The Fowl Sounds Backstabber is an analog overdrive/distortion pedal aimed at players who want RAT-style grind without the limitations of the original circuit. The Backstabber 2.0 is described by Delicious Audio as a RAT-style distortion pedal designed for bass that also works well with drop-tuned and baritone guitars1. Rather than copying the vintage RAT chip, it takes a different route to the same tonal territory.
The original RAT's character comes partly from its IC's inability to amplify quickly, which produces its distinctive frequency response. RockBoard's PedalPedia entry explains how the Backstabber handles this:
"Instead of chasing unicorns, the Backstabber uses filtering to emulate the frequency response."1
A charge pump inside the pedal raises the internal voltage so the op-amp runs with more headroom and quieter operation2. Delicious Audio describes the result as "tighter and more responsive tones and a series of filters to improve the low" end, which is what makes it suitable for bass and low-tuned guitars1.
What it does
The Backstabber 2.0 is built as a two-channel pedal, with the two signals blended together through the Blend knob1. For bass players this matters: blending lets the dry signal's low end stay in the mix under the distorted channel instead of being replaced by it.
The pedal's controls as described by Delicious Audio1:
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Blend | Mixes the two internal channels together |
| Cut | A hi-cut filter affecting the Drv channel's frequencies |
| Clipping toggle | North: red LED clipping; center: Zener clipping; south: white LED |
The three-position clipping toggle gives the pedal three distinct voices. Red LED, Zener diode, and white LED clipping each shape the waveform differently, so the same knob settings can sound noticeably different depending on which position is selected1.
Powering it
The Backstabber 2.0 runs on a 2.1mm Boss-style standard 9-volt power jack, and there is no battery option1. RockBoard lists the pedal's draw as 50mA2, while Delicious Audio reported it consumes less than 50mA1; either figure is light enough for any typical pedalboard supply.
No battery operation. The Backstabber 2.0 requires an external 9V DC center-negative supply with a 2.1mm barrel jack21.
Where it sits among distortion pedals
As a RAT-style pedal built around filtering rather than the original IC, the Backstabber offers an alternative to straight RAT clones in the distortion pedals category, with the Blend control and low-end filtering pointing it at bass pedals boards and down-tuned guitar rigs in particular1. Its charge-pump design and selectable clipping also set it apart from simpler overdrive circuits21.
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Questions
Does the Fowl Sounds Backstabber 2.0 run on a battery?
No. The Backstabber 2.0 works only with an external power supply, and Delicious Audio's write-up notes there is no battery option. It uses a standard 2.1mm Boss-style 9-volt power jack, so any typical pedalboard power supply with that connector will fit.
What power supply does the Backstabber 2.0 need?
It needs a 9V DC center-negative supply with a 2.1mm Boss-style barrel jack, the same connector most pedalboard power supplies use. Because there is no battery compartment, an external supply is required to run the pedal at all.
How much current does the Backstabber 2.0 draw?
Delicious Audio reported in 2021 that the Backstabber 2.0 consumes less than 50mA. RockBoard's PedalPedia listing gives its current draw as 50mA. Either way, it is a light draw that most isolated power supplies can handle easily.
What clipping options does the Backstabber 2.0 have?
A three-position toggle selects the clipping character: north is red LED clipping, center is Zener clipping, and south is white LED clipping. Each diode type shapes the distortion differently, giving the pedal three distinct voices without any internal modification.
Is the Backstabber 2.0 a RAT clone?
It is RAT-style rather than a straight clone. Instead of using the original RAT's IC, it emulates that pedal's frequency response through filtering and uses a more modern IC, which Fowl Sounds describes as delivering tighter, more responsive tones with improved low end.
What does the Blend knob do on the Backstabber 2.0?
The Backstabber 2.0 is a two-channel pedal, and the Blend knob mixes the two signals together. This lets you keep some of your clean signal in the sound, which is especially useful on bass where losing low end to distortion is a common problem.
Sources (2)
- Fowl Sounds Backstabber 2.0 Distortion, Delicious Audio, 2021-10-20
- Backstabber by Fowl Sounds, RockBoard PedalPedia, 2026