Just won a vintage Rat and have a few questions...

I just won a vintage 1986 small box ProCo Rat on ebay and was wondering if any of you Rat owners had some answers for me...

1. Does the vintage Rat color your sound at all when off?

2. Will the pedal work with a Pedal Power 2 or do I need some sort of adaptor?

3. Is the Keeley mod absolutely necessary for it? I know many people have gotten it done but I was wondering if it's worth the money.

Thanks in advance!

I just won a vintage 1986 small box ProCo Rat on ebay and was wondering if any of you Rat owners had some answers for me...

1. Does the vintage Rat color your sound at all when off?

2. Will the pedal work with a Pedal Power 2 or do I need some sort of adaptor?

3. Is the Keeley mod absolutely necessary for it? I know many people have gotten it done but I was wondering if it's worth the money.

Thanks in advance!


1. I believe the vintage rats are true bypass, so it won't affect the sound when off.

2. NO! The Pedal Power 2 by Voodoo Labs uses negative center Boss style plugs. The Rat uses a positive center phono-style plug. They even have one out there called the RPS-1 (Rat Power Supply).

3. It is all up to you. Personally, I like the Rat the way it is: down and dirty and in your face. Of course, your tastes may be different.

The only mod I ever did for people's Rats was to put Boss-style power jacks on them.

I use a One Spot with an adaptor.

The Ruetz Rat mod (http://www.diyguitaramp.com/rat.html) (lowers the gain, smoother tone) is easy to do and costs nothing.

My 80's Rat is not modded... :cool:

The RAT has true bypass so it won't affect your tone when it's switched off. I have no idea what a Power Pedal 2 or a Kealy mod is so I have no answer to those questions.

For the record, I have my original early 1980's era RAT plus a later model RAT that I bought as a spare. In spite of what many people say, I find them to be essentially the same. I'm an electrical engineer and have studied the circuits for both. I didn't find any differences that I felt would affect the sound in any significant way. The later model RAT is a bit smaller and built like a tank.

For whatever reason, the RATs don't sound good with my '65 TRRI.

My 1986 rat is my favorite pedal. You pretty much have to options powering it through the pedal power two. Buy a 1/8 male converter from one spot or buy the 9v batter end from one spot. I got the male converter from them and I use it on a boss power supply chain.

I don't notice any color differences at in my tone when its off. The only reason I could see sending my rat to keeley would be for a led light.

Be prepared for a little noise -

I loved my Rat pedal but in a moment of madness I did the Ruetz mod, which only involves clipping a resistor off at one end, when I decided to put it back I got into all sorts of trouble and now I am without one of my fave pedals.:oops:
I think the Rats are great in as much as you can set it to get virtually the same sound on or off then add gain or volume as you wish, they definitely are not just for out and out distortion IMO.
Stax

Paul Trombetta Modded Rat
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.. :grin:

[QUOTE=Be prepared for a little noise -[/QUOTE]

A little noise when off or on? Just curious what you mean.

Thanks for all the advice on the pedal. It's one of those things where waiting for it to come in the mail is the hardest part. I can't wait to hear what it sounds like with my rig.

when its on i supposed it depends on your guitar and such but its noisier than all my other pedals

Anyone know how to do the Ruetz mod and add SPST to select the mod on/off? Seems like it should be a simple thing to do, but I need to see a diagram or something.

Anyone know how to do the Ruetz mod and add SPST to select the mod on/off? Seems like it should be a simple thing to do, but I need to see a diagram or something.


On this page. (http://www.diyguitaramp.com/rat.html)

No coloration with my big box early '80s. Killer pedal for what it does.

Pump one of these guys thru a clean Marshall (non master) Head / Quad :grin:

Bit of the old EVH Tone at the end of the clip.....versatile pedal !!!

adXYhYU5FKE

Still without hearing it but in theory should this pedal be better than my solid state fender's amp distortion?

Also after doing a little digging Voodoo Labs makes a 1/8 adaptor for the PP2+!

Also, where would the best place to put it in my chain? Here is my signal:

Fender Telecaster - Boss SD-1 (Analogman Mod) - Boss TR-2 (Analogman Mod) - Phase 90 (1977) - Boss DD-6 (Analogman Mod) - Analogman A/B/Tuner Box - Fender Stage 112SE amp and TU-2 Tuner

My favorite Rat mod isn't really a mod at all...I just run it with a 12v wall wart. Everything in the pedal is rated to take the extra juice, and it smooths it out and gives better note separation but still keeps that in your face attitude Rats are famous for. Another of those "happy accidents".

Still without hearing it but in theory should this pedal be better than my solid state fender's amp distortion?

Also after doing a little digging Voodoo Labs makes a 1/8 adaptor for the PP2+!

Also, where would the best place to put it in my chain? Here is my signal:

Fender Telecaster - Boss SD-1 (Analogman Mod) - Boss TR-2 (Analogman Mod) - Phase 90 (1977) - Boss DD-6 (Analogman Mod) - Analogman A/B/Tuner Box - Fender Stage 112SE amp and TU-2 Tuner

Right after the SD-1, which is what I do (I also have a Tubescreamer set REAL low on the gain before that too!).

The circuit changed for the worse around '89 or so, when ProCo stopped using the LM308 chip-the heart of this little beast that we all love. Gaddis you're right about the small and big box Rats being electronically the same-an '86 Rat (like the OP and mine) will sound the same as the original big box Rat, and tons better than the later Rats (those are usually the ones Keeley likes to modify).

My advice on modding an old Rat-DON'T!!!!! There's a reason we like them, to modify an original is like putting a mustache on the Mona Lisa (OK, maybe not quite that bad, but...) Rats are kinda of a 1-trick pony, but oh such a good trick-get other pedals to do those other things that the Keeley mods do (one of which turns a Rat into a pseudo-808 TS! Not Kosher!!!!).

Just my .08... (inflation and all, y'know)

Franc Robert
Delta Aces

Right after the SD-1, which is what I do (I also have a Tubescreamer set REAL low on the gain before that too!).

The circuit changed for the worse around '89 or so, when ProCo stopped using the LM308 chip-the heart of this little beast that we all love. Gaddis you're right about the small and big box Rats being electronically the same-an '86 Rat (like the OP and mine) will sound the same as the original big box Rat, and tons better than the later Rats (those are usually the ones Keeley likes to modify).

My advice on modding an old Rat-DON'T!!!!! There's a reason we like them, to modify an original is like putting a mustache on the Mona Lisa (OK, maybe not quite that bad, but...) Rats are kinda of a 1-trick pony, but oh such a good trick-get other pedals to do those other things that the Keeley mods do (one of which turns a Rat into a pseudo-808 TS! Not Kosher!!!!).

Just my .08... (inflation and all, y'know)

Franc Robert
Delta Aces

Thanks for the advice!

I'll try it right after the SD-1. It's good to hear it's a nice combo.

I don't plan on modding the pedal. The only good thing would be to add a LED but not worth ruining the pedal. If it doesn't work out then I'll sell it.

[QUOTE=59TweedVibrolux;1388227]Bit of the old EVH Tone at the end of the clip.....versatile pedal !!!

ProCo Rat 2 - Less talk more rock .. :grin:
R5VlvTvXV4E

On this page. (http://www.diyguitaramp.com/rat.html)

I didn't see anything there that answered my question about a spst or similar switch for the mod. Anyone else?

I didn't see anything there that answered my question about a spst or similar switch for the mod. Anyone else?

Well I believe the mod involves clipping one end of a resistor. Instead of clipping the resistor you would unsolder that end of the resistor and lift it from the pc board. Then solder a wire to the free end of the resistor and run this wire to one terminal of the SPST switch. Run another wire from the other switch terminal to the hole in the board where the resistor formerly was.

Thanks for the advice!

I'll try it right after the SD-1. It's good to hear it's a nice combo.

I don't plan on modding the pedal. The only good thing would be to add a LED but not worth ruining the pedal. If it doesn't work out then I'll sell it.


The cool thing about those two is if you switch them around in the chain its a completely different tone. I always go od then distortion but it was fun switching them around.

2. NO! The Pedal Power 2 by Voodoo Labs uses negative center Boss style plugs. The Rat uses a positive center phono-style plug. They even have one out there called the RPS-1 (Rat Power Supply).

Actually, that's not true. Yes - the Rat has it's polarity backwards, but a PedalPower can power one simultaneously with your other effects without shorting. The PP has separate outputs for each power feed. Each feed can be positive or negative tipped.

If you use a 1-Stop or other single output power source you can't power a Rat and other pedals at the same time w/o causing a grounding problem.

Actually, that's not true. Yes - the Rat has it's polarity backwards, but a PedalPower can power one simultaneously with your other effects without shorting. The PP has separate outputs for each power feed. Each feed can be positive or negative tipped.

If you use a 1-Stop or other single output power source you can't power a Rat and other pedals at the same time w/o causing a grounding problem.

True, but they don't come that way. You have to get the positive tipped cables from Voodoo Labs.

The main thing is to make sure what the polarity is before hooking it up. While the Pedal Power 2 doesn't care, the pedal sure does.

True, but they don't come that way. You have to get the positive tipped cables from Voodoo Labs.

Actually, that's not true.....again. Mine came with a connector for the Rat. The polarity is determined by the 8 mini-DIP switches on the PP, not the cable itself.

With regard to the cables included, from the VooDoo Labs web site you'll see that the v.2 PP has:

5.5x2.1mm barrel connectors (6)
5.5x2.5mm “red” barrel for L6 (2)
3.5mm mini plug for vintage MXR or Electro-Harmonix (1)
9V battery snap for pedals without a power jack (1)

The PP v.1 didn't come with the Line 6 connector...but the rest was the same.

http://www.voodoolab.com/pedalpower_2.htm

How do you win something on ebay, I always end up paying for stuff
Jim

HMMMMM, what to say to cover up a doublepost!!!
JIm
I like Stevie Ray Vaughn

Actually, that's not true. Yes - the Rat has it's polarity backwards, but a PedalPower can power one simultaneously with your other effects without shorting. The PP has separate outputs for each power feed. Each feed can be positive or negative tipped.

If you use a 1-Stop or other single output power source you can't power a Rat and other pedals at the same time w/o causing a grounding problem.

Ummmm, I've been using a 1-spot on my board for some time now with no problems, but I also use the phono adaptor for the Rat (that may be solving my problems here).
Franc Robert
Delta Aces

I've been using a 1-spot on my board for some time now with no problems,

Interesting. When I attached my Rat to the same chain as my other polarity pedals, everything died. When I unplugged the Rat, it came back on.

I just got the pedal and have a question... When I click on it the sound cuts out completely for a second before going to the distortion channel. It's smooth going from distortion to clean though. Is this how it's supposed to be? If not, what do I have to do to fix it?

Petrified thread revival :roll:....just got an old small box rat off CL for cheap, opened it up and inspecting doing a power plug mod; but was lazy, so got out ye old universal wallwart. Playing around trying to find the clean/od threshold and decided to decrease the vdc. Well at 3 vdc with dist at 8 o'clock, filter at 10 o'clock, vol at noon...got a lovely clean yet loose greasy od with the tele...a tone I've been chasing in my head. The wallwart is staying with the rat! Anyway just thought to share the discovery.