DigiTech Whammy II

The DigiTech Whammy II is a pitch shifter pedal from DigiTech, produced from 1994 to 1998 and no longer in production¹. It was the next generation pedal that followed the original DigiTech WH-1 Whammy, and Pedal of the Day's reviewer found it boasts the same internal chip and similar circuitry as the WH-1². Like the WH-1, it is controlled by a variable wah-style foot treadle, and it carries Wet and Dry options for output, so you can manipulate exactly where the affected sound goes once it leaves the pedal².

How it works

Pedal of the Day describes the circuit as a real-time sampler: "The Whammy II operates as a real-time sampler, constantly sampling and analyzing what you're playing." The pedal then sends the notes back out at a different pitch, which is what produces the Whammy's characteristic bend and detune effects¹. The same review sums up the result in characteristically colorful terms: "you're in for a demented, detuned sonic treat"¹.

The controls: foot treadle, two stored settings and wet/dry outputs

The Whammy II keeps the layout players know from the WH-1: a wah-style treadle worked by foot, with the electronics in a sleek black chassis²¹. Where it differs from the original is in how settings are stored and recalled:

• Select Button: a button you just tap with your foot to change settings²
• Two stored settings: you can choose 2 of your favorite settings and set the Select switch to toggle back and forth between just those two²
• Wet and Dry outputs: with Wet and Dry options for output, you can manipulate exactly where the affected sound goes once it leaves the Whammy²

The wet/dry arrangement is inherited from the WH-1, which, in addition to its mono input and Wet Added output, also provided a Dry Out jack³. That lets a player send the shifted signal and the clean signal to different places in a rig, rather than blending them inside the pedal.

How it compares with the WH-1 and later Whammys

The Whammy II sits in a family that began with the original WH-1 from 1989⁴. Guitar World notes that many pros still prefer the original WH-1, which is why they command top dollar on the used market³. Against that, Pedal of the Day called the Whammy II a steal of a price, too, compared to what a WH-1 will cost you². JHS Pedals adds that the version two and all other versions of a Whammy usually have the added detuned setting, even some of the newer units⁴.

The Whammy II's other practical advantage is size. Pedal of the Day describes it as having a much smaller footprint and some features not found on any of the other models¹. Players who find the full-size Whammys too deep for a pedalboard have since had other compact options in the line, including the DigiTech Mini Whammy Ricochet and the DigiTech Whammy DT, and DigiTech's current pitch-shifting range also includes the DigiTech HammerOn and the DigiTech MonoNeon Whammy. For the wider field, see the site's page on Octave & Pitch Pedals.

What reviewers said

Pedal of the Day has reviewed the Whammy II twice, more than a decade apart, and its verdict held across both visits. In 2025 the publication wrote that "the original Whammy II continues to be treasured for its superior build quality and unmatched tone"¹.

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