The Stomp Under Foot Skinner Box is a compact distortion pedal built around one of the most storied early versions of the Rat circuit. Stomp Under Foot describes it as inspired by the rare 1978 "Bud Box" Rat, the first Rat enclosure, and gives it a gain range that runs from fat distortion down to a chewy, low-gain overdrive. At its heart is a metal can LM308, the op-amp chip associated with early Rat units, which the maker says gives a slightly fuller, smoother response1.
Pedal of the Day reviewed it in October 2019 as the Skinner Box Distortion, calling it a pedal from which "warm and inviting distortion seeps from this red box". The reviewer found that the metal can LM308 "produces a warmer distorted tone, and gives you a more versatile pedal all-around"21.
Where it came from: the Bud Box Rat
The Skinner Box is Stomp Under Foot's take on the Rat-style distortion, a circuit design that has been interpreted by many makers over the years. Stomp Under Foot built theirs around a metal can LM308 variant, the chip long associated with the Rat sound3. Pedal of the Day's reviewer summed it up as "a great-sounding, easy to use, plug-and-play pedal" that "delivers on all aspects"2.
The controls: Level, Tone and Gain
The Skinner Box keeps the classic three-knob Rat layout, which Pedal of the Day summarized as "Level, Tone and Gain controls"2.
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Level | Sets the output volume of the pedal2 |
| Tone | Shapes the EQ; Pedal of the Day describes it as letting you "dial in the perfect EQ position for any rig or musical recording setup"2 |
| Gain | Sets the amount of drive, from low-gain overdrive up to fat distortion12 |
"We love a great-sounding, easy to use, plug-and-play pedal around here, and the Skinner Box delivers on all aspects."
Power and build
Stomp Under Foot specifies a 9V battery or a 2.1mm 9V adapter only1. The pedal is true bypass, so it stays out of your signal chain when off1. The maker states it is handmade in the USA using NOS through-hole components, the older style of parts construction that suits a circuit design from the late 1970s1.
The maker specifies a 2.1mm 9V adapter only. As with any pedal with a stated adapter size, match your power supply to that spec before adding it to a daisy chain.
How it sits among the alternatives
For players comparing Rat-style pedals, the Skinner Box's distinguishing points are the Bud Box Rat basis, the metal can LM308 and the handmade USA build with NOS through-hole parts13. Stomp Under Foot also builds other takes on classic British and American drive circuits, including the Guv'nor, the Brit Box and the Motor Honey Superdrive, as well as the Full Powered Halo. If you are weighing it against other gain stages, the wider fields are covered on the Distortion Pedals and Overdrive Pedals pages.
Videos
Pedal of the Day
Tone Tailors | Guitar Shop, Lessons, & Repairs
Demos In The Dark
Sources (3)
- Skinner Box, Stomp Under Foot
- Stomp Under Foot Skinner Box Distortion, Pedal of the Day, 2019-10-03
- Guitar Pedal X, Guitar Pedal X, 2024-08-30
