ratherdashing
Kablamminator
Picked up a new 5th gen Whammy on Saturday. I haven't had this much fun with a piece of gear in a long time. 
Many are saying this is the best Whammy edition and I can see why. It's very similar to the now legendary 1st edition with a few key differences:
- true bypass, which is great because this is one pedal that had a notoriously bad bypass.
- much better tracking: very smooth and glitch-free even with chords, but if you want the glitchy old-style tracking you can use the "classic" mode.
- full MIDI control.
It also accepts 9V DC power unlike its predecessors. The power rating sticker on the pedal itself says 9V 1300 mA, but I've read online that the actual current draw is closer to ~260 mA which would put it within range of the 300 mA outlet on my PP ISO-5. So far I've only tried it using its included power supply. I'll post again after I've tried it on the PP.
It's a very solid, rugged piece of gear, which I would expect for something in this price range. Rocker pedal is stiffer than your average wah, but IMO that is appropriate and allows for more precise control of the bends. Switches are very sturdy too - no cheapness I have come to expect from certain pedal brands (including Digitech to be honest ...)
I have been on the fence for years about the Whammy because I've always perceived it as a bit of a silly toy. Now that I have one and have taken a serious crack at playing it, I know it's a very usable, musical effect. The harmony modes track exceptionally well. I've used quite a few harmonizers and none have tracked as well as the Whammy V. The whammy (bend) modes are what this thing's really known for, of course, and those are just as good. The amount of bend can be controlled with the rotary switch and in the "chords" mode the bends are pretty flawless on all settings.
It's a pedal I will need to spend time learning to play, much like a wah or a delay. I've already found several great uses for it in my band's current material. I think like a wah, one has to be careful not to abuse this effect, and to know when and how to use it in a song.
Bottom line: if you're looking at a harmony/pitch pedal, the Whammy is still the gold standard.
Many are saying this is the best Whammy edition and I can see why. It's very similar to the now legendary 1st edition with a few key differences:
- true bypass, which is great because this is one pedal that had a notoriously bad bypass.
- much better tracking: very smooth and glitch-free even with chords, but if you want the glitchy old-style tracking you can use the "classic" mode.
- full MIDI control.
It also accepts 9V DC power unlike its predecessors. The power rating sticker on the pedal itself says 9V 1300 mA, but I've read online that the actual current draw is closer to ~260 mA which would put it within range of the 300 mA outlet on my PP ISO-5. So far I've only tried it using its included power supply. I'll post again after I've tried it on the PP.
It's a very solid, rugged piece of gear, which I would expect for something in this price range. Rocker pedal is stiffer than your average wah, but IMO that is appropriate and allows for more precise control of the bends. Switches are very sturdy too - no cheapness I have come to expect from certain pedal brands (including Digitech to be honest ...)
I have been on the fence for years about the Whammy because I've always perceived it as a bit of a silly toy. Now that I have one and have taken a serious crack at playing it, I know it's a very usable, musical effect. The harmony modes track exceptionally well. I've used quite a few harmonizers and none have tracked as well as the Whammy V. The whammy (bend) modes are what this thing's really known for, of course, and those are just as good. The amount of bend can be controlled with the rotary switch and in the "chords" mode the bends are pretty flawless on all settings.
It's a pedal I will need to spend time learning to play, much like a wah or a delay. I've already found several great uses for it in my band's current material. I think like a wah, one has to be careful not to abuse this effect, and to know when and how to use it in a song.
Bottom line: if you're looking at a harmony/pitch pedal, the Whammy is still the gold standard.
