ratherdashing
Kablamminator
Give me some opinions of the ProCo RAT, and the various derivatives (Turbo Rat, etc.). I've been told it's like a DS-1 without the fizzy top end.
Comment away, Rat finks!
Comment away, Rat finks!
Who likes the RAT?
- Thread starter ratherdashing
- Start date
wixedmords
New member
Re: Who likes the RAT?
I have had the 2nd version of the original Rat for years. It will get you into pretty extreme distortion territory. It can be creamy, can be gloomy. A good pedal to have in your arsenal.
I have had the 2nd version of the original Rat for years. It will get you into pretty extreme distortion territory. It can be creamy, can be gloomy. A good pedal to have in your arsenal.
the guy who invented fire
Fuzzy. Guitars
Re: Who likes the RAT?
I never leave home with out a Rat! It's not a modern style high gain pedal and IMO it sounds very little (to nothing at all) like a DS-1. Think late 70's/early 80's Jeff Beck, think Billy Gibbons, Melvins, first Foo Fighters record...those are the kinds of tones you are in for. The Turob rat is just a hotter version of a Rat. The Brat, Road Kill, and other such junk is simply that...junk, don't bother.
If you are looking into Rats just keep in mind that have changed a lot over the years but for the most part sound the same or similar...as long as you get the LM 308 chip! Pro Co stopped using the LM 308 chip a few years ago and went to a new chip and for the first time in years the sound of the Rat was very different, I don't care for the new chip at all.
I never leave home with out a Rat! It's not a modern style high gain pedal and IMO it sounds very little (to nothing at all) like a DS-1. Think late 70's/early 80's Jeff Beck, think Billy Gibbons, Melvins, first Foo Fighters record...those are the kinds of tones you are in for. The Turob rat is just a hotter version of a Rat. The Brat, Road Kill, and other such junk is simply that...junk, don't bother.
If you are looking into Rats just keep in mind that have changed a lot over the years but for the most part sound the same or similar...as long as you get the LM 308 chip! Pro Co stopped using the LM 308 chip a few years ago and went to a new chip and for the first time in years the sound of the Rat was very different, I don't care for the new chip at all.
fretburner
Well-known member
Re: Who likes the RAT?
which is fatter sounding, the orig rat? rat 2? or turbo rat?
i've been thinking of getting one. i might check out their site again for clips.
which is fatter sounding, the orig rat? rat 2? or turbo rat?
i've been thinking of getting one. i might check out their site again for clips.
L
Lewguitar
Guest
Re: Who likes the RAT?
I love Jeff Beck and I know I'm listening to the Rat when I listen to Jeff, but it's way to fuzzy for me. I much prefer the DS-1. But I don't need distortion to get a nice overdriven tone so although I own a big box original Rat and several great sounding Japanese DS-1's I never use them. Just don't need 'em...
Lew
I love Jeff Beck and I know I'm listening to the Rat when I listen to Jeff, but it's way to fuzzy for me. I much prefer the DS-1. But I don't need distortion to get a nice overdriven tone so although I own a big box original Rat and several great sounding Japanese DS-1's I never use them. Just don't need 'em...
Lew
JB_From_Hell
Jomo's Nimions
Re: Who likes the RAT?
I've been told that setting the tone & drive controls to 10 & 3 o'clock will get rid of that god-awful signal dropout.
Has anybody else had that problem and fixed it in this manner?
I've been told that setting the tone & drive controls to 10 & 3 o'clock will get rid of that god-awful signal dropout.
Has anybody else had that problem and fixed it in this manner?
the guy who invented fire
Fuzzy. Guitars
Re: Who likes the RAT?
With vintage output buckers you can run the distortion up to around a little more than half without "drop out" issues but if you tune low, pick hard, go way more than half on the distortion control and or use high output pickups it will get worse and as ffar as I know there is no way to make a Rat not do that.
As far as the Rat vs Rat 2, vs Turbo rat for thickness they all have lots of similar tonal properties but the turbo has more gain on tap the Rat and rat 2 are very similar and in some cases ar the same.
Here is a link to the best pro co Rat info I have...this covers most everything up until a few years ago when they changed from the LM 308 chip...
http://happybob.com/rstrand/rat/rat_versions.htm
JB_From_Hell said:
With vintage output buckers you can run the distortion up to around a little more than half without "drop out" issues but if you tune low, pick hard, go way more than half on the distortion control and or use high output pickups it will get worse and as ffar as I know there is no way to make a Rat not do that.
As far as the Rat vs Rat 2, vs Turbo rat for thickness they all have lots of similar tonal properties but the turbo has more gain on tap the Rat and rat 2 are very similar and in some cases ar the same.
Here is a link to the best pro co Rat info I have...this covers most everything up until a few years ago when they changed from the LM 308 chip...
http://happybob.com/rstrand/rat/rat_versions.htm
the guy who invented fire
Fuzzy. Guitars
Re: Who likes the RAT?
Lew, I know you are a big fan of the MIJ DS-1's so I'll ask you...do you notice any big difference in the MIJ and the MIT DS-1 pedals? I ask because I never cared for a MIT DS-1 but if the MIJ version is any smoother in the top and less fizzy I might like to atleast try one.
Lewguitar said:
Lew, I know you are a big fan of the MIJ DS-1's so I'll ask you...do you notice any big difference in the MIJ and the MIT DS-1 pedals? I ask because I never cared for a MIT DS-1 but if the MIJ version is any smoother in the top and less fizzy I might like to atleast try one.
TimmyPage
New member
Re: Who likes the RAT?
I like the RAT. My first performance ever was through a Fender Twin Reverb and a RAT. Has that cool, wet, ZZ Top-ish / Solo from 'Life in the Fast lane' (did he actually use it on that? For some reason I always think of that tone when using a RAT) tone.
I like the RAT. My first performance ever was through a Fender Twin Reverb and a RAT. Has that cool, wet, ZZ Top-ish / Solo from 'Life in the Fast lane' (did he actually use it on that? For some reason I always think of that tone when using a RAT) tone.
coachc55
New member
Re: Who likes the RAT?
Here's a link to some soundbytes. http://www.procosound.com/ratindex.htm#rat2
CoachC
Here's a link to some soundbytes. http://www.procosound.com/ratindex.htm#rat2
CoachC
L
Lewguitar
Guest
Re: Who likes the RAT?
I think the Japanese version is a little nicer sounding but I agree with Steve Vai when he says that he can use either and achieve similar results. I saw Vai and Satriani a few years ago and liked what I heard the way they used thier DS-1's...on all the time! So I borrowed my buddy's which happened to be a MIT version. I liked it and then searched around for a MIJ version. Lew
the guy who invented fire said:
I think the Japanese version is a little nicer sounding but I agree with Steve Vai when he says that he can use either and achieve similar results. I saw Vai and Satriani a few years ago and liked what I heard the way they used thier DS-1's...on all the time! So I borrowed my buddy's which happened to be a MIT version. I liked it and then searched around for a MIJ version. Lew
L
Lewguitar
Guest
Re: Who likes the RAT?
I hear a similarity in tone between the Rat and Big Muff...it's why I think of the Rat as being a Fuzz generator rather than an overdrive. The Rat cleans up nicer when I turn down the volume on my guitar though. Lew
fakiekid said:
I hear a similarity in tone between the Rat and Big Muff...it's why I think of the Rat as being a Fuzz generator rather than an overdrive. The Rat cleans up nicer when I turn down the volume on my guitar though. Lew
wildstar
New member
Re: Who likes the RAT?
I love Rats, and think they sound completely different from a DS-1. Different beast entirely. (Both are great, of course.)
It's definitely one of those Benchmark Standard Tones, right up there with a Tubescreamer or DS-1.
If you decide to buy one, you MUST buy a Keeley modded Rat:
http://www.robertkeeley.com/product.php?id=7
Un-freaking-believable tone. I'd describe the Rat as fat, creamy, rich, and aggressive. It can really snarl or get into fuzz-territory pretty fast, so you have to ride the tone control hard.
I love Rats, and think they sound completely different from a DS-1. Different beast entirely. (Both are great, of course.)
It's definitely one of those Benchmark Standard Tones, right up there with a Tubescreamer or DS-1.
If you decide to buy one, you MUST buy a Keeley modded Rat:
http://www.robertkeeley.com/product.php?id=7
Un-freaking-believable tone. I'd describe the Rat as fat, creamy, rich, and aggressive. It can really snarl or get into fuzz-territory pretty fast, so you have to ride the tone control hard.
The Golden Boy
Fleecy Sweaterologist
Re: Who likes the RAT?
Never was one of my favoriter distortion pedals.
Never was one of my favoriter distortion pedals.
Gearjoneser
Gear Ho
Re: Who likes the RAT?
TGIF is right about the chip. The newer ones aren't worth buying. You've got to make sure it's the traditional one. Somewhere along the line, Pro Co started having them mass produced with a new chip, and it sucks compared to the original one.
TGIF is right about the chip. The newer ones aren't worth buying. You've got to make sure it's the traditional one. Somewhere along the line, Pro Co started having them mass produced with a new chip, and it sucks compared to the original one.
