What is the primary function of the Whammy Ricochet?

The Whammy Ricochet is a pitch-shifting pedal that emulates the sound of a Whammy pedal's pitch bends without needing a physical expression treadle.

How many pitch intervals can I choose from?

There are seven pitch selectors available, allowing you to choose intervals ranging from a second to a double octave and a dive bomb.

What do the Shift and Return controls do?

The Shift control sets the rate at which the pitch bends up or down to the target interval, while the Return control sets the rate at which it returns to the original pitch.

Does this pedal require a foot treadle?

No, the Ricochet replaces the physical treadle with a footswitch and independent rate controls for automated pitch bending.

Is the Ricochet a polyphonic or monophonic pedal?

The Ricochet uses Digitech's advanced pitch-shifting algorithms which are designed to track accurately for both single notes and chords.

Can the footswitch be used in different modes?

Yes, the footswitch can be toggled to operate in momentary mode (effect only active while held) or latching mode (click on, click off).

How does this pedal help with tuning stability?

Because the pitch shift is digital, you can perform deep dive bombs and high shifts without physically moving the guitar strings, preventing the guitar from falling out of tune.

What is the typical price for a Digitech Whammy Ricochet?

The pedal typically retails in the range of approximately £129.

Can I use the Ricochet to drop tune my guitar?

While it is primarily for momentary pitch bends, using it in latching mode at a specific interval can simulate a changed tuning across the whole guitar.

Does the pedal include a visual indicator of the pitch shift?

Yes, it features a Trajectory LED ladder that lights up to show the direction and progress of the pitch bend in real-time.

Is the Ricochet compatible with the Yamaha FC7 expression pedal?

The Ricochet is designed as a standalone unit without an expression input; for external pedal control, a standard Whammy or a different interface would be required.

How does it compare to a standard tremolo bridge assembly?

Unlike a mechanical tremolo bridge, the Ricochet is purely digital, meaning it offers a wider range of intervals (up to two octaves) and zero mechanical wear on the guitar strings.

Gear article

Digitech Whammy Ricochet

The Digitech Whammy Ricochet is a compact guitar effects pedal designed to emulate the brand's iconic pitch-shifting effects without the need for a traditional expression treadle. It allows guitarists to perform pitch bends and dive bombs at customisable rates using a momentary footswitch.

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Overview

The Digitech Whammy Ricochet is a specialised pitch-shifting pedal that provides the functionality of the classic Whammy series in a standard compact pedal format. Unlike its predecessors, which require a large foot pedal to manually manipulate pitch, the Ricochet uses a automated system controlled by a footswitch. This design is intended for players who want the dramatic pitch-shifting capabilities of a Whammy without the large footprint on their pedalboard.

Functionality and Key Features

The pedal operates by bending the pitch of the incoming guitar signal to a specific interval. The user can choose from seven different pitch selections, including intervals such as seconds, fourths, fifths, sevenths, octaves, and double octaves, as well as a 'dive bomb' setting.

Control is handled primarily through the Shift and Return knobs. The Shift control determines how quickly the pitch moves from the original note to the target pitch, while the Return control dictates how fast the signal returns to the original pitch after the footswitch is released. The footswitch itself can be set to either momentary or latching mode, providing flexibility for different playing styles.

Sound and Character

The Whammy Ricochet is designed to keep a guitar in tune while performing extreme pitch bends that would typically cause mechanical instability in hardware setups like a tremolo bridge. Its digital processing allows for clean pitch shifting that maintains the core character of the guitar's tone. Because the shift is controlled by internal circuitry rather than a mechanical foot pedal, the sweeps are smooth and consistent every time.

Target Audience and Comparisons

The Ricochet is particularly suited for guitarists with limited space on their pedalboard who still require access to pitch-shifting effects. It serves as a digital alternative to mechanical solutions like the Fender American Standard Stratocaster Tremolo Bridge, which can sometimes lead to tuning instability during deep dives.

While traditional expression-based pedals like the Yamaha FC7 provide manual control over the sweep, the Ricochet's automated Shift and Return controls offer a precision that is difficult to replicate with a foot treadle. It integrates well into diverse signal chains alongside standard effects such as the Boss DD-3T Digital Delay or the Boss NS-2 Noise Suppressor.

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Frequently asked questions

What is the primary function of the Whammy Ricochet?: The Whammy Ricochet is a pitch-shifting pedal that emulates the sound of a Whammy pedal's pitch bends without needing a physical expression treadle.
How many pitch intervals can I choose from?: There are seven pitch selectors available, allowing you to choose intervals ranging from a second to a double octave and a dive bomb.
What do the Shift and Return controls do?: The Shift control sets the rate at which the pitch bends up or down to the target interval, while the Return control sets the rate at which it returns to the original pitch.
Does this pedal require a foot treadle?: No, the Ricochet replaces the physical treadle with a footswitch and independent rate controls for automated pitch bending.
Is the Ricochet a polyphonic or monophonic pedal?: The Ricochet uses Digitech's advanced pitch-shifting algorithms which are designed to track accurately for both single notes and chords.
Can the footswitch be used in different modes?: Yes, the footswitch can be toggled to operate in momentary mode (effect only active while held) or latching mode (click on, click off).
How does this pedal help with tuning stability?: Because the pitch shift is digital, you can perform deep dive bombs and high shifts without physically moving the guitar strings, preventing the guitar from falling out of tune.
What is the typical price for a Digitech Whammy Ricochet?: The pedal typically retails in the range of approximately £129.
Can I use the Ricochet to drop tune my guitar?: While it is primarily for momentary pitch bends, using it in latching mode at a specific interval can simulate a changed tuning across the whole guitar.
Does the pedal include a visual indicator of the pitch shift?: Yes, it features a Trajectory LED ladder that lights up to show the direction and progress of the pitch bend in real-time.
Is the Ricochet compatible with the Yamaha FC7 expression pedal?: The Ricochet is designed as a standalone unit without an expression input; for external pedal control, a standard Whammy or a different interface would be required.
How does it compare to a standard tremolo bridge assembly?: Unlike a mechanical tremolo bridge, the Ricochet is purely digital, meaning it offers a wider range of intervals (up to two octaves) and zero mechanical wear on the guitar strings.