just got a vintage reissue Rat for $100

[ocoaibass]

Was this a good deal?

I bought it on a whim because I wanted to see the insides of it. I was also curious to A/B it with my Frankensteined Rat 2. I have done so many different mods to it in the last few weeks that I am curious how much of an improvement I have made or if I just wasted my time. And then there is the chance to compare the values of the different parts in each.

Does anyone have any comments on the these vintage reissues vs the Rat 2 or vs the whiteface Rat?

 

[rratajski]

A RAT2 and Vintage RI are different beasts.
I've owned a modded many resissues and they sound great.
The comparison of parts is similar...It's more age than anything.

 

[taurus1]

I like the RI but it's lacking in bottom end, that's the only thing I don't like about it.

 

[ocoaibass]

No bottom end pretty much makes it worthless to me... That sucks!

How about the Whiteface?

 

[jewbageled]

Sir, you have made a fanastic purchase. The vintage reissue is my absolute favorite effect pedal ever.

 

[ocoaibass]

Really. I'm assuming you are using it on bass? Do you agree that it loses low end or no?

 

[G3Mitch]

buy a Blender man... fixes that problem easy.
if you love the tone of the rat, like myself, its worth getting a blender just to use it

 

[father of fires]

Really. I'm assuming you are using it on bass? Do you agree that it loses low end or no?

Low end isn't always necessary. Plus it doesn't cut lows as much as it boosts highs.

Stock Rats sound awesome on bass. Don't use them for something they're not and enjoy them for what they are.

 

[spaz21387]

I havent heard a reissue on bass. I think my next fuzz with be a newer rat or maybe the fuzzrocious rat tail. Im still undecided. Rats are pretty cool fuzz pedals though. I love the video for blur song 2 when their bass player steps on the rat and the wind starts blowing stuff around. That just shows how awesome rats are.

 

[ocoaibass]

I havent heard a reissue on bass. I think my next fuzz with be a newer rat or maybe the fuzzrocious rat tail. Im still undecided. Rats are pretty cool fuzz pedals though. I love the video for blur song 2 when their bass player steps on the rat and the wind starts blowing stuff around. That just shows how awesome rats are.

Don't get a newer Rat. No LM308 & impossible to mod. Find a Rat 2 from somewhere before 2005. Take the time to be sure you get what you want. An even better idea is to get a Rat Tail. Not only will you get the LM308, but you'll get a Rat & a Turbo Rat in one with the double Ruetz mod & high quality components. No question.

Only reason I don't have one is because I've fallen in love with my soldering iron & am addicted to modding.

 

[spaz21387]

That sounds better then a rat. Im defiantly going for the rat tail when I have the money.

 

[ocoaibass]

Bump for anyone who can tell me how the Rat 2 & the RI Rat compare to the Whiteface Rat.

Btw, is it whiteface or white face?

 

[DosiYanarchy]

I've directly compared a recent Rat2 and a whiteface many times - theres not a big difference especially on bass - to my ears both loose low end in all settings the Whiteface does sound a bit more 'lively' and seems to have a stronger midrange slightly - it does sound 'better' but not necessarily much better than the stock Rat 2. I've also owned a modern Rat2 modified with the LM308n chip installed - still felt it lost lows. Adding a cleanblend with something like a Boss LS2 helps but for the price of both pedals there are alot of other alternatives, including the Fuzzrocious Rat Tail or the Fuzzrocious Rat King:

FUZZROCIOUS PEDALS

I personally do love the Rat sound on bass but cant deal with the lows lost.

The plus side is that you should be able to get what you paid if you choose to sell it on.