I built a Rat clone kit, and hmmmm...

Thatbastarddon

Thatbastarddon

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I had a Proco Rat pedal way back when I was young and stupid(who didn't between 1987, and 92?). I never bonded with it. It was just too fiddly for me...with the controls all interacting with each other and what not... So I traded it off, and wrote it off as a thing that was just not for me.
Well, a while back, I was feeling the itch, one of the kit guys was having a sale, I was not in the mood to do a complete breadboard build and source whatever parts I didn't have on hand...whatever... I ended up ordering a Rodent kit from General Guitar Gadgets.
Well, I finally got around to throwing it together, and WOW! I never realized just how cool one of these could be! Once I dialed in the dirt sound I was looking for, I started playing with my volume and tone knobs on the guitar I was using(SG Standard P90), and holy sh*t was I shocked at the responsive nature of this thing. It actually goes from fuzzy, wooly mess, to reasonably almost clean, with a flick of the volume knob! Very much like a couple of amps that I know and love.
@shreddy bender has shown his Rat in enough posts, in a couple of forums, with a couple of sound clips to peak my interest in re-checking my opinion on this circuit. Thanks shreddy!
Anyone else really like a Rat-like dirtbox?
Anyone else experience a surprise in a dirtbox that "really" does clean up like a single ended tube amp?
Sorry, no build pic's, I was using the kit to distract myself from some unpleasant stuff going on in life...
 
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frankblade said:
I have one and I use now again . They are built like tanks too. I have a newer one doesnt have the 308 chip
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My kit build doesn't have the 308 either...I should check my stock...but why?...it sounds ok here as is. 3 hours melted away in a few blinks for me yesterday with this thing. Once I got the hang of the controls, I was fine with it...it's still new to me though.
 
frankblade said:
I really like how it works and blends I don't use a fuzz pedal but depending how ya set the rat it can get just fuzzy enough for me I don't like heavy fuzz
sound. I like to set with just a bit of the fuzz on it and it does that well and isn't noisey
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I hear you there! I put it next to my home brew Muff, and noted that I can get the fuzz, but with a slightly different tone, and it is easier to dial back with the guitar controls, or even pick attack...and yes, quieter at idle. It is WAY more responsive to input than I remember.
 
Many germanium fuzzes do that: clean up when the guitar volume is lowered, or a softer pick attack is used. You've got me interested in looking at the Rat again, or maybe a kit.
 
Yeah, I've played with a few fuzz circuits in my time...this was a pleasant surprise for a circuit that is more of a solid distortion thing...but I'm a bit rusty...and easy to please.
 
Chubbles said:
Many germanium fuzzes do that: clean up when the guitar volume is lowered, or a softer pick attack is used. You've got me interested in looking at the Rat again, or maybe a kit.
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Just my opinion here...yeah, it's worth a look...I'm glad that I built a kit. It was easy-peasy. A piece of cake. A couple of the solder points are a bit tight on the GGG kit board(the diode clippers), but with the right tip on your iron, no problem. Mine sounds good, but band practice isn't until tomorrow night... So we'll see how it goes live.
 
Nice.

You've got me interested in a Rat. Never owned one, but they do sound good, and it's great that they clean up with the guitar volume control.
 
I've swapped out caps and transistors on certain pedals, but I never put a kit together. I tried a Rat years ago. It's about time for a kit.
 
Last weeks rehearsal was canceled. :confused2:
So I've only been noodling with it. It's been great for that! I'm really curious to hear it with the rest of the band.

Supposed to play tonight!:dood:
 
The verdict in the live band setting...

I have to build one for my other guitar player the next time they are on sale.

Yep, this little rodent is staying. I like it a lot. I can roll back the volume on one pickup for a light OD break up, then flip the pickup switch to a cranked, brash, fuzzy distortion punch in the face, on the other.
I still like my guvna build, but I think that is going to live in the living room pedal lineup for a while. The rodent is excellent!

I have some pickups coming soon, so maybe I'll actually do a sound sample...I'll make sure that I use the rodent if I do.
Don't count on it, but maybe...
 
jtcnj said:
So Don, what say you on the Rodent?
Finally built my ABY and want to keep the momentum going.
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I'll tell you this...I'm gonna build another one the next chance I get.

I'm not one to tell anyone what to do, but I can recommend this one for a rewarding experience, and fairly easy build.
 
I hadn't noticed this thread. Did you say something about a Rat?! You all know how much I love mine. Glad to hear you like the tone. It IS a very versatile distortion pedal.

I'd love to see a photo of your build!
 
I've been waiting on the Australian BYOC distributor to get more of the "mouse" RAT clone in stock. The BYOC kit comes with the LM308 chip & features 6 different clipping diode options (rotary switch), but I've been waiting a while. I've built a couple of GGG kits before, good quality kits so I might end up going that way. Cheers
 
ivan H said:
I've been waiting on the Australian BYOC distributor to get more of the "mouse" RAT clone in stock.
Click to expand...

I saw them on ebay a day or two before this thread started. After reading this thread, I thought I'd buy one and put it together (there were 3 or 4 versions), but couldn't find the ads anymore; maybe he sold out?
 
I just checked the BYOC site earlier, they still have them. I can get the mini mouse here in Oz but want the full sized pedal. Cheers
 
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