Lower-gain Rat alternative?

Everyone needs a stompbox.
User avatar
Maggieo
Expat
Expat
Posts: 13446
Joined: Mon Oct 02, 2006 10:36 am
Location: Nebraska, USA
Contact:

Re: Lower-gain Rat alternative?

Post by Maggieo » Tue May 09, 2023 1:23 pm

Try a TurboRAT!
“Now I am quietly waiting for/ the catastrophe of my personality/ to seem beautiful again.”- Frank O'Hara
I am not an attorney and this post is for entertainment purposes only. Please consult a licensed attorney in your state for legal advice.

User avatar
MrShake
PAT. # 2.972.923
PAT. # 2.972.923
Posts: 1201
Joined: Tue Oct 24, 2006 5:51 am
Location: Boston, MA
Contact:

Re: Lower-gain Rat alternative?

Post by MrShake » Tue May 09, 2023 1:34 pm

Maggieo wrote:
Tue May 09, 2023 1:23 pm
Try a TurboRAT!
Wholeheartedly agree. Maybe not THE answer, but lower clipping and fuller EQ gets rid of the low-gain "thinness" some people don't like about Rat Classic. Yes, the Si and LED diodes differ a bit, but it's the same family, just a slightly different flavor that fills out better at lower settings.

As I always suggest, try a Donner/Sonicake/et al for a cheap trial of the Turbo setting and upgrade IF necessary.

User avatar
panoramic
PAT. # 2.972.923
PAT. # 2.972.923
Posts: 16926
Joined: Tue Aug 12, 2008 7:09 pm
Location: baltimore, md.

Re: Lower-gain Rat alternative?

Post by panoramic » Wed May 10, 2023 8:20 am

I use my rat on a lower gain setting all the time, I am not sure this is totally needed per se. I have 4 of them and they are all set differently but i use my main one almost like a lower level klon type of gain and YUP it can actually do that and you can mimic other sounds with them too.

My favorite NON rat pedal that totally does the lower gain thing superb is the EQD Dunes, also the Lovepedal jmp 11 is killer though not a rat sound.

I had a clone that was made by a guy on here years ago that had a midgain switch on it, basically halved the dirt of the pedal and that was cool. Pretty sure it was a common mod though.

ALSO yes to the turbo rat, i have a lovely 91 version that is PERFECTO
I used to be cool, now I just complain about prices.

User avatar
distressed
PAT. # 2.972.923
PAT. # 2.972.923
Posts: 110
Joined: Mon Feb 27, 2023 10:50 am
Location: Belgrade, Serbia

Re: Lower-gain Rat alternative?

Post by distressed » Wed May 10, 2023 9:34 am

TC Electronic Dark Matter. Cheap as chips and will not chug

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=usX6GKvYkAI
Roza
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCg_imQDC4eUOjuBBRl2mBwA
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LyQgllCIpqY
https://rozaliftwave.bandcamp.com/

User avatar
guitarsammy
PAT. # 2.972.923
PAT. # 2.972.923
Posts: 380
Joined: Sun Apr 10, 2011 1:06 pm

Re: Lower-gain Rat alternative?

Post by guitarsammy » Wed May 10, 2023 11:11 pm

So I think I’ve found the answer.

I bought a Klone (Nux Horseman) and have been using that as my main drive for the past few days (volume set to unity, gain and treble/tone each around 12 o’clock). That seems to get me where I want to be - a much fatter, rounder clean-ish tone. And then I kick in the Rat (stacked with the Klon, with Rat first in the chain) when I want to get more raucous.

So far, seems to be what I was looking for….

User avatar
Johno
PAT. # 2.972.923
PAT. # 2.972.923
Posts: 992
Joined: Fri Oct 06, 2006 3:34 am
Location: London UK

Re: Lower-gain Rat alternative?

Post by Johno » Thu May 25, 2023 8:36 am

I lalso ike to run a Rat as a low gain drive, I find I also have to turn the vol down on my guitar to about7 or 8 to get the sweet spot , digging in/ dynamics.

User avatar
Soniqfreq
PAT PEND
PAT PEND
Posts: 43
Joined: Thu Jun 27, 2013 6:56 am

Re: Lower-gain Rat alternative?

Post by Soniqfreq » Sun May 28, 2023 8:45 am

Gavanti wrote:
Fri May 05, 2023 7:20 am
EAE Longsword would be worth looking at. Dialed in, it can definitely pull a Rat-like core tone at lower or higher gain settings while keeping the low end. I use a Longsword for a lower gain push and hit the boost switch for heavier rhythm, while I use a Rat set up like a mid-gain fuzz to cut through on leads.
The longsword is really versatile and covers a wide range. I’ve been using it on my board in place of my Rat.

User avatar
hulakatt
PAT. # 2.972.923
PAT. # 2.972.923
Posts: 1052
Joined: Sat May 08, 2010 7:58 pm
Location: Pittsburgh

Re: Lower-gain Rat alternative?

Post by hulakatt » Sun May 28, 2023 1:00 pm

It's not fancy or expensive but the humble DS-1 happily covers a wide range of gain, keeps the bass and has similar character to a Rat. Similar circuits IIRC. If you want a fancier one, get a pre-2016 and send it to AnalogMan for tweaks or get a really old one. The nice thing, the more beat they are, the better they look!
She/Her

User avatar
sal paradise
PAT. # 2.972.923
PAT. # 2.972.923
Posts: 3597
Joined: Thu May 27, 2021 12:41 am

Re: Lower-gain Rat alternative?

Post by sal paradise » Mon May 29, 2023 8:45 am

hulakatt wrote:
Sun May 28, 2023 1:00 pm
It's not fancy or expensive but the humble DS-1 happily covers a wide range of gain, keeps the bass and has similar character to a Rat. Similar circuits IIRC. If you want a fancier one, get a pre-2016 and send it to AnalogMan for tweaks or get a really old one. The nice thing, the more beat they are, the better they look!
The DS-1W sounds really cool in the custom mode. A bit easier to source, although not sure if it works well at low gain.
I have nothing to offer anybody, except my own confusion?

User avatar
hulakatt
PAT. # 2.972.923
PAT. # 2.972.923
Posts: 1052
Joined: Sat May 08, 2010 7:58 pm
Location: Pittsburgh

Re: Lower-gain Rat alternative?

Post by hulakatt » Mon May 29, 2023 10:13 am

sal paradise wrote:
Mon May 29, 2023 8:45 am
hulakatt wrote:
Sun May 28, 2023 1:00 pm
It's not fancy or expensive but the humble DS-1 happily covers a wide range of gain, keeps the bass and has similar character to a Rat. Similar circuits IIRC. If you want a fancier one, get a pre-2016 and send it to AnalogMan for tweaks or get a really old one. The nice thing, the more beat they are, the better they look!
The DS-1W sounds really cool in the custom mode. A bit easier to source, although not sure if it works well at low gain.
Oh yeah, forgot about the Waza one, I've heard that was pretty good. Doesn't it have the Keeley mods? I really like my AM modded one, it's clearer than it was and sounds just lovely as a low gainer. I have a couple of 80's ones too that just sound wonderful! I think '92 or '93 is around when they revised the circuit and anything before that just sounds more natural and just right. I haven't played a long dash model though and I think I'm ok with that, I like the ones I have well enough.

Edit: Boss moved production from Japan to Taiwan in 1990 and a circuit redesign known as DS-1a in 1994. The 90-94 MIT models are the same circuit as the earlier and more sought after MIJ versions. I have an '92 MIT and an earlier MIJ and you would be very hard pressed to tell the difference.
Last edited by hulakatt on Mon May 29, 2023 4:55 pm, edited 1 time in total.
She/Her

User avatar
JSett
PAT. # 2.972.923
PAT. # 2.972.923
Posts: 8804
Joined: Mon Jun 01, 2009 1:33 pm
Location: Old Hampshire, Old England

Re: Lower-gain Rat alternative?

Post by JSett » Mon May 29, 2023 10:42 am

hulakatt wrote:
Mon May 29, 2023 10:13 am
I haven't played a long dash model though and I think I'm ok with that, I like the ones I have well enough.
I'm not normally much of one to subscribe to the 'this era is unbeatable' stuff that comes with pedals but the long-dash DS-1 I owned was definitely deserving of it. Massively different in response and natural sound on low gain settings, very very amp like. I'd have kept if had it not been for some lunatic offering me wild money for it during the Pandemic used-gear frenzy.
Silly Rabbit, don't you know scooped mids are for kids?

User avatar
hulakatt
PAT. # 2.972.923
PAT. # 2.972.923
Posts: 1052
Joined: Sat May 08, 2010 7:58 pm
Location: Pittsburgh

Re: Lower-gain Rat alternative?

Post by hulakatt » Mon May 29, 2023 4:57 pm

JSett wrote:
Mon May 29, 2023 10:42 am
I'd have kept if had it not been for some lunatic offering me wild money for it during the Pandemic used-gear frenzy.
I sold my Fulltone TTE for kinda stupid money when Fulltone shut down on top of that gear feeding frenzy. The TTE was amazing but if I'm really being honest, just a Boss delay gets me 90% of the way there and actually setting it up and using it was such a hassle that it was a wash.
She/Her

User avatar
LBx
PAT. # 2.972.923
PAT. # 2.972.923
Posts: 87
Joined: Fri Feb 24, 2012 6:29 pm
Location: Quebexico

Re: Lower-gain Rat alternative?

Post by LBx » Sat Jul 08, 2023 4:05 pm

FatRat for bass? Anyone loving it? There's one in the 'hood... Before I have an acquaintance build a GCI Bass Brutalist (Turbo Bass Rat) for me... Thinking the FatRat at 18v might be Turbo-ish at low gain and kinda cool.

User avatar
clark
PAT. # 2.972.923
PAT. # 2.972.923
Posts: 58
Joined: Sat May 09, 2009 2:09 pm
Location: Louisville, KY
Contact:

Re: Lower-gain Rat alternative?

Post by clark » Sat Jul 15, 2023 1:27 pm

Critter Electronics 1978R is a very good and versatile Rat clone. Worth checking out.

User avatar
MechaBulletBill
PAT. # 2.972.923
PAT. # 2.972.923
Posts: 2813
Joined: Sat Nov 09, 2013 8:16 am
Location: UK

Re: Lower-gain Rat alternative?

Post by MechaBulletBill » Sat Nov 11, 2023 3:52 am

i built a fuzzdog rat for my girlfriend with the ruetz mod on a pot. she's a bassist mainly and liked a regular old stock rat but i thought the extra resonance control might make it extra versatile for bass. i have never got on with rats for guitar but this thing sounds incredible! i might have to build another for myself.

Post Reply