Home› Musicians and Gearheads

ProCo Rat Distortion

|-Release-||-Release-| Posts: 90
edited May 2004 in Musicians and Gearheads
Hey, you might remember me from an earlier post about me needing a dist pedal due to my avt50 being too loud. (the distortion channel anyway). i was considering a ds-1, but someone also recommended me a proco rat distortion..what is the deal with these pedals? are there any songs by anyone who uses one i could download to get a taste of them before i go and try one out in a shop? i believe sonic youth used proco rat distortion, if anyone knows any specific songs that this pedal really shines through by sonic youth as i am a fan, then could they please let me know. cheers.

if you need to know, i mainly play pearl jam, smashing pumpkins (gish tone), soundgarden, AIC, and sonic youth and neil young (but im not completely expecting it to achieve a young tone whilst at the same time, get me a SG tone.)
seems that needlessly its getting harder
Post edited by Unknown User on

Comments

  • exhaustedexhausted Posts: 6,638
    they sound great in front of fender amps. i know that much. and their component quality went to shit in early 2003 so try to find an older, used one.

    much more full and ballsy than the DS-1. with tons of volume available.

    who uses them? good question. i haven't seen one on a pro's board in a while.
  • Pacomc79Pacomc79 Posts: 9,404
    I have a Keeley Version (3 mode mod, good caps etc.) and it's fantastic when combined with another overdrive. I don't really like it as much by itself. They are built like brick shithouses and made to be toured with. The letters glow so you can see them on stage. There are plenty around to get off of ebay if you want. But like Ex said get a used one because the new ones aren't using the same components they used to. They are absolutely perfect when combined with and overdrive as a number 2. That's how most people I see using them run them. Think of a JCM 800 or a Marshall Major (early 80's late 70's Marshall's for the layperson) set to crunch. That's what it sounds like. Not as much gain as the Big Muff but more abrasive. Very Classic Rock. Can you get those sounds you want with it sure, especially when you combine it with a good Overdrive. Very Harmonic and smooth.


    http://www.procosound.com/musicians/rats/index.htm



    http://www.robertkeeley.com for info on my rat if you want it.
    My Girlfriend said to me..."How many guitars do you need?" and I replied...."How many pairs of shoes do you need?" She got really quiet.
  • |-Release-||-Release-| Posts: 90
    would a proco rat turbo do the same job and give a little extra for some soaring leads? or is the coolness of the pedal simply only linked with the original?
    seems that needlessly its getting harder
  • exhaustedexhausted Posts: 6,638
    i think the turbo's just have more gain. teenage fanclub used to use them back in their trashy days.
  • |-Release-||-Release-| Posts: 90
    are there any other dist, pedals i should try out that would give me a nice thick tone? or is it really between proco and boss ds-1?
    seems that needlessly its getting harder
  • Pacomc79Pacomc79 Posts: 9,404
    Originally posted by |-Release-|
    are there any other dist, pedals i should try out that would give me a nice thick tone? or is it really between proco and boss ds-1?


    There are thousands.
    My Girlfriend said to me..."How many guitars do you need?" and I replied...."How many pairs of shoes do you need?" She got really quiet.
  • mojorison_75mojorison_75 Posts: 157
    I agree with exhausted that the sound great in front of a fender amp. I love mine with my hotrod. Tastes in effects are highly individual, but I don't think you would be dissapointed judging from the style of music you play.

    You can find them pretty readily on ebay. I got a pretty good deal on mine there. It's a 2000 model, I think. The only thing wrong with it was the battery cover was missing. Not a real issue for me, since I never use batteries. I just stuck a piece of black duct tape on the back and went on. Got it for $45. It was like brand new other than the battery cover.

    I can't think of any specific songs, but I know that David Gilmour(Pink Floyd) uses one.
  • |-Release-||-Release-| Posts: 90
    Originally posted by Pacomc79
    There are thousands.

    i better get to work testing then :P

    im kind of on a tight budget but i'd be willing to wait and get the money to get a better distortion if i needed to but can you recommend some bang for your buck pedals i could try out this weekend or something?
    seems that needlessly its getting harder
  • mojorison_75mojorison_75 Posts: 157
    Originally posted by Pacomc79
    There are thousands.


    Yea, you'll go crazy trying them all. Just try a few, pick one and let time take care of the rest. You'll develop an idea of what you like and don't like and get to try a few out as time goes on.

    You just have to pick your spot and jump in, really.
  • Pacomc79Pacomc79 Posts: 9,404
    Originally posted by |-Release-|
    i better get to work testing then :P

    im kind of on a tight budget but i'd be willing to wait and get the money to get a better distortion if i needed to but can you recommend some bang for your buck pedals i could try out this weekend or something?


    well there's the obvious ones you mentioned. If you get a chance and they have one at guitar center I'll say check out the Distortion Pro (stone uses currently from fulltone http://www.fulltone.com to find retailers) and obviously the Big Muff and Hot Tubes from EH.

    You might also check out some fuzz pedals. Oh, the Jekyll and Hyde from Visual Sound might be another one you see that's pretty cool.
    My Girlfriend said to me..."How many guitars do you need?" and I replied...."How many pairs of shoes do you need?" She got really quiet.
  • Pacomc79Pacomc79 Posts: 9,404
    I meant to tell you release you might look at digitech as well as teh boss pedals if you're still going budget. It's worth a look anyhow.

    check out http://www.digitech.com and look for the x series.


    also check out http://www.musictoyz.com and look around. That should help your search.



    This one from Option 5 has sound clips is about as versatile as they come and is a veritable bargain.

    http://www.musictoyz.com/guitar/pedals/option5.php

    along the same lines is this Bennett.

    http://www.musictoyz.com/guitar/pedals/brown.php If you're looking for searing solo's this can do it.
    My Girlfriend said to me..."How many guitars do you need?" and I replied...."How many pairs of shoes do you need?" She got really quiet.
  • TelemasterTelemaster Posts: 17
    I'm pretty darn sure that Dave Grohl uses Turbo Rat distortion on some of the older foo fighters stuff...but i'm not totally sure. I've got a turbo rat stompbox on my PODxt, and it's exactly like the real thing. Very ballsy and bassy with just the right about of boost and distortion. Excellent pedal, but i'm always gonna be a tube screamer fan.
    My mind is not for rent,
    To any god or government.
  • Pacomc79Pacomc79 Posts: 9,404
    Originally posted by Telemaster
    I'm pretty darn sure that Dave Grohl uses Turbo Rat distortion on some of the older foo fighters stuff...but i'm not totally sure. I've got a turbo rat stompbox on my PODxt, and it's exactly like the real thing. Very ballsy and bassy with just the right about of boost and distortion. Excellent pedal, but i'm always gonna be a tube screamer fan.


    try one in conjunction with a tube screamer.......it really comes alive.
    My Girlfriend said to me..."How many guitars do you need?" and I replied...."How many pairs of shoes do you need?" She got really quiet.
  • cashwocashwo Posts: 16
    king buzzo from the melvins uses the original
    http://www.themelvins.net/gear.html

    and thruston moore uses the turbo
    http://www.sonicyouth.com/mustang/eq/gear.html
    http://www.sonicyouth.com/mustang/eq/tfx06.jpg

    i have an old version of the original and i LOVE it. my wife LOVES it so much she took it from me and uses it for bass. i'm going to get another one soon.
Sign In or Register to comment.