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Comments
The RAT on it's own through my clean Matamp sounds fabulous too - although it does have a little bit of bark missing compared to other drives I use.
Soundwise with both at the same positions for filter/volume/distortion, mine definitely has a bit more low end. Actually sounds a little bit more open. Simply different tolerances between components I would say. It just works for me so try out a few different things, see what works for you.
JM build | Pedalboard plans
JM build | Pedalboard plans
JM build | Pedalboard plans
The older USA Rat 2's do sound different: slightly less compressed, a bit more bottom end.
For the money, the Black Secret is a really good pedal.
JM build | Pedalboard plans
My all-time favourite Rat is a vintage big box reissue I picked up for £50 on Ebay. USA, LM308N chip, no LED, missing the screw in the base. It's got a bigger low end than any other Rat I've played (and I've played an awful lot now). It's one of those ones where natural tolerance variations of parts creates something a wee bit different to the rest. Alongside that is a Black Secret and a Thundertomate Rat which is a bit more refined that the big box. Need to figure out what to release from the board as DesVegas sold me a cracking Skreddy Lunar Module clone that is a keeper.
Quite honestly, if you want a USA Rat 2, they are findable on Ebay if you're patient for a decent price. I've never paid more than £70 for a Rat.
Edit: found it (http://www.thundertomate.com/) Not sure how I didn't hit that ever-so-cryptic domain name before ... :-P
JM build | Pedalboard plans
There are tons of Rat clones. Jam Rattler is up on Ebay now and I think someone had one in the forum for sale. Vick Audio Classic Rat repro is one I'd like to try as every other Vick pedal I've had has been excellent. Depending on budget, see if one of the many excellent builders in this forum would do one for you.
They;re great pedals if you can find them.