The Gamechanger Audio Bigsby Pedal is a pitch-shifting pedal made by Gamechanger Audio in cooperation with the Bigsby brand, now owned by Fender. Instead of modeling a pitch algorithm in the usual way, it is built around the sound of the Bigsby vibrato system itself: MusicRadar's report on the pedal said "It not only looks like a Bigsby (albeit one on the floor) but it actually sounds like one."1
What it does to your sound
The pedal's purpose is to reproduce what a Bigsby vibrato does to a guitar's pitch, from a foot pedal. MusicRadar's writer singled out the detail of the emulation: "what strikes us is how it emulates the nuances of the Bigsby's effect on individual strings that gives it such character"1. That per-string behavior is what separates a Bigsby-style effect from a plain pitch shift, where every string moves together.
The treadle works like a vibrato arm under your foot: "you have the control of pitch shifting with the treadle down (and up) a whole octave with the pedal's treadle"1. So the pedal covers an octave of downward shift and an octave of upward shift, depending on which way you rock it.
Controls
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Treadle | Shifts pitch down (and up) a whole octave1 |
| Rate wheel | Shapes the effect, with pulsating lights1 |
| Blend wheel | Shapes the effect, with pulsating lights1 |
| Depth wheel | Shapes the effect, with pulsating lights1 |
The pedal uses wheel controls rather than conventional knobs, and each wheel is lit. MusicRadar's writer noted "we like the idea of the enhanced Rate, Blend and Depth wheel controls (with pulsating lights!)"1. Beyond the basic vibrato behavior, the pedal "even allows the Bigsby pedal to add modulation to its detuned effect"1, so the detuned sound can carry movement of its own.
Price
MusicRadar's report describes the pedal's character: "what strikes us is how it emulates the nuances of the Bigsby's effect on individual strings that gives it such character"1.
What reviewers said
MusicRadar's take was that "this might be the first pedal its made that will appeal to more traditional tastes"1, suggesting that among Gamechanger Audio's pedals, this one is aimed at players whose tastes run toward conventional vibrato sounds rather than the company's more experimental effects. Players comparing it with other options in the same family can see how it sits alongside other octave and pitch pedals and vibrato pedals.
Videos
Andertons Music Co
Sweetwater
Premier Guitar
News
Questions
How much does the Gamechanger Audio Bigsby Pedal cost?
MusicRadar reported the pedal at $379 at Sweetwater in the United States. In the UK it was listed at Andertons, with MusicRadar giving £329 in one place and £339 in another, so the UK figure is not settled between the two. Prices were as reported in March 2023 and may have changed since.
How far does the treadle shift pitch?
The pedal's treadle controls pitch shifting across a whole octave, both down and up. Rocking it works much like working a Bigsby vibrato arm on a guitar, which is the effect the pedal is built to reproduce.
Can the Bigsby Pedal add modulation?
Yes. MusicRadar notes that the pedal allows modulation to be added to its detuned effect, on top of the basic Bigsby-style pitch behavior.
What do the Rate and Blend wheels do?
The pedal uses wheel controls rather than ordinary knobs, including Rate, Blend and Depth wheels, each enhanced with pulsating lights. MusicRadar liked the idea of these enhanced wheel controls. Rate and Blend sit alongside Depth as the pedal's shaping controls.
Who makes the Gamechanger Audio Bigsby Pedal?
It is made by Gamechanger Audio, which developed it in cooperation with the Bigsby brand, now owned by Fender. MusicRadar described the collaboration as Gamechanger Audio linking up with the Fender-owned Bigsby.
Does it pitch shift up as well as down?
Yes. The treadle shifts pitch down and also up, across a whole octave in each direction, according to MusicRadar's coverage of the pedal.
Sources (1)
- Do guitarists really need a Bigsby Pedal?, MusicRadar, 2023-03-13
