Jeez, prices on USA LM308 ProCo Rats have gotten stupid

[GGBB]

Re: Jeez, prices on USA LM308 ProCo Rats have gotten stupid

I actually think they changed the opamp while they were still MIA, not 100% sure on that.

That's correct. They started using the OP07 in the early 2000s - probably 2002 - which is before they outsourced RAT-2 production to China. So there are plenty of USA-made RAT-2s, Turbo RATs, and even Vintage RAT reissues with the OP07 chip. The You Dirty RAT, since it wasn't released until 2004 (technically 2002 in the Deucetone), never used the LM308. Not sure but I expect the Deucetone also only ever used the OP07.

The 2002-2003 period saw a lot of changes to the RAT line: op-amp change, PCB and circuit change, RAT-2 becomes Chinese, knobs changed, new Deucetone and You Dirty RATs.

I'm not convinced corporate greed is the reason they outsourced the RAT-2. If they were really greedy they'd have outsourced the whole line and not just the one model. I think it's more likely that they had problems keeping up with demand.

 

[GGBB]

Re: Jeez, prices on USA LM308 ProCo Rats have gotten stupid

I assume the new ones are at least in the same ballpark tonally?

Consensus seems to be yes - extremely close in sound, except for the opamp change which is heavily debated.

When you look at how the circuit has changed over the years, the new Chinese RAT-2s are actually far closer (for all intents and purposes identical excluding opamp) to the original RATs than the USA RAT-2s are.

 

[St_Genesius]

Re: Jeez, prices on USA LM308 ProCo Rats have gotten stupid

I fully admit that I didn't test the full range of sounds in my two Rat (2) pedals. I only focused on how I use it, which is roughly like this

 

[AlNiCoMan]

Re: Jeez, prices on USA LM308 ProCo Rats have gotten stupid

I got my proco RAT II a year ago from musiciansfriend.com for $70. It sounds GREAT distortion, fuzz, OD all in one pedal (yes I know it is a distortion pedal) and I am happy with it!!! :beerchug:

that is really cheap for what it is! note that they/sweetwater also sells the $200 whiteface rat. dont pay $130 for that. it has less chunky distortion and the price is jacked up methinks. in the 80s no one would dream of paying $200 for that and you shouldnt pay for it today either, no matter what tone snob tells you the chip is better (cool video btw)

IN 1910 NOBODY WOULD PAY $100 FOR A VAN GOUGH

 

[Edgecrusher]

Re: Jeez, prices on USA LM308 ProCo Rats have gotten stupid

IN 1910 NOBODY WOULD PAY $100 FOR A VAN GOUGH

In 1910 100 bucks was a decent chunk of change. Equivalent to about 2500 bucks now.

If you think about it in terms of inflation 100 bucks in 1983 would be worth 237 now. So 200 bucks for a rat isnt so bad.

 

[GilmourD]

Re: Jeez, prices on USA LM308 ProCo Rats have gotten stupid

IN 1910 NOBODY WOULD PAY $100 FOR A VAN GOUGH

Hi. Took you a year of digging to post in an oldie, huh? LOL

I didn't read the whole thread... There's a lot here (and a good discussion) so somebody else may have already said this.

But as far as the op-amp goes, where it is in the circuit and its function may affect whether it makes a wild difference or none at all. That would be affected by the components before and after, impedance differences between the chip, voltage and amperage being fed, etc.