It looks like you're new here. If you want to get involved, click one of these buttons!
Subscribe to our Patreon, and get image uploads with no ads on the site!
Base theme by DesignModo & ported to Powered by Vanilla by Chris Ireland, modified by the "theFB" team.
Comments
What you get with all of those, that the original won't give you, is switchable diodes/modes to allow normal, LED and sometimes MOSFET clipping.
The LM308 doesn't make much difference. EQ is a bit different on the new Chinese ones.
The switchable stuff: what's the point? It switches out what is so great about a Rat. The Ruetz mod... pah.
Personally I'd go Rat 2 because they can't be beaten. If you want a hyper bargain then the Thundertomate Rat is ace, beautiful construction and sounds excellent.
Rats are great though. I don't know if I'll ever sell mine as they're so versatile.
Start small. Try a Chinese Rat, try the Chinese clones, see how you get on with them. For me, my big box Rat is better than the Chinese Rat 2 I had last year but I would still be totally fine playing with that Chinese Rat, if you get what I mean.
If you do go for a Rat 2, then note that Made in the USA doesn't mean it's automatically got the LM308. I don't know what the serial number is when it starts going with the other chip. 228747 is the highest serial I've seen for a Rat 2 with the LM308 made in the USA.
See this one? Made in the USA but not got the LM308. 243154 is the serial number. Waste of fucking money, just go and buy a Chinese Rat and save yourself £30.
Same with the vintage big box reissues. Mine is serial VR 106997, LM308, USA. Some of them with an RT serial number are using the other chip. Slightly different sounding.
The Fuzzrocious Rat (Cat) Tail is awesome though. Great range of control on the pots and I have a second distortion knob switchable with a footswitch. I'm a big fan.
Chinese Rats often have slightly less filtering on the tone control due to cap value difference which can make them seems a little bit brighter.