PROCO RAT

RRP: $219 Type: Distortion Bypass: True PROS

• Powerful, punchy distortion

• Good at low– and high-gain settings

• Very affordable

CONS

• If you don’t like the timbre of the distortion

One of the first, and still most recognisable distortions, the ProCo RAT got its unique distortion sound from its LM308 op-amp internally clipping the signal into a triangular shape.

Though that’s the secret of the RAT’s tone, most distortions that followed emulated another part of the RAT’s circuit – its two so-called ‘hard clipping’ diodes, which also distinguished the harder, more punchy distortion pedals from softer overdrives like the Ibanez Tube Screamer.

Rightly a classic, RATs are nevertheless not that expensive, and remain accessible to beginners that want a huge, punchy distortion sound. More than that, the RAT also works well at lower gain settings, especially into tube amps that already have a bit of dirt on the go. They’re a surprisingly versatile distortion pedal and it’s hard to go too wrong.