The Electro-Harmonix Andy Summers Walking On The Moon is an analog flanger and Filter Matrix pedal, released in 2023 and built with The Police guitarist Andy Summers. It is a tribute to the tones Summers carved out in the early days of his career, and Electro-Harmonix describes it as delivering "liquid flange effects that hint toward chorus with extra depth and nuance"1. Underneath the Artist Edition graphics, it is a near-sonic recreation of the original Deluxe Electric Mistress, the circuit family Summers actually used on the Police recordings2.
The pedal carries a list price of $129.001.
What it does: liquid flange that leans toward chorus
A flanger mixes a delayed copy of your signal back with the original, sweeping the delay time to produce the characteristic whooshing, jet-like modulation. The Walking On The Moon is an analog take on that effect, and its voicing sits closer to chorus than most flangers. Electro-Harmonix's own description leans on that character: "liquid flange effects that hint toward chorus with extra depth and nuance"1.
Summers himself was surprised by the flanger label. Interviewed by MusicRadar about the pedal, he said3:
"Who calls it a flanger? I would have called it a chorus"
That distinction matters to players chasing the Police sound. Summers used an Electro-Harmonix Electric Mistress flanger on "Message In A Bottle" and "Walking On The Moon", and Guitar World has argued that this signature pedal should settle the long-running debate over whether he used a flanger or a chorus on those songs34. MusicRadar's reviewer Alex Lynham found the Rate knob "becomes chorus-like past the 10 o'clock point", and noted that subtle control changes will unearth Summers' more subtle sounds from hits like "De Do Do Do, De Da Da Da" and "Message in a Bottle"5.
The controls: Rate, Range, Color and Filter Matrix
The Walking On The Moon is a straightforward three-knob stompbox with one mode switch65. Here is what each control does, per Electro-Harmonix and the published reviews:
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Rate | Sets the speed of modulation, from slow, smooth filter sweeps to jittering vibrato; higher settings create a fluttering vibrato12 |
| Range | Controls how narrow or wide the effect sweeps into the bass frequency range1 |
| Color | Sets the intensity of the flanger effect, from subtle chorusing to classic jet woosh sounds; ramps up as you turn it clockwise12 |
| Filter Matrix switch | Disengages the LFO from the flanger circuit, freezing the flanger for a fixed filter effect1 |
The Filter Matrix mode is the pedal's second personality. With the LFO suspended, the flanger stops sweeping and behaves as a static filter, which MusicRadar described as offering "chime or metallic overtones"7. Guitar World's reviewer Paul Riario found it opens up alternative filtered tones including metallic and boxy-sounding ring modulations, just like the original pedal2. One thing to know: the Rate knob has no effect in Filter Matrix mode1.
MusicRadar's reviewer compared the Color control to a depth control, noting it "interacts with the range knob to provide the voicing of the pedal"5.
Power and connections
The pedal runs on 9V DC, drawing 40mA on a center-negative plug1. A 9.6VDC-200mA power adapter is included in the box, and an optional 9V battery can also power it, though the battery is not included12. The footswitch toggles between true bypass and effect mode, and the status LED is off in bypass and lit when the effect is active1.
On the side of the chassis are three jacks: Input, Flanged Out for the wet effect, and Dry Out2.
The Dry Out jack is directly connected to the Input jack in all modes, so it always carries your dry, unprocessed signal. Use it to split the dry and effected signals, for example to run the wet output into an amp of its own1.
How it relates to the Electric Mistress family
Although badged as a signature pedal, the Walking On The Moon is, in MusicRadar's words, "just an Electric Mistress with a new design and chassis"5. Guitar World's history of the Electric Mistress reports that Electro-Harmonix rebranded the Deluxe Electric Mistress as this pedal, and its reviewer describes it as a near-sonic recreation of an original Deluxe Electric Mistress stompbox with the same topology, in the same compact die-cast chassis as the discontinued Deluxe model24.
Players who want something similar without the signature graphics can look at the current Deluxe Electric Mistress XO or the stereo Electric Mistress, both of which Electro-Harmonix sells alongside it8.
Who uses it: Andy Summers
Andy Summers, guitarist of The Police, is the pedal's namesake and its first signature artist. MusicRadar reported that he collaborated with Electro-Harmonix founder Mike Matthews on his first ever signature pedal at the age of 80, and Summers said of the project, "But I think it came out good because I worked on it"3. Of the original Electric Mistress, Summers said he would use it on songs like "Walking on the Moon" and "Message in a Bottle", calling it a characteristic of his guitar sound1.
The pedal is a Special Artist Edition: the chassis carries Artist Edition graphics with Summers' signature, and each box includes a tribute Walking on the Moon poster with art by Laura Josephson12. Guitar World calls it "more of a commemorative tribute than a collaboration"2.
What reviewers said
Published reviews were positive:
- Guitar World (Paul Riario): "Regardless of the fact that the WOTM is essentially a dressed-up Deluxe Electric Mistress, it's a wonderfully big and lively flanger that spikes its chorusing in a lilting manner; no wonder Summers embraced it as his sound"2.
- MusicRadar (Alex Lynham): Verdict of "excellent flanger", noting the chorus-like Rate behavior and the Police tones available from subtle control changes5.
- Pedal of the Day: "Classic tones, weird and awesome matrix filter sounds and more, this is vintage modulation at its finest", also praising the small footprint and affordable price9.
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Questions
Is the Walking On The Moon pedal the same as the Deluxe Electric Mistress?
Essentially, yes. Reviewers describe it as a rebranded or near-sonic recreation of the Deluxe Electric Mistress in the same compact die-cast chassis, with new Artist Edition graphics and Andy Summers' signature. Electro-Harmonix also still sells a regular Deluxe Electric Mistress XO and a stereo Electric Mistress alongside it.
Does the Walking On The Moon pedal take a battery?
Yes. It runs on an optional 9V battery, which is not included, and a 9.6VDC-200mA power adapter is included in the box. Current draw is 40mA on a center-negative plug.
What does the Dry Out jack do?
The Dry Out jack splits your dry, unprocessed signal from the effected signal. Electro-Harmonix notes that Dry Out is directly connected to the Input jack in all modes, so you always have access to the clean signal while the Flanged Out jack carries the wet effect.
Is the Walking On The Moon pedal true bypass?
Yes. Electro-Harmonix lists true bypass switching, and both Guitar World and MusicRadar confirm it. The status LED is off when the pedal is in true bypass and lit when the effect is active.
Is the Walking On The Moon a limited edition?
It is a Special Artist Edition rather than a numbered limited run. The chassis carries Artist Edition graphics with Andy Summers' signature, and each box includes a tribute Walking on the Moon poster with art by Laura Josephson. Guitar World calls it more of a commemorative tribute than a collaboration.
Was this Andy Summers' first signature pedal?
Yes. MusicRadar reported that Summers collaborated with Electro-Harmonix founder Mike Matthews on his first ever signature pedal at the age of 80. Summers said he worked on it directly and thought it came out good.
Sources (9)
- Andy Summers Walking On The Moon, Electro-Harmonix
- Electro-Harmonix Andy Summers Walking on the Moon Flanger review, Guitar World, 2023-10-06
- Andy Summers seems surprised his new signature pedal with Electro Harmonix is a flanger: "I would have called it a chorus", MusicRadar, 2023-09-18
- How the Electro-Harmonix Electric Mistress became the go-to flanger for David Gilmour and Andy Summers, and remained a pedalboard staple for nearly 50 years, Guitar World, 2024-01-23
- Electro-Harmonix Andy Summers Walking On The Moon Analog Flanger / Filter Matrix pedal review, MusicRadar, 2023-12-14
- Electro-Harmonix Andy Summers Walking On The Moon, Delicious Audio, 2024-07-08
- Electro-Harmonix announces the Andy Summers Walking On The Moon flanger pedal, MusicRadar, 2023-07-13
- "The Police" Flanger: EHX Andy Summers Walking On The Moon, gearnews.com, 2023-07-14
- Electro-Harmonix Andy Summers Walking On The Moon Flanger / Filter Matrix, Pedal of the Day, 2024-07-05
