ProCo Rat 2 - Thoughts?

[treyhaislip]

Re: ProCo Rat 2 - Thoughts?

RATs just inspire you to lay it in and rip it out, don't they?

They're pretty much THE classic distortion pedal. They're honestly on my list of 'pedals everyone should own at some point'. They've appeared in just about every genre you can think of, from blues, funk, soul, hair metal, jazz (Scofield, even modern players like Kurt Rosenwinkel) and really are just.. the standard of what distortion pedals can do.

It's stupidly versatile, you can use it as a heavier fuzzier sound (David Gilmour used them on a few tours for songs where he needed just a little less than his big muff) and can also be used as a blurry/fuzzy grit boost, with the gain all the way down and volume up. The biggest weakness might be the filter control, whihc is a little awkward to use and doesn't have a huge useable range.

It's a real, solid, classic pedal. Even if it doesn't last on your pedalboard, you're best off trying it out for at least a few months.

Yeah, the thing is just amazing! And yeah, a very classic distortion pedal. I do like how my Metal Muff has the top boost on it; however, the Metal Muff is very noisy compared to the Rat. The Filter does not bother me but I can see how it could be a bother to some people. I am always adjusting my gear but something tells me this pedal is one that will stick around.

 

[Archer250]

Re: ProCo Rat 2 - Thoughts?

I love the filter. I usually don't set it past noon. At most around 10 o'clock. Granted, my RAT is a You Dirty Rat, and it's been modified, but my favorite setting is: Distortion at noon, filter at 10 and volume a hair above unity. Since the YDR is fuzzier than the RAT 2 and the Whiteface, that would make it around 1:30 - 2:00 on either models, I guess.

 

[Maggot]

Re: ProCo Rat 2 - Thoughts?

Y'all are making me want a Rat. I after about a decade of Rat-ism I moved on, but now that I'm playing Hums instead of singles, it's a whole new world.

 

[saladin]

Re: ProCo Rat 2 - Thoughts?

I must have bad ears or something but I've never liked rats. Had an original back in the day and have had a Rat 2, I'll take a DS-1 over either of them any day.

 

[Aceman]

Re: ProCo Rat 2 - Thoughts?

I'll post a link to THE definitive Rat thread (there is one) later.

But Rat 2 is all the rat you need.

 

[treyhaislip]

Re: ProCo Rat 2 - Thoughts?

I love the filter. I usually don't set it past noon. At most around 10 o'clock. Granted, my RAT is a You Dirty Rat, and it's been modified, but my favorite setting is: Distortion at noon, filter at 10 and volume a hair above unity. Since the YDR is fuzzier than the RAT 2 and the Whiteface, that would make it around 1:30 - 2:00 on either models, I guess.

I'm keeping my filter around the 10 o'clock as well as the Distortion–but the distortion is perfect at all levels for very little crunch to all out trash.

Y'all are making me want a Rat. I after about a decade of Rat-ism I moved on, but now that I'm playing Hums instead of singles, it's a whole new world.

It sounds great through my Fender Fat 50's but sounds best through the Dimebucker and Screamin Demon....and I'm running it through a Fender Hot Rod Deluxe for a killer combo!

I must have bad ears or something but I've never liked rats. Had an original back in the day and have had a Rat 2, I'll take a DS-1 over either of them any day.

I wouldn't say bad ears–people like different types of drive tones and different gear. The first guy I knew who used one was an amazing tone. I asked him what he was using and he said his only drive pedal was the Rat through an old Fender Tube amp (and he played a Parker Fly.) It might not work for your setup and playing style.

 

[GuitarStv]

Re: ProCo Rat 2 - Thoughts?

I must have bad ears or something but I've never liked rats. Had an original back in the day and have had a Rat 2, I'll take a DS-1 over either of them any day.

I liked the DS-1 better as well. It's a massively under-appreciated pedal.

 

[treyhaislip]

Re: ProCo Rat 2 - Thoughts?

I liked the DS-1 better as well. It's a massively under-appreciated pedal.

I thought about getting one because you can pick them up for a song...I love the Rat and have added 4 Distortion and Overdrive pedals...so I don't really see a need for a 5th one because there are other pedals I am looking at. lol