Electro-Harmonix Deluxe Electric Mistress

Easy to use.

Excellent! Great flanger sounds.

My story: my Deluxe Electric Mistress worked great for a year in my smoke-free, low-dust, bone dry studio. I absolutely babied this thing, never brought it outside or played out with it, never plugged and unplugged cords, never abused it, seldom even switched it off. Despite that one day it simply died. No flange, no nothing. Not particularly happy about this, since it cost more than $100, I looked at the Harmony-Central reviews to see if anyone else had had this happen to them. Lo and behold, my experiences were basically mirrored by dozens of users, one after another after another, all of them saying that their well-kept pedals simply stopped working, stone dead. Each of them was rightfully furious, having blown $100 or more on the most unreliable pedal imaginable. When I read them all, at least two dozen and probably more, I was so irate that I wrote my own scathing review of the pedal's reliability, then threw the damned thing against the cement wall of my basement. I should have sent in back to E-H that way but instead the pedal now lives at the local landfill. I also sold my other, almost new E-H pedal and yanked all the E-H tubes out of my amps, figuring they were all as unreliable as the Deluxe Electric Mistress.

Incredibly bad.

I expect this level of reliability from a $19.99 pedal, not from a $105 pedal. The tone is great, the reliability abyssmal. Stay far, far away from Electro-Harmonix.

Not super difficult to use, but it does require time to get a good sound. The rate and range knob really change the sound, though the color knob doesn't do as much as I hoped. The manual is not very usefull, it's better to figure out how it works on your own.

I use a Strat or SG > crybaby wah > mxr dyna comp > boss metal zone > mxr phase 90 > electric mistress > boss dd-5 > fender hot rod deluxe. It has great flanger/chorus sounds and the filter matrix is really out of this world. My favorite setting is with all the knobs at minimum. it gives a really subtle spacy sound, good for jeff beck/david gilmour sound. Classic flanger with rate turned up. The filter matrix takes out the ocilator (and rate knob) and gives strange bell like sound. Works great with my other effects. The only problem is that it cuts your volume a little when ingaged.

I really love this pedal and i am constantly using it. If it were lost i would have to replace it because it is great. Best flanger out there.(if you turn the color up too high it gets really noisy)

I see that a few are people saying that it is difficult to use, but I didn't think it was too bad. I mean, it sounds pretty good at most settings, as long as the rate is set quite low. I do think it is a bit more tricky to nail a specific sound that you have in mind though.
The Filter matrix is a nice feature, and as it only involves the colour and rate, it is quite easy to get some nice sounds out of.
I don't think I got a manual, so I don't know if it was of any help.

First of all, I would like to say that I like this pedal a lot. It sounds to me just how a flanger should sound. It is analogue and warm, whilst still being somehow metalic and resonant.
However, it does have a couple of crappy features. When you engage it there is a big loss of volume (well, quite big - certainly noticable) and it is a bit weak in terms of bass.

Cool. Seems reliable. I've had it a year or so.

Only ever dealt with them once and they were quite helpful

Good pedal. Could be better. It would be nice it just had a bit more, erm, balls I guess - a bit more power.
Apart from that I think my only other criticism is that I can't understand why it is so big - Why? It's so big you could fit three other pedals in its place.
If you want a classic sounding flanger and don't mind a couple of anoying features, get one of these and enjoy.
Oh yeah, and I own loads of other gear etc.... so you know I'm not completely full of crap.

This is not the easiest of pedals to use.
When i first plugged it in i was worried that i had bought a pile of junk.
Then i read a few tips for getting good sounds out if it, messed around a bit and....WHOOPPEEEEE..... I got it.

See my review of The Big Muff Pi US reissue for my full setup.

I bought this as David Gilmour uses one, and it's a well known sound in lots of Pink Floyd albums and live tracks.

Using it along with the Muff and my Dynacomp compressor i can get some great sounds.

I went from being scared to turn it on, to using it almost all the time. It really is great once you get into it, it gives a nice shimmer to clean sounds, adds bite and swirl to lead playing and souds great when palm muting.

BAD POINTS - It is noisy (use a Boss NS2) and it does cut your volume when you turn it on, so get ready with your volume pedal.

Set it to filter matrix, set the rate about 9pm, and the rest between 9pm -11pm, this gives a great and very useable tone.

Pretty solid construction, though i dont trust the power input jack, it feel s abit loos when you plug the adaptor in, there's nothing wrong with it, it's just that it never feels like it connects tight when you plug it in.

No idea

I bought this without knowing much about it except that Dave Gilmour uses it a lot.
At first it sounded horrible, all tinny and metallic, then i turned it to Flanger only and it sounded flat and dull. Then i turned on the filter matrix and set the rate at 9 and the others at 10 and there it was, The Wall sound.
Now i use it all over the place, it sounds great with the Muff and really adds character to your tone.

I love it, it takes a bit of time to work out, but when you do it's yummy.

The knobs can be a bit tricky at first, like most EH pedals the labels are misleading.

This pedal avoids the cheesy hokey flanger distortion for a more musical tone. It is not as extreme as some flangers but can make those jet plane sounds. This pedal really shines in other departments though, when played on clean, with the rate at its lowest you get amazing feedback and bell like over tones. In combination with any of my pedals (Octave Multiplexer, ibanez metal screamer or stereo chorus, phase 90, or my boss dd-20/dd-6, the pedal interacts great and makes up for it's slight noise problem.

Just got it...

Never had to deal with them

The pedal is the best Flanger on the market, it beats the shit out of the alt/nu-metal digital diatribe.

I got this about a week ago and used it pretty much all the time, to see where I can really take this pedal, and I love it. I bought it secondhand but all the original stuff was there, and this product is really easy to use. Three Knobs, and 2 switchs. The 2 switchs activate the flanger effect and the othger engages, the filter matrix mode. So its a pedal you can gte out the box and start strait away, you could give the manual a read but its only a sheet of paper.

The sound quality of this pedal is grea, alought i find it is slightly noisey, so when you stop playing you hear it in the background, which can be annoying, even though this pedal is true bypass so no tone sucking hear. The Flanger itself, is lovely, very thick and warm. So be warned this is not subtle flanger like others!!! This compared to my BF-3 is so much better, this being an anlogue pedal makes all the difference, definately one to get if your a flanger fan. And the filter matrix mode disengages the rate to give to manual postioning of the flanging effect, for "chime" tone as EHX describe it.

I'm using the pedal with several other, it running through my effects loop on my laney tube fusion amp. Here is the setup:
SEND > Small stone > mistress > CH-1 super chorus > DD-6 digtial delay >RETURN]

I have a distion, crybaby and filter modeler running from the guitar, this is noiseless setup apart from the small stone and mistress.

Don't let that put you off its an amazing pedal and well worth a look. EASY but oh SO WARM and EFFECTIVE!!

ITs secondhand and had some minor damage, but the metals solid and its a fairly big so its pretty solid. I would like to gig with a backup, but cant afford, but my rig is pretty solid and so is this pedal, you can gig without a backup for sure, but i like to know if something goes wrong i have a spare:)

Never dealt with the company, but i hear there a nightmare, but not sure i'll say not sure, i'm sure it won't come to that though.

I play a lot of RHCP, John Frusciante, Radiohead, Rock, Blues and gererally anything and my own riffs, and it great and pedal worth trying out. I own a lot of other gear, but its up there with the best because of its versatility, it goes from aslow sweep to leslie style..mmmmmmmm. If it where stolen i would hy another and probably second hand again as it better to buy just as new for 45 quid than brand new for #120. I help for make music cause i like to spice up with appegios or add some dlay some sound spaced out sounds.ALTHOUGH I WISH it has an LED sound silly but so you know when the ffect is on becuase soemtime you forget and it really mess a nice riff up.....sometimes. I've been playing for 3-4 years and had several different pedals and my previsous flanger the BF-3 from boss frankly got broing after a while there was do much to do on it, i like a nice simple flanger where ewasy sound can be obtained. The BF-3 was very sterile and cold compared to the mistress which is very warm.

3 knobs color, range and rate. It would seem easy but the range and color knobs are kind of vague in they're effect.

I play a modified Epiphone Sheraton 2 (57 classic plus in neck and bridge) into a Laney tube fusion (soon to be replaced with a fender)with the electric mistress in the loop. I can get a pretty good David Gilmour out of it as well as a Nirvana esque chorus. Like all the other reviewers have said this pedal is noisy where ever you put it but it still reasonably preserves the sound of your pickups. This being said...still best flange I have had the privilige of playing through

I don't know. I have heard horrible things about electro-harmonix but this pedal seems pretty solid.

never had to deal with them

I play a wide variety of music and the only genre I don't care to much for is new metal. If this pedal were stolen I would definitly replace it. I like the fact that it doesn't digitize your sound to the point where it sounds bad. I use to own a Boss Bf-2 and I definitly prefer the sound of the electric mistress.

Easier to get a good sound than the Boss BF-3 (which I also own) due to only three knobs (and one switch) on the thing. No manual - bought used.

Used with standard Telecaster and Peavey Bandit. Would sound better w/ a good tube amp (wouldn't everything?). It's not noisy, but it drops the deci-bells slightly when it's on. Maybe an issue for live playing, but not for me.

Effects are rich and non-harsh. Sounds very milky and warm. The most chorusy flanger I've heard. You could use it as a chorus in fact, as long as you don't use distortion--then the deception would be unmasked.

Great for The Police and U2, The Cure, maybe The Smiths, and that kind of thing (Andy Summers used an older version of this pedal, in fact).

I've had it for four years with no problems. I bought it used.

My favorite flanger.

It's quite easy to get a good sound out of this. There are three control pots and one switch for the Filter Matrix thingy. Very simple.

Firstly, I'm posting this to be helpful to those in the UK who're thinking of getting one, because before I got it there was some doubt about it's power requirements.
This is a recent reissue and was shipped to me by a UK gear store (online - stringbusters) and when it arrived I saw a little orange sticker with 'UK' written on it.
Thankfully this thing runs nicely off a 9v adaptor so all is well power-wise.

I'm using a Fender CS FMT Telecaster through a Sovtek Big Muff Pi > Electric Mistress > Digital Reverb > Marshall G30R CD amp.

It sounds great - tweaking it I found some useful Floydy-type sounds and when combined with the Muff it all made sense. It handles reverb well and isn't too noisy.
When I switched it on I did notice a slight hiss, though once I started playing and adding other effects I didn't notice it anymore. The Flange has a lovely warmth to it and with some dirt it positively buzzes with analog tone and tidyness. Totally dry the effect needs a bit of a boost, though I should think a Compressor would sort that out. It isn't even that big a deal.

I'd say I could depend on this - the casing is very strong looking; it seems to be about as strong as you'd need it to be. The polished metal almost makes me want to tap it gently when I turn it on, but it takes a knock or two. It takes them well.
I would gig with this without a backup - it's not too necessary an effect anyway, but something I'd love to have availiable to me in a live situation.

I've not had any dealings with EH yet.

Great for warm, full, analog flanging and fantastic for Pink Floyd fans. It manages a comfortable Hendrixy vibe sound and when you combine it with other pedals you're sure to find something you like.
UK buyers ought to take note of the 'new' power supply tweaks, as that's incredibly helpful. Great fun.

Just play around with it and you'll find that setting that gets it through most of your setlist.........
Mid to extreme settings ain't useful........subtle is best!
Older scratched up unit w/ the power cord.

Ok........Here we go........The mistress does drop in db's quite a bit when turned on, and then it robs your high end. I did the pot trimmer thingy, but the dang thing was nearly dimed to begin with and , well, it didn't change the volume much. It is placed in the proper position in my signal chain, and does add it's little noisy, cyclic thing as flangers will do anyway.
Given that it does suck tone in bypass, when it is ON, it is a sound that hits me right between the eyes for what I want to hear!
Rush's Spirit of Radio? Yep! And all of my other faves that need a flanger added....I love it....
Did the DOD FX747, hash browns, Ibanez FL9 etc etc...........No ADA and no MXR yet though.....
And I just love it and My strat, Muff and OD's love it too!
Oh yeah....If you try to wah it, it just smooths out the wah, making it not quite as edgey, but just good!

We'll see.............

Nope.......I support myself.........

I like this a lot, but make sure that there are VERY FEW non TRUE BYPASS items in your chain before getting there to the FLANGE stage.
Other wise you may dump THIS pedal thinking that there is something wrong with your tone!
Loop out all those bad bad pedals.......
Hell..........Loop this thing out too!
LOL