Digitechrep: Bass Whammy shipping yet?

[gregmon79]

Thats what I was thinking as well. At first, what I was using it for it seemed like it just may knock the POG2 off, but I wasnt so certain yet. The POG2 can do some really cool stuff. As can the BWhammy. I guess the biggest reason why I would want to is so I could fit everything on my one board. I didnt think having the BW on the floor next to my board would bother me. But it sort of does now that I have it there.

 

[twhitedc]

I her ya, laying out pedal boards is like Tetris crossed with a Rubik's Cube

 

[Lebowsky]

Depends how big your board is. I'd leave a whammy next to a PT-JR, takes too much space!

 

[mikeswals]

Thats what I was thinking as well. At first, what I was using it for it seemed like it just may knock the POG2 off, but I wasnt so certain yet. The POG2 can do some really cool stuff.

I was starting to think the same thing. I have the Micro POG, and while John is right in saying the BW is more natural sounding, the POG still has the cool synthy sound, so it's stayin'.

 

[Benjamin Strange]

Forgive me if this has been covered already, as I didn't feel like reading through all 30 pages of this thread for the answer. How does the Bass Whammy compare to the standard Whammy 5? Is it a significant tonal difference? Does it utilize a different pitch shifting algorithm? I've already got a Whammy 5, and I'm considering whether it's worthwhile having the BW vs. the W5 that I already have.

 

[gregmon79]

From what I understand the BWhammy is a totally different algorithm all its own. It is tuned for bass and it has some octaves and harmonies that are sort of bass specific that arent on the old BWhammy. But there are ones that arent on the new that are on the old one. The difference between the V and the BWhammy are substantial enough to have one or the other IMO. From what it sounds like anyway. All I know is that the new BWhammy is awesome and Im super glad I have it in my arsenal. Yeah.

 

[masterkey_bass]

I have both. Whammy 5 is on the bay....

 

[Adamixoye]

From what I understand the BWhammy is a totally different algorithm all its own.

I think that's actually false. My understanding was the Bass Whammy was made possible by the completely new updated algorithm from the Whammy V. DigiTechRep said something about that not too long ago in one of these threads. Now, that is not to say that the algorithms are exactly the same. I'm sure there is some tuning that is done for bass, plus the intervals are specific to bass. But if I understood the previous post correctly, the Bass Whammy is a variation on the Whammy V. The leap from the Whammy IV to the Whammy V was the big one.

 

[gregmon79]

I think that's actually false. My understanding was the Bass Whammy was made possible by the completely new updated algorithm from the Whammy V. DigiTechRep said something about that not too long ago in one of these threads. Now, that is not to say that the algorithms are exactly the same. I'm sure there is some tuning that is done for bass, plus the intervals are specific to bass. But if I understood the previous post correctly, the Bass Whammy is a variation on the Whammy V. The leap from the Whammy IV to the Whammy V was the big one.

Yeah, so it's not the same algorithm. Even if it's built off of the V it's still a different one. I remember seeing that too. That's why I said what I did. I'm probably wrong. Gotta leave it to Adam to point it out. As always

 

[jwr]

So quick question and I apologize if this has already been covered. Does the Pitchfactor do the exact same thing as the Bass Whammy? Also, does anyone know if Guitar Center will ever carry them?

 

[bassofthe]

Now that people are actually getting these... How low does this thingy track?

 

[gregmon79]

Now that people are actually getting these... How low does this thingy track?

It tracks great. Down low to dropped tunings. I compare it to my POG and it's right there with it. If not better.

 

[bassofthe]

It tracks great. Down low to dropped tunings. I compare it to my POG and it's right there with it. If not better.

Any chance of getting a more specific answer? I want to know if it's usable across the entire range of my bass.

 

[gregmon79]

Any chance of getting a more specific answer? I want to know if it's usable across the entire range of my bass.

Yeah sure, sorry. Yes, it'll track all the way up and down the neck on all strings. In any tuning. I don't mess with many tunings but dropped D and tuned to flats but just from those, it tracks magnificently. Even the open strings.

 

[bassofthe]

Yeah sure, sorry. Yes, it'll track all the way up and down the neck on all strings. In any tuning. I don't mess with many tunings but dropped D and tuned to flats but just from those, it tracks magnificently. Even the open strings.

I tune quite a bit lower than that, see my sig. Will it track below low B?

 

[gregmon79]

I tune quite a bit lower than that, see my sig. Will it track below low B?

Well, I just tuned my E to a B. Other than the crazy clickity from my lower gauged strings, yeah, it tracked like a champ. I could see it getting a little, I don't know if I'd say muddy, but dark, on the whammy side when you go down to 5th and OCT down but it still tracks. I really don't think you'd have any issues. Ever worked with a POG?

 

[Adamixoye]

Yeah, so it's not the same algorithm. Even if it's built off of the V it's still a different one. I remember seeing that too. That's why I said what I did. I'm probably wrong. Gotta leave it to Adam to point it out. As always

Hey! I...resemble that remark?

Here's (part of) the post by DigiTechRep that I was thinking of:

It's all about the Whammy V.

The development of the Whammy V gave us a new polyphonic algorithm, a new processor, a new chassis, true bypass, and some other functional improvements over the old Whammy. During testing of the V we had a lot of bass players plugging in and saying how awesome it was and "if only" this and "imagine if" that. So, since we already had cost, dev, UI, etc. etc. worked out for the Whammy V, it was only a short bit of dev for the Bass Whammy.

About 18 months ago I did a bunch of research on BWham demand and found the petitions and tried to gauge whether the demand was just a few passionate fans or if there was real depth. From what data I could gather, it seemed like real depth, so we went for it.

I know you guys have been giving me kudos for the BWhammy (and my ego loves it), but it was truly a team effort. It's true I did a bunch of research, knew the strengths of the old BWhammy, got a bunch of high-profile artists involved, and spec'd the intervals (with Jonni Lightfoot's help, he thought of the 10th!). I was also very adamant that the new Bass Whammy not be a re-hash or re-issue, but a true upgrade and update. But everything else was the result of everyone at DigiTech and Harman Canada (3dB) pitching-in to make it happen.

That probably answers Benjamin Strange's question better than just a simple discussion of whether or not it is technically the "same algorithm." It sounds to me like the Bass Whammy is, at most, a slight variation on the Whammy V algorithm---whether or not we call it "the same" is probably just semantics, and maybe DigiTechRep can weigh in on that. Maybe it IS the same algorithm, just a different application. (Just because it's ultimately applied to different intervals doesn't automatically make it a different "algorithm" per se.) It is certainly in a different context with the bass-oriented intervals. And of course that sweet blue color.

 

[Benjamin Strange]

I largely just use my Whammy for octave and detuning effects, and very rarely use any of the intervals in between. If the Bass Whammy sounds and responds exactly the same way as the Whammy V, I don't see any real reason to buy one - other than the cool blue colour, of course.

 

[the mojo hobo]

i should have mine soon (like by this Wednesday).

after hearing about all of the people anxiously waiting for theirs to arrive, I just waited until the dealers had them in stock and purchased mine from prymaxe with a 15% off coupon for $169 shipped!

Thanks for posting this. I had not known about Prymaxe, and right now they have a discount code for 20% off on FX, making it $159.96.

 

[Tom Von Kramm]

and maybe DigiTechRep can weigh in on that. Maybe it IS the same algorithm, just a different application. (Just because it's ultimately applied to different intervals doesn't automatically make it a different "algorithm" per se.) It is certainly in a different context with the bass-oriented intervals. And of course that sweet blue color.

It is the same base algorithm as the Whammy V but there was work that needed to be done for the BWham to get the tracking to work with the longer periodicity of bass frequencies and the unique attack characteristics of bass, extended bass, bari, and heavily-detuned guitar. Plus the intervals that we included for the BWham did not exist in the Whammy V, so there was new work to be done using our new polyphonic algorithm. A hint to the future, in the process of tweaking the Whammy V and then subsequently tweaking and creating the BWham we also discovered some other really killer effects that will become stand-alone pedals soon.

Polyphony is cool