The NativeAudio War Party is an analog overdrive and distortion pedal from NativeAudio, a US pedal company owned and run by Mike Trombley123. NativeAudio describes it as "an amp-like overdrive/distortion with touch sensitive dynamic response that is inspired by the NativeAudio™ Kiaayo and the legendary ProCo™ RAT," built on the Pro Co RAT gain topology with a streamlined two-knob interface4.
The circuit uses asymmetrical clipping that NativeAudio says is tuned to provide a dynamic tube-like response, and the pedal covers low-to-high gain from its Gain and Volume controls4. It is a compact box at 2.6 by 4.77 inches, currently at version 1.04.
A RAT-inspired overdrive and distortion
The Pro Co RAT is the reference point for the War Party's gain structure. NativeAudio states plainly that the pedal uses "ProCo™ RAT gain topology" and calls the circuit "RAT-inspired circuit with a streamlined interface"4. Where the original RAT carries three controls, the War Party pares the interface down to Gain and Volume4.
The RAT itself has a long history of versions. The original used the LM308 op-amp, which General Guitar Gadgets notes is now obsolete and expensive to buy, though still available from some sources7. Delicious Audio reports that the current updated version of the original is the RAT 2, featuring the OP07 op-amp8. On Guitar.com's 60 Seconds video, Josh Gardner summed up the RAT's range: "Overdrive, distortion, fuzz, it does it all!"9
The War Party also draws on NativeAudio's own Kiaayo overdrive, which shares the same 9-18V DC, 22mA power spec410. NativeAudio positions the War Party as the RAT-flavored sibling in that lineage, with asymmetrical clipping tuned for what the maker calls a dynamic tube-like response4.
The controls
The War Party keeps the interface to two knobs plus a footswitch4.
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Gain | Controls the amount of saturation4 |
| Volume | Controls the overall volume of the signal4 |
| Bypass Switch | Turns the effect on and off4 |
The Gain control spans low-to-high gain, so the pedal can sit anywhere from a light amp-like overdrive into full distortion territory4.
Footswitching: momentary or latching
The bypass switch supports two switching methods, momentary or latching, which NativeAudio lists as a feature of the pedal4.
- Momentary operation: hold the switch while the effect is off to temporarily turn the effect on, and release the switch to turn the effect off4.
- Latch operation: press and release the switch quickly to toggle the effect on and off4.
Momentary mode is useful for quick stabs of distortion, a technique players often use for accents and single-note punches, without committing the pedal to a full on/off toggle.
The War Party uses buffered bypass, not true bypass4. A buffer stays in the signal path when the pedal is off, which can matter if you run long cable runs or a large pedalboard.
Power
The War Party runs on a standard pedal power supply4.
- Voltage: 9-18V DC4
- Current draw: 22mA4
- Connector: 2.1mm, center negative4
The 9-18V range gives some headroom flexibility depending on your power supply, and the 22mA draw is light enough that the pedal is easy to place on a shared supply. The spec matches the Kiaayo overdrive, which Delicious Audio also lists at 9-18V DC, 22mA, center negative410.
Videos
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Questions
Is the NativeAudio War Party based on the ProCo RAT?
Yes, in part. NativeAudio describes the War Party as an amp-like overdrive and distortion inspired by the NativeAudio Kiaayo and the Pro Co RAT, and says it uses the Pro Co RAT gain topology. It is its own streamlined circuit rather than a clone.
Is the NativeAudio War Party true bypass?
No. NativeAudio lists the War Party's bypass switching as buffered bypass, not true bypass. The effect turns on and off with the bypass switch, but a buffer remains in the signal path when the pedal is off.
Can the War Party be used with a momentary footswitch?
Yes. The bypass switch supports both momentary and latching operation. In momentary mode you hold the switch while the effect is off to temporarily turn it on, and release it to turn it off. In latch mode a quick press toggles the effect.
How does the War Party relate to the NativeAudio Kiaayo?
NativeAudio says the War Party is inspired by both the Kiaayo overdrive and the Pro Co RAT, and it uses the RAT gain topology. Both pedals run on 9 to 18V DC and draw 22mA, but the War Party is the higher-gain, RAT-flavored member of the pair.
What polarity does the War Party power jack use?
The War Party uses a 2.1mm power jack with center negative polarity, running on 9 to 18V DC at 22mA. That matches the standard convention of most modern 9V pedal power supplies.
Sources (10)
- NativeAudio Buffalo Days Multi-Reverb, Delicious Audio, 2023-07-11
- NativeAudio Pretty Bird Woman Chorus Vibrato, Pedal of the Day (www.pedal-of-the-day.com), 2022-03-05
- New Pedal: NativeAudio Pretty Bird Woman Chorus/Vibrato, Delicious Audio, 2021-11-18
- NativeAudio: Native-owned effect pedal company, NativeAudio
- NativeAudio: Native-owned effect pedal company, NativeAudio
- NativeAudio Wilderness Delay V1.5, Pedal of the Day, 2020-05-16
- ProCo™ Rat™ Clone Kit: Build the Rodent Distortion Pedal, General Guitar Gadgets, 2014-05-12
- 2024 UPDATE! The Best Distortion Pedals, Delicious Audio, 2024-05-03
- 60 Seconds S1E30: Pro Co RAT, Guitar.com, 2024-06-21
- NativeAudio Kiaayo Overdrive, Delicious Audio, 2021-09-28
