Home › Forums › Vintage EHX › Rush–Spirit of Radio Intro

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  • February 5, 2012 at 10:31 am #82167
    gibson335
    Member

    Hello:

    This is my first post here. I purchased a Deluxe Electric Mistress several years ago and I absolutely love it! I have been playing guitar for over 40 years–since I was 6. One of my favorite groups is Rush and, since I was in high school when the Permanent Waves album came out, it has always been my favorite (well, at least up there with 2112).

    My friends and I have been chasing the sound for the intro to Spirit of Radio for decades. Although I can play the riff (the original version is even played differently than what Lifeson teaches on his instructional video), I can’t quite seem to get that sweeping, crisp, flanged sound Lifeson gets on the album, using my Deluxe. Believe it or not, the closest I’ve come so far is with a Zoom Fire 7010 and no other pedals.

    I have read on other blogs that Lifeson used the original Electric Mistress (with the green writing) and perhaps ran it through a chorus or delay as well (maybe a Loft). Does anyone know for sure what he used? Before I run out and spend $400 on one of these vintage Electric Mistress units, I was hoping to get some input from others who may have used it. Is it really that much different than the modern Deluxe? Is there any way to modify my Deluxe to get the sound of the original?

    Thanks in advance for your time and consideration.

    April 1, 2012 at 8:57 am #117216
    gibson335
    Member

    Well, I think I found my answer — at least a partial answer. According to a recent interview with Lifeson himself, he said he used the Electric Mistress on Spirit of Radio, which I presume is the Mistress with the green writing on it?

    “The flanger on that song was an Electro-Harmonix Electric Mistress, which I still have. I used the Boss Chorus Ensemble, and I had graduated to the Roland Space Echo, which replaced my Echoplex.”

    http://www.guitarworld.com/interview-alex-lifeson-dissects-11-key-rush-songs-anthem-test-echo?page=0,3

    I had read in other posts and forums that he ran from the Mistress to the Boss Chorus Ensemble (flanger to chorus). Would that make sense or is he just referring to the effects he used in other parts of the Permanent Waves LP?

    What is it about the original Electric Mistress that is so different from the modern Deluxe? I see the original units selling on ebay for as much as $400–almost four times as much as a new Deluxe. Can EHX not duplicate the original? Seems like it would be a money maker.

    In any case, it’s great to see that he hasn’t let go of his Mistress over thirty years later.

    July 17, 2012 at 5:58 am #117874
    gibson335
    Member

    I bought the Hartman Analog Flanger (Electric Mistress clone) a few months ago. It’s about as close as I will probably ever get to the real thing. Maybe someday I’ll get lucky and come across one.

    August 22, 2018 at 5:56 pm #124219
    Rushfan2112
    Member

    Hey – I could have written that EXACT post! Did you ever find that SPIRIT OF RADIO sound?

    Doug

    August 23, 2018 at 1:31 am #124222
    gibson335
    Member

    I wasn’t happy with how the Hartman flanger sounded so I made the mistake of experimenting with the pots in back. Bad idea! Now, it’s at a friend’s shop and he’s going to try to use a scope in order to get it back to factory settings. I still wasn’t able to get the sound I was looking for and I don’t know if anything can exactly replicate the original sound Lifeson got with the EHX Electric Mistress. Maybe I should have just bit the bullet and started there first. The prices are going higher by the day.

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