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ProCo rat vs. ODB-3

Thorsoundcore

Thorsoundcore

Supporting Member
Jan 22, 2009
2,125
500
Schenectady
#1
i've had a boss ODB-3 for about three years now, and while it has served it's purpose well, i don't think it is very versitle. and i've grown out of it for the most part and i find myself using it less and less.

my main issue is, i've actually been playing guitar lately just as much as bass....i know...:hiding:

the ODB-3 sounds like absolute crap with guitar. i have been looking to find a pedal that works well with both bass and guitar.. so i was looking at my GC's used selection, and they just recently got a proco rat in. i'm pretty sure it is actually an original rat too, not the the rat II..

naturally, i was thinking about trading the odb in for the rat.
i don't have any experience with rat on bass, but it has been used by some of my influences; justin chancellor, krist novoselic..etc. my question is, do you guys think the rat works just as well on bass as the ODB??

thank you for any input.
 
#2
RAT II is high middy, no bass, lots of nastiness and growl.
Vintage and Vintage Reissue RATs are more bass-friendly, but have a little less growl than RAT IIs.
Turbo RATs are more articulate, since they have LED clipping.

I'm willing to bet that 90% of TB'ers would go with a RAT over an ODB-3.

Swap up.
 
#10
zachoff said:
My guitar player has a Keeley modded ProCo Rat and it kills the ODB-3 when I use it for bass. I never really liked the ODB-3 when I had it though.
Click to expand...

to me, it's either all or nothing with the ODB. you can't dial in a subtle fuzz/distorted tone. something just doesn't sound right with it to me when i try to apply the littlest amount of overdrive to it.. kills my tone IMO.
 
#12
infamusblkdeath said:
to me, it's either all or nothing with the ODB. you can't dial in a subtle fuzz/distorted tone. something just doesn't sound right with it to me when i try to apply the littlest amount of overdrive to it.. kills my tone IMO.
Click to expand...

Yup, that's what I got from it too. I ditched the ODB3 in favor of the Peavey Max 100, which worked really well with my old Yorkville rig. Plus you get cool reverb and chorus/flange if you want. The Max is actually a really fun multi for bass.
 
#14
rratajski said:
RAT II is high middy, no bass, lots of nastiness and growl.
Vintage and Vintage Reissue RATs are more bass-friendly, but have a little less growl than RAT IIs.
Turbo RATs are more articulate, since they have LED clipping.

I'm willing to bet that 90% of TB'ers would go with a RAT over an ODB-3.

Swap up.
Click to expand...

+1 -- The Rat is great for both guitar and bass, BUT you will lose a lot of low end, so be prepared to figure out ways to use that to your advantage. I use it for fast, heavy, stoner-ish intros that give way to boomy verse lines and so forth.
 
#17
Regular Rat (not II) or turbo rat would be my pick. Preferably two of em stacked into each other. Or at least comp/sustainer of choice in front of single one. The Boss ODB-3 is pretty good though I liked the ther turbo overdrive better for bass. But the rats are even better imo.
 

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