Just bought a “vintage” RAT?

[Young Dad]

From reverb. Certainly looks vintage. Based on my research it’s a Rat 2 from ‘88. Can anyone weigh in? At $175 it was a deal compared to other vintage rats on there. Should I be happy or am I a fool? Both?

 

[offthiscentury]

It's a Rat with "the chip" plus they look cooler when they are a little beat up. I think you did good if you like that sound.

 

[woolyh]

The pot says 1988 and it has the original Motorola LM308.

 

[Young Dad]

It's a Rat with "the chip" plus they look cooler when they are a little beat up. I think you did good if you like that sound.

Yea in clips it sounds so raunchy. Also, I’m trying to get that “smells like teen spirit” distortion tone. I know Cobain used a DS-1 live but I’ve read it was a Rat in the studio. Sounds like one.

 

[Young Dad]

The pot says 1988 and it has the original Motorola LM308.

Thanks. I wasn’t sure if I was reading the pot code correctly.

 

[Windup 43]

The earliest Rat 2’s are excellent, nicely done!

 

[Young Dad]

The earliest Rat 2’s are excellent, nicely done!

Thanks! I am stoked

 

[Vishnu]

How are the 90s USA RATS powered folks?

 

[Young Dad]

How are the 90s USA RATS powered folks?

Looks like a special center positive adaptor? Or a battery

 

[Vishnu]

That looks like a smaller size jack than regular Boss type....and it's center positive

Running from a cioks 7, does anyone have a link for what specialist cable i would require for a USA '97 RAT 2?

 

[OilsFan]

What does the sticker across the pots say?

 

[monty]

Yep, legit. Congrats on your new tone beast!

 

[Ardour]

Looks like a special center positive adaptor? Or a battery

Some isolated power supplies like the PP2+ seem to come with a 3.5mm tip positive phono adapter. As long as it isn’t faulty, it will work fine attached to the regular isolated cable (don’t daisy chain). It is important to connect everything with all power off, then power up the power supply.

I used this:

Phono

Buy guitar effects, guitar pedals, and guitar accessories online. Distributor of Maxon, TWA, Power-All, Power-Grip, Emma Electronic, and Pivot-All. We also sell gutiar effects, pedal, guitar fx, effect pedals, stomp box, and stomp boxes.

godlyke.com

Or there is this, but it costs a bit more for the same thing:

RPS1-ADAPT - Rat Distortion

RPS1-ADAPT

www.ratdistortion.com

“...this will power RAT2, SOLO RAT, and older RAT pedals using 3.5mm power jack (tip-positive)”

“Converts 2.1mm female barrel to 1/8 inch male plug for pedal power

Straight female 2.1mm DC barrel jack to male right angle 1/8 in plug”

So, the blue godlyke 3.5mm phono reverses the negative PP2+ or Strymon polarity so the blue cable phono is tip positive, just like the official RAT ps adapter.

 

[jvin248]

.

On older pedals, make sure to carefully read the pedal markings or manuals to get the correct power for them. I've gotten calls from the local music store about several repairs from 'smoking pedals' because owners didn't read -- they just thought if the plug fits it must be ok...

.

 

[Ardour]

Phono

Buy guitar effects, guitar pedals, and guitar accessories online. Distributor of Maxon, TWA, Power-All, Power-Grip, Emma Electronic, and Pivot-All. We also sell gutiar effects, pedal, guitar fx, effect pedals, stomp box, and stomp boxes.

godlyke.com

Sorry if this is obvious but the warning post is a good one.

Avoid arcing, it may damage the pedal, and not all have overload protection. Don’t have the power supply on and then plug the powered blue phono jack into the pedal, it could arc.

Turn power supply off/unplug. Then plug blue phono into pedal first. Then blue phono into powered down regular black isolated 9V tap/cable from power supply like PP2+, Strymon, etc. Make sure it is set to 9V (shh I was rushing and didn’t check once...poof). Then power up the power supply.

Same goes for Klon, old EHX like the Small Clone, etc. This blue phono works with them too, but yeah, the order of events matters (ouch $$).

 

[zombiwoof]

Some isolated power supplies like the PP2+ seem to come with a 3.5mm tip positive phono adapter. As long as it isn’t faulty, it will work fine attached to the regular isolated cable (don’t daisy chain). It is important to connect everything with all power off, then power up the power supply.

I used this:

Phono

Buy guitar effects, guitar pedals, and guitar accessories online. Distributor of Maxon, TWA, Power-All, Power-Grip, Emma Electronic, and Pivot-All. We also sell gutiar effects, pedal, guitar fx, effect pedals, stomp box, and stomp boxes.

godlyke.com

Or there is this, but it costs a bit more for the same thing:

RPS1-ADAPT - Rat Distortion

RPS1-ADAPT

www.ratdistortion.com

“...this will power RAT2, SOLO RAT, and older RAT pedals using 3.5mm power jack (tip-positive)”

“Converts 2.1mm female barrel to 1/8 inch male plug for pedal power

Straight female 2.1mm DC barrel jack to male right angle 1/8 in plug”

So, the blue godlyke 3.5mm phono reverses the negative PP2+ or Strymon polarity so the blue cable phono is tip positive, just like the official RAT ps adapter.

OneSpot also makes a short adapter cord that does the same thing, for about $5. They have a series of adapter cables for different functions like that.
Older DOD and MXR pedals also have the same power jack and I use those adapter cords for those too. Be careful with some old EHX pedals, some of them have the 1/8" mini jack but have reverse polarity from DOD, MXR, etc. They have another adapter cord that works with those. Always check the correct polarity needs for those older effects.
Al

 

[BootRoots]

If you think it sounds good and are comfortable with what you paid....forget everyone else’s opinion.

 

[sahhas]

Used to have one of those I got in late 80s for $50, it was my main distortion for 12 years? Or so

 

[Veritas]

I used to have an ‘88 Rat2. It was a great pedal. Enjoy it!

 

[teleking36]

I also have an '88 "Woodcutter" Rat 2 with the LM308. One of my bandmates gave it to me years ago for helping him move into a new apartment. I've been using it for my medium/high gain distortion tones ever since. I've also owned a few boutique Rat style pedals but they didn't have the same feel to me as the original. Congrats and enjoy!