The Pro Co You Dirty Rat is a distortion pedal in the Rat family from Pro Co, an analog circuit built on the same lineage as the original Rat and the Turbo Rat. What sets it apart is its clipping stage: where other Rats use silicon or LED diodes, the You Dirty Rat uses germanium clipping diodes, which RockBoard's PedalPedia calls "the key to the You Dirty RAT tone"1.
The result, in the words of reviewers, is a different flavor of Rat. MusicRadar describes it as "a slightly smoother fuzz that leads to an almost infinite sustain," and notes that it adds about 3dB of compression to the basic overdrive tone2. Guitar.com's reviewer characterizes the You Dirty variant as "a more compressed and scuzzy sound" compared with the more open, overdrive-like Turbo Rat3.
What the You Dirty Rat does
Pro Co positions the pedal between distortion and fuzz, listing it as a "distortion fuzz" and describing it as "the most classic sounding of all RAT distortion pedals. Think '60s garage rock. Think early punk."1
In use, the controls follow the familiar Rat layout. The Distortion knob sets the drive level, and the filter control works in the reverse direction of most tone knobs: MusicRadar notes that with a high drive setting, rotating the filter knob clockwise removes increasing amounts of high end for a thick, sustained tone2. The pedal ships in the same durable squat chassis MusicRadar calls "instantly recognisable" across the Rat line2.
Germanium clipping in a Rat
The whole character of the pedal comes down to its diodes. In a buying guide to Rat-style pedals, Guitar.com explains that germanium diodes clip a lot earlier than other types and have a much more compressed, squishy sound6. A technical analysis of the Rat circuit family on the Guitar FX Layouts blog identifies the You Dirty Rat's germanium diodes as the 1N34A type, contrasting them with the LEDs used in the Turbo Rat4. For a player, that means the pedal reaches its clipped, saturated character sooner and with a rounder, fuzzier edge than a stock Rat, which is exactly the smoother, more compressed feel the reviewers describe73.
How it compares with other Rats
| Rat variant | Clipping | Character |
|---|---|---|
| You Dirty Rat | Germanium diodes (1N34A)4 | Smoother fuzz, compressed, long sustain47 |
| Turbo Rat | LEDs4 | More open, overdrive-like3 |
| Original Rat | Silicon | The standard Rat distortion voice6 |
MusicRadar suggests the pedal suits players who find original Rats hard to locate or who want a different texture from the family's usual filth, concluding: "Well-made, robust and versatile, this latest Rat pedal is a great addition to the fold."2
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Questions
What is the difference between the You Dirty Rat and the original Rat?
The circuit stays in the Rat family, but the You Dirty Rat replaces the original's clipping diodes with germanium diodes. Germanium diodes clip earlier and produce a more compressed, squishy sound, so the pedal leans toward a smoother fuzz with long sustain rather than the original's harder distortion.
What diodes are in the You Dirty Rat?
Germanium clipping diodes, identified in technical analyses as the 1N34A type. Pro Co calls them the key to the You Dirty Rat's tone, and they clip at a lower level than the silicon or LED diodes used in other Rat variants.
Is the You Dirty Rat still made?
Yes. As of February 2021, Guitar Player reported that Pro Co's current production models include the Rat 2, Turbo Rat, You Dirty Rat and the Fat Rat, so the You Dirty Rat remains an active part of the lineup.
What power supply does the You Dirty Rat need?
It runs on 9V DC with a center-negative plug, and draws only 0.8mA, so it is easy on a pedalboard power supply. That low current draw means it shares a daisy chain with plenty of headroom to spare.
Sources (7)
- You Dirty Rat by ProCo, RockBoard PedalPedia, 2026
- Pro Co You Dirty Rat review, MusicRadar, 2007-12-05
- Pro Co RAT 2 review: what makes it a distortion legend?, Guitar.com, 2024-05-29
- Guitar FX Layouts: Proco Rat 2, tagboardeffects.blogspot.com (Guitar FX Layouts), 2013-12-14
- ProCo to Announce The Lil' Rat, A Mini Iteration of the Acclaimed Rat 2, GuitarPlayer (www.guitarplayer.com), 2021-02-15
- RATs and RAT-alikes explained, Guitar.com, 2025-08-21
- Pro Co Lil' Rat review, MusicRadar, 2022-02-06
