The Cathouse Pedals Rat Fink Distortion is a distortion pedal built around the sound of an iconic 1980s distortion pedal, its namesake. Cathouse Pedals set out to boast the grit and tonal properties of that original circuit, using hard to find op-amps from 30 years ago in place of modern parts1.
Controls
The Rat Fink keeps a simple three-knob panel, the layout players of the classic 1980s distortion will recognize1:
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Distortion | Sets the amount of distortion |
| Tone | Shapes the treble response |
| Volume | Sets the output level |
Distortion, Tone and Volume make up the control panel for the Rat Fink1.
Sound and character
Pedal of the Day described the pedal's character as a growling distortion with incredibly musical harmonics over mids and lows, with the ability to keep only the high you want, and maintain an overall singing sustain and chugging, rhythmic character1. The pedal comes in a normal-sized enclosure and is built with quality components, which the reviewer summed up as a classic distortion sound in a normal-sized enclosure1.
How it compares
Where a straight reissue or copy aims only at the original circuit, the Rat Fink goes further in the reviewer's judgment1:
"What appears to be a simple copy of an iconic pedal quickly turns into something more, and has the power, gusto and balls to back it all up."
In other words, the reviewer heard more than a simple copy of an iconic pedal overall, with the power to back up its vintage-inspired claims1. Players comparing it within the maker's range may also look at Cathouse Pedals The Screamer, a distortion/overdrive with three selectable clipping profiles that Pedal of the Day presented as the third pedal in Cathouse Pedals' lineup later the same year1.
Videos
Pedal of the Day
Charlie Long
Sources (1)
- Cathouse Pedals Rat Fink Distortion, Pedal of the Day, 2016-09-08
