Stray Dogs album cover - Nothing But Thieves
Guitar tone settings

How to Dial In "I Needed You Then, I Need You Now" by Nothing But Thieves - Guitar Tone Settings

The rig

Gear for "I Needed You Then, I Need You Now"

Suggested rig · the original isn't documented.

The settings

Knob Positions, Pickup, and Tuning

Amp settings

Where to set the knobs for this tone. Each value is on the standard 0–10 amp scale.

Gain6.5
Bass5.5
Mid6
Treble6.5
Presence6
Volume7

On your amp, these numbers won't sound the same.

Get the settings for my amp
Guitar setup

How the artist had their guitar configured for this take.

Pickup selector
NeckNk+MdMiddleBr+MdBridge
Guitar knobs
Tone9
Volume10
Recording notes

From Stray Dogs (2026). A track from the band's fifth album, which guitarist Joe Langridge-Brown said was aimed at sounding rawer, more organic and chaotic. No source available here confirms the exact guitar and amp on this recording, so a Fender American Professional II Jazzmaster through an Orange Rockerverb 100 MkIII stands in. Set the amp at a medium-gain crunch and use the bridge pickup. Tuning isn't documented here.

FAQ

Common Questions About the "I Needed You Then, I Need You Now" Tone

  1. What guitar did Nothing But Thieves use on "I Needed You Then, I Need You Now"?

    The guitar on "I Needed You Then, I Need You Now" (released 2026) isn't documented; the Fender American Professional II Jazzmaster above gets the sound. Pickup selector: bridge pickup on the guitar.

  2. What amp settings does "I Needed You Then, I Need You Now" need?

    Settings for this sound: Gain 6.5, Bass 5.5, Mid 6, Treble 6.5, Presence 6, Volume 7. Each value is on the standard 0–10 amp scale; match them on your amp first, then nudge to taste. ToneMirror can translate these positions for whatever amp you actually own.

  3. Can I play "I Needed You Then, I Need You Now" without the original gear?

    Yes. ToneMirror takes the settings above and adapts it to your guitar, amp, and pedals - so you can chase the "I Needed You Then, I Need You Now" tone on a Katana, a Helix, a tube combo, or anything else. The translation accounts for EQ curve, gain structure, and pickup type so the result actually sounds like the record, not just the same knob numbers on different gear.

Related tones

Tone references for "I Needed You Then, I Need You Now" by Nothing But Thieves are provided for educational use. ToneMirror is not affiliated with the artists or labels referenced.

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