JAM Pedals Rattler

The JAM Pedals Rattler is a distortion pedal from JAM Pedals, the analog, handmade, hand-painted effect maker based in Athens, Greece¹. JAM Pedals describes it as "a bold, open and dynamic distortion pedal that channels the fat, creamy voice of classic early-'80s circuits through a custom discrete-component op-amp"². In plain terms, it is the company's take on the RAT circuit family: a high-gain distortion that can back off toward overdrive when the Gain control is turned down.

The Rattler line has grown into several versions. The original Rattler is a distortion pedal; the Rattler ltd is a limited edition built around the NOS LM308AH metal-can op-amp chip; the Rattler MkII (also sold as the Rattler 2) adds a Mid Boost, additional clipping options and its own proprietary OpAmp chip; and the Rattler Bass is a bass distortion pedal, adjusted for bass guitar. Each is covered below²³⁴.

A RAT-style distortion built around an NOS LM308

The Rattler follows the RAT template: a distortion pedal whose Gain control sets how hard the op-amp clips the signal, with a Tone control shaping the frequency response and Level setting output³. Delicious Audio calls the Rattler Mk.2 "an updated version of the company's highly regarded RAT-style distortion pedal" and added it to its in-depth article about the best RAT pedals and clones⁵.

The Rattler ltd takes the vintage approach further. It is a handwired, limited-edition distortion built around what JAM Pedals calls "the exceptionally rare NOS LM308AH metal-can chip for authentic vintage character with modern clarity"³. The LM308 is the op-amp used in the original RAT circuits, and the metal-can "AH" variant is the scarce version. The ltd also uses carbon-composition resistors, tropical-fish capacitors, point-to-point wiring and a faux-leather enclosure³.

Its symmetrical clipping is, in JAM Pedals' words, "smoother and slightly less aggressive than the standard Rattler"³. A toggle on the ltd selects two gain ranges: high gain to the right, lower gain to the left, with the low-gain mode described as more open, less compressed and closer to overdrive³. The maker says it "moves naturally from transparent preamp-style push to massive, singing distortion" and is responsive with single coils, humbuckers and pedal steel³.

The controls

The original Rattler keeps it simple, with three knobs and no switches:

The Rattler ltd adds a gain-range toggle (high gain right, lower gain left)³. The MkII adds more, covered next.

Rattler MkII: mid boost, clipping switch and a custom op-amp

Announced on 18 July 2024, the Rattler 2 (MkII) is the second major iteration of the circuit⁸. Where the original Rattler and ltd lean on the LM308, the MkII uses a JAM Pedals proprietary custom op-amp chip, a response to the LM308 becoming scarce⁹¹⁰. Guitar Pedal X described the new version as having "additional clipping options, Mid Boost, and its own proprietary OpAmp chip"⁹.

The control set expands to Level, Gain, Tone, a Clipping toggle (asymmetrical / symmetrical), a Mid Boost footswitch and the bypass footswitch⁸¹¹. On Pete Thorn's review video, he walked through the additions:

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Setting the mid boost

The MkII draws 95 mA at 9V DC center-negative, with output impedance under 5 kΩ⁶. That current draw is much higher than the ltd's 6 mA, so it is worth planning for on a shared supply.

The Rattler ltd and artwork editions

Player feedback on the ltd includes this endorsement quoted by JAM Pedals:

Tim Miller, quoted on the JAM Pedals product page³

Bass and Relic versions

The Rattler Bass captures the character and response of the original Rattler distortion, adjusted for bass guitar¹³. JAM Pedals says it "delivers fat, creamy bass distortion with the headroom, articulation and low-end authority modern players need"¹. Its controls add a Mix knob that blends clean and distorted signals, alongside Level, Gain and Tone¹. The left footswitch activates a higher-gain stage for instant bursts of added saturation, and the pedal offers clickless switching and programmable startup states¹. It draws 40 mA at 9V DC, with input impedance of 500 kΩ and output impedance under 10 kΩ¹¹⁴.

The "Relic" Rattler Bass is the hand-painted limited-artwork version of the bass pedal, with the same control set, the same high-gain footswitch, and the ability to save the effect and high-gain startup states independently by reconnecting power while holding the corresponding footswitch¹⁴. The "Relic" Rattler is the guitar version in the same series, described by the maker with the same bold, open and dynamic character through a custom discrete-component op-amp¹⁵.

What reviewers said

Premier Guitar reviewed the Rattler+ and noted that "the Rattler+ is true bypass, so it won't mess with your clean tone"¹⁶.

Videos

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News

Questions