The Wampler Ratsbane is a mini distortion pedal from Wampler, released March 1, 2021, built around the circuit of the classic 1980s high-gain RAT distortion123. Wampler describes it as Brian Wampler's tribute to the original RAT circuit, "incorporating how I mod the circuit"4. It packs five controls into a 1.5" x 3.5" x 1.5" enclosure: Volume, Distortion and Filter knobs, plus a three-way Gain switch and a two-way Voice switch4.
Wampler says the pedal covers "multiple degrees of gain from light overdrive to full out saturated" fuzz-like distortion, and that its full-range distortion combined with the filter control "delivers a classic cranked tube-amp sound that crosses genres and generations of music"4. Pedal of the Day's reviewer found it "small in size but big in stature," bringing "all the thunder of the original Rat sound, with a couple of modern, tone-enhancing options on board"3.
What it does: a RAT-style distortion in a mini pedal
The Ratsbane is based on what Wampler calls "an infamous circuit from a classic 1980's high gain distortion pedal"4. Rather than copying the vintage RAT's op amp, the circuit uses a modern operational amplifier IC that Wampler considers more harmonically complex. The IC is socketed, so a player who wants the vintage character can swap in an LM308, the chip associated with the original RATs, without soldering4.
The three knobs follow the classic RAT layout, with the Filter control working in the RAT's characteristic reversed direction4:
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Volume | Sets the output level4 |
| Distortion | All the way down it works as a deep but powerful gain booster; cranked up it produces rich harmonic overtones and a throaty, fuzz-like distortion4 |
| Filter | Counter-clockwise cuts through the mix with high-frequency attack and clarity; clockwise filters the top end for a warm, buttery, yet clear tone4 |
Pedal of the Day's reviewer wrote that "the full, dynamic range, and sheer sonic force of this circuit is what makes the Ratsbane a true king amongst distortion" pedals, and concluded that "there are tones aplenty here, and they just get better as they get heavier"3.
The Gain and Voice switches
The two switches are what separate the Ratsbane from a stock RAT. As Pedal of the Day put it, "in typical Wampler fashion, Brian improved the circuit's flexibility by adding two new switches"3.
The three-way Gain switch sets the gain stage43:
- Center: the stock gain for the pedal45
- Left: a firm, yet smooth boost in gain43
- Right: what Wampler calls an insane level of creamy distortion43
The two-way Voice switch subtly alters the compression and clipping. Wampler says it tightens the distortion to be more manageable and rolls back some of the fuzz qualities for a modern, high-gain distortion4.
Premier Guitar's reviewer looked closely at what the Voice switch actually does, and found it is not what you might expect1:
"The Ratsbane's alternate voice switch isn't, as you might suspect, a take on another vintage RAT incarnation like the Turbo RAT."1
The same reviewer mapped the switch's positions against a vintage RAT's character: in the center, the pedal "assumes the gain characteristics of a vintage RAT: dry, mid-forward, but full bodied and chock full of overtone detail." To the left, the distortion is more focused, heavier on the mids and top end, and "can sound a lot like bumping the presence on a Marshall," though some filter settings render it quite nasal. To the right, the pedal re-introduces low end and a gain boost, which lends body to lyrical soloing, though power chord riffing can sound a little more muddled1.
The reviewer's overall take on the controls: "the Ratsbane's sensitive controls mean you can extract many variations of those extra tones that sound alive and rich with character"1.
Power and setup
The Ratsbane runs on a 9V to 18V power jack, with no battery connector inside, so it needs an external supply4. Current draw is very low, between 2.5mA at 9V and 3.2mA at 18V, which leaves plenty of headroom on a multi-output pedalboard supply4.
The Ratsbane requires a center-negative power adapter. Wampler's release notes warn: "do not use center pin positive adapters"5. There is no battery option4.
Where it came from and what it costs
Wampler announced the Ratsbane on March 1, 20215. It is built in the U.S.A. and carries Wampler's limited 5-year warranty4. The list price is $149.974, which Guitar World's review also lists as $149.97 in the US and £149 in the UK6.
The Ratsbane sits in Wampler's distortion lineup alongside pedals like the Wampler Sovereign, the Wampler Pinnacle Deluxe and the Wampler Dracarys, and its fuzz-leaning gain range also overlaps with fuzz territory at the top of the Distortion knob's travel4.
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Questions
Is the Wampler Ratsbane a RAT clone?
It is a take on the classic RAT circuit rather than a straight copy. Wampler describes it as Brian Wampler's tribute to the original RAT circuit, built the way he mods it, and it uses a modern op amp IC instead of the vintage LM308. Two switches, a three-way Gain and a two-way Voice, add gain stages and EQ shaping the original pedal never had.
Can you swap the op amp in the Ratsbane?
Yes. The circuit is built on a modern operational amplifier IC that Wampler considers more harmonically complex, but the IC is socketed so you can drop in an LM308, the chip associated with vintage RATs. No soldering is needed to make the swap.
Does the Wampler Ratsbane take a battery?
No. The pedal has a 9V to 18V power jack but no battery connector inside, so it runs only from an external supply. Current draw is low, between 2.5mA at 9V and 3.2mA at 18V, so it is easy on a pedalboard power supply.
Is the Wampler Ratsbane true bypass?
Yes. Wampler lists 3PDT true bypass among the pedal's features, so with the effect switched off your signal passes through without buffering or coloration.
Sources (6)
- Wampler Ratsbane Review, Premier Guitar, 2021-09-13
- New Pedals: Wampler Ratsbane Mini Distortion, Delicious Audio, 2021-02-26
- Wampler Pedals Ratsbane Distortion, Pedal of the Day, 2022-06-06
- Ratsbane, Wampler Pedals, 2026-10-09
- Wampler Pedals Releases the Ratsbane, Premier Guitar, 2021-03-01
- Act Entertainment Sterling Vermin Rat Distortion Pedal review, Guitar World, 2026-04-06
