rhythmbug Posted August 15, 2013 Share Posted August 15, 2013 (edited) I've owned a Turbo Rat for a little while and would like to solve the loss of bass frequencies issue by possibly adding a Boss EQ pedal. Is this the most common treatment? Would using a Line Selector not be a better option? What about an MXR87 compressor for additional tightness? The high end really can roar, but it starts drowning out the guitars. What I want is all that snarl centred in the midrange, the sharp highs rolled off slightly. I stumbled across the Fuzzrocious range of pedals. Has anyone compared an EQ boosted Turbo Rat to one of these bad boys? I heard some good samples on their website. Are they available to try out anywhere in London? Edited August 15, 2013 by rhythmbug Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
uncle psychosis Posted August 15, 2013 Share Posted August 15, 2013 (edited) On the vast majority of bass effects (including the RAT) I like to use a Boss LS2 to blend in some clean signal. Using an EQ can work as well but I personally prefer clean blend. Edited August 15, 2013 by uncle psychosis Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sibob Posted August 15, 2013 Share Posted August 15, 2013 Definitely recommend Fuzzrocious if you want a bass orientated Rat with more options. They're a small family business in the US though, no dealers over here other than Joes Pedals, so either by from Joe or direct for even more custom options Si Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
D-L-B Posted August 15, 2013 Share Posted August 15, 2013 I've had countless dirt pedals come and go but the Turbo Rat used with a Boss LS-2 has always remained. My Rat has had a bass mod done but I still prefer to use a clean blend. I always use a blend with dirt pedals. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phil.i.stein Posted August 15, 2013 Share Posted August 15, 2013 all the distortions i've tried require a balance of clean. but also, they can sound better fed with od or eq first. experiment. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JapanAxe Posted August 15, 2013 Share Posted August 15, 2013 What they all said. If you EQ in more bass before the RAT you'll just generate a more congested mid-range at the output; if you EQ after it, there probably won't be much bottom end left to boost. For a clean/dirty mix I would recommend TheGigRig's [url="http://www.thegigrig.com/cgi-bin/sh000007.pl?WD=wet&PN=WetBox-401%2ehtml#SID=13"]Wet Box[/url] - although it is described as letting you add delayed/chorused/whatever signal to your clean signal, it will work just as well mixing dirty with clean. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bobbass4k Posted August 16, 2013 Share Posted August 16, 2013 [quote name='JapanAxe' timestamp='1376610550' post='2176959'] What they all said. If you EQ in more bass before the RAT you'll just generate a more congested mid-range at the output; if you EQ after it, there probably won't be much bottom end left to boost. For a clean/dirty mix I would recommend TheGigRig's [url="http://www.thegigrig.com/cgi-bin/sh000007.pl?WD=wet&PN=WetBox-401%2ehtml#SID=13"]Wet Box[/url] - although it is described as letting you add delayed/chorused/whatever signal to your clean signal, it will work just as well mixing dirty with clean. [/quote] This, EQ won't really help you, you need a clean blend or a bass mod done to the rat. A Turbo RAT blended in an LS-2 was my main dirt sound for quite a while, always sounded great, I only sold it to upgrade to a Fuzzrocious Rat Tail. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ratman Posted August 16, 2013 Share Posted August 16, 2013 That's always been my issues with dirt pedals, the loss of bottom end and clean sound. I have been using a Bright Onions dual loop pedal for a while now and it's brilliant. I ordered mine with wet/dry blends as extras and now I dial in as much clean bass as I need. A cracking little box. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iamtheelvy Posted August 16, 2013 Share Posted August 16, 2013 I actually found the Turbo Rat to have a more usable tone when played through directly, rather than in a blend loop. That said, the sweet-spot is very, very precise and the slightest twist in either direction caused me to disappear or blow the guitarist's ears off. He's still looking for them now... Great pedal, but I'm using a Rat Tail now too... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andydye Posted August 16, 2013 Share Posted August 16, 2013 (edited) bright onion also do a wet/dry mix blend/looper pedal that really nice, I've just got one and it's working a treat! [url="http://www.brightonion.co.uk/blender-looper/"]http://www.brightonion.co.uk/blender-looper/[/url] Edited August 16, 2013 by andydye Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rhythmbug Posted August 19, 2013 Author Share Posted August 19, 2013 Thanks for all the feedback! I agree the Rat has definitely a sweet spot. I feel it's bit of a one trick pony (though it's a damn good trick) and in that light perhaps upgrading to Fuzzrocious would kill two birds with one stone. But so many different models though it's a bit overwhelming, some with modifications, some with extra functions, some more basic. I've watched some demo vids. I'm tempted by elaborate models like the Rat King, but flip me it has so many controls! A lot of the demo sounds seem a bit OTT for everyday purposes. Do they do a milder, grindier, tube driven sort of sound? Could they make a VT Bass pedal redundant? If anyone could guide me in the right direction, it would be much appreciated. I play a Fender P and a Warwick Corvette (emgs). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bakerster135 Posted August 19, 2013 Share Posted August 19, 2013 Tom from COG effects (TGFlatline on here) has just made me a Rat clone that's 100 times better than my old Turbo Rat! Have a word with him, he'll probably be able to help you out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rhythmbug Posted August 19, 2013 Author Share Posted August 19, 2013 Brilliant, cheers for the local contact! Signor Gatto I presume? That looks like the biz. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bakerster135 Posted August 19, 2013 Share Posted August 19, 2013 Ha! Yeah that's right Sounds mean, and it'll do what you're looking for! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sibob Posted August 19, 2013 Share Posted August 19, 2013 Very interested to hear the COG Rat compared to the Fuzzrocious Rat Tail Si Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bakerster135 Posted August 19, 2013 Share Posted August 19, 2013 It'd be nice to have both to compare! I'll get a video up soon, though need to do it through proper gear as I don't think my phone'll do it justice!... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shizznit Posted August 19, 2013 Share Posted August 19, 2013 I find the Turbo RAT too bright and I much prefer the normal RAT. The filter control can really thicken up your tone. It all depends what result you want...buzz saw fuzz or dub type tones? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dalehernando Posted August 19, 2013 Share Posted August 19, 2013 It's taken me years to find the right pedal for me. The Fuzzrocious Rat King is the best pedal I've ever owned. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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