So, About That RAT

LLL

LLL

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I'm keeping it. The current Pro Co RAT (2). I could go down the RAT (rabbit) trail and try juiced-up clones, but no don't need to.

I dig it as a "preamp" more than straight distortion... not a fan of the splatty, frequencies-are-being-overloaded, crungey tone when you turn things up.

"preamp" as in Distortion knob turned to around 9 o'clock and not much more.

With the Fender Deluxe, gets nice n grindy.

With higher gain a la MP-1, provides just enough "poke" for muscular, percussive hammer-ons/pull-offs, pinchies are a breeze and a nice crunchy sheen in the treble.

The knobs are all very dynamic and tweak-y, and interact with each other.

Solid 5 stars!
 
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I agree, better as a crunchy boost, it turns into a fuzz when the distortion is cranked. Which, can be fun too, but not an everyday tone for me.
 
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Yup. It's one of those that makes a good tool to have in the shed. The current Rat 2 is as good as any of them, IMO.

The one thing that some forget about and don't adjust too well to is the filter control works opposite that of a typical control.
 
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I don't know why in the world I never got one until now, about 37 years later.

I remember seeing the RAT ads all the time in Guitar For The Practicing Musician ($15.00 worth of sheet music inside!) in the 80's and thinking, "hm."

but it never jived with me enough to get one. No stores had them that I recall. Besides, BOSS was the king daddy at the time..."what's this RAT business anyways?"
and "i wonder if this has something to do with RATT?" and "does RATT use a RAT pedal? Huh.."

It's a must-have boost flavor in your tone spice cabinet, along with a Klon klone, DS-1 type, SD-1 type, OD-1 type, Rangemaster type, (real) EP-3 preamp, and for Ritchie fans, AIWA 1011 preamp, etc
 
LLL said:
It's a must-have boost flavor in your tone spice cabinet, along with a Klon klone, DS-1 type, SD-1 type, OD-1 type, Rangemaster type, (real) EP-3 preamp, and for Ritchie fans, AIWA 1011 preamp, etc
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So glad you approve. :rolleyes:

But there are pedals that as much as I would like, or like to think, everyone should own, some people live their entire lives without them. Others never were without one of them, and wouldn't be caught dead without one.

Whatever works for you.
 
The Rat is really a flexible and versatile design. There is a reason for the legendary status that it enjoys.

I studied the Rat a lot before building a bass friendly version and really came to appreciate the simplicity, and just how many uses live in there.

Just picked up a Big Ear Woodcutter, which is a boutique Rat that sounds really good too.
 
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Dudeman7 said:
The Rat is really a flexible and versatile design. There is a reason for the legendary status that it enjoys.

I studied the Rat a lot before building a bass friendly version and really came to appreciate the simplicity, and just how many uses live in there.

Just picked up a Big Ear Woodcutter, which is a boutique Rat that sounds really good too.
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IIRC didn't ProCo make a RAT for bass?
 
GuitarStv said:
I suffer from option paralysis. Too many choices mean that I spend my time tweaking, not playing.
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"Paralysis by Analysis"

Just go buy a regular RAT and go from there.

Otherwise, the RAT suspense will just keep... gnawing (cough cough) at you.
 
GuitarStv said:
I suffer from option paralysis. Too many choices mean that I spend my time tweaking, not playing.
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Just force yourself to use one mode and you will be fine. You can tweak and dial that in to your liking before moving on (if ever moving on).

I felt the same way about the Bonsai and even though I might use all the various options, I basically have settled on one favorite and parked there. I bet you would really dig the pedal.
 
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