The Drunk Beaver Heavy Bat is an analog distortion pedal from Drunk Beaver builder Vitalii Bobrov, described by the maker as "a modern take on the classic Rat circuit with modifications." Where a standard Rat gives you one fixed voicing, the Heavy Bat adds a rotary op-amp selector, eight clipping diode options, and a switchable EQ section, so one box covers a range of Rat-style and beyond-Rat distortion sounds1.
Controls and switching
The Heavy Bat's modifications center on two switching systems:
- Op-amp selector: a rotary switch to select op-amp chips: NOS LM308, UD1408 (Soviet LM308 clone), TLC2272, and NOS 741. The LM308 is the chip associated with the original Rat, so that position gives you the classic voicing, while the other three offer different gain characters1.
- Clipping options: 8 clipping diodes options, two of them selectable by footswitch. That means you can flip between two clipping textures mid-performance without bending down, and reach the other six via internal or rotary selection1.
- EQ section: two options, the classic Rat filter tone control and a three-band EQ similar to the Boss HM-2. The HM-2-style mode adds bass, mid and treble shaping that the single-knob Rat filter cannot do1.
Power and bypass
The pedal runs on 9V DC, center negative, and draws 7mA, which puts it comfortably within reach of any standard pedalboard supply1. It is true bypass, so the signal passes through unaltered when the pedal is off1.
Where it sits in the Drunk Beaver range
Drunk Beaver builds several takes on the Rat family. The Fat Bat and Fat Bat Rat Distortion are the brand's other Rat-based pedals, and the Bat Cold War V2 extends the line further. The Heavy Bat is the one with the op-amp and diode selection, aimed at players who want to dial in their own Rat variant rather than commit to one voicing1.
Videos
Pair of Pandas
We As A Company
Disembodied Studio
Questions
Is the Drunk Beaver Heavy Bat true bypass?
Yes. The maker's product page states that the pedal has a true bypass, so when it is switched off your guitar signal passes through untouched, with no buffering in the chain.
Is the Heavy Bat analog or digital?
The Heavy Bat is an analog pedal. Its circuit is described by the maker as a modern take on the classic Rat circuit with modifications, and it runs on a straightforward 9V DC supply at a low 7mA current draw.
What op-amp chips can you select in the Heavy Bat?
A rotary switch selects between four op-amp chips: NOS LM308, UD1408 (a Soviet LM308 clone), TLC2272, and NOS 741. Each chip shapes the character of the gain, so you can move between the classic Rat LM308 voicing and other op-amp flavors on one pedal.
What power supply does the Heavy Bat need?
The Heavy Bat runs on 9V DC, center negative, and draws 7mA. That low draw means a standard pedalboard power supply handles it easily.
Who designed the Drunk Beaver Heavy Bat?
The Heavy Bat is made by Drunk Beaver, the pedal company of builder Vitalii Bobrov.
Sources (1)
- Heavy Bat by Drunk Beaver, RockBoard PedalPedia, 2026
