The AMZ Custom Shop is now closed! The modified ProCo Rat 2, shown here beside a standard model, is sold out and I am not buying any more pedals to mod at this time. You can order my Rat ebook which includes a complete description of the mods if you want to do it yourself.
Numerous parts are changed in the Rat so that it has asymmetrical clipping for a tube-like sound, smoother response, better range of the tone control, and lower noise.
Read the complete tech details of the mods.
Update Aug 2017: My Kindle ebook with new information on the Rat and the mods is now available from Amazon:
The extensively modified Rat pedal is =SOLD OUT=. If you are interested in the AMZ Fat Rat pedals,
to inquire further.
|
Fat Rat Sound Samples (mp3) |
Clean Sounds
 | Gain is set at minimum so you can hear the pedal acting as a boost. If strummmed hard, the Fat Rat does generate some distortion. |
Mid Drive Sounds
 | Gain is set at the mid-point and the center and bridge pickups are used to demonstrate that it is still capable of some hard grunge. |
Full Drive Sounds
| Gain is set near maximum to demonstrate the full tilt boogie. Volume is loud enough that the setup is trying to feedback.
|
Woman Tone
 | Crank up the Filter of the Fat Rat and get a smooth sustaining distortion sound that reminds me of a Big Muff. Fat and juicy! |
| All clips recorded through my AX84 tube amp set for a clean neutral tone using a stock 1970 Fender Stratocaster - miked with an SM-57. All distortion is being produced by the pedal.
|
Here's what one user has to say about his AMZ modified Rat:
Nice power chord crunch... Harmonics were jumping off at max settings, I haven't compressed it yet, but I'm positive it will nail Santana sustain and ringing tone. The Super Rat is similar to the Hotcake. It misses a tad of grit and gain in comparison, but would become a staple of any player's board. It has multiple uses compared to stock. I'm keeping it!!
Another satisified user posted these remarks:
I have had a quick half hour play with it and first impressions are that it is awesome. The low end on the 'woman' setting (distortion full, filter full, volume 3 o'clock) is the fattest I have ever heard. The sustain just goes on for ever. I can play with out even picking the strings. Rolling back the filter brings more midds into the mix and brings a whole raft of tones into play.
And yet more:
No bullsh*tting, it's the best fuzz/distortion/overdrive pedal I have ever plugged in too, and believe me I have played with quite a few.
A recent pedal tester reports:
I have never played a Rat, but I like this version of Jack's. Very smooth, almost glassy distortion. The filter knob can dial in some odd eq, but there are a few sweet spots as well. Sweep pickers could live off of this pedal. Complex midrange and harmonics in there for the Robben Ford crowd, too.
|
|
If you want to be notified of the status of my pedals and projects, sign up on the mailing list and you will get the latest info emailed to you. It's a very low traffic list with only about 3 or 4 emails per year.
|
The Fat Rat Turbo! - This modified Rat 2 has an added switch that will enable a pair of LED clippers or the si/ge mods as described in the basic Fat Rat mods. I used an ultrabright Pink LED for the one shown here with a modified Boss SD-1 (that has a nice gold LED). I really like the switchable diodes; they give the box a whole new dimension.
| 
