Act Entertainment unveils Sterling Vermin RAT distortion pedal

June 6, 2025 · 4 sources

Act Entertainment's RAT brand has unveiled the Sterling Vermin, a boutique distortion pedal that reworks the classic RAT circuit¹². The pedal was designed by Shawn Wells and Matt Gates and is hand-built in small batches at the company's Jackson, Missouri headquarters¹². It retails for $349 and is available immediately².

The circuit uses an LM741 op-amp and a pair of selectable clipping diodes, switched by a mini-toggle²³. One setting is the traditional RAT silicon diode configuration, described as punchy and mid-heavy; the other uses BAT41 diodes for a smoother, more balanced response¹²³. Controls are Distortion, Filter and Volume, with CTS pots and oversized knobs²³. The Filter knob works in reverse, cutting treble as it is turned clockwise³. The enclosure is polished stainless steel with laser-annealed graphics²³.

Wells said the pedal was intended to keep the RAT character while adding its own voice:

Guitar World's review called it "a premium, boutique take on the traditional ProCo RAT circuit" and said the SI setting preserved the original's distortion and fuzz blend, while the BAT41 setting sounded smoother and more defined³. The review also called the pedal "undeniably expensive"³.