RATs....

[Sir Axeman]

tell me the difference between the RAT II and the TURBO RAT? Is the Turbo wun just more louderer and more gain?

Also the PSU input is it a boss type effort or some weird jack type? Looking one one on ebay before and its got a mini jack input like say the headphone type jack on some ipod phones? Is that normal?

[samzadgan]

Well i don't have either of those, but i did have the You Dirty Rat, and that was the mini jack (same as a Big Muff).
I'm sure someone else can tell you about the tonal difference between those pedals.

[Dave_Mc]

http://www.aronnelson.com/gallery/ma...i-RAT.png.html

courtesy of ICBM

don't think i've tried either, but the LEDs versus diode clippers should mean the turbo is crunchier while the rat 2 will be more compressed (that's the result with my mooer black secret, though admittedly i'm guessing the switch on it only changes the clippers). what the other differences do, though, i dunno.

[Cirrusband]

don't think i've tried either, but the LEDs versus diode clippers should mean the turbo is crunchier while the rat 2 will be more compressed (that's the result with my mooer black secret, though admittedly i'm guessing the switch on it only changes the clippers). what the other differences do, though, i dunno.

I had the rat 2 and turbo rat side by side on my board a few weeks ago - both early 90s with lm308.

The turbo rat has a noticeably higher output. Unity volume is about half way whereas the rat 2 can be as high as three quarters. The rat 2 is more compressed and has more potential for harsh high end if you misuse the filter control. I'd say it's got less low end and a more muddy quality to it, which is something I actually like. The distortion is ratty (that's an adjective, mofos!) but quite close grained and complex. In comparison the turbo rat has more bass- at higher volume you feel it. The midrange is more focused and clear and while it seems to have more upper mid cut, it's got less high treble which lets you run the filter a bit higher. The distortion is more coarse and barky

All that would make you think the turbo rat is a clear winner, but actually I like the more complex rat 2 tone. It feels more like all hell has broken loose when you stand on it, whereas the turbo having a more sensible eq and more headroom didn't give me that feeling.

I had a mooer black secret a few months back and the switch does a pretty good job of simulating a rat/ turbo.

And yeah, they all have the 1/8 inch jack power supplies. They're not hard to get, adapters are cheap and cheerful on eBay.

[Dave_Mc]

^ yeah those sound broadly like the differences between the two settings on the black secret I'd use the normal rat setting for dirt-pedal-into-a-clean-amp type tones, while the turbo setting seems to cut through better if you're running into an overdriven amp. I haven't messed with it that much, though

[ICBM]

Exactly! The RATII is just much more aggressive and dirty, to me. I don't really like the Turbo Rat, it's too controlled and smooth. I also very much like the You Dirty Rat (silly box aside) and don't like the original Rat as much as the II. RATII being the overall winner for me.

[Sir Axeman]

I really should go n try one out again. I did play all 3 a few yrs ago in what was then Sound Control..now PMT (salford)...didn't get one at the time but remember thinking they were ok. Now, RATs are known for being 'hairy' right? Well...hmmm this makes me wonder cos I tend to not like hairy dirt or fuzzy dirt....died in the wool classic rock tones are what I love. But still...I have this RAT itch to scratch cos I've never own one and they're legendry. Same with Big Muffs...maybe I have to own one of those to to settle this and maybe sell 'em on if I don't get on n then rest in the knowledge that i'm not missing out on anything!

[ICBM]

The Rat does great classic-rock tones - set the distortion around 9-10 o'clock and the filter above about 2 o'clock and it's a rich, crunchy overdrive - much more like a cranked Marshall than most "overdrive" pedals. For you I'd probably get the original Rat rather than the II - it's got more 'hair' and less 'teeth' if you know what I mean . Old Marshalls are pretty hairy when they're wound up too!

Big Muffs - you probably want the Russian one, rather than the US reissue if you prefer crunch to fuzz. These also work better into a cleaner amp not pushed into power-stage distortion, or they can sound quite muddy and overblown if you dial out the harshness.

[darcym]

if you are doing a RAT lesson....could someone explain how to use them to get the most out of them ?

what amps they suite/guitars/music style - every time I try one, it sounds like a fart, but others seem to get good stuff out them

[ICBM]

How strange... I just turn them on and turn the dials until it gives me the particular variety of great tone I want. There are many... it's hard to find a bad one - although not always appropriate for the context!

But, I can't stand most of these posh Tube Screamer derivatives I've ever heard, which I know a lot of people love - so it may come down to the Rat just not working for you and your playing style, for whatever reason.

It is best into a clean or clean-ish amp I think, but it's certainly possible to use it into a dirty one - even if you don't want it to sound like your amp blowing up .