Electro-Harmonix Deluxe Electric MistressFrom real comments

Verdict distilled from 28 mentions across 13 aspects in comments under product review videos.

Positive sentiment58%
PROS 58%
CONS 42%

Rank based on 28 mentions across 13 aspects

View the verdict as

Buy this if...

  • You want a thick, distinctive analog 60s flanger/chorus tone rather than modern jet-flange sounds
  • You're willing to keep the Rate knob low and experiment to find the pedal's sweet spots
  • You value that EHX addressed the engaged-volume drop seen on other EM models

What users love

Skip this if...

  • You expect fast, dramatic sweeping jet-flanger sounds like a Boss BF out of the box
  • You have limited pedalboard space, since the enclosure is very large
  • You're sensitive to clock/pumping noise issues some units exhibit

What users complain about

Compare in seconds

Based on user comments

Best choice
1Mid
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Articulate soundGreat with extended-range guitarsStrong overall tone qualityPrice concerns
Mad Professor Fire Red Fuzz
Articulate sound
Great with extended-range guitars
Strong overall tone quality
Price concerns
2Premium
Mad Professor Deep Blue Delay
Musical analog toneLong-term reliability and board loyaltySimple, intuitive controlsHigh price pointCheaper alternatives seen as comparableDistortion at high settings
Mad Professor Deep Blue Delay
Musical analog tone
Long-term reliability and board loyalty
Simple, intuitive controls
High price point
Cheaper alternatives seen as comparable
Distortion at high settings
3Premium
Mad Professor Sweet Honey Overdrive
Touch-sensitive dynamicsLong-term favorite / durability of appealSweet, low-gain tone qualityHigh price versus clonesDeluxe loses some original characterLimited mid control
Mad Professor Sweet Honey Overdrive
Touch-sensitive dynamics
Long-term favorite / durability of appeal
Sweet, low-gain tone quality
High price versus clones
Deluxe loses some original character
Limited mid control
Best value
4Mid
MXR Super Badass Distortion
Exceptional versatilityNatural, amp-like tonePowerful 3-band EQDemo videos undersell the pedalNoticeable noise floorVolume drop when engaged
MXR Super Badass Distortion
Exceptional versatility
Natural, amp-like tone
Powerful 3-band EQ
Demo videos undersell the pedal
Noticeable noise floor
Volume drop when engaged
5Premium
Eventide Orville
Exceptional reverb qualityHigh-quality warm pitch shiftingStrong aspirational appealHigh priceCheaper alternatives may sufficeEffect can feel like it plays for you
Eventide Orville
Exceptional reverb quality
High-quality warm pitch shifting
Strong aspirational appeal
High price
Cheaper alternatives may suffice
Effect can feel like it plays for you
6Premium
Origin Effects Deluxe61
Authentic amp-like toneExcellent low-to-mid gain driveUnderrated favorite among ownersHigh price pointLimited gain-staging flexibilityNo built-in reverb
Origin Effects Deluxe61
Authentic amp-like tone
Excellent low-to-mid gain drive
Underrated favorite among owners
High price point
Limited gain-staging flexibility
No built-in reverb
7Premium
Roland TR-808
Iconic, powerful kick drumWarmer, more alive analog characterCultural and historical influenceExtremely high collector priceAnalog noise and static requiring EQReliability concerns of aging hardware
Roland TR-808
Iconic, powerful kick drum
Warmer, more alive analog character
Cultural and historical influence
Extremely high collector price
Analog noise and static requiring EQ
Reliability concerns of aging hardware
8Premium
Moog Subsequent 37
Inspiring and addictive to playWarm, fat analog toneStrong DAW/VST editor integrationHigh price for what it offersLimited versatility outside bass rangeNeeds effects/partner gear to shine
Moog Subsequent 37
Inspiring and addictive to play
Warm, fat analog tone
Strong DAW/VST editor integration
High price for what it offers
Limited versatility outside bass range
Needs effects/partner gear to shine
9
Wampler Tumnus V2
Klon Centaur-style toneConvincing demo influenced purchaseExcellent clean boostNot suited for metal tones
Wampler Tumnus V2
Klon Centaur-style tone
Convincing demo influenced purchase
Excellent clean boost
Not suited for metal tones
10Mid
Wampler Paisley Drive
Transparent toneVersatile across genresWorks well across many guitar typesTwo-channel routing complexityDry signal bleed-throughInconsistent demo impressions
Wampler Paisley Drive
Transparent tone
Versatile across genres
Works well across many guitar types
Two-channel routing complexity
Dry signal bleed-through
Inconsistent demo impressions
You are here
31Mid
Electro-Harmonix Deluxe Electric Mistress
Thick analog flanger/chorus toneGreat slow Leslie/rotary speaker tonesNostalgic, beloved vintage characterHighly sensitive, easy-to-misuse controlsClock/pumping noise issuesLarge, bulky enclosure
Electro-Harmonix Deluxe Electric Mistress
Thick analog flanger/chorus tone
Great slow Leslie/rotary speaker tones
Nostalgic, beloved vintage character
Highly sensitive, easy-to-misuse controls
Clock/pumping noise issues
Large, bulky enclosure

Who wins on what

Ranked by what users actually praise

Overall Impression

The controls are extremely sensitive and easy to misuse. Multiple commenters explain that pushing the Rate knob much past 25% or noon turns the pedal into a muddy, seasick mess, and that only one or two narrow sweet spots exist between the knobs. One reviewer notes 25/25/25 is great while another insists all knobs must start fully counter-clockwise rather than at noon. Several suggest keeping Rate low for the best Leslie-style tones.

It delivers a distinct, thick analog flanger and chorus tone that fans love. Commenters call it a 'does-it-all' flanger capable of wonderful chorus sounds, praise its old-school 60s analog character, and say the guitar stays audible under the effect rather than being swallowed. Several recognized famous tones (Queen, Heart) instantly through it, and one called it one of the best-sounding flangers they know.

Build quirks, noise, and reliability draw mixed reactions. Some users report a loud clock/pumping noise tied to the Rate knob that internal trim pot adjustments don't fix, and one found the normal flange mode unusually weak. A longtime owner called an original unit unreliable and eventually sold it, while others contrast reissues favorably for dropping the hard-wired power cord. Its huge enclosure is loved by some but criticized as wasteful of pedalboard space by others.

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