The BIGSBY Pedal from Gamechanger Audio

Gamechanger Audio’s latest product, the BIGSBY Pedal, is now available online and across all dealer channels. The BIGSBY Pedal is a polyphonic pitch shifting pedal with a revolutionary design capable of reproducing the feel and sound of the classic Bigsby tremolo arm and much more. Visit Gamechanger Audio’s website – https://gamechangeraudio.com/bigsby-pedal/

The pedal features Rate, Blend, Tone, and Depth controls, plus an Invert switch on the back panel to change the pitch shift direction, while the Detune parameter mimics the imperfections and dissonant properties of traditional mechanical string-bending hardware. The BIGSBY Pedal is also equipped with an external Footswitch Input to turn on Latching Mode as well as an Expression Output that allows you to use the BIGSBY as a spring-loaded EXP controller for other audio devices. The BIGSBY also offers full MIDI CC and PC control over all parameters, including preset recalling, and clock syncing. These MIDI capabilities make the BIGSBY Pedal a versatile tool for any musician. BIGSBY Pedal Features Overview – https://youtu.be/jGUfwgcplzI

The new pedal is being released in close collaboration with Fender – the Bigsby brand’s parent company. The partnership began in the summer of 2019 when Gamechanger Audio approached Fender with the idea to create a Bigsby-style pitch-shifting pedal. This idea was born out of a long-standing admiration for the BIGSBY system’s unique feel, sound, and design. Gamechanger Audio’s main goal was to develop a powerful new algorithm to offer Bigsby tones digitally while keeping the pedal’s interface as close as possible to Paul Bigsby’s timeless hardware design. BIGSBY Pedal photo (Available here)

In March 2021, Gamechanger Audio announced a pre-order round for the BIGSBY Pedal, and the first 1000 units have already been shipped to customers. Now the new BIGSBY Pedal is available for everyone. For more details and insights about the development process, watch The Story behind BIGSBY Pedal – https://youtu.be/3yygiBpquJI

Unique ALGORITHM and INTERFACE

Powered by the formidable SHARC® Audio Processor, the BIGSBY Pedal runs a hybrid algorithm specifically developed by Gamechanger Audio to achieve smooth polyphonic real-time pitch-shifting at low intervals. The proprietary algorithm has been painstakingly tweaked to preserve the natural timbre and sound of electric and acoustic string instruments, including guitars, baritone, and bass guitars, mandolins, banjos, etc.

Another key component of the BIGSBY Pedal’s sound is the Detune parameter, a carefully crafted emulation of traditional mechanical string-bending hardware’s imperfections and dissonant properties. As a result, the vibrato effects produced by the BIGSBY Pedal are almost indistinguishable from those of the mechanical tremolo arm.

The unique spring-loaded foot-pedal design opens up a world of new strumming patterns and bend combinations allowing beautiful lap-steel and slide-inspired licks that cannot be achieved with traditional tremolo systems.

The BIGSBY Pedal is always “on” – the only thing you need to do to activate it is to step on the foot-pedal. The algorithm ensures that transitions between the dry and wet (pitched) signals are as smooth as possible, enabling you to seamlessly incorporate pitch-bends into complex picking patterns and lead and melodic lines.

ADDITIONAL FEATURES

EXP OUT:

This allows you to use the BIGSBY as a unique spring-loaded Expression Controller with fully adjustable Depth, Rate and Offset controls – for modulating any expression parameters of other pedals and effects units (via a TRS 1⁄4” jack cable).
The BIGSBY Pedal’s Expression Output can be used either in parallel with or independently from the pitch-shifting algorithm.

FSW IN:

The BIGSBY Pedal’s FSW IN connector is compatible with all standard momentary or toggle type footswitches with a TS (Tip/Sleeve) 1⁄4” jack (normally closed or normally open). You can also use a dual-latching footswitch with a TRS jack – in this case, only one side of the footswitch will work.
Pressing the footswitch will activate Latch mode. When latched, the BIGSBY will hold a constant interval determined by the current position of the Depth knob – this way, you don’t have to hold down the BIGSBY Pedal for long phrases.
When in Latch mode, you can still use the BIGSBY’s foot-pedal to make momentary dives and detune effects up to two semitones. Pressing the opposite side of the foot-pedal will flip the pitch shift direction.

MIDI IN (3.5mm type B connector):
This allows you to control all functions of the BIGSBY Pedal via CC messages and create and save presets onto ten preset slots, syncing the Rate parameter to a specific tempo (with subdivisions), and more.

Find out more information on the pedals controls and technical specifications:

Bigsby Pedal full-features video: https://youtu.be/jGUfwgcplzI
Bigsby Pedal Product Page: https://gamechangeraudio.com/bigsby-pedal/