Just bought a Chinese made Proco Rat2.....Is everyone laughing?

[lesterchopper]

I bought this on an impulse and while it is very slightly thin, it gets a pretty decent tone. After reading much on this pedal and it's lineage, These later, Chinese made pedals are thought to be "something" less than stellar. Lots of sources for mods for these as well (LM308N primarily but also other components).

Can these later Chinese made Rat2's be modded with confidence. I notice that Monte Allums says don't even bother with these. Any experience with modding these would be greatly appreciated.

 

[blackba]

I am not laughing. I didn't even know ProCo moved production to China, although I am not surprised. Any mods can't be that hard, unless I am missing something.

 

[Whiskey N Beans]

All I know is that Keeley, like Allums, doesn't mod them. Not to say it can't be done. I believe I've seen them on eBay, pre-modded with the LM308N. So I'd say you can definitely find somebody, somewhere to help you. That said, if you like the way it sounds there won't be a need at all.

 

[Captain Zero]

I did the Reutz(sp?) mod on my Rat2. It really calmed down the pedal's fizziness.

 

[wingwalker]

Rat production moved to China a few years ago...the circuit got a few changes before that and sounded a little thin and buzzy but the construction was still solid so they are good platforms for mods. The newer ones, the ones made in China are built so poorly that there is almost no point in modding them...the PCB's often come apart at the first hint of heat from a soldering iron...

Just my 2 cents...

 

[Hugo Da Rosa]

I bought this on an impulse and while it is very slightly thin, it gets a pretty decent tone. After reading much on this pedal and it's lineage, These later, Chinese made pedals are thought to be "something" less than stellar. Lots of sources for mods for these as well (LM308N primarily but also other components).

Can these later Chinese made Rat2's be modded with confidence. I notice that Monte Allums says don't even bother with these. Any experience with modding these would be greatly appreciated.

I know I'm not exactly answering your question, but before you dive much deeper into this realm of modded Rats, I think an important question you should ask yourself is, "Do I really need to mod this?" The things we read on the internet these days revolve a lot around opinion and in this case with pedals, it's mainly preference. Do you want to mod your Rat because you aren't quite happy with this sound and you want a particular Rat sound that maybe someone else has, or are you modding it because everyone else on TGP is saying new Rats suck, old Rats rule? If you are with the first point, then by all means, continue with your research and you will find a hand full of options in terms of how you can mod your pedal. But if you find yourself leaning more toward the second point and in fact, the sound of that Rat actually sounds fairly good to you, then why change it? A mod doesn't always mean it will be an improvement. It just means change and sometimes "change" isn't always associated with something good.

Anyway, sorry for the preach-y message. Just wanted to make sure you aren't doing this for the wrong reasons. Good luck anyway!

 

[ItsaRat!]

For the record, the ONLY Rat made in China is the Rat2. ALL of our other stompboxes are made in the USA. If you want a USA Rat and want to have some fun and mod one, the You Dirty and Turbo are essentially the same circuit as a Rat with different clipping diodes. The Rat has silicon diodes, so you could either put a set of those in place of the LEDs in the Turbo, or use a mini toggle switch to go back and forth.

 

[Captain Zero]

Does anyone have a demo of a LM308N and a non-LM308N side-by-side?

Off to search GMD's videos.

 

[marooned]

I'm waiting for the whiteface reissue, currently using my old '88/'89 Rat2 which I love, but the switch is so temperamental...I think a good backup is in order.

 

[k tone]

I got a new Rat 2 for Christmas and I like it the way it is.

 

[lesterchopper]

I know I'm not exactly answering your question, but before you dive much deeper into this realm of modded Rats, I think an important question you should ask yourself is, "Do I really need to mod this?" The things we read on the internet these days revolve a lot around opinion and in this case with pedals, it's mainly preference. Do you want to mod your Rat because you aren't quite happy with this sound and you want a particular Rat sound that maybe someone else has, or are you modding it because everyone else on TGP is saying new Rats suck, old Rats rule? If you are with the first point, then by all means, continue with your research and you will find a hand full of options in terms of how you can mod your pedal. But if you find yourself leaning more toward the second point and in fact, the sound of that Rat actually sounds fairly good to you, then why change it? A mod doesn't always mean it will be an improvement. It just means change and sometimes "change" isn't always associated with something good.

Anyway, sorry for the preach-y message. Just wanted to make sure you aren't doing this for the wrong reasons. Good luck anyway!

point well taken. The sounds that I'm currently getting in fact are not exactly what I like. While not extreme, harsh is a word that comes to mind. Maybe lacking mids a little. A smoother, fuller drive is what I'm wanting. After doing some reading, I see many topics on modding these to old style offerings. Is that the tone I want? I only have clips and a couple of live performances here in Austin (Vallejo) to go by, but I think it is. It's just disappointing to hear from a couple of folks that these newer Chinese models are built so porly that they can't even stand up to the mods. Maybe I should just go for it.

 

[TMcB]

I found that the vintage reissue rat I had was smoother with a few more mids compared to the chinese rat I had.

I find the chinese rat how you describe; a bit harsh and lacking a bit in the mids.

I'm going to get a Rat 2 because I like the shape, put the lm308 in and swap 2 resistors over, take one out and swap a cap. Hopefully that'll do the trick!

 

[lesterchopper]

if someone can point to a mod description, I'll give it a go. I've seen a lot of partial description but not a single proven recipe. Thanks in advance.

 

[5150user]

No, I'm not laughing. I had one I bought new and then modded. I miss it.

 

[clc12rock]

I love my Chinese Rat2. It serves a purpose. I like my Big Box better though

 

[Captain Zero]

if someone can point to a mod description, I'll give it a go. I've seen a lot of partial description but not a single proven recipe. Thanks in advance.

http://www.diyguitaramp.com/rat.html

 

[guzman]

Why does everybody says that the chinese rats are thin... Mine isn't, that's for sure.

 

[overture2005]

I'm not laughing.
Not only Rat moved to China, but also some "boutique" production moved to China also. My bud's company (located in China) is a BOUTIQUE pedal partner OEM. He told me that a big name boutique pedals moved the production to his factory in China. This boutique pedal company has an OD, which has the same name as a province of Canada, the street price of this company's products is damn cheap in China now. I did not want to tell too much about these secrets before, this time just because these liars still keep the high price in the States.
There are another couple of boutique US MADE pedals are FROM China also, I will provide their name if their price is too high in future.

 

[Captain Zero]

I'm not laughing.
Not only Rat moved to China, but also some "boutique" production moved to China also. My bud's company (located in China) is a BOUTIQUE pedal partner OEM. He told me that a big name boutique pedals moved the production to his factory in China. This boutique pedal company has an OD, which has the same name as a province of Canada, the street price of this company's products is damn cheap in China now. I did not want to tell too much about these secrets before, this time just because these liars still keep the high price in the States.
There are another couple of boutique US MADE pedals are FROM China also, I will provide their name if their price is too high in future.

T-Rex?

 

[fuzz_factor]

I don't get the Ruetz mod. Why would you buy a Rat, of all the pedals available, then mod it for lower gain? I'm not opposed to mods in general, but when I had a Keeley Rat, I thought the only interesting setting was the 'stock' Rat sound. If you want an overdrive instead of the sonic mayhem a Rat is capable of, why not just get a Tube Screamer?