Mod Electronics Unleashes The Rattler Returns Distortion

February 9, 2021 · 4 sources

Mod Electronics announced The Rattler Returns, a new and improved version of the original Rattler, the company's first pedal kit. The re-release marked the 10 year anniversary of Mod kits, and MMR Magazine reported that the pedal was available for purchase from Amplified Parts for $47.95, with wholesale inquiries handled through CE Distribution¹.

Like the original, The Rattler Returns is a do-it-yourself pedal kit in the fuzz/distortion family, built and soldered by the player rather than sold finished²³. Mod Electronics described the circuit as an overhaul rather than a straight reissue:

That overhaul, in the maker's words, preserved what defined the original while making it less dependent on the rest of the rig².

What the kit includes

The key features of the announced pedal, as Mod Electronics laid them out²:

• Diode clipping preserved from the original Rattler, which the maker called "a crucial component of the classic raw fuzz/distortion in the original"
• Diode lift switch, a new addition; with the lift engaged, the maker said "the pedal can hit volumes that easily drive any tube or pedal with fuzzed out guitar tones"
• +9V operation, so standard DC power supplies can be used in lieu of a battery
• Build difficulty rating of 2, on Mod's kit scale
• Dimensions of 4.695 × 4.015 × 1.375 in., 2.255 in. tall with knobs and extrusions

The diode lift switch is the practical headline for players: lifting the clipping diodes out of the circuit turns the pedal from a clipped fuzz into something closer to a loud, open boost that can push a tube amp or another pedal hard, which is how the maker framed it².

Specifications

The maker also posted five sound samples for it: Chaotic Fuzz, Fast Riff, Heavy Riff, Lead, and Tame Fuzz². International Musician covered the release as well, repeating the maker's description of the pedal as offering the same over-the-top fuzz as the original Rattler⁴.

For players who wanted the original Rattler's raw fuzz character but found fuzz pedals touchy across different guitars and amps, the announced redesign aimed squarely at that problem: same clipping architecture, steadier behavior across any pickups, pedals, or amps, and a switch to take the clipping out entirely when the volume is needed instead².