The ultimate PrcoCo Rat

[frigid midget]

I'm good on dirt peds, this would just be for the sake of science:)

Not that I want to go with as many switches and bells and whistels as possible, I'm not into modding for the sake of modding. I'd want to end up with a Rat that sounds like an improvent of the original, something I'd actually want to gig with it.

So I'm looking for ideas/inspiration, but most importantly: Schematics/diagrams. I have plenty of (de)soldering experience, and I've got the basics down...But actually understanding these circuits, knowing what the hell happens when I change the value of this capacitor of that resistor...I'll leave that to you guys:)

Anyway, here's what it should/shouldnt look like:

-Original, stock proco enclusure. Meaning I'd have to to go with a big box reissue, cause a Rat2 would be way to small for all the extra I plan to throw inthere:)

-LM308. Not that I'm convinced it sounds superior or even very different that the newer opamps, but it's what's in my Rat2, and I like the way that sounds. On some amps that is, and when stacked with a touch of muff:)

-Improve Ruetz mod of some sort. The top end fizz is one thing, but the lack of bass makes a stock Rat unuesable to me, especially on bass. I read about a 'cap mod' somewhere, which supposedly fixes the gain loss you get from ruetz'ing a Rat. But there seems to be different options for caps to replace/cut, and I can't seem to find out what the best bet would be to give a rat more bass with as little as possible gain loss.

-feedback loop. Can't for the life of me find a dummy-proof diagram that shows how to do this to a rat. I'd want a footswitch for that, which is the main reason why I'd have to start from a big box rat.

-I compared all possible clipping options, and I personally don't need 27 slightly different sounds on a bunch of switches. I'm okay with the stock Rat2 sound, as long as the bass issue is fixed.

-Anyone know how to maybe get even MORE gain out of a rat?

[wildebelor]

more gain = add an extra gain stage!

[frigid midget]

more gain = add an extra gain stage!

Now we're talking:)

I don't suppose you (or anyone else) can find me an easy straight forward schematic faster than I can google it?
Like I said, I'm pretty much a noob when it comes to actual circuit hacking. Incorporating something like an "extra gain stage" on a rat, may sound dead simple to a lot of you guys...And though I have a basic grasp of the concept, I could really need some guidance to get me started on this...

Anyone tried adding an extra gain to their rat?

[frigid midget]

Also...I just now remember the Proco Fat Rat that came out early this year or so. It may be a short cut to what I was planning, cause the enclusure is also big enough, and it's already got the 'thick' switch, which supposedly addresses the bass cut issue I was talking about.

I don't really see it as an option though, since a used big box rat would cost me considerable less, even IF I could manage to already find a used Fat Rat somewhere.

As I'm google'ing around for the answers, feel free to enlighten me if anyone happens to know what the extra 'thick' switch on the new Fat Rat exactly does.
In the few demo clips that are out there the extra low end from that 'thick' switch is pretty subtle as far as I can hear. Not sure if it delivers what the sale pitch is promising:s

Edit: Just found this comment from a proco rep, at offsetguitars.com:

On the Fat Rat, in stock mode, you get silicon clipping, just like in the 85 WFRAT. In mosfet mode, you get a combination of Mosfet and germanium diode clipping. Not only is the character of the clipping different in that it sounds, to my ear, much more amp like, but it also provides a subtle scoop in the upper mids and smooths the pedal out. Not to worry, it doesn't make the pedal sound wimpy. I like this mode so much that I will probably never switch it off.

Seems ligit. If it's different from other rats and rat clones, I concider that to be a cool bonus to have on my modded big box rat, aka fat rat w/ feedback loop:)

[culturejam]

Check out the Roger Mayer Spitfire circuit. It's very much like a Rat (minus the tone control and buffer) with an added boost up front. I did a circuit redraw with a few minor value changes and some added components for power filtering and whatnot. Here's a link:
http://www.byocelectronics.com/board/vi ... 41&t=39313