The Steel Guitar Forum

Tom Stolaski · Post by **Tom Stolaski** » 2 Feb 2009 9:54 pm

Am I the only one still using a Rat for distortion?

Jeremy Threlfall · Post by **Jeremy Threlfall** » 3 Feb 2009 12:19 am

I do too

John Billings · Post by **John Billings** » 3 Feb 2009 3:18 am

I've got an ancient one from when they first came out. Excellent sound!

Mike Poholsky · Post by **Mike Poholsky** » 3 Feb 2009 7:33 am

I have a Keeley modded Rat. Nice clean distortion with a toggle switch for 3 different circuit settings. Sometimes it sounds a little hollow. I haven't used it with my Twin, only my FSK. Also have a DanElectro Metal Fab D3. It sounds fuller but, tends to break up here and there. I'm still looking for the right distortion box.

Kevin Mincke · Post by **Kevin Mincke** » 3 Feb 2009 9:39 am

Sold mine YEARS ago but wish I had it back now....
I think it was a late 70's/early 80's model

Jerry Hayes · Post by **Jerry Hayes** » 3 Feb 2009 10:08 am

I have one of the old ones and it's still the best by far IMHO. However, I rarely use it anymore as for the last 5 years or so I've been using a Boss ME-50 multiple effects board which has settings like most popular distortion pedals. The "RAT" setting is pretty close to the actual pedal so I use that now. On occasion I take my old rack of stompboxes out to blow the dust off of it and give the old Rat some work.........JH in Va.

Marlin Smoot · Post by **Marlin Smoot** » 3 Feb 2009 2:05 pm

I still own one and got it new shortly after they came out - I guess 1982 or 83 - anyway I also still have the original box and paperwork - it has a date on the paperwork. Still a great sounding pedal. I use it sometimes.

Leland Darst · Post by **Leland Darst** » 4 Feb 2009 6:34 pm

i have 2 of the old ones,i can dial it up any way i feel that the song requires. Its very quick and simple to change between songs. It gives me an excellent slide sound. The new ones arent the same.

Dan Galysh · Post by **Dan Galysh** » 4 Feb 2009 8:13 pm

I have found that the only recent distortion pedal that can closely duplicate the sound of the old '80s Rat's "singing overtone" is the Radial Tonebone Classic distortion. There might be others, but I like the Classic.

Darvin Willhoite · Post by **Darvin Willhoite** » 4 Feb 2009 8:26 pm

I have one old one and one new one. They are the best distortion device I've found for steel. I can't tell much difference in the sound, but I like the light on the new one to tell me if it's in or out of the circuit.

Ben Jones · Post by **Ben Jones** » 5 Feb 2009 9:01 am

I built a clone version from a company called Build Your Own Clone. It was fun to build and not to hard, just follow instructions and use light guage solder.
It has six different modes...one to emmulate the vintage rat, one for the turbo rat, etc etc. Very versatile and sounds great to me.

Craig A Davidson · Post by **Craig A Davidson** » 6 Feb 2009 1:46 pm

I still use one.

Rick Batey · Post by **Rick Batey** » 6 Feb 2009 2:28 pm

I'm a Turbo Rat fan.