So, DigiTech has been making some big moves lately! After being taken over by Cor-Tek in 2022, it seems like the company’s really found its groove. They’ve already dropped the bold MonoNeon Whammy at NAMM this year, and now they’re keeping that experimental vibe going with something new and exciting: the DigiTech HammerOn pedal. This thing is all about being hands-free with hammer-ons.
If you’re into FX-pedals , you know how cool it is when you can mix in different playing techniques. DigiTech’s been really into blending those natural guitar techniques with pedals, and they took it up a notch here. The idea is that you can add more notes using your feet – so, imagine controlling the pitch and adding notes without using your hands. Pretty cool, right?
DigiTech HammerOn
When you first look at the HammerOn, it might remind you a bit of the Drop pedal – the one that shifts your tuning by a whole octave – or even the Ricochet, which is a little Whammy stompbox. But the HammerOn’s got way more going on. DigiTech calls it “seven pedals in one,” and they’re not kidding.
So, here’s how it works: each footswitch on the HammerOn lets you assign a pitch interval to it. When you press and hold either footswitch, the pedal transposes to that pitch. There are 27 different pitches to choose from, and they range from two octaves down to two octaves up. That’s just the first mode! There are six more to explore.
The second mode, for instance, is called Hammer-on with Trill. This one’s super fun because one press of the switch gives you multiple fast pitch shifts, and you can control the speed of those with the Select knob. The third mode is Harmony-on, which mixes your dry signal with pitch-shifted notes to create harmonies. Then there’s Impossible mode, which gives you alternate hammer-on pitch shifts between two selectable pitches.
The Drop/Capo Sequence mode lets you step through different tunings or pitch-shifted sequences. If you’re really into riff sequences, Sequence with Trill lets you play through automatic riffs. And then the Sequence with Dry+ and Trill mode? That’s the wild one. It mixes the sequence with the trill effect and your dry signal to create an automatic “techno guitar” sound. All this for $279.99 – and it’s available now!
DigiTech MonoNeon Whammy
Now, let’s talk about that MonoNeon Whammy, which, honestly, is one of the coolest things DigiTech’s put out. This thing was made in collaboration with MonoNeon, the funky bassist who became a Whammy convert thanks to Prince. It’s billed as “the boldest, most expressive Whammy ever,” and I’m totally on board with that.
Visually, it’s hard to miss – it’s got this bright neon yellow and orange casing that really pops. But beyond the flashy look, this Whammy’s built to work with both guitar and bass, so you don’t need two separate pedals if you like to switch instruments. One of the standout features is the Hypersonic mode, which lets you bend pitches across three full octaves. There’s also a Detune mode that replaces the old Shallow and Deep options, plus a new octave blend mode for more sonic possibilities.
If you’re into MIDI setups, you’re in luck, because this Whammy comes with onboard MIDI input. And of course, it’s got the classic Whammy layout, with easy-to-use controls, a built-in expression pedal, and the good ol’ green LEDs that tell you when the pedal’s active or when you’re changing modes.
The best part? The paint job’s not just for looks – it glows in the dark, which is awesome for playing on a dark stage. Oh, and each Whammy comes with a customization kit that includes gaffer tape, stickers, and a marker, so you can really make it your own.
These pedals are a must-check if you’re into pushing the limits of guitar effects!
