The FATRAT is Pro Co's expanded version of the RAT Distortion, the big, thick, metal box distortion that has been a fixture of pedalboards for decades. Pedal of the Day's Mike B described it as the "RAT on steroids": the same core distortion circuit, with a FAT switch that provides a significant low end boost and a clipping toggle that switches between the original silicon clipping and a MOSFET clipping option.1
What the FAT switch and clipping toggle do
The FATRAT's headline additions over the standard RAT are two tonal shapers. The FAT switch provides a significant low end boost, useful when a player wants more weight under the distortion without adding another pedal to the board.1
The clipping toggle lets you select from the original RAT clipping or the new MOSFET clipping circuit. Pedal of the Day described the MOSFET option as acting as an upper midrange boost, sounding more tube amp-like than the original clipping.1
Controls
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Distortion | Adds gain into your signal1 |
| FAT switch | Provides significant low end boost1 |
| Clipping toggle | Selects between the original silicon clipping and the MOSFET clipping circuit1 |
Power and practical details
The FATRAT runs on either 9V or 18V, and Pedal of the Day noted the 18V option is there "for massive headroom and gain".1 It is true bypass, carries a two year warranty, and is hand built in the USA.1
The enclosure is a titch bigger than the standard RAT's, with a few more controls on board, so allow a little extra room on the pedalboard.1
How it compares to the RAT family
The FATRAT is one of several RAT variants Pro Co has built on the original circuit. Where the RAT 2 and the Reissue '85 Whiteface RAT stay close to the original design, the FATRAT adds the FAT switch and the MOSFET clipping option. Other takes on the circuit include the Turbo Rat, the Deucetone RAT, the You Dirty Rat and the Lil' Rat.1
What reviewers said
Pedal of the Day's Mike B summed the pedal up this way:
"this thing wails, but isn't too harsh like many distortions"
His verdict on the pedal as a whole: "it's a great testament to a vintage pedal, with a couple of excellent upgrades and tonal shapers".1
Videos
MaxReviews Pro
Sweetwater
All Music X'cess AMX
Questions
What does the FAT switch do on the Pro Co FATRAT?
The FAT switch provides a significant low end boost, according to Pedal of the Day's review. It sits alongside the pedal's other controls as an extra tonal shaping option that the standard RAT does not have, letting a player add low end weight to the distortion without reaching for a separate EQ or boost pedal.
Is the Pro Co FATRAT true bypass?
Yes. Pedal of the Day's review lists the FATRAT as true bypass, so the pedal passes your signal untouched when switched off. It also carries a two year warranty and is hand built in the USA.
Where is the Pro Co FATRAT made?
The FATRAT is hand built in the USA, according to Pedal of the Day's review. Pro Co is a Kalamazoo, Michigan based maker, and the FATRAT is described as a titch bigger than its little brother, the standard RAT, with a few more controls on its metal enclosure.
How is the FATRAT different from the standard RAT?
Pedal of the Day called it the RAT on steroids. The FATRAT adds a FAT switch for significant low end boost and a clipping toggle that lets you select between the original silicon clipping and a new MOSFET clipping circuit, which acts as an upper midrange boost and sounds more tube amp-like than the original. It is also a titch bigger than the standard RAT, with a few more controls.
Sources (1)
- Pro Co RAT Distortion FATRAT, Pedal of the Day, 2015-03-06
