The DEFINITIVE tome of Rat knowledge

Being a big fan of the that's a cool read since it's my favorite OD/distortion pedal. I never got caught up in the whole vintage verses new debate and this article just solidifies my belief on the matter. I like the original Rat/Rat2 variants the best followed by the Turbo Rat and the You Dirty Rat. I'm also apparently a fan of the Rat porotype clean boost preamp that's apparently what I just learned in the Brownie Classic on the "Open" setting. I won't pay premiums for vintage Rat's no point in doing so, new off the shelf is just as good IMHO. Clones I'll only pay a fraction of a new Rat2. Whenever my Brownie kicks the bucket I'll be buying a new Turbo Rat for sure and I plan on getting a new You Dirty Rat at some point. Wish I would have bought the real deals from the get go since nothing tops them IMHO in both looks, durability and sound but I do love the Brownie and it's a great clone. Will definitely buy them new to help do my part to keep Proco and the Rat alive. :cool:
 
Easy enough to turn any Rat into any of the 3 (Regular, Turbo, or Dirty) since it is just changing the clipping diodes, a 3 way switch and you can have all 3 in one.
 
devastone said:
Easy enough to turn any Rat into any of the 3 (Regular, Turbo, or Dirty) since it is just changing the clipping diodes, a 3 way switch and you can have all 3 in one.
Click to expand...

Yeah it's a simple thing to do for sure but I'd rather have all 3 separate pedals. :)
 
In the past 5-10 years I have literally had an Original 80's, a Rat2, a Proco Solo and a Mooer Black Secret around the house...

Just get a Rat 2 and call it a day unless you need some special mojo version or a Fat Rat or whatever.

Still - great read, and if you dig 5 different unique boxes of Rat-ness, rock on with your bad self.
 
One of the best amp/pedal combinations I've ever tried was a Rat through a Fender Deluxe Reverb. It was at GC and I was playing a Fender Deluxe Strat through it. HUGE tone. I was demoing the Rat but man, I wanted that amp and guitar too.
 
Really liked the Rat sound since the 80's - just had that great bite. Bought a Turbo Rat and unfortunately for me it made everything sound like a neck pickup, so I sold it Recently, however, I received a Jam Pedals Rattler and it never ceases to put a smile on my face. With the gain and level around 2 o'clock, it just does it. Grind and fuzz - it's nuts. Top end is very open. Plays well with my CAE Wah and Boss CP-1X compressor. Too much fun....
 
Just read through that whole thing and learned a lot. Thanks for posting it!

I have built a few Rats and understand the circuit but the history and origins of the different versions was new to me and fascinating.
 
I find it fascinating, not being an electronics guy, how he puts the "actual circuit" for all of those in that box.
 
Aceman said:
I find it fascinating, not being an electronics guy, how he puts the "actual circuit" for all of those in that box.
Click to expand...

It's because the actual circuit for many guitar pedals just differs by a couple component values. What he's doing when switching between the pedals is swapping out a few components here and there on the same board.
 
GuitarStv said:
It's because the actual circuit for many guitar pedals just differs by a couple component values. What he's doing when switching between the pedals is swapping out a few components here and there on the same board.
Click to expand...

Exactly what I was gonna say. The Rat circuit, at it's core, hasn't changed since day 1. The layout may have to make room for new features and such, but the signal path and components has been unchanged mostly.

The whole opamp thing is humorous and I agree with Josh. When I had a Rat some 10 years ago or so, I swapped the opamp out for a LM308 that I had (not a fake one either). Couldn't tell a dang bit of difference. There's more of a difference with the diodes than anything.
 
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devastone said:
Dang all this rodent talk, I threw a new Rat 2 in my watchlist on 'verb, then got an offer for $59.42 (from $69.99) with free shipping, guess what is on the way.
Click to expand...

Congrats!

The newest ones are the best ones IMHO. They now have a regular boss style center negative barrel jack that runs right along with all your regular pedals with no special adapters. :cool:
 
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