The idea to create a BIGSBY-style pitch-shifting pedal was born out of a long-standing admiration for the BIGSBY system’s unique feel, sound, and design. This classic tremolo arm system was first introduced by Paul Bigsby in 1951, and the spring-loaded masterpiece, with its palpable twang and inimitable nuance, quickly became the stuff of legend.

Whether you’re wielding one yourself or thrilling to a classic recording, the magical warbling instantly conjures visions of back alley brawls in Brixton, spaghetti Western gunfights in a sun-drenched desert, or fist-pumping crowds singing odes to rocking the free world.

The Gamechanger BIGSBY combines golden-age rock ’n’ roll mechanics with state-of-the-art signal processing. On the outside, an original-style activator bar (modified to withstand years of foot stomping) is paired with a carefully selected spring that yields the same cushy feel and unique bounce of hand-activated models—because that’s integral to the feel of all the best traditional tremolo systems.

On the inside, a powerful SHARC processor chip, found in high end multi-FX processors, samples your signal and processed it with a fully polyphonic pitch-shifting algorithm, controlled directly by the pedal.

• Stellar build quality with metal foot pedal and smooth spring action
• Frees your hands up for intricate patterns
• Can produce string-bending combinations for lap-steel and slide-inspired guitar licks
• Can be paired with other instruments and FX for unique, unheard sounds

Gamechanger Audio developed their own hybrid algorithm that would not only achieve smooth, polyphonic real-time pitch-shifting in the lower harmonic intervals, typical of Bigsby-style vibratos, but also preserve the natural timbres and inherent tonal characteristics of the instruments plugged into it. They specifically worked to ensure it melds seamlessly with electric and acoustic guitar (standard 6-string, baritone, and bass), mandolins, banjos, and more.

Another key component of the BIGSBY pedal’s sound is its Detune parameter—a precision crafted algorithm designed to emulate the imperfections and dissonant properties of traditional mechanical string-bending hardware. This makes vibrato effects produced by the Bigsby pedal virtually indistinguishable from the real deal.