The DigiTech Whammy 5 MonoNeon Signature is a pitch shifter pedal made for guitar players and bass players, built as a signature version of the Whammy 5 with the bassist MonoNeon. It is not a new Whammy model: as DigiTech's Johnny put it in Premier Guitar's NAMM demo, "it's not a new whammy pedal it's not a whammy 6 but it's a mono neon with some new features"1. It hit stores on Thursday, January 23, 20251.
A Whammy 5 with a third octave
The headline change is range. The three-octave range applies to both dry and octave modes, which Premier Guitar's presenters described as "an expanded, electrifying pitch palette"2. For guitar players it offers a whole new octave of range to take things one step further, and for bass players it reaches where a normal two-octave guitar Whammy cannot1.
A new octaver section lets you bend the octave, from octave down to octave up1. The detune section has also been redesigned: DigiTech says it was made "more glitchy and more usable" than the older deep and shallow detune, which they still call awesome1.
The signature feature is Hypersonic mode, which sends sounds three octaves above the input1.
Who MonoNeon is and why it glows
DigiTech took notice of MonoNeon and worked with the funkmaster on tweaking the Whammy 52. When MonoNeon plays, he typically uses the one octave up setting, and he uses a guitar Whammy1. The enclosure carries an orange and yellow finish that, in Premier Guitar's demo, "you put it under a black light and it glows"1.
How it compares
The standard Whammy 5 was listed at $179.00 at Thomann as of February 20233, so the signature version carries a higher price for its added three-octave features. DigiTech's wider pitch-shifting range includes the Whammy DT, the Mini Whammy Ricochet and the newer HammerOn shown at the same NAMM show1. For other options in the category, see Octave & Pitch Pedals.
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Questions
What is Hypersonic mode on the MonoNeon Whammy?
Hypersonic mode is the headline feature of the MonoNeon signature Whammy. It sends your sound three octaves above the input, an octave beyond the two-octave reach of a standard guitar Whammy. Premier Guitar's demo with DigiTech describes it as three octaves up, and it sits alongside the pedal's three-octave range in both dry and octave modes.
How much does the MonoNeon Whammy cost?
The MonoNeon signature Whammy carried a list price of $349 when it hit stores on January 23, 2025, according to Premier Guitar's demo video from the DigiTech booth. For comparison, the standard Whammy 5 was listed at $179 at Thomann in early 2023.
Does the MonoNeon Whammy work for bass?
Yes. DigiTech describes it as a pitch shifter made for guitar players and bass players. The three-octave range gives bass players reach that a normal two-octave guitar Whammy cannot get to, and MonoNeon himself typically uses the one octave up setting on a guitar Whammy.
Does the MonoNeon Whammy glow under a black light?
Yes. The pedal has an orange and yellow finish that Premier Guitar's presenters found glows under a black light, fitting the look of its signature artist.
Sources (3)
- DigiTech Whammy 5 MonoNeon Signature & HammerOn Demos, Premier Guitar, 2025-01-25
- DigiTech Whammy 5: MonoNeon & HammerOn, Premier Guitar, 2025-01-26
- 7 Guitar Effects Pedals you need to know, gearnews.com, 2023-02-11
