Advice on Overdrive & Distortion pedals

[Bungo Mike]

Hi all

 

I play in a classic punk band (With a few modernish songs thrown in) and I'm after advice on the above

 

So playing Stranglers stuff for instance what would you all recommend that I use to get that "Peaches" type sound ect

 

I have a Aguilar TH350 and a cab combination of a TC Electronic RS112 and a RS115

 

I've tried a Big Muff and Boss pedals ect but they don't really float my boat and I currently have an Ampeg pre amp

and a Sansamp which is ok but not quite what I need

 

 may be over complicating things to be fair

 

Thanks in advance 😊👍

[itu]

Which bass? Is its output hi- or lo-Z? Where in the chain you want that effect? 

 

I have fuzz/dist pedal first after the bass. I have two (well, three) pedalboards, one for both bass output types. I love a X-over, because the lowest bass stays intact and powerful. 

[Bungo Mike]

Ricky 4003 and a Mike Dirnt into the input set Hi

 

Currently - Tuner, Ampeg pre amp, Sansamp then the compressor

 

I don't know if I should lose the pre amp and then work on the Sansamp

[Lozz196]

Sansamp are fairly scooped, whereas JJ sounded quite mid-boosted on the earlier material. You could look at the Tech21 Para Driver, which has sweepable adjustable mids, set it anywhere from 2kHz upwards and boost, doing that with the Dirnt should get you nicely there without needing the Ampeg.

[dudewheresmybass]

Also the Harris pre might fit here.

[Cosmo Valdemar]

If you specifically want the Stranglers sound get yourself a Tech 21 English Muffy - it's a two channel version of the original Leeds pedal, both designed to emulate a Hiwatt stack.

 

I've used the Leeds as my main preamp for years and with a Precision it gets very close to the Stranglers sound. 

 

In my experience a dedicated overdrive or distortion pedal is always going to be too much - you need something designed to replicate a pushed amp. Run it in the effects return of your amp to bypass the preamp stage.

 

Best of all, Thomann have these Tech 21 pedals on clearance for £133! 

 

He's probably using more top and drive than you'd want for JJ but it gives you an idea. 

Edited November 27, 2025 by Cosmo Valdemar

[Lozz196]

That looks ideal