New Digitech Whammy

FIRST OF ALL: Before you say I copied this from Wikipedia, let me say that I did. But that's because I updated the Wikipedia article on the Whammy in the first place. 
So, today, I saw the official Digitech Facebook page posted pictures of a new Whammy pedal.

I looked around on a couple forums and this is what I gathered: 
      It retains the basic look of the Whammy IV, but has the treadle design and most of the Whammy/Harmony/Detune effects of the Whammy DT. It lacks the Wet/Dry outputs of the Whammy IV, keeping only the Wet. Also like the Whammy DT, it runs on a 9V DC adaptor (265 mA). It's also true-bypass.The new Whammy has most of the same effects as the Whammy DT, but without the Drop Tune controls. It also lacks a single Drop Tune setting like the one on the Whammy IV, meaning it doesn't have any way to drop a guitar's tone down one step. It also replaces the Second Up setting of the DT with a Second Down setting. A new feature on this version of the Whammy is a Classic/Chords switch. When the 'Classic' option is selected, the Whammy makes noises described as a "glitch-fest" by a Digitech Representative when playing chords, because it is not polyphonic. The 'Chords' option activates polyphony, making chords ring out much clearer.
     Please don't comment on the encyclopedic nature of the above paragraph. I wrote it for Wikipedia and copy-pasted here. Anyway, I think the new Whammy looks pretty awesome. Here's a clearer pic:

The only thing I don't like is the fact that I just got the Whammy IV a few months ago. I think I may have to trade my old one for this thing when it comes out. Speaking of it coming out, it ships the last week of May, meaning you can get it in stores the first week of June. It retails for $199.99, so start saving up!

Digitech Whammy review

For Christmas this year, all I wanted was a red box of joy: a Digitech Whammy. I first heard about them is association with Jack White. I thought they were cool, but really paid the no mind in terms of actually wanting one. Then, my friend got one. I messed around with it, but thought it sounded a bit thin and gimmicky. But after that, I got into U2, and everything changed.

I used to think playing The Edge's parts would be near impossible, but then I discovered U2 Guitar Tutorials on the web. I bought a delay, and learned my first U2 song: Pride. I got really deep into playing U2 on guitar (and still am), and eventually I discovered Achtung Baby. I wondered what was used for the intro of Even Better Than the Real Thing, and a quick Google search led me to the Digitech Whammy pedal. I wrote it off as impossible for a while, but in early November of 2011, it came back. I needed a Whammy. There were all sorts of songs I needed it for: Real Thing, Gone, Magnificent, Peace on Earth, Do You Feel Loved, Beautiful Day, and others. It became the only thing I wanted for Christmas. Come Christmas, I finally got it, and began experimenting with tones. I planned to write a review as soon as I got home from the family's house, but other things called me. Looking back, it's probably a good thing I let this post simmer for a few weeks, as I can write a better review for all of you!

As soon as I got the Whammy, I stuck it in front of some drive, and let rip on Real Thing. I loved it. It gave me a big fat tone in front of some drive. I never use it without drive now, as it sounds really thin without it; it sounds like a mouse clean. For the most part, there aren't any tracking issues, except when you play, say, 3 or more different notes, then it starts to glitch up. Think My Iron Lung. It also needs recalibration every once in a while, but that literally takes 15 seconds, and isn't a big deal at all. Again, it definitely needs to come before some drive (preferably first in the chain, actually, except maybe after a wah or a tuner or something), and some delay doesn't hurt either. I haven't messed much with the harmony settings, but they sound pretty cool. I definitely use the octave up more than any other setting, followed by -1 octave, +2 octaves, droptune, divebomb, and -2 octaves. The detune (chorus) settings are great as well, and create a really thick, lush sound. I just wish you could use it along with the whammy. All in all, the Whammy is a great pedal, and can be used for lots of purposes. I say every guitarist should own one.