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.

Line 6 Echo Park delay!!!

     So this summer I made some money selling some old trading cards I had. I got $100 for them, and I was planning to spend the money on a Dunlop Fuzz Face; I'm a huge Jimi Hendrix fan. Then, being a big U2 fan as well, I realized that a delay would be a lot more useful. The best I could find for my price range online was a Boss DD3 Digital Delay. After I got my money, I asked my dad to take me to Guitar Center to buy the DD3. I got there, and after messing with it for a few minutes, I asked the guy if there were any more delay units in that range. He showed me a Line 6 Echo Par for $100 on clearance. My friend had of these, so I knew they were good. I would have planned on one from the start, but they're about $150 new, and that was mostly out of the question. I went to check out, and it turned out there was some other sale, bringing the price down to $70. I ended up purchasing a protection play and a couple of 6 inch right-angle cables with my extra money, bringing my total up to about $116, if I remember correctly. Happy with my purchase, I went home and started messing around. Since I bought it, I have learned multiple U2 songs, and have gained even more respect for The Edge (How does he come up with those parts anyway?). I've also been left wanting even more pedals so I can play more U2 songs (hopefully I'll be able to get a Digitech Whammy review up after Christmas!). Anyway, down to business.
     The Echo Park is a great delay. My favorite feature is the Tap Tempo. It's great for U2, because you just have to set it to Dotted Eighth Note, tap to the tempo of the song, and it'll automatically convert your beats into  dotted eighth note delay intervals. You can also set it to Reverse, Ping Pone, Eighth Note Triplet, Slap Back, Quarter Not (or course!), and more. I also like how it can emulate tape or analog delay, or use straight digital delay. I usually use digital, as that is what The Edge usually uses, but I have messed around with the tape and analog settings, especially when I need good modulation for my infinite-repeat soundscapes! Setting the Repeat knob to max and twisting the Time knob produces some pretty spacey and siren-like sounds, that scare the living daylights out of my cat, especially when I'm using stereo outputs. I have virtually nothing bad to say about this pedal. The only thing that could make it better would be a digital readout of exact milliseconds. The Echo Park is the perfect delay for an Edge wannabe on a budget. I highly recommend it to anyone who plays guitar.