[NPD] - Praise for an old classic: 76/77 EHX Electric Mistress (modded)

[DemoColorScheme]

Well, it's not really a NPD, since I pounced on this baby 2 months ago, but after getting it, I noticed it was broken, just not functioning anymore. Luckily, the guy had no clue what this was worth and I only paid €85,- for it, which is like less than you pay for a new BOSS pedal around here.

I sent it over to a friend of mine who does all my mods (Technophobia Analog Audio Solutions (http://technophobia.co.nr/)) - great guy and has been for years now - and he repaired and modded the unit. He said it was quite over-due for a cleanup and it had definitely not been used for years - he also mentioned it was one of the first batches of the Mistress (or well, at least close to that)! He fixed it up successfully and modded it with the following mods:
- Noise reduction, calibration, cleanup, new power input (still runs at 18V)
- Green LED
- True Bypass
- Volume drop fixed
- and the best thing, a Mix knob:
the cool thing about the knob is that at 12 O' clock it's the stock EM setting but twisting it further engages a clean boost. You can actually boost your volume with it! How cool is that?

Sadly to say, it has replaced my Hartman Analog Flanger (which replaced my modded Deluxe Electric Mistress), which I've really enjoyed! I still think the Hartman is a superb product and will aways back (and highly praise Theo's customer service, which is still the best I've encountered!) it up completely and recommend it, but for my application, the EM was a little more subtle and with the added mix knob, I can make it even subtler.

So, here it is:
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y244/DemolitionColorScheme/ElectricMistressmodded01.jpg

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y244/DemolitionColorScheme/ElectricMistressmodded02.jpg

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y244/DemolitionColorScheme/ElectricMistressmodded03.jpg

It's in extremely good shape, especially considering its age!

Anyways, my question is:
people have been asking me, for the last 2 months, if I could A/B the Hartman and the EM. Should I? Is it really fair? It kinda feels like, cheating? Though, in all honesty, the stronger sound of the Hartman might appeal to others a little better than the lighter EM and in all honesty, then don't differ THAT much.
If anyone is interested in the A/B of the two units, do let me know and I'll get on it before I return / sell the Hartman!

[itkindaworks]

Very cool! Was the DEM you had modded to regular EM specs?

[DemoColorScheme]

Very cool! Was the DEM you had modded to regular EM specs?
No, not really. It was calibrated, had its noise reduced, volume drop fixed, made TB and got an extra LED. It wasn't modified specifically to EM specs though I don't doubt the guy did it a little anyways, since he has an old EM as well. The modded DEM was still a great unit, definitely!

[DemoColorScheme]

Bump.

[woude]

I love that pedal, it's been on my ' to buy' list for ages. Those mods seem to be very convenient! Please do an A/B with the Hartman, I'm interested to hear the differences. Can you maybe at least do some typical Andy Summers and some typical Gilmour sounds / settings? I think that a lot of people would like to know how both units handle that stuff, aside from the 'subtle' sounds. :cool:

[DemoColorScheme]

I love that pedal, it's been on my ' to buy' list for ages. Those mods seem to be very convenient! Please do an A/B with the Hartman, I'm interested to hear the differences. Can you maybe at least do some typical Andy Summers and some typical Gilmour sounds / settings? I think that a lot of people would like to know how both units handle that stuff, aside from the 'subtle' sounds. :cool:
Sure! If you can give me some examples, I can see what I can do!

[todd richman]

Nice find and mods-demos please cause I like listening to them.

[DemoColorScheme]

Nice find and mods-demos please cause I like listening to them.
Sure! I'll see if I can A/B the Hartman and the modded EM next week. If I haven't sold/returned the Hartman then I'll do so.

[amarr1]

That looks real neato. I like subtle, almost chorus-y flange for swells and stuff like that but I'd never shell out money for one. Maybe later. ;) Cool score and really cool mix knob mod!

[DemoColorScheme]

That looks real neato. I like subtle, almost chorus-y flange for swells and stuff like that but I'd never shell out money for one. Maybe later. ;) Cool score and really cool mix knob mod!
That's what I like it for as well. I'm not a big fan of the jet-sounds of flangers.

[meterman]

nice pedal, I've got a real similar one from '78 I think that was refurbished and tuned up by Howard Davis the EH engineer who designed the circuit. I had a vintage DEM as well but like the smaller footprint of the non-Deluxe model. Mine runs on 9V DC whereas my DEM had a hardwired AC cord. Kind of noisy but the effect is really cool, I like the subtlety too and the fact that you can get so much variety from the rate knob, from slow flange to chorus to a decent leslie sound at higher speeds. I generally keep the Color knob down but it gets nice and weird when you crank it :D

[DemoColorScheme]

nice pedal, I've got a real similar one from '78 I think that was refurbished and tuned up by Howard Davis the EH engineer who designed the circuit. I had a vintage DEM as well but like the smaller footprint of the non-Deluxe model. Mine runs on 9V DC whereas my DEM had a hardwired AC cord. Kind of noisy but the effect is really cool, I like the subtlety too and the fact that you can get so much variety from the rate knob, from slow flange to chorus to a decent leslie sound at higher speeds. I generally keep the Color knob down but it gets nice and weird when you crank it :D
I don't think Howard designed it. He didn't design the DMM as well, however, he did alter it so much that the sales took off fast and he is now seen as the father of the DMM.
My EM still runs on 18V though, I choose for this for the slight added headroom (even though it runs at 12V internally).
Great unit! Such a classic.

[woude]

Sure! If you can give me some examples, I can see what I can do!

Maybe like the solo at 2:05. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tkJNyQfAprY

and this type of sounds: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-KKkzjeJEXE

[DemoColorScheme]

I'll see what I can do / feel like. I can't promise anything.

[Howard Davis]

I don't think Howard designed it. He didn't design the DMM as well, however, he did alter it so much that the sales took off fast and he is now seen as the father of the DMM.
My EM still runs on 18V though, I choose for this for the slight added headroom (even though it runs at 12V internally).
Great unit! Such a classic.

To clear up a few facts - I did not design the original Electric Mistress, but I did design the Deluxe Mistress. I did not design the first delay pedal called the "Memory Man" but that first unit had many problems that affected its marketability. I was asked to redesign it, which eliminated the serious problems, and I later designed the Deluxe MM, Stereo MM, and the rest of that line.

Guitar pedal design engineering, repairs, and custom mods:
http://howardmickdavis.com

[DemoColorScheme]

To clear up a few facts - I did not design the original Electric Mistress, but I did design the Deluxe Mistress. I did not design the first delay pedal called the "Memory Man" but that first unit had many problems that affected its marketability. I was asked to redesign it, which eliminated the serious problems, and I later designed the Deluxe MM, Stereo MM, and the rest of that line.

Guitar pedal design engineering, repairs, and custom mods:
http://howardmickdavis.com
So, it's basically what I said? ;) You build upon the idea of the Memory Man and made it into the Deluxe Memory Man etc.
(I'm not saying you didn't do a brilliant job - because you did, the DMM is still my favorite stompbox pedal created to this very day)

[meterman]

To clear up a few facts - I did not design the original Electric Mistress, but I did design the Deluxe Mistress...

oops sorry Howard my bad I had an EM and a DEM both refurbished by you and got confused as to which one you designed. Both sounded absolutely stellar when I got them back from you though!

[Howard Davis]

oops sorry Howard my bad I had an EM and a DEM both refurbished by you and got confused as to which one you designed. Both sounded absolutely stellar when I got them back from you though!

Thank you!
Alot more can be done for the DELUXE than for the original Electric Mistress.

Guitar pedal design engineering, repairs, and custom mods:
http://howardmickdavis.com