Pedal for drop tunings?

[Larz]

Is there an effect pedal that can simulate alternate drop tunings?

If not, is this theoretically possible?

[~K~]

I don't know about pedals but the variax does it very well

[Twisteramps]

A whammy pedal can drop all strings down up to 1 step. I've used it to do 1/2 step too. There's a slight delay though, but it's not bad for live use.

Pete

[drockilles]

The Digitech Whammy has a detune feature. If I remember correctly, it simulates a whole step down. Or you could use any pitch shifter and turn the effect level all the way up.

[Larz]

A whammy pedal can drop all strings down up to 1 step. I've used it to do 1/2 step too. There's a slight delay though, but it's not bad for live use.

Pete

So that does all strings simultaneously, but you couldn't accomplish Drop D for example with it?

[Twisteramps]

nope, all strings at once.

[toejam]

The Digitech Whammy has a detune feature. If I remember correctly, it simulates a whole step down. Or you could use any pitch shifter and turn the effect level all the way up.

The detune feature on the Whammy is actually a slight chorus/doubling effect. You'd have to use the pitch shift effects.

[Twisteramps]

I think it's actually called 'drop tune' - it's one of the last options on the Whammy IV I have.

Pete

[emperor_black]

that's a great idea using the whammy to drop-tune. The GT8 has something called pitch shifter. is that the same function as the whammy?

[Frigo89]

I think the best way to get this effect is to have atleast one guitar per-tuning you typically play in

[Larz]

I think the best way to get this effect is to have atleast one guitar per-tuning you typically play in

True, that would be ideal, although if you have one predominant favorite guitar you play it would be nice to have an instant electronic method to jump around the tunings.

[shreddermon]

I think the best way to get this effect is to have atleast one guitar per-tuning you typically play in

Which is a freakin' hassle and/or expensive. But maybe sometimes a necessity, depending on the tunings and/or how many alternate-tuning songs you have in your playlist.

In my last band, we were working on two down-tuned songs. This out of about 30 or more tunes at the time. I tried to get the rest of the band to just do them in standard A440 tuning instead, but the bass player was a hold-out. Stupid flake. So, after then, I had to come to practices each week with a least two guitars just for those songs. IIRC, it wasn't too much longer after then that I decided to leave the band. (...Not over just that. This example was a symptom of other issues.)

[quiksilver]

The VG Strat offers drop-D as one of the tuning options.

[emperor_black]

The VG Strat offers drop-D as one of the tuning options.

Yeah. but it costs an arm and a leg.

[Larz]

With all the technology available and the various effects already out there and the popularity of non-standard tunings, I'd think some company would at least have a pedal like this in the R&D stage if not further along. But maybe its not feasible.