DIGITECH WHAMMY II

The Digitech Whammy II is the link between the highly coveted WH1 and the current re-issue model, the WH4. The WH1′s are so sought after as the original design was done by an external company, IVL Technologies. IVL had patented a pitch detection algorithm that could be used in both pitch shifting and harmonising an audio signal. That IVL algorithm was also used in this pedal, the Whammy II, as seen by the IVL chip in the picture.

IVL and Digitech no longer collaborate on the Whammy and the re-issue WH4 is criticised for its inferior tracking and added ‘glitchiness’. In my opinion, the Whammy II does track better and has a ‘thicker’ sound but only Whammy aficionados would be able to tell the difference in a live or recorded setting.

This Whammy II came in with a crackling input jack. The chassis had began to rust on the inside and metal flakes were all through the pedal. A thorough disassembly, clean and touch-up of solder joints brought it back to full working order. Unfortunately, there was an issue with random LEDs turning on with each bank selection, but this is a programming issue – well outside my knowledge. The pedal still sounds great, regardless of what the LEDs tell you.

C.