Original ProCo Rat vs. Turbo Rat
x01001x
Did the original Rat come out before 1980?
Are there any aftermarket mods for these pedals?
Thank you!
underwoodblog
Hi!
The main difference between the normal RAT and Turbo Rat are the
clipping diodes. The normal rat uses 1n4148 or simalar (0,7V) and the
turbo rat uses LEDs (2,2V forward voltage).
This means that the turbo rat has a higher output and less compression
than the normal rat. The double rat has also an option to switch to
germanium diodes for a fuzzier sound aka dirty rat (0,3V) and to
switch the clipping diodes completly off for a more clean boost.
Older models uses the lm383 op, first models in a round metal can
housing, later in 8pin dip housing. New models uses cheaper LMxxx or
BurrBrown op. Also the old pedals use the now called Millennium bypass
that uses a normal cheap switch to get a full bypass. See picture:
http://filters.muziq.be/model/proco/rat
There are some simple mods and you can build in a switch to change
between turbo and normal rat. Build in the classic LM383 or other OP
(socket!).
Thats the technical part. I think that the rat only works for few
setups. Strat and marshall amp at high volumes for example. I have
tryed different mods on the rat, build a new one strict to the classic
rat schematics and can't find out why this pedal schould be something
special. I have had several cheap distortion pedals that all sound
better than the rat. Maby it's the same hype like the klon pedal or
tubescreamer that I can't understand.
greets
Jürgen
Zoot
> Thats the technical part. I think that the rat only works for few
> setups. Strat and marshall amp at high volumes for example. I have
> tryed different mods on the rat, build a new one strict to the classic
> rat schematics and can't find out why this pedal schould be something
> special. I have had several cheap distortion pedals that all sound
> better than the rat. Maby it's the same hype like the klon pedal or
> tubescreamer that I can't understand.
>
> greets
> Jürgen
It has to do with some people liking vanilla ice cream, and others liking
strawberry. I have about 25 pedals, and out of all of them the Rat is my
favorite. I just like it.
Jim
Into what amp? Not clean SS, I'm betting.
Zoot
"Jim" <j...@askmebeforeyousend.com> wrote in message
news:W_SdnRFWVoukS2LV...@posted.isomediainc...
I usually use an old Randall SS amp into a couple of Jaguar 12 inch
speakers. The amp has it's own distortion built in. It's usuable, a bit
harsh, but not very versatile. So, yes, a clean SS amp :). I sometimes us a
SS 30W amp I built about 10 years ago. I usually have one amp driving one
speaker and the other amp driving the other so I get stereo effects - my
flanger and chorus pedals have true stereo out, and the stereo effect from
the Chorus is quite nice.
TheChris
@news.qwest.net:
I used a Rat into the Hi-Gain input on my Marshall for years... Greatest
sound ever, but, was such a hot signal, any other pedals I used (Chorus,
Flange, Phase) were too noisy. And, I couldn't get a good clean with the
pedal off into that input.
As soon as I switched to the low-gain input - I found it was like most
other amps... My other pedals sounded good, but, the Rat's distortion was
useless... It was barely a distortion anymore - it was like a fuzzy boost.
So, now it sits in a box.
I'd LOVE to mod that thing to being slightly more gainey...
Zoot
"TheChris" <cab...@nospam.hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:Xns9B596EA...@85.214.105.209...
Do you have a Turbo Rat? I have a Rat II, and I've used a Vintage Rat, and
both of them had output comparable to my other pedals. Both of those pedals
have output level adjustment that seem to be within the "normal" range of
output.
I will admit that I've not used them like you do - the last pedal in my
chain is always my DOD chorus - it puts out very nice true stereo, and I
sometimes run it into two amps. When I use run amp, it's still the last
pedal in the chain
TheChris
@news.qwest.net:
No, it's an original ProCo Rat that I got in 1987...Chorus last? Hmmm... I
have my delay last if I want to do that. I like Chorus before distortion
for some reason...sounds more Leslie-Like... Use a Small Clone for that...
Wonderful!
But, I use a Boss Overdrive these days...It's more of a distortion though.
Zoot
I always have the rat, phasor, flanger, chorus as the last four pedals, in
that order. The stereo output of the DOD chorus is very nice, and very well
distrubuted across both outputs. I used to have a "stereo" Cool Cat chorus
pedal, but Danelectro's idea of "stereo" was to have one clean channel out
and one dirty channel out. Bah....
Guitar -> Harmonic enhancer -> delay -> <distortion - whatever I feel like
at the time> -> Rat -> phasor -> flanger ->
chorus -> amps