The Asheville Guitar Pedals 308 Distortion is a compact distortion pedal built on the circuit of the Pro Co RAT from the 80s, and it uses the 308 chip that gives the pedal its name. Pedal of the Day, reviewing it in February 2024, described it as delivering "raw and powerful distortion" and said that "with the authentic 308 chip, you get vintage ProCo RAT tone!"1
The pedal was the first Asheville Guitar Pedals effect Pedal of the Day had covered, and the reviewer took its arrival as a good sign for the young maker: "The 308 Distortion is the first effect of theirs we're checking out, and if it's any indication, we're going to enjoy th[eir]... build and tone."1
Controls
The 308 Distortion keeps the layout simple, with the same three knobs players know from RAT-style pedals1.
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Level | Sets the output volume |
| Tone | Shapes the brightness of the distorted tone |
| Gain | Sets the amount of distortion |
Pedal of the Day found that "the 3 simple controls (Level, Tone, Gain) allow you to shape your sound easily, and find a great tone within minutes."1
The 308 Distortion and the mini 308 Distortion
Asheville Guitar Pedals also makes a mini 308 Distortion, a smaller-enclosure version of the same idea. Pedal of the Day reviewed the mini version a couple of weeks before the full-size 308 Distortion, noting in its review of the Fuzz Driver Distortion that "we checked out their mini 308 Distortion a couple weeks ago."2 The standard 308 Distortion is itself built small: the reviewer described it as "built to last and compact in size, it's perfect for any pedalboard."1
The 308 Distortion and the mini 308 Distortion are separate pedals from the same maker. If you are comparing them, the main difference is enclosure size; the full-size 308 Distortion is already described as compact.
Where it sits in the maker's range
The 308 Distortion is the first effect Asheville Guitar Pedals released, and Pedal of the Day's reviewer took that in stride, writing that if it is any indication of what follows, "we're going to enjoy" what comes next from the maker21.
Videos
Pedal of the Day
Questions
Is the Asheville Guitar Pedals 308 Distortion a RAT clone?
Pedal of the Day describes the 308 Distortion as based on the iconic Pro Co RAT from the 80s. Rather than a straight copy, it is presented as a RAT-style circuit that aims to deliver what the reviewer called raw and powerful distortion, with the same kind of simple three-knob layout players know from the original.
What chip does the 308 Distortion use?
The pedal uses the 308 chip, the same chip type referenced in its name. Pedal of the Day notes that with the authentic 308 chip you get vintage ProCo RAT tone, which is why the maker built the pedal around that part rather than a more modern op-amp.
What is the difference between the 308 Distortion and the mini 308 Distortion?
Both are distortion pedals from Asheville Guitar Pedals built around the same 308-based design. The mini 308 Distortion is the smaller-enclosure version, which Pedal of the Day reviewed a couple of weeks before the full-size 308 Distortion in February 2024. The standard 308 Distortion is itself described as compact and pedalboard friendly.
What controls does the 308 Distortion have?
The 308 Distortion has three controls: Level, Tone and Gain. Level sets the output volume, Tone shapes the brightness, and Gain sets the amount of distortion. Pedal of the Day found the three simple controls let you shape your sound easily and find a great tone within minutes.
Sources (2)
- Asheville Guitar Pedals 308 Distortion, Pedal of the Day, 2024-02-04
- Asheville Guitar Pedals Fuzz Driver Distortion, Pedal of the Day, 2024-02-23
