The Electro-Harmonix Steel Leather Attack Expander is an Electro-Harmonix eq pedal, currently around $34.90. Close alternatives include the Creation Audio Labs Funkulator and the Chaos Custom Shop Blender. It pairs well with the Ampeg Rocket Bass RB-115 Combo Bass Amp and the Traynor YBA100 Tube Bass Head.
Electro-Harmonix Steel Leather Attack Expander
Electro-Harmonix · pedal
The Electro-Harmonix Steel Leather Attack Expander is a bass-specific dynamics pedal that expands and emphasizes note attack, adding punch and definition to picked or slapped bass lines rather than compressing dynamics down. It's built to sharpen transient response, making individual notes cut through a mix with more percussive clarity, aimed at bassists wanting more aggressive attack character rather than smoother sustain.
- attack
- punch
- compressor
- aggressive
- transient
- mix
- bass
- compression
Price updated Aug 27, 2026
Genres the Electro-Harmonix Steel Leather Attack Expander is commonly used in
- Country Pop
cited
Inferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag. - Country
cited
Inferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag.
Amps that pair well with the Electro-Harmonix Steel Leather Attack Expander
Ampeg Rocket Bass RB-115 Combo Bass Amp
Ampeg
29% matchThe Attack Expander's aggressive transient shaping gives the RB-115's massive preamp real punch without adding gain.
Traynor YBA100 Tube Bass Head
Traynor
17% matchTraynor YBA100 Tube Bass Head leans warm right where the bright tone needs it
Dumble Steel String Singer
Dumble
tonal matchDumble Steel String Singer's smooth balances out the bright tone
Fender Prosonic
amplifier
tonal matchRun Fender Prosonic after it and the bright edge settles into something more warm
Gibson GA-50
Gibson
tonal matchGibson GA-50 leans warm right where the bright tone needs it
Orange BT1000H Terror Bass 1000-Watt Bass Amp
Orange
tonal matchWhere this leans bright, Orange BT1000H Terror Bass 1000-Watt Bass Amp answers back warm
Orange Terror Bass
Orange
tonal matchWhere this leans bright, Orange Terror Bass answers back warm
Orange Little Bass Thing
Orange
tonal matchOrange Little Bass Thing's warm balances out the bright tone
Pedals that stack with the Electro-Harmonix Steel Leather Attack Expander
Catalinbread SFT
Catalinbread
23% matchRun Catalinbread SFT after it and the bright edge settles into something more warm
One Control Lingonberry Overdrive
One Control
19% matchOne Control Lingonberry Overdrive leans warm right where the bright tone needs it
FoxGear EchoSex
Foxgear
14% matchRun FoxGear EchoSex after Electro-Harmonix Steel Leather Attack Expander in the signal chain, clear of Electro-Harmonix Steel Leather Attack Expander's own gain stage — goes in the amp's FX loop (or last, into a clean amp)
Line 6 DL4 Delay Modeler
pedal
14% matchKeep Electro-Harmonix Steel Leather Attack Expander's aggressive voice out front: Line 6 DL4 Delay Modeler goes after Electro-Harmonix Steel Leather Attack Expander in the signal chain so its warm voice doesn't muddy it — goes in the amp's FX loop (or last, into a clean amp)
Tone City King of Blues
Tone City
tonal matchElectro-Harmonix Steel Leather Attack Expander leans into a clean amp's front end, precisely the platform Tone City King of Blues wants
Carl Martin THE Fuzz
Carl Martin
tonal matchCarl Martin THE Fuzz is voiced for a clean amp's front end — Electro-Harmonix Steel Leather Attack Expander gives it exactly that
Warm Audios Throne of Tone
Warm Audio
tonal matchElectro-Harmonix Steel Leather Attack Expander leans into a clean amp's front end, precisely the platform Warm Audios Throne of Tone wants
Crazy Tube Circuits Heatseeker Pre-Amp
Crazy Tube Circuits
tonal matchCrazy Tube Circuits Heatseeker Pre-Amp is voiced for a clean amp's front end — Electro-Harmonix Steel Leather Attack Expander gives it exactly that
Cheaper alternatives
Boutique & premium upgrades
Similar character
See all alternatives to the Electro-Harmonix Steel Leather Attack Expander (cheaper + boutique) →
Questions people ask
What are good alternatives to the Electro-Harmonix Steel Leather Attack Expander?+
The closest matches in character are the Creation Audio Labs Funkulator, the Chaos Custom Shop Blender, the Cry Baby Dunlop 105Q CB Bass. Budget picks: Behringer BEQ700 Bass Graphic Equalizer Effetto. Boutique upgrades: Aguilar DB316, Effects Bakery Maritozzo Bass EQ, Boss AW-3.
What pairs well with the Electro-Harmonix Steel Leather Attack Expander?+
Strong matches from rig and tone-complementarity evidence: Ampeg Rocket Bass RB-115 Combo Bass Amp, Traynor YBA100 Tube Bass Head, Dumble Steel String Singer — The Attack Expander's aggressive transient shaping gives the RB-115's massive preamp real punch without adding gain..
How much does the Electro-Harmonix Steel Leather Attack Expander cost?+
Around $34.90 (live listing price, updated Aug 27, 2026).