Generally speaking, they’re flat-out incorrect. Most assumptions about how specific RAT models sound different or better than the rest are, at best, misinformed. And basically? A lot of the widely accepted “facts” about the differences in RAT versions, including some of my own beliefs, were wrong. I have tracked down 45 different RAT specimens for study, and I’ve interviewed numerous ProCo employees about the circuit design, evolution and production of this pedal series over the decades. As you change the mode, the analog circuitry is rewired, resulting in brand new values of resistors, capacitors, diodes and op amps.Īlthough I’ve put several years of research into the history, circuit topology and version history of the RAT, I know that my findings may still ruffle some feathers. This is a stepped pot that clicks into place as you scroll through the nine legendary versions of this circuit. This is effectively a simple, low-pass filter. The “Distortion” control lets you raise and lower the amount of gain or distortion that the circuit produces, and the “Filter” control allows you to brighten and darken the sound of the overall effect. The “Volume” control adjusts the overall volume of the pedal. The operation of the PackRat is about as simple as it gets. If you purchased these nine hard-to-find pedals on the used market right now, you would pay around $4,000. This means that when you choose one of the nine legendary or rare modes, you are playing fully analog circuits that perfectly replicate that mode, even down to the aging components (also known as component drift). Artists from every genre have used the iconic tones in this unassuming black box to create their sounds, including Nirvana, John Scofield, Pink Floyd, Metallica, REM, the Eagles, Jeff Beck and Radiohead.īuilding on our Multi-Mode pedal series that includes the Muffuletta and Bonsai, the PackRat uses the same unique digital runway system to direct the paths of 261 components through 40 individual switches. The PackRat is the ultimate tribute to the 40+ years of rodent evolution and its impact on the guitar’s sound. By 1979 Scott had perfected the circuit in his RAT-infested basement workshop, and the rest is history. They wanted a pedal that could go from overdrive to distortion and then all the way to fuzz. They wanted something that didn’t exist in the mainstream product lines like MXR, DOD and BOSS. Scott Burnham and Steve Kiraly first had the idea after playing, repairing and modifying all the available distortion pedals on the market. In 1978, the most versatile and influential distortion pedal of all time was invented in Kalamazoo, MI: the Proco RAT.
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