gear giveaway

RAT-Style Distortion

RAT Pedals and Best RAT Clones in 2024 | A Buyer’s Guide

With its origins dating back to 1978, the RAT is one of those simple yet unique pedals that are at once legendary, widespread, and affordable. There have been many different variations of the circuit from the original builder, Pro Co, but overall, the line has remained fairly true to the…Click on the title for more

RAT Pedals and Best RAT Clones in 2024 | A Buyer’s Guide

Isolate Audio RATATATAT

Hailing from Australia, the Isolate Audio RATATATAT is a modern take on a classic distortion circuit with a similar name but fewer "A"s and "T"s, and some intriguing new features. Besides featuring a Bass and a (low-pass) Cut knob foreign to the classic Rat pedals and vaguely reminiscent of the…Click on the title for more

Isolate Audio RATATATAT

Keeley Super Rodent Ovedrive/Distortion

Dropped within a release including three pedals adopting the same form factor as the Noble Screamer (a hybrid overdrive mixing the character of a TS and a Nobles ODR-1), the Keeley Super Rodent embeds in the same pedal two circuits inspired by two other classic stompboxes: the Rat and the…Click on the title for more

Keeley Super Rodent Ovedrive/Distortion

Idiotbox Redrum V2 Distortion

Born as a one-knob hybrid Rat/HM-2 circuit (with the distortion of the former running into the tone stack of the latter), the Idiotbox Redrum - with its Kubrick-inspired name and graphics - was recently updated to V2, which provides more control without losing any of the original murderous tone. The Drive…Click on the title for more

Idiotbox Redrum V2 Distortion

New Pedal: NRG Effects Gnawer Distortion

The NRG Effects Gnawer is a RAT-inspired dual-channel overdrive by a small British builder that has built a reputation for solid and tweakable pedal designs. Unlike original RATs and many of its variations, it has a very usable range of tones also at lower gain. Based on a NA5534P op-amp…Click on the title for more

New Pedal: NRG Effects Gnawer Distortion

EarthQuaker Devices Sunn O))) Life Pedal V3

It should come as no surprise that EarthQuaker Devices’s aesthetic dabbles into the occult from time to time, and the brand’s collaboration with Sunn O))) cemented that fact. The pedal, dubbed “Life Pedal” in conjunction with the release of Sunn O)))’s Life Metal features a presentation like not much else,…Click on the title for more

EarthQuaker Devices Sunn O))) Life Pedal V3

Crazy Tube Circuits Motherload Drive

The Crazy Tube Circuits Motherload is an intriguing take on the hybrid distortion/fuzz pedal that borrows from two iconic circuits (the Muff and the Rat) to offer at once some old and new sonic flavors. This is not a dual-channel pedal, but rather a one-channel dirtbox with a range of voices.…Click on the title for more

Crazy Tube Circuits Motherload Drive

Oneder Effects Red Ryder Distortion

The Oneder Effects Red Ryder is a RAT-inspired, made-in-Michigan distortion pedal with a few tricks up its sleeve. Hosting the LM308 chip found in the vintage RAT pedals, its compact case sports a series of controls that allow expanding the venerable distortion's tone in various ways. The pedal has a…Click on the title for more

Oneder Effects Red Ryder Distortion

Frost Giant Electronics The Mountain V2

We had the pleasure to host Texan pedal builder Frost Giant Electronics at our NAMM 2020 Stompbox Booth, and we are therefore excited to see it get some coverage on YouTube. The Mountain V2 is a Rat-inspired pedal that can deliver many flavors of distortion, from overdrive to fuzz, thanks…Click on the title for more

Frost Giant Electronics The Mountain V2

Summer School Science Fair

The Summer School Science Fair is an overdrive-distortion pedal based on a simple but innovative idea: you've got a RAT-stile distortion (black knobs) and a TS-style overdrive (green knobs) in parallel, and two extra knobs to control for master volume and bland control. Each gain channel has a knob for…Click on the title for more

Summer School Science Fair

Nocturne Brain Marquesan Drive

The Nocturne Brain Marquesan Drive is a modern take on the late 70's White Label bud box Rat, updated with quality modern components like tantalum caps, metal film resistors, and a socketed *vintage 60's NOS UA308. The main advantage of this box, according to the builder is the following: ...when…Click on the title for more

Nocturne Brain Marquesan Drive

Lil’ RAT Distortion

ProCo's family of RATs has just birthed a lil' one! The Lil' Rat is a miniature version of their recent RAT 2, with the same circuit and the same components, although - due to its dimensions - we can expect a lack of 9v battery compartment. The Proco Lil' RAT…Click on the title for more

Lil’ RAT Distortion