Rat needs to be first

[Esquire Jones]

After much research and reflection, I’ve determined that the RAT needs to be first in the chain.

Yeah, it works anywhere you put it.

I don’t know if it’s the buffer, impedance, or just the magic rat stuff. The pedal is just so dynamic and touch sensitive.

It’s become my white whale.

Why does it sound so much better being first?

 

[JKjr]

Curious...what RAT into what amp?

 

[sammy1974]

First in what sort of chain?

 

[4pickupguy]

It might be one of the other pedals buffer in the chain?

 

[Esquire Jones]

I’ve tried different combinations of RAT, DOD250, Tumnus, Fulldrive, etc with a PRRI and Origin 20.

If the RAT is anything other than first in the chain it just kind of loses its sensitivity, touch sensitivity, I mean.

I love the low gain rat thing for the main rhythm tone.

Ultimately, it is what it is. It just sounds better to me being connected directly to the guitar…

Thanks for listening!

 

[Chiogtr4x]

It may be because I have a Rat clone and not a true Rat ( it sounds like one, but maybe the devil is in the details?),

AND that I only use my 'Rat' as a supplemental distortion ( for occasional harder-rocking gigs) to my always ON/ low-medium gain OD ( which is very dynamic),

But I've never thought of a Rat as being touch-sensitive or that dynamic.

YES, very good distortion that cuts thru, and you can vary its strength/saturation amount with the Gain knob
- but I don't hear a cleanup ( really dont listen for that) when turning guitar Volume down- and most dirt pedals react a bit to how hard you hit them ( pick attack) anyway.
I just think of my Rat as a 'dedicated weapon' fir riffs or leads...

 

[mexicanyella]

I used to enjoy my Rat 2 second or third in the chain, preceded by a clean boost for solos (DOD FX-10) and sometimes a conservatively-set compressor. Not squashing, just subtle leveling and fattening. It seemed to play well with the Rat set at low gain, with the comp just above unity gain. I felt like in that scenario I still had the ability to control the clean-to-dirt spectrum by playing intensity or volume knob manipulation, and it gave a little different flavor of dirt and sustain that I’d have gotten by just cranking the Rat harder.

 

[Esquire Jones]

Is there anything else that does that cutting, crunchy, brash rhythm tone?

I mean other than a cranked Marshall?

I’m a former guitar-straight-into-JCM800 guy trying to cultivate a lower volume classic rock vibe.

 

[Timbresmith1]

After much research and reflection, I’ve determined that the RAT needs to be first in the chain.

Yeah, it works anywhere you put it.

I don’t know if it’s the buffer, impedance, or just the magic rat stuff. The pedal is just so dynamic and touch sensitive.

It’s become my white whale.

Why does it sound so much better being first?

Rats always think they should be first

 

[Chiogtr4x]

Is there anything else that does that cutting, crunchy, brash rhythm tone?

I mean other than a cranked Marshall?

I’m a former guitar-straight-into-JCM800 guy trying to cultivate a lower volume classic rock vibe.

If you want some great sounding distortion with some low end thump ( pedal has separate low and high EQ knobs- so you can adjust well) the DOD GUNSLINGER- a force to be reckoned with. Strong midrange and sustain

Too powerful for my own needs ( I bought it then sold) but you get a quality distortion, IMO

Google for a few reviews, See if you like

 

[Esquire Jones]

Rats always think they should be first

I know, right?

 

[Chiogtr4x]

I know, right?

They got it right ( for years ) in Guitar Player magazine ads:
'STEP ON A RAT'
' THERE'S NO SOUND AS INTENSE!'

 

[Esquire Jones]

Ironically, I don’t love the high gain Rat sound. I only like the barely on (9 o clock) gain.

I use the rat to push an OCD pedal and that’s a pretty gnarly high gain tone. Good stuff there.

The rat is so awesome as a basic crunch tone.

I keep thinking something will show itself. I don’t know, Barber Gain Changer or something?

 

[Chiogtr4x]

Ironically, I don’t love the high gain Rat sound. I only like the barely on (9 o clock) gain.

I use the rat to push an OCD pedal and that’s a pretty gnarly high gain tone. Good stuff there.

The rat is so awesome as a basic crunch tone.

I keep thinking something will show itself. I don’t know, Barber Gain Changer or something?

I don't have one ( I do have a 'big box' Barber Direct Drive- great OD pedal),
,but there seems to be many folks that swear by a Gain Changer ( surprised I have not bought one- but I just always get $100 max pedals)

The Gain Changer sounds like a Swiss Army knife, when it comes to Gain and Eq options ( switching modes for each, along with global controls)

I have met David Barber in 2001 ( picking up a repaired Deluxe Reverb from him, that a buddy dropped off to him) and he is incredibly passionate ( has an ear!) about shaping distortion/tone/compression- he hears stuff we just don't!
The Gain Changer sounds like a keeper for life, worth the $$- for many

 

[11 Gauge]

Why does it sound so much better being first?

Just partially a guess, but it may simply have to do with the low slew rate of the op amp.

 

[D_Malone]

Interesting. I’ve never noticed the Rat being sensitive to placement, but I suppose anything that comes before it in the signal chain has the potential to affect the tone.

 

[WRHB]

This is why I plug my tele straight into my amp. Pedals just confuse me and I would probably be doing it wrong.

 

[Heartbreaker_Esq]

This is why I plug my tele straight into my amp. Pedals just confuse me and I would probably be doing it wrong.

I'm not fully a plug-straight-in guy, but I do try to minimize pedals for this reason. The more stuff in between, the more likely I am to mess something up and make it sound worse.

 

[Chiogtr4x]

Just partially a guess, but it may simply have to do with the low slew rate of the op amp.

OK, be gentle,
what is slew rate? ( and its relation to our topic here)
Thanks!

Merry Christmas!

 

[WRHB]

Since we are discussing pedals and no one else is going to do it I guess it’s up to me to show a picture of my pedal board with all of my pedals. Try not to be jealous.