My RAT Is So Awesome

mynameisjack2 · #1 09-26-2010, 03:09 PM

I thought I'd take a moment to tell you the greatness that is my RAT.

Now, I used to think there wasn't a use for fuzz when I play, and I got the RAT as an impulse buy when purchasing my delay. I now want easily 23.5 new fuzz pedals.

The awesome:

Consistency:

My RAT is the most inconsistent pedal I have ever owned. Sometimes when I turn it on, it throws out 8-bit noises, sometimes cuts out each note after about 1 second, but most of the time, gives me an awesome "I want to eat your ears" fuzz. My only problem with the consistency is that I wish I could figure out how to control when 8-bit noises come on. Because let's be honest, 8-bit is awesome in the middle of a song... Especially when your bandmates don't know.

The Tone:

I've heard few bad things about the RAT's tone, which says something. I love the tone, if I could describe it, I'd be the next best-selling novelist. But I can't, all I can say is awesome.

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And now for the actual purpose of the thread:

Does anyone else experience the same inconsistent 8-bit noises from the RAT as I do? It's kind of awesome, but sometimes (just sometimes) I don't want 8-bit in my bass line.

chrisisnotevil · #2 09-26-2010, 04:05 PM

Never, but mine is nowhere near as chock full of vintage-y goodness as yours. It has, however, taken a right kicking over the years and hasn't ever let me down once...

mynameisjack2 · #3 09-26-2010, 04:49 PM

So I guess it's a trade of consistency for vintage-y goodness?

Mark Olson · #4 09-26-2010, 08:41 PM

Really no. If you are getting those sounds, and inconsistently from your Rat, there is obviously something wrong with it. I've played a lot of Rats, they're all good for a nice overdrive/distortion, but they do not produce glitchy sounds.

mynameisjack2 · #5 09-26-2010, 08:54 PM

Interesting.

Any ideas on what the issue could be?

pbd · #6 09-26-2010, 08:56 PM

I had an old one from the early 80's I sold 2 years ago . . . another example of why not to sell gear unless you have too because I am sellers remorse now . . .

Todd

mpdd · #7 09-26-2010, 09:58 PM

i just bought a wmd geiger counter and it does some pretty weird stuff also, you can actually do a lot of things by just playing with your tone and volume if you have the feedback loop mod on your rat

dune2k · #8 09-27-2010, 04:44 AM

Start by checking the power cables (from the jack/battery snap to the pcb, digital multi meter will help there). When done with this check all other offboard connections and the board mounted pots/jacks.
Everything else is a little harder...

deigam · #9 09-27-2010, 06:41 AM

Hello!

I have the exact same RAT as you, and I love it to death.
I removed from my pedalboard just because it "eats" a lot of bass frequencies, and it sounds too thin compared to the clean sound. I thought of getting a looper/blender to mix some of the original signal back in the path, but in the end I had too much GAS for the rodenberg bass overdrive and bought that one!!! Sooner or later I'll do the blender thing, anyway!

Never experienced the 8-bit issue, but I don't use massive amounts of distortion, usually about 9-10 o'clock.

grimniggzy · #10 09-27-2010, 10:13 AM

I recently bought a Reissue RAT like this from the 90's and somehow I think my USA RAT II sounds better. I'll probably have the big RAT modded.

Surly · #11 09-27-2010, 10:19 AM

Open it up and do a visual inspection. Maybe you'll find something? I have an old Rat which I did the Reutz mod to and I love it.

MAMMOTHvolume · #12 09-27-2010, 03:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mark Olson

Really no. If you are getting those sounds, and inconsistently from your Rat, there is obviously something wrong with it. I've played a lot of Rats, they're all good for a nice overdrive/distortion, but they do not produce glitchy sounds.

+1

i'd love a vintage rat like that one!

mynameisjack2 · #13 09-27-2010, 04:15 PM

This wasn't exactly what I expecting to find on the inside...

I took off the tape and haven't had any 8 bit thus far, and my distortion knob works better now.

MAMMOTHvolume · #14 09-27-2010, 04:49 PM

wonder why that was on, is the board held up by the knobs?

mynameisjack2 · #15 09-27-2010, 04:51 PM

I believe so, the tape didn't add any bit of support. It was actually only half on on the bottom one.

KarateKid25 · #16 09-27-2010, 05:11 PM

While it looks pretty ugly, the electrical tape itself shouldn't really cause any issues. It is an isulator, not a conductor... Ever seen the inside of a Devi Ever pedal? Tape everywhere...

Possibly some wires / components where being forced together under the tape (causing a short), but other than that, the tape probably isn't your issue.

What is under the tape? It was probably just there to add some dodgy insulation to wire ends etc...?

mynameisjack2 · #17 02-09-2011, 03:36 PM

It started doing it even worse now. Like an oscillating tone almost.

Opened it up, and found out why the electrical tape was there:

Apparently, at some point in its previous owners, to remove some random parts. Resistors 12, 13, 14, 15, and 16 are all gone. Q2 is gone, and D 4 and 5 are also missing. This is quite depressing.

rratajski · #18 02-09-2011, 04:01 PM

Those parts are supposed to be missing. Proco used 1 board for multiple RATs.

mynameisjack2 · #19 02-09-2011, 04:04 PM

Interesting, any ideas why it would be malfunctioning now then?
It's sort of a glitchy, oscillating noise, almost like a helicopter when I turn it on. Sometimes running it on an overdrive channel on my VTD for a few seconds calms it down.