Pro co Rat?

[hallo]

I've got a chance to purchase one for pretty cheap. Just wondered what these are like on bass, currently using a big muff but don't like it for the lows; too smooth sounding. I was told that the bass player of Boxer Rebellion uses one :http://www.myspace.com/theboxerrebellion listen to the song 'watermelon'. Will it get this type of sound? If not anyone got any clips?
Thanks,

[EricF]

The Rat has been discussed many times here. On it's own it sucks the bottom end out of your tone in a big way. For myself and others, it was totally unusable for bass. However, putting the Rat in a blendable loop will allow you to keep enough bottom end in your tone.

[Chris V.]

I used the Turbo RAT for some time with a Boss GEB-7 - it was great for high gain effects, but even with the GEB-7 boosting the lows, I found it pretty much unapplicable in any other setting than playing Tool's H. and the 'solo' part in Vicarious.

[Hookus]

Originally Posted by Chris V.

I used the Turbo RAT for some time with a Boss GEB-7 - it was great for high gain effects, but even with the GEB-7 boosting the lows, I found it pretty much unapplicable in any other setting than playing Tool's H. and the 'solo' part in Vicarious.

I also use one with a GEB-7, but if you can't get lows with the GEB-7, you must be doing something wrong. The GEB-7 + RAT is my distortion of choice.

[Chris V.]

Originally Posted by Hookus

I also use one with a GEB-7, but if you can't get lows with the GEB-7, you must be doing something wrong. The GEB-7 + RAT is my distortion of choice.

Don't get me wrong, it wasn't the amount of low end that was the issue - there was plenty of that with the GEB-7. I just wasn't that big a fan of it, as all.

[diechris]

Originally Posted by Hookus

I also use one with a GEB-7, but if you can't get lows with the GEB-7, you must be doing something wrong. The GEB-7 + RAT is my distortion of choice.

so youre saying... the rat pedal sucks lows... so to make up for that you run a GEB7 after it to add more lowend?

[Timi]

I find it strange that everyone here always says the RAT kills your low end to the point of being unuseable. I find the bass cut on my RAT very minimal, nowhere near the low end cut of a Tubescreamer for example.

For the record, mine is a Vintage Reissue model that doesn't have the LM308.

[Mudfuzz]

Originally Posted by Timi

I find it strange that everyone here always says the RAT kills your low end to the point of being unuseable. I find the bass cut on my RAT very minimal, nowhere near the low end cut of a Tubescreamer for example.

For the record, mine is a Vintage Reissue model that doesn't have the LM308.

Yeah I had that model as well and it isn't as bad as the other RATs, but it still cut more lows then I liked and the sound was blah.

[grooVWy]

Originally Posted by Timi

I find it strange that everyone here always says the RAT kills your low end to the point of being unuseable. I find the bass cut on my RAT very minimal, nowhere near the low end cut of a Tubescreamer for example.

For the record, mine is a Vintage Reissue model that doesn't have the LM308.

It seems strange for me too. I tried it with my gear and yes, it does suck some low end and compresses the signal, as all distortions, but it still sounds like bass guitar to me.
It´s one of the most "pleasant" sounding distortions to my ear.
Sustain is very nice with it and it gives sort of "singing" effect for the sound.
edit: It works better with passive PUPs.

[Hookus]

I don't think it really sucks lows per se, but I run several basses, and the filter on the RAT sounds very different through all three, so the GEB-7 lets me tweak it easily. I, too, think the RAT has a very unique and good sounding distortion. If you are just playing one bass, you should be able to dial in a good tone with just the pedal.