Best Whammy 5 placement for Downtuning/pitchshifting

[SongsForTheDeaf]

looking for the best possible sound for downtuning one full step (2nd down on the whammy side) I have it first now but it cuts the highs and sounds kinda digital before distortion.. would it sound worse or better after my fuzz, dist. and overdrive pedals?

Any insight appreciated thanks !

 

[ratherdashing]

Re: Best Whammy 5 placement for Downtuning/pitchshifting

Why don't you try it and find out?

Harmony/pitch pedals should (theoretically) always go first, because they track best with a clean, unprocessed guitar signal. The more crap you put in front of it, the harder time it will have finding the note.

The Whammy definitely knocks a bit of the high end off. That's just the nature of this particular pedal.

All that said, there is no wrong answer when it comes to effect placement. Do what works best for you.

 

[SongsForTheDeaf]

Re: Best Whammy 5 placement for Downtuning/pitchshifting

thanks I just don't want to move my whole board around to find out it sounds worse after distortion. I basically use the whammy for downtuning most of the time and want the tightest and strongest signal when downtuned possible... if anyone has experience with placing it before and after please share thanks

 

[ratherdashing]

Re: Best Whammy 5 placement for Downtuning/pitchshifting

thanks I just don't want to move my whole board around to find out it sounds worse after distortion. I basically use the whammy for downtuning most of the time and want the tightest and strongest signal when downtuned possible... if anyone has experience with placing it before and after please share thanks

Got it ... you want someone else to do the work for you.

Seriously, the only person who will be able to definitively say what will work best for you is you.

 

[SongsForTheDeaf]

Re: Best Whammy 5 placement for Downtuning/pitchshifting

ha! Yeah that is true. I can give it a shot. I will try it tomorrow and rearrange my board tonight.

 

[SongsForTheDeaf]

Re: Best Whammy 5 placement for Downtuning/pitchshifting

ok I figured out a way to wire it so I did not have to unstick all my pedals. right off the bat it sounded a little more warblier and my overall signal was darker and bassier which I don't like since my sound already is pretty bass heavy... I guess it will stay first in chain which is good because its probably more durable for stickin patch cables in and out all the time compared to my bad monkey being constantly connected and unconnected

 

[Securb]

Re: Best Whammy 5 placement for Downtuning/pitchshifting

I use an Eventide PitchFactor with an expression pedal for my Whammy stuff and more. It sounds amazing. Blows the Digitech away IMO.

 

[SongsForTheDeaf]

Re: Best Whammy 5 placement for Downtuning/pitchshifting

how much was the pitchfactor? I'm just looking for a good downtuning pedal and got the whammy for all the other cool effects it has and overall I'm pretty happy with the Whammy, it is a classic for a reason

 

[xxxplorer]

Re: Best Whammy 5 placement for Downtuning/pitchshifting

Whammy pedals sound best when you break the 'rules'

 

[Maidenheadsteve]

Re: Best Whammy 5 placement for Downtuning/pitchshifting

Whammy DT. The Downtune side hardly affects the tone. Doesn't sound digital at all, even through my crappy amp.

 

[ratherdashing]

Re: Best Whammy 5 placement for Downtuning/pitchshifting

Whammy DT. The Downtune side hardly affects the tone. Doesn't sound digital at all, even through my crappy amp.

FYI, the DT uses the exact same engine as the regular Whammy V. The only difference is that it allows down-tuning and either harmony or pitch bending at the same time. Basically like having two Whammies in one. Tone-wise it is the same as a Whammy V.

 

[Securb]

Re: Best Whammy 5 placement for Downtuning/pitchshifting

how much was the pitchfactor? I'm just looking for a good downtuning pedal and got the whammy for all the other cool effects it has and overall I'm pretty happy with the Whammy, it is a classic for a reason

The PitchFactor is $499, you can find them for around $300 on Ebay. I would suggest going to a music store and checking one out. They are pricey but well worth it.

 

[SongsForTheDeaf]

Re: Best Whammy 5 placement for Downtuning/pitchshifting

cool thanks I will check out the pitchfactor... I downtune to D and C standard alot but HATE the tuning issues and travelling with too many guitars all the time

On a side note I played with the Whammy 5 today downtuned and found it sounded pretty good not really digital or anything but I guess its a latency thing and it kinda kills your dynamics a bit but that's mostly clean and just the nature of pitchshifters

 

[PFDarkside]

Re: Best Whammy 5 placement for Downtuning/pitchshifting

Is there a clean input or tracking input or something like that? Where you could split a tracking/trigger signal from the beginning of the chain, then have the effect later in the loop? This would help the tracking, but allow the effect to be in the distortion. (However, it seems like distortion would help "smooth" the digital artifacts.

Also, I agree 100% with xxxplorer.

 

[SongsForTheDeaf]

Re: Best Whammy 5 placement for Downtuning/pitchshifting

yeah I could for sure try that.. I think I will mess around with it more in terms of placement after tomorrow and Wednesdays jams I have. I really like the octave up harmony setting right now with delay and a bit of SFT overdrive for a organ like swell... very cool pedal !

 

[PFDarkside]

Re: Best Whammy 5 placement for Downtuning/pitchshifting

I do that with my POG with a little modulation and volume pedal, tons of fun.