The Magnetic Effects Lonely Robot Distortion OpAmp Fuzz is a limited-edition overdrive and distortion pedal built around the Pro Co RAT circuit, released in November 2018 by the London-based builder Magnetic Effects. It takes the RAT's op-amp clipping approach and adds a tweaked version of the "Reutz" mod EQ control, an internal voltage doubler for extra headroom, and post-gain active bass EQ1. It is now discontinued; its last listed price was £135 / $179 as of August 20242.
What it does
The Lonely Robot sits in the family of distortion pedals descended from Pro Co's RAT. Premier Guitar's reviewer noted that Pro Co's original RAT and RAT 2 could generate smooth-to-punky distortion, and placed the Lonely Robot in that lineage3. At the low end of its gain range, the reviewer found it exceptional, excelling at near-clean boost duties, which puts it in useful territory for players who also reach for boost pedals3.
The internal voltage doubler increases the headroom available, which Magnetic Effects cited as a core part of the design when the pedal launched1.
Controls
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Gain | Sets the amount of drive2 |
| EQ (Ruetz Mod) | Alters the amount of gain applied at specific frequencies; right gives a brighter, tighter tone with more gain, left a fuller tone with less gain1 |
| Clip (Clipping Threshold) | Moving clockwise dulls picking attack and saturates the signal; the lowest extremes give an airier, more open signal3 |
| Volume | Sets output level2 |
| Bass | Post-gain active bass EQ2 |
| Treble | Treble control2 |
The EQ control is a tweaked version of the "Reutz" mod found in modified RAT pedals, and Guitar Pedal X's buying guide highlights the pedal as having "that extra low end input courtesy of the Ruetz Mod"2.
What reviewers said
Premier Guitar's reviewer described a wide tonal range across the gain sweep: "High-gain tones range from singing contoured lead sounds to fuzzy textures with rich high-mid presence", with mid-gain running from smoother, almost Marshall-like distortion to ragged and punky3. The clipping threshold control drew particular attention for how it shapes attack and saturation across its range3.
Guitar Pedal X's Stefan Karlsson, writing in a 2024 roundup of Rat-style pedals, called it "pretty decent sounding, but not as potent as some of the more recent examples"2.
The Lonely Robot is listed as discontinued2.
Videos
Jackson Brooksby
Sources (3)
- Magnetic Effects Unveils Lonely Robot & Black Moon, Premier Guitar, 2018-11-21
- Guitar Pedal X, Guitar Pedal X, 2024-08-30
- Magnetic Effects Lonely Robot Review, Premier Guitar, 2019-04-19
