ProCo RAT

Very easy to use if you take a few minutes to familiarize yourself with the sensitivity and functions of the knobs. plug in, plug out, hit button, rock on! pretty simple. only giving a 9 because of less than conventional power plug.

sound quality is pretty impressive and quite versatile. its definite NOT made for tight thrashy metal, as a previous reviewer so obviously pointed out, but has its place in so many other styles of music. and just so you know, CJ Reaper, there are other styles of music where "good" tone is required. some reviewers have compared it favorably to the big muff but i must completely disagree. while the muff has its merits, the rat does not have the same big boomy sound and is, therefore,the rat is tighter and more controlled as far as higher gain technical playing. it can sound like all sorts of major artists from nirvana to metallica to led zep to cream and many more depending on pedal settings and guitar and apm set up. most importantly, u can sound completely original and like yourself! i use it through a 1972 Trainor YSR-1 custom reverb with a whole mess of pedals (including a russian big muff, classic crybaby, Electro-harmonix holy grail, boss green phaser, super chorus... etc) and with an epiphone LP custom with stock pickups, an ibanez sf-420, and ibanez iceman-x with a pair of dimarzio super distortions and it really sounds great with all 3 guitars.

ive been beating the hell out of this particular specimen for about 12 or so years and just recently had a problem with the switch. thats really it. ive depended on it for quite some time, and will continue to as long as im playing.

Proco was an absolute pleasure to deal with. While i didnt have my pedal repaired by them, they sent me the circuit schematic and gave my guitar tech tips on what and how to fix it when the switch went. oh, and they even told me what "the captain is smiling" means.

well, ive been playing rock, alternative, punk, metal, blues, and combining all sorts of things for about 20 years now and i cant imagine doing what i do without this pedal! if it were lost or stolen, i would go through great lengths to secure another. ive used a lot of distortion/fuzz boxes and find the rat to be the best sounding and most versatile.

I've got an older Rat, the whiteface version from the early 80's. Three knobs, couldn't be easier to use. You can quickly dial in whatever tone you desire. Everything from full on death crunch to smooth overdrive.

Flat out THE BEST distortion I've ever heard...and I've heard them all. It's probably not easy to find these older model Rats anymore, but whatever they did to them back then, they've got the "magic". Ultra musical sound, no harshness or farty tone. Super quiet in my signal chain. I use Fender Stratocasters into a Fender Super Reverb amp.

Built like a tank. Haven't had any issues since getting it back from ProCo (see Customer Support below).

I found this Rat in the back of the closet at my parent's house after forgetting about it for 20 years. It belonged to a friend of mine in high school who passed away and his sister gave me a bunch of his old equipment. Anyway, I dug it out and tried it, but something was wrong with the jacks or switch, no worky! So...I emailed ProCo and explained the problem. Their response: "Send it in, we'll fix it for free". To say I was blown away by such incredible service in this day and age of non-existent customer service is an understatement. Keep in mind, I was not the original purchaser. I had no paperwork, nothing. Sent it in and they had it back to me within a week, completely repaired and sounding great. Now THAT'S Grade A customer service, folks. Bravo ProCo!

If you can find one of these old whiteface Rats I'd definitely recommend it. I play indie rock/post rock/shoegaze type of music and it's my favorite pedal. Superb tone. If it were stolen I would track down the thief and go bowling with his head.

Couldn't be easier. Just remeber the tone knob works in reverse: all the way up means least amount of highs.

First of all: true bypass, which means your tone remains unaltered when the pedal's switched off.
At low distortion settings the Rat just warms up your tone with what sounds like a little compression, at higher settings you can get anything from a boss DS-1 style scream to a convincing fuzz to a tubescreamer-like singing sound.
Another good thing is that when you set it at about ten o clock, you can go from clean and warm to mild overdrive by manipulating the volume pot on your guitar. I use it for a Scofield type sound most often. It doesn't suck lows like a TS does and the distortion at low settings is more subtle and less abrasive than a DS-1 or BD-1. It doesn't affect the tonal characteristics of your guitar as much as other pedals, just makes it sound dirtier and fatter. It's not really a tube amp sound (for that, I'm afraid you'll just need a tube amp), just a great transistor overdrive sound.

No problems yet, looks and feels reassuringly sturdy.

No experience, but the five year "any excuse, even abuse"-warranty sounds good.

I play jazz-funk and this pedal is great for that. I have used dozens of distortion/overdrive pedals (TS-9, fuzz face, lots of boss pedals) in my 20+ years of playing and this one is definitely my favorite. I use this pedal with a Washburn J6 jazzbox and occasionally a tele, no other effects. If I lost it, I'd definitely get another one.
I was looking for one versatile pedal that would give me a good sound no matter what amp is present at gigs, jam sessions, rehearsals etc. and this one definitely does that. I just pop the Rat into my guitar case and I can play jazz, funk, blues and rock, all with great tone. The price is good, too. It's a pity it doesn't work with my Boss adapters though.

so i altered my RAT via Robert Keeley-- thus adding a three-way switch next to the distortion, filter, and volume knobs. the switch goes between "original rat," the "mighty mouse," which is a high-volume clean(er) distortion, and a more overdrive-y setting, which is the one i use. not much to worry about, dial-wise-- just keep fiddling til it sounds good. which it will, most likely.

I liked the pedal before, but I had it modded about 3 years ago, and I cannot even imagine using another distortion box. Guitars have come and gone, amps, delays, but my RAT is awesome. I highly recommend the Keeley mod, because the "overdrive" setting is about the most kickass distortion I've heard from a simple box. I use it w/ a Fender Telecaster Deluxe RI (the 2-hummer version) into a Fender Hot Rod Deluxe, w/ a DD-3 delay. So almost all of my dirt comes from this little guy-- and boy, it does the job. From fuzzier, Big Muff stuff to way bluesy, it kills. I use it for a sharp, slightly brittle distortion. It's still warm, despite loading on crisp high-end. Imagine the distortion on the Hives' "Veni Vidi Viscious" or some of Guy's tones in Fugazi. Although I loved the original RAT, I have to say it's the mod that made it into the pedal I know and love-- firstly, it is SO much louder than it used to be-- switching between the "original" and "overdrive" settings shows how much more clean boost this thing can give. Also, it's a lot more natural sounding, more Marshall-y, with the modification. Perhaps it's because I love the "overdrive" setting, but this thing sounds like a cranked amp, even when quiet. It responds really well to cleaning up via volume knob on the guitar, but I wouldn't recommend it, just because it sounds so killer when cranked.

It doesn't feed back too badly when you don't want it to, and did I mention it sounds great?

The battery lasts forever, it's a badass case and it can take a beating. I'd never worry about it.

n/a

It's my favorite (and signature) distortion-- I've recieved many compliments on my tone, and I don't think I'll be changing it in the near future. Just get the mod, people! It's so worth it!

Only 3- knobs, very simple. However, the filter knob may at first appear counter intuitive. As you turn it up, it cuts the high frequencies. As others have stated, these 3 controls are very interactive.

Unbelievable! I absolutely love this pedal. I have had it for more than 20 years. It has grown with me, as my tastes have "matured". I have a 1962 Les Paul/SG Jr., Fender Lonestar Stratocaster, & a Reverend Slingshot.My amps are a Mesa Boogie MarkIIC, & a Fender Blues Jr. I have tried & mostly been dissappointed, in most of the effects pedals out there. I only run this Rat through the clean channel of my Boogie. I do not use any other effects. I used to set the distortion at 2-3 o'clock, now I typically set it at around 11 o'clock. I used to play along to Black Sabbath records, using just a small Pignose, with only my Rat! It sounded pretty convincing!!! You really can get any sound that you need, with this pedal. I did recently purchase a Barber Electronic Direct Drive pedal, which does provide a more musical tone for overdriven blues. The Rat is still #1.

This thing is built like a tank. I have never used a backup with it. It is the only piece of equipment, that I would consider doing that with. The battery wires did come apart a couple of years ago. Not a big deal, considering the fact that this unit was used & beat up, when I purchased it some 20 years ago. Batteries seem to last forever, with this stinkin'Rat!

I called ProCo when my Rat's battery cables malfunctioned. The man that answered, told me to ship it to them, & they would be glad to take care of it for me. I informed him that I had purchased it used, almost 20 years ago, had no warranty. He said that it did not matter, they would be happy to take care of it, at no charge. It was returned to me within a week. There was a nice note enclosed, stating that my model, was in his opinion, the finest that they had ever made. There was even some candy placed in the box! Customer service does'nt get much better than that.

I play classic rock, blues & old hard rock. I like Jimi Hendrix, Robin Trower, Frank Marino, Paul Kossoff, Ritchie Blackmore, & of course, all of the blues greats. I really don't understand these folks that can't get a good sound, out of this pedal. I have heard that the later models were significantly different, & the sound suffered for it. I don't know for sure, I have played a couple of others, that did not sound as good as mine. I highly recommend the older models. If mine were lost or stolen, I would immediately search for a replacement.

Yep

Great boost with a Marshall and a Les Paul. Especially great for achieving horrible microphonic feedback on command. Paired with a noise supressor, this thing could be damn well capable of taking over the world with a good old tube amp. Through a clean amp, sounds like a Marshall with no balls. Through a Marshall with the distortion barely on, the volume maxed, and the filter set to taste...hot damn.

Basswise, it can get fuzzy or meaty. Whatever your heart desires.

Use inside of a sock as home defense.

Great stuff, classic pedal that seems to still be under the radar for some reason. Nobody has made them famous, I suppose. Great value and affordable to boot.

Distortion, Filter and Volume, you know the drill.

Just so we are all clear, this review is for a small box, NON-LED Rat circa 1983, white face with black inverse "Rat" logo and the infamous LM308N chip. And it's stock, no Keeley or any other kinds of mods.

The Rat is appropriately named, it's distortion is ratty, ragged and coarse. It's definitely a distortion, but it has enough characteristics of an overdrive and a fuzz to make it sort of a hybrid pedal. In my opinion it basically sounds like shit no matter how you set it, but I can see why others would like it.

On it's own into a clean amp it produces a hairy sound that is loose and messy. Tight, smooth and focused it is not. No way could you EVER use this pedal alone to get Death or Thrash metal sounds, it's not even remotely tight enough for any rhythm work that requires a tight palm muted sound.

Single notes have an interesting "hair" to them, it's an OK pedal for leads but for rhythm it's more suited to more primitive forms of "rock" that don't require much, if any, technique.

Other reviews have said that you can use this pedal for any style of music. No, you CAN'T! Not for any "real" Metal(Unless you're Trey Azagthoth, don't ask me how he gets a good sound out of one), it's not tight enough for Metal. Noisy, annoying "alternative" rubbish yes, but not Metal or anything that requires a "good" tone.

Built like a tank, probably the best build quality I've ever seen in a production pedal. If it sounded as good as it's built I'd be much happier with it.

N/A

Been playing since 1984, lots of styles but my favorites are classic Metal (Iron Maiden, Judas Priest, Dio) and Death/Thrash Metal (80s Slayer, Destroyer 666, Morbid Angel).

It's fine for what it is but it doesn't do much for me. I use it occasionally as a low-fi tone filter for leads when I need some extra mids to cut through. It does add a cool ragged quality to the sound, but not one that I would want as part of my sound all of the time.

I'll keep it for bragging rights as it is a "rare" version of the Rat. If lost or stolen I'd not replace it. I would sell it if offered as much or more than I paid for it. Otherwise it's just a really cool looking (if horrible sounding) paperweight in my pedal collection.

It's a three knob pedal. The way I see it is the filter knob is like an inverse tone knob. Less filter=more treble and vice versa. Once you know that, it's easy to go from the harsh, ear grating sounds with the filter zeroed, or the really muddy, not so punchy sounds when it's dimed. Find the sweet spot in between, and you are in a world of bliss.

I get the sounds of the only artist that matters when it comes to getting sounds: me.

On a more serious note, it's easy to get lots of sounds out of this. To get a Big Muff type tone, max out the filter knob and set the others to taste, and it's like a muff. A little known fact is that Metallica used these pedals before they got real big and started using ADA's. They were using these through Marshall amps pre-MOP, as far as I know.

I know many jazz guys in Chicago who use this for their lead sounds. It cleans up really well.

This is one of those pedals that really shines with a single coil pickup. It keeps the snap but can make single coils sound really, nice and heavy. Think of Nirvana's In Utero type sound.

With humbuckers, you can do anything from blues or jazz lead lines to thrash metal. For thrash, I'd recommend using an EQ as well to filter out some of the harshness though.

I also sometimes use it into an already pushed tube amp, and it adds a new and wonderful dimension that just sustains for days.

The only negative is the harshness it's capable of.

Metal box. Just as, if not more reliable than Boss pedals. Mine is about twenty years old.

Wouldn't know.

An old Rat is something any and every electric guitarist could find useful. It's a versatile fuzz/distortion box that still has its overdrive type qualities. I'm very happy with mine. I use it mainly with my MIJ Strat through either a Fender Blues Jr or a Marshall JCM-800 4210 (2 channel). It's really wonderful and responsive. Pink Floyd to Mudhoney, this is it.

Three knobs, one footswitch and a battery cover. Hmm... no rocket science needed here...

My RAT is an original LM308 version (for you techie/gear pigs), and as such sounds VERY different from the RAT of today, even the so called Vintage ones.

I had a RAT about 12 years ago (it was the one where the LED/light shone through the letter "A" on the front) and didn't like it. All these guys raved about it, especially for Bass Guitar, so I bought one, not really knowing that there even WAS a difference between this and the original late 70's/early 80's version...

Cut to a week ago and there is a vintage original (white lettered) RAT sitting in the display case at my Local Music store. I instantly recognised it and grabbed it...

One mods that came to mind (especially for bass) is one simply known in the poogers's circle as the "Ruetz Mod" which enables the RAT to speak a little differently, while still maintaining its essential character.

Once I had completed this mod to the fullest (toggle switch added to select between stock and two separate and seriously different voicings) I now have a pedal that I am totally happy to add to my effects board.

Some bottom end (extreme bottom that is) does loosen up a bit, but thats to be expected when everything is being overdriven/clipped to hell!!!

Crank this thing up with my modded Cry Baby wah cracked open to a certain point and I suddenly have Greg Lake or John Wetton's overdriven tones (if you have no clue who these guys are, should you really be collecting vintage stuff???)...

Solid!!!

I dropped twice off the workbench while installing the toggle switch and doing the soldering- I guess if it can take modding from hell (which is a lot more destructive than actually USING the pedal), then it will probably last a lifetime longer!

No backup required...

Not needed. At least not by me... If I can't fix this thing when it breaks (will it ever???), having the schematic and some brain power (and patience), then I'll hunt another one down on Epay or something like that...

This killer pedal, with the mods added, is what God would play when he jams. If its stolen, I'd go to prison, becuase I'd hunt the person down and beat them to death with it!

Pretty simple. Three knobs...filter can take a few minutes to find the tone you like, but its not too bad. No manual as I got used off of EBAY...

My Set up: '78 Twin Reverb-Boos DD-3, Boss PH-3, DOD FX60 Chorus, ProCo Rat,Boss TU-2 tuner, '72 Tele Deluxe or Studio Les Paul. Very quiet pedal, does not effect your tone when off. Ive tried the Boss-DS 1(too shrill, ice-pickish) and the Ibanez TS-9(not enough dist. IMO) and this thing blows them out of the water. You can get evrything from slight overdrive to huge distortion. Mine is from 86 or 88, the smaller box, but has the LM308 chip, which is what you want I guess, I got lucky! Very versatile pedal, not just a one trick pony. I play mostly clean and needed something for leads and what not...those other pedals weren't what I was looking for, The Rat is permanantly a part of my pedal board!

This sucker is built like a tank, mine is from the late 80's and still is kicking...it will last, trust me...

N/A

Like I said I play mostly clean, percussive reggae, and don't play dirty too much, but this pedal is perfect. You can achieve a wide range of tones and distortion styles...you can still find these on EBAY for like 80.00 bucks, get one you'll see...these are sure to be a classic...