Which Rat....?????

Everyone needs a stompbox.
Post Reply
User avatar
budda12ax7
PAT. # 2.972.923
PAT. # 2.972.923
Posts: 6795
Joined: Thu Jun 25, 2009 4:04 pm
Location: Mean Streets of OC

Which Rat....?????

Post by budda12ax7 » Sun Sep 09, 2018 10:59 am

I have the choice of a FatRat pedal or a Kinnatone modded Rat2 pedal. The FatRat comes in at 150$, the modded Kinnatone at 120$.

I'm leaning towards the FatRat because you can change the chip, but I just don't know.

What say yee??

User avatar
Unicorn Warrior
PAT. # 2.972.923
PAT. # 2.972.923
Posts: 3491
Joined: Sun Jul 22, 2012 5:58 pm
Location: Kentucky, USA

Re: Which Rat....?????

Post by Unicorn Warrior » Sun Sep 09, 2018 3:13 pm

No opinion on either of the two you mentioned, but I had a soothsayer which was supposed to an expensive clone of a rat. I hated it and much preferred the plain Jane proco rat 2.

User avatar
s_mcsleazy
PAT. # 2.972.923
PAT. # 2.972.923
Posts: 18423
Joined: Thu Jul 28, 2011 7:30 am
Location: glasgow

Re: Which Rat....?????

Post by s_mcsleazy » Mon Sep 10, 2018 4:32 am

honestly, a rat II with a lm308n is kinda the best rat you can do.
offset guitars resident bass player.
'Are you trying to seduce me Mrs Robinson? Or do you just want me to solder a couple of resistors into your Muff?'

User avatar
Jaguar018
PAT. # 2.972.923
PAT. # 2.972.923
Posts: 8045
Joined: Thu Nov 06, 2008 6:48 am
Location: Burbs of Washington DC

Re: Which Rat....?????

Post by Jaguar018 » Tue Sep 11, 2018 6:25 am

FAT RAT.

I am of the school who will argue that the special sound of the fabled LM308 chips are mostly bs. I had a Fat Rat, and put the old chip in it. I don't think it really made much of a difference-- but it's a fun option to have.

I currently have a Turbo Rat and just got a Red Rat.

No need to get clones, go to the source: embrace the Rat.

User avatar
s_mcsleazy
PAT. # 2.972.923
PAT. # 2.972.923
Posts: 18423
Joined: Thu Jul 28, 2011 7:30 am
Location: glasgow

Re: Which Rat....?????

Post by s_mcsleazy » Tue Sep 11, 2018 6:48 am

id be really curious to try the september sound rat.
https://store.ishibashi.co.jp/ec/pro/di ... 79700-rebe

but tbh i'd also love to do something similar to a rat only have dip switches for the clipping diodes
offset guitars resident bass player.
'Are you trying to seduce me Mrs Robinson? Or do you just want me to solder a couple of resistors into your Muff?'

User avatar
Jaguar018
PAT. # 2.972.923
PAT. # 2.972.923
Posts: 8045
Joined: Thu Nov 06, 2008 6:48 am
Location: Burbs of Washington DC

Re: Which Rat....?????

Post by Jaguar018 » Tue Sep 11, 2018 8:18 am

s_mcsleazy wrote:
Tue Sep 11, 2018 6:48 am
tbh i'd also love to do something similar to a rat only have dip switches for the clipping diodes
Have you seen the Fat Rat?-- it has some switches to dial in your sound. I had a Fat Rat and sold it along because I never used the switches. If you have a need for such things it makes sense. It's a fine sounding pedal either way.

User avatar
fortytwo
PAT. # 2.972.923
PAT. # 2.972.923
Posts: 1022
Joined: Sat Dec 17, 2011 10:57 am
Location: CoPenHagen

Re: Which Rat....?????

Post by fortytwo » Tue Sep 11, 2018 12:12 pm

s_mcsleazy wrote:
Mon Sep 10, 2018 4:32 am
honestly, a rat II with a lm308n is kinda the best rat you can do.
I've blind tested RATs with LM308s and OP07s, and it doesn't really matter what's in the pedal, it'll sound like a RAT either way.
Some RATs will sound great with the rest of you gear, and some won't, but the IC is not the sole thing that makes it sound like it should.

User avatar
pj
PAT. # 2.972.923
PAT. # 2.972.923
Posts: 745
Joined: Sat Feb 09, 2008 2:33 am

Re: Which Rat....?????

Post by pj » Wed Sep 12, 2018 1:02 am

Instead of a Rat you should get a Kat(zenkonig) from Catalinbread. It is like a Rat pedal mixed with a Tone Bender.

[url][https://www.catalinbread.com/manuals/Ka ... ual.pdfurl]

[url]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_IZrer00AEw/url]

User avatar
andy_tchp
PAT. # 2.972.923
PAT. # 2.972.923
Posts: 8010
Joined: Fri Apr 02, 2010 1:36 am
Location: Brisbane

Re: Which Rat....?????

Post by andy_tchp » Wed Sep 12, 2018 1:37 am

Jaguar018 wrote:
Tue Sep 11, 2018 6:25 am
I am of the school who will argue that the special sound of the fabled LM308 chips are mostly bs. I had a Fat Rat, and put the old chip in it. I don't think it really made much of a difference-- but it's a fun option to have.
fortytwo wrote:
Tue Sep 11, 2018 12:12 pm
I've blind tested RATs with LM308s and OP07s, and it doesn't really matter what's in the pedal, it'll sound like a RAT either way.
Some RATs will sound great with the rest of you gear, and some won't, but the IC is not the sole thing that makes it sound like it should.
Agreed with all of this. There was a very slight difference when I threw an LM308 in mine (the cheapest plain jane ProCo RAT 2 reissue on the market), but it wasn't discernibly better (nor was it worse) than in its original form. If there's a huge difference between two of them side by side (ie an old '80s original next to a reissue) it's down to other parts of the circuit and component tolerance/drift as much as the special sauce op-amp.
"I don't know why we asked him to join the band 'cause the rest of us don't like country music all that much; we just like Graham Lee."
David McComb, 1987.

User avatar
andy_tchp
PAT. # 2.972.923
PAT. # 2.972.923
Posts: 8010
Joined: Fri Apr 02, 2010 1:36 am
Location: Brisbane

Re: Which Rat....?????

Post by andy_tchp » Wed Sep 12, 2018 1:37 am

And PS the 'Reuss' mod still sucks a big one.
"I don't know why we asked him to join the band 'cause the rest of us don't like country music all that much; we just like Graham Lee."
David McComb, 1987.

User avatar
Jaguar018
PAT. # 2.972.923
PAT. # 2.972.923
Posts: 8045
Joined: Thu Nov 06, 2008 6:48 am
Location: Burbs of Washington DC

Re: Which Rat....?????

Post by Jaguar018 » Wed Sep 12, 2018 6:12 am

andy_tchp wrote:
Wed Sep 12, 2018 1:37 am
And PS the 'Reuss' mod still sucks a big one.
In many aspects of guitar gear, I like to mod. Different bridges, custom guitars, custom pedals, and custom amps too. When I used to have vintage gear, I was never all that bothered by refins and what not.

BUT I don't get the Rat mods. Rats never sounded 'bad' or in need of any improvement to me. I've just about always played with Fender guitars and amps-- so maybe the mods are better suited for Marshall/Orange/Vox amps or Gibson guitars or something.

User avatar
scottydanger
PAT. # 2.972.923
PAT. # 2.972.923
Posts: 270
Joined: Wed Jul 03, 2013 7:06 am
Location: Nashville, TN

Re: Which Rat....?????

Post by scottydanger » Wed Sep 12, 2018 2:08 pm

Jaguar018 wrote:
Wed Sep 12, 2018 6:12 am
andy_tchp wrote:
Wed Sep 12, 2018 1:37 am
And PS the 'Reuss' mod still sucks a big one.
In many aspects of guitar gear, I like to mod. Different bridges, custom guitars, custom pedals, and custom amps too. When I used to have vintage gear, I was never all that bothered by refins and what not.

BUT I don't get the Rat mods. Rats never sounded 'bad' or in need of any improvement to me. I've just about always played with Fender guitars and amps-- so maybe the mods are better suited for Marshall/Orange/Vox amps or Gibson guitars or something.
Yeah I think you're on to something at the end there, I decided to get a Rat last week and went down the rabbit hole on versions and mods - went to GC and my GCPro guy gave me an off the shelf Rat 2 for $50 so I went for it. It sounds massive and perfect, I have zero complaints. It's fine with my Fenders and Gibsons, singles P90s and humbuckers all on my Vibrolux. Haven't tried it with the AC30 yet but from what I understand they're two peas in a pod no matter how you slice it.

User avatar
cpeck
PAT. # 2.972.923
PAT. # 2.972.923
Posts: 828
Joined: Wed Nov 29, 2006 5:50 pm
Location: Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
Contact:

Re: Which Rat....?????

Post by cpeck » Wed Sep 12, 2018 4:43 pm

s_mcsleazy wrote:
Tue Sep 11, 2018 6:48 am
id be really curious to try the september sound rat.
https://store.ishibashi.co.jp/ec/pro/di ... 79700-rebe
I have that. It’s the best Rat I have by miles. Sounds incredible on bass, too.

User avatar
budda12ax7
PAT. # 2.972.923
PAT. # 2.972.923
Posts: 6795
Joined: Thu Jun 25, 2009 4:04 pm
Location: Mean Streets of OC

Re: Which Rat....?????

Post by budda12ax7 » Sun Sep 16, 2018 5:21 pm

cpeck wrote:
Wed Sep 12, 2018 4:43 pm
s_mcsleazy wrote:
Tue Sep 11, 2018 6:48 am
id be really curious to try the september sound rat.
https://store.ishibashi.co.jp/ec/pro/di ... 79700-rebe
I have that. It’s the best Rat I have by miles. Sounds incredible on bass, too.
Oh...I so want this.

User avatar
panoramic
PAT. # 2.972.923
PAT. # 2.972.923
Posts: 16925
Joined: Tue Aug 12, 2008 7:09 pm
Location: baltimore, md.

Re: Which Rat....?????

Post by panoramic » Mon Sep 17, 2018 10:36 am

man i have the regular 80's version and an early turbo rat both with the 308, if it doesn't have that chip the pedal is a shitpile
vintage ones are the best, the 80's ones especially
I used to be cool, now I just complain about prices.

Post Reply