Electro-Harmonix · Deluxe Electric Mistress · 1978–1984; reissued 1999–2023

EHX Deluxe Electric Mistress

The Electric Mistress came first, in 1976, and Ralf Metzger's history of the pedal credits its design to David Cockerell. In 1978 Howard Davis followed it with the Deluxe, in a larger case with a built-in mains transformer and no battery, a wider-ranging sweep and less noise. The originals use the Reticon SAD1024 bucket-brigade chip. Its Filter Matrix switch stops the sweep so the flanger holds one ringing, chime-like tone. David Gilmour used an Electric Mistress from the Animals tour on, Andy Summers is another famous user, and John Frusciante and J Mascis have both used the Deluxe. By the time EHX brought the Deluxe back in 1999 the SAD1024 was out of production, so the reissue runs on an RD5106A from a 1995 Davis redesign. The first reissues still had a mains cord, later ones took a 24-volt adapter, and the 2015 compact version runs on a 9.6-volt supply with true bypass. EHX discontinued that one in 2023. Collectors want a working SAD1024 original. Players should look at the 2015 compact version, which fits a pedalboard.