RAT question

[Helmholtz]

The lowered resonant frequency due to the 1nF cap can sound good especially when using a short/low capacitance guitar cable (see "Hendrix coiled cables").
But requires guitar vol. to be fully up.

When rolling back guitar volume the high capacitive load kills treble.
As long as there's a lot of distortion the treble loss at the input may not be noticeable because of the strong distortion harmonics.
But as the sound gets cleaner with low guitar volume the sound sucks.

[Chuck H]

I never tried to clean up with the RAT in circuit. I always figured that was why they put a foot switch on it

[nosaj]

I never tried to clean up with the RAT in circuit. I always figured that was why they put a foot switch on it

You Dirty RAT.
nosaj

[Chuck H]

With the clipper disconnected it occurs to me that you could use something other the RAT for as a boost that doesn't have the drawback of the 1n cap at it's input. The RAT probably has a particular EQ profile that you like but maybe that could be simulated. I used to use a BOSS GE-7 as a boost pedal for my Marshall amps because I could dial in my own boost EQ profile that way. It was shitty noisy but sounded great otherwise.

[daz]

Nothing sounds, and even more, FEELS like a rat even with the diodes disconnected. They just muddy it up too much.

[Chuck H]

You Dirty RAT.
nosaj

So many incarnation of that pedal, right? But I'll always have a soft spot for the old one I had. I'd like to get one of the reissue pedals. The comparison videos sound really good, and "right". But even those are getting stupid expensive now.

[nosaj]

So many incarnation of that pedal, right? But I'll always have a soft spot for the old one I had. I'd like to get one of the reissue pedals. The comparison videos sound really good, and "right". But even those are getting stupid expensive now.

much easier to get a pcb from taeyda electronics stuff it and play. They have a nice selection of different pedal pcbs.
nosaj

[Chuck H]

Nothing sounds, and even more, FEELS like a rat even with the diodes disconnected. They just muddy it up too much.

Well the 1n input cap is part of the RAT sound. It just doesn't work with the guitar volume rolled off. If you want the RAT and a clean tone I think your best option is to work out the timing for stepping on it to shut it off for cleaner tones.

[nosaj]

Speaking of RATS

[daz]

U may know this, but In the 70's pignose made a 75 watt 1x12 or 2x10 SS amp called the crossmix which actually sounded amazing. I had one in the early 80s and it ha such a great distortion that was amazing especially when loud. I later found out, or at least read and assume it's true that the preamp in it was basically a rat. I'd love to play one of those today and see if it was as good as i remember. The reason i bought one is i saw a bar band with 2 guitar players both using them and doing a lot of ZZ top and like stuff and the sound they were getting floored me. Just like when i saw that guy later on in another bar band using a at and i had to get one after that.

[Greg_L]

Have you tried simply not using the Rat?

There are about eleventy bajillion other overdrive/clean boost pedals out there that sound and behave a lot better.

IMO the Rat is an ugly piece of crap. I have a big box Rat from the late 80s. It has collected a lot of dust. I don't understand why anyone likes those things. To each their own I guess.

[nosaj]

Have you tried simply not using the Rat?

There are about eleventy bajillion other overdrive/clean boost pedals out there that sound and behave a lot better.

IMO the Rat is an ugly piece of crap. I have a big box Rat from the late 80s. It has collected a lot of dust. I don't understand why anyone likes those things. To each their own I guess.

For some its like your first car your entry way into the unknown where one can cruise without abandon riding the waves of FUZZ......
nosaj

[daz]

To each their own I guess.

U answered your own question.

[Chuck H]

Have you tried simply not using the Rat?

There are about eleventy bajillion other overdrive/clean boost pedals out there that sound and behave a lot better.

IMO the Rat is an ugly piece of crap. I have a big box Rat from the late 80s. It has collected a lot of dust. I don't understand why anyone likes those things. To each their own I guess.

ProCo never made a big box RAT in the late 80's. The last big box from the original design was last made in 81 and it wasn't until 91 that it was reissued. The big box models since then use three different boards depending on era. The earliest (perhaps only the first year run) have an actual reissue circuit board with the same layout as all models (big and small) from 81 to 87 which is considered the most collectible incarnation of this pedal. Later big box RAT's used one of two different Rat 2 boards with the LED circuitry omitted.

Sorry to hear you don't like it. You might try a different op amp chip as there are many that work in the circuit and they all sound a bit different. Of course the original LM308N is considered the "right" one but there are a lot of RAT owners that don't like it. If your pedal is from 91, as I suspect since you pinned it to the late 80's, it probably has the LM308N. Known for it's slightly harsh and collapsing kind of distortion character. Which is actually considered to be THE RAT sound. But if it's not your thing there are other options.

[Greg_L]

ProCo never made a big box RAT in the late 80's. The last big box from the original design was last made in 81 and it wasn't until 91 that it was reissued. The big box models since then use three different boards depending on era. The earliest (perhaps only the first year run) have an actual reissue circuit board with the same layout as all models (big and small) from 81 to 87 which is considered the most collectible incarnation of this pedal. Later big box RAT's used one of two different Rat 2 boards with the LED circuitry omitted.

Sorry to hear you don't like it. You might try a different op amp chip as there are many that work in the circuit and they all sound a bit different. Of course the original LM308N is considered the "right" one but there are a lot of RAT owners that don't like it. If your pedal is from 91, as I suspect since you pinned it to the late 80's, it probably has the LM308N. Known for it's slightly harsh and collapsing kind of distortion character. Which is actually considered to be THE RAT sound. But if it's not your thing there are other options.

You might be right...I remember buying it in the late 80s but it could have very well been early 90s. I got it in high school and I graduated 1991 so it must be from that time period. I know it does definitely have the LM308 chip because I've seen it in there. I'm not gonna mod it though. I'm content to just sit on it until it becomes so ridiculously valuable that it's worth selling.