPhy by amanda thomas

GIT347.rev_digi.indd 126 9/12/11 12:16:25 PM

Summary of content (2 pages)

PAGE 1
Photography by Amanda Thomas DIGITECH WHAMMY DT £289 EFFECTS DigiTech Whammy DT £289 The newest incarnation of the classic treadle-operated pitch shifter, which boasts a number of new functions by Simon Bradley F irst released over two decades ago, the DigiTech Whammy has undergone a number of evolutionary spurts resulting in improvements in both performance and the choice of effects.
PAGE 2
DIGITECH WHAMMY DT £289 EFFECTS treadle, plus input for the optional DigiTech FS3X footswitch for selecting the effects. There are also two bypass modes, true and DSP bypass, with the later smoothing the operation of the momentary switch – and you can even recalibrate the treadle if necessary. Sounds All of the harmony and whammy effects provide a smooth glissando between intervals, and there isn’t, nor has there ever been, any ugly stepping or glitching to contend with.