The Digitech Whammy 5 is a Digitech octave pedal, currently around $188.55. Close alternatives include the DigiTech Whammy Pitch-Shifting Pedal and the 440 Distribution DigiTech Drop Polyphonic Droptune. It pairs well with the Friedman BE-Mini Head and the Hughes & Kettner Warp 7.
Digitech Whammy 5
Digitech · pedal
The DigiTech Whammy 5 is a DSP-based pitch-shifting expression pedal featuring Classic monophonic and Chords polyphonic operating modes. It offers ten Whammy pitch-bend intervals, nine harmony intervals, two detune modes, Dive Bomb, and fourth and fifth interval options, with MIDI input and true bypass. The treadle is one-third larger than earlier generations for improved playability. Polyphonic Chords mode is the headline advancement, delivering smooth and realistic pitch shifting across full chord voicings without the digital flutter of earlier monophonic tracking. The Whammy lineage is core to grunge, shoegaze, math rock, and progressive rock for expressive pitch-bending, octave sweeps, and lead harmony doubling without a floating bridge.
- whammy
- pitch
- smooth
- bypass
- midi
- octave
- grunge
- digital
Price updated Aug 27, 2026
Genres the Digitech Whammy 5 is commonly used in
- Progressive Rock
- Grunge
- Alternative Rock
- Shoegaze
- Rock
- Experimental
cited
Inferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag.
Amps that pair well with the Digitech Whammy 5
Friedman BE-Mini Head
Friedman
tonal matchFriedman BE-Mini Head pushes a higher-gain pedal harder
Hughes & Kettner Warp 7
Hughes & Kettner
tonal matchHughes & Kettner Warp 7 pushes a higher-gain pedal harder
Synergy SL2 Module
Synergy
tonal matchSynergy SL2 Module pushes a higher-gain pedal harder
Hiwatt Hi-Gain 100W Head
Hiwatt
tonal matchHiwatt Hi-Gain 100W Head pushes a higher-gain pedal harder
Hughes & Kettner Coreblade
Hughes & Kettner
tonal matchHughes & Kettner Coreblade pushes a higher-gain pedal harder
Friedman Phil X Signature
Friedman
tonal matchFriedman Phil X Signature pushes a higher-gain pedal harder
EVH 000
Evh
tonal matchEVH 000 pushes a higher-gain pedal harder
ENGL Marty Friedman Inferno E766
Engl
tonal matchENGL Marty Friedman Inferno E766 pushes a higher-gain pedal harder
Pedals that stack with the Digitech Whammy 5
EarthQuaker Devices Dirt Transmitter
EarthQuaker Devices
23% matchThe Dirt Transmitter's low-noise, stacking drive gives the Whammy 5's smooth pitch-shift real gain to push through.
ThorpyFX The Dane
ThorpyFX
22% matchThe Dane's natural, dynamic overdrive gives the Whammy 5's smooth pitch-shift a rounder front end to push through.
Alexander Pedals SpaceXpander
Alexander Pedals
8% matchKeep the SpaceXpander after the Whammy 5 — the smooth pitch-shift stays clean and the silent, spring-voiced reverb trails behind it. — goes in the amp's FX loop (or last, into a clean amp)
EarthQuaker Devices Afterneath
EarthQuaker Devices
7% matchKeep the Afterneath after the Whammy 5 — the smooth pitch-shift stays clean and the shoegaze-style ambient wash trails behind it. — goes in the amp's FX loop (or last, into a clean amp)
Cusack Music Carolina Reaper Overdrive Fuzz
Cusack Music
tonal matchCusack Music Carolina Reaper Overdrive Fuzz pushes a higher-gain pedal harder
Dr. Scientist Frazz Dazzler V2
Dr Scientist
tonal matchDr. Scientist Frazz Dazzler V2 stacks into a fuzz for tightened, sustaining gain
Crowther Prunes
Crowther
tonal matchCrowther Prunes stacks into a fuzz for tightened, sustaining gain
Blackstar ID:X Floor One
Blackstar
tonal matchBlackstar ID:X Floor One pushes a higher-gain pedal harder
Cheaper alternatives
Boutique & premium upgrades
Boss X-100 Poly Shifter
Boss
65% similarityShared character: whammy, expression_pedal, one_octave
Alexander Pedals Fever Pitch
Alexander Pedals
64% similarityShared character: one_octave, reverb, modulation
Eventide PitchFactor
Eventide
63% similarityShared character: expression_pedal
Boss XS 100 Poly Shifter
Boss
93% similaritysimilar tone character
Similar character
DigiTech Whammy Pitch-Shifting Pedal
Digitech
72% similarityShared character: dive_bombs, whammy, expression_pedal
440 Distribution DigiTech Drop Polyphonic Droptune
440 Distribution
71% similarityShared character: polyphonic_accuracy, whammy, one_octave
DigiTech WH-1 Whammy Pedal
Digitech
69% similarityShared character: whammy, expression_pedal, one_octave
Boss OC-2 Octaver
Boss
68% similarityShared character: one_octave, digital, thickness
DigiTech Whammy MN Mono Neon
Digitech
68% similarityShared character: whammy, expression_pedal, one_octave
Death By Audio Robot
Death By Audio
65% similarityShared character: one_octave, digital, alternative
See all alternatives to the Digitech Whammy 5 (cheaper + boutique) →
Questions people ask
What are good alternatives to the Digitech Whammy 5?+
The closest matches in character are the DigiTech Whammy Pitch-Shifting Pedal, the 440 Distribution DigiTech Drop Polyphonic Droptune, the DigiTech WH-1 Whammy Pedal. Budget picks: Electro-Harmonix Slammi Plus, Electro-Harmonix Pitch Fork Polyphonic Pitch Shifter. Boutique upgrades: Boss X-100 Poly Shifter, Alexander Pedals Fever Pitch, Eventide PitchFactor.
What pairs well with the Digitech Whammy 5?+
Strong matches from rig and tone-complementarity evidence: Friedman BE-Mini Head, Hughes & Kettner Warp 7, Synergy SL2 Module — Friedman BE-Mini Head pushes a higher-gain pedal harder.
How much does the Digitech Whammy 5 cost?+
Around $188.55 (live listing price, updated Aug 27, 2026).