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Rat Tail or something else?

R

russpurdy

Guest
Apr 16, 2013
819
31
#1
So I'm digging running my bass through a rat but of course the low end loss is a total bummer. I'm wondering if the Rat Tail is the "be all and end all" of Rat clones for bass. Also if anyone could post some sound clips on bass or some tracks that you know used a rat tail I would be super grateful.

If there are other options you dudes prefer for a rat style pedal on bass what are they?

Thanks!
 
#5
The low end loss can be mitigated by blending in some clean signal with a blender (i.e. Boss LS-2, or any number of upmarket blenders).

I don't say that to discourage the RT...just pointing out another option.
 
#9
#14
+1 on the Rat Tail. There's no low end loss with this beast.
Mine has a custom additionnal blend pot added by Ryan that is not abolutely necessery but worth the extra if you want to keep more clean treble/attack or simply prefer blended signal on recordings.
You can also choose the 2nd distortion settings/footswitch as a good option if needed...
 
#15
Two questions re; Rat Tail:
Which version would you all generally go for?
I am tempted to get one with just the added feedback loop(I take it that the circuit will feedback into itself?).
If I'm not mistaken, there is a 'no diode' setting:how is the distortion achieved if not with diodes?

Thanks! :)
 
#16
cnltb said:
Two questions re; Rat Tail:
Which version would you all generally go for?
I am tempted to get one with just the added feedback loop(I take it that the circuit will feedback into itself?).
If I'm not mistaken, there is a 'no diode' setting:how is the distortion achieved if not with diodes?

Thanks! :)
Click to expand...

The distortion is achieved via the LM308 op amp. Its less compressed and has more bass.

The feedback loop does indeed cause the circuit to feedback upon itself.
 
#18
TBH I've never tried a Rat. I have the Source Audio OFD and the El Raton, based on the Rat I assume, is one of my favorite settings for high gain blissfullness. The OFD has alot of settings that sound great with low gain but I haven't tried the El Raton setting with low gain. If you're on a never ending search for fuzz/dirt you should at least try the OFD through your setup. A lot of Analog converts in the Source Audio club. It's worth investigating.
 
#20
Mark06 said:
+1 on the Rat Tail. There's no low end loss with this beast.
Mine has a custom additionnal blend pot added by Ryan that is not abolutely necessery but worth the extra if you want to keep more clean treble/attack or simply prefer blended signal on recordings.
You can also choose the 2nd distortion settings/footswitch as a good option if needed...
Click to expand...

There's definitely low end loss on every setting I've tried with mine - it really shines in the mix, though, and the mids stay strong which make that not matter so much. But yeah, every time I kick it on, my bass reduces, but that's really symptomatic of every Rat-based pedal I've used.

As far as it goes, my RT hasn't left my board since I bought it, and I don't imagine it will any time soon. I've owned and gigged with a Turbo Rat, Rat 2, the Juggernaut bass version, a Gojira clone, and the RT, and the Fuzzrocious model blows them all away on bass, for me.
 

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