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Fuzzrocious Rat Tail or Aguilar Agro??

King Weapon

King Weapon

Sep 20, 2005
407
296
Brooklyn, NY
kingweapon.bandcamp.com
#1
Hey people! So I'm pretty sure I have narrowed my next dirt pedal (to replace my MXR M80) down to either a Fuzzrocious Rat Tail or an Aguilar Agro. As far as tone, the clips I have heard from both of these pedals sound like what I am after.

Does anyone have experience with both of these pedals? How do they compare with each other as far as low end and versatility? Would you recommend getting a Clean Blend added to the Rat Tail?

Thanks and stoked to finally move on..!
 
#3
RatTail.... or Idiot Box Blower Box, the other amazing Rat...

Seriously though, the RatTail/RatKing are amazing pedals, still have my RK. However, the Idiot Box Blower Box has taken Rat distortion lovers by storm lately.
 
#5
King Weapon said:
Thanks for the reply, nshuman! I've looked into the Blower Box, but it seems like more of a fuzz than a distortion I'm looking for. It sounds sweet though!
Click to expand...

It's a RAT based distortion, definitely more distortion than Fuzz. It does low gain as well if not better than any other similar distortion pedal. It does crazy high gain as well. The addition of the two band EQ on it really helps get a wider range of usable sounds. If you are considering the RatTail, you really need to look at the BlowerBox. It's a better pedal in my opinion. It has been bumping a LOT of RatTails and RatKings off of pedalboards.

The AGRO has sort of a hit or miss reputation but I think it is a solid pedal. It is more on the overdrive side of the spectrum however.


There is a thread dedicated to the BlowerBox on here. You'll find lots of samples and thoughts on the pedal.
 
#7
And, don't let the price tag on the BlowerBox fool you, not that price should ever be a judge of quality. This pedal is in the same league as many much more overpriced pedals. Matt is also a GREAT guy to deal with!
 
#8
If I had to choose between the RK/RT or the Agro, I would choose the Blower Box every time ;)

The Blower Box does low gain VERY well. It has a better EQ than the RK or RT and its only bass and treble. That should tell you something. These are all my opinions of course, remember that. I havent worked with the Agro at all so I can only relay what some have told me. Its a nice dirt box. Some guys really dig its flavor and it does heavy dist very well. The RT is a great Rat dist. It has more features if you were to get a RKing, and you pay for them. I used to have an RK. Then I got a Blower Box. The RK is gone. And I dont miss it. And wont. I'll probably never need another rat type dist for the rest of my life, the BB is all I need. The only thing I do miss about the RK that I wish the BB had, was the second channel so I could switch between low gain and high gain without having to bend down.
 
#10
Really don't want to be one of those bandwagon dudes but seriously, Blower Box. I owned a Rat Tail for a long time. Loved it, except for the massive low-end loss, but thats the price you pay for that sound. It really needs a blender to work best. But for what you're looking for, it's sort of a Best of Both Worlds scenario with the BB. Rat Tails sound best spanked with the nasal grit, whereas with the rat circuit in the BB you can do a smooth-yet-bitey grit, or go full blown fuzz with clarity while maintaining massive low end, which with the RT, just becomes an overdriven smooth tube of rat meat with no real definition. With the Agro, I've never heard anything I've liked with the settings above minimum.

I sort of miss the nasal bite of the RT with the filters tweaked, but man, my rig has never sounded better
 
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#11
It's been a while since I had a Rat Tail, and I currently have the Agro. But from what I can remember, and from listening to the clips of the Blower Box that folks are recommending, the RT and Blower Box are totally different from the Agro. The Agro is a very heavy, 'tube' sounding overdrive with a very loose top end. That Blower Box sounds like pure, tight raunchy distortion with a sharp top end, much like a Rat Tail.
 
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#14
I think both those pedals can't be compared... they sound different enough to own both IMO. I've owned the rat king, the blower box. I still own the agro, I kept the agro because the rat distortions can't emulate what the agro sounds like. And the agro can't sound like a rat from what I remember, believe me I spent hours trying. :)
 
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#15
caligula said:
I see you're also in Europe. Where would you get the Blower Box?
The UK guy (joe's effects or something like that) doesn't have it in stock it seems.
That pedal sounds very interesting!
Click to expand...

Just ordered direct from Idiotbox, charged a very reasonable $20 for the extra shipping costs. Will probably get stung with import tax charges but such is life!

I emailed Joe about the Blower Box and he doesn't have any plans to get it soon.
 
#16
yaksonator said:
I think both those pedals can't be compared... they sound different enough to own both IMO. I've owned the rat king, the blower box. I still own the agro, I kept the agro because the rat distortions can't emulate what the agro sounds like. And the agro can't sound like a rat from what I remember, believe me I spent hours trying. :)
Click to expand...

Yeah, it's really apples and oranges to compare the Agro and RAT type pedals. I think that you need to figure out whether you want the Agro or the rat. If you want the Agro, get the Agro. If you want a RAT, get the Blower Box :)
 
#18
thanks for all the tips, guys! yeah i know they sound different, and believe me, i'd prefer BOTH (my wallet wouldn't!). both pedals just sounded the best to me out of the clips i've been watching.
and call me crazy, all the rat tail/rat king clips sound much better than the blower box clips i've heard. it's almost too harsh sounding. i guess i'm just more drawn to a tubey warm tone
 
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#19
I love the Rat Tail and it's a great choice, personally I don't think it's really warm and tubey but if that's the one you like then who cares!

If you're anything like me you should buy the RT, I've fancied particular pedals before and bought something else on the recommendation of others, I'd always end up getting the one I initially fancied later down the road anyway :)
 
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