Rat Volume Increase?

[Bearded Fish]

Is there an easy way to increase the volume output of a Rat 2 pedal or increase the range of the volume control? I'm finding I can't match my clean signal volume at low gain settings. I don't want to change the clipping diodes to LEDs because I'm happy with the general tone, just need more volume. Any ideas guys?

[Processaurus]

How about 2 sets of 2 Si diodes in series, back to back?  You'd get more volume and lower gain.  A really worthwhile mod I did to my "vintage" Rat was to put a trim pot in series with the gain pot, and with the gain knob down all the way, dial in the perfect low gain setting on the trim pot.  That way that sound is waiting for you at the bottom of the gain pot every time, rather than than cutting the volume completely.

[Gus]

bought or DIY?

If DIY read about the output section

http://www.diystompboxes.com/smfforum/index.php?topic=66389.0

[WGTP]

It seems to me that the Rat is ripe for making the Jfet buffer into a gain stage like a Fetzer Valve, or Jfet Boost.   

[ayayay!]

A really worthwhile mod I did to my "vintage" Rat was to put a trim pot in series with the gain pot, and with the gain knob down all the way, dial in the perfect low gain setting on the trim pot.  That way that sound is waiting for you at the bottom of the gain pot every time, rather than than cutting the volume completely.

What value on the trimpot?  I'm guessing pretty low...

[Bearded Fish]

Thanks for the responses. Shamefully, it's a bought pedal. I think there might be something wrong with it actually, as I compared it to a friend's and it undoubtedly has less output, given all other things constant. It says 'RAT 3 REV B' on the board. Any heads up on what might've gone? Maybe a bad pot? If I can't figure it out, I'll probably go with Processaurus's double diode idea. I'd also be interested to know what value trimpot you used. Thanks again.

[Processaurus]

I think 10K for the min. gain trimpot.  It can be inserted in series with either wire/connection to the gain pot, which is also set up as a 0-100K variable resistor to set the gain from the opamp.  This just adds a permanent resistance in series with the pot so the opamp circuit won't see a 0 ohm resistance when the pot is all the way down.

[objectx]

It seems to me that the Rat is ripe for making the Jfet buffer into a gain stage like a Fetzer Valve, or Jfet Boost.   

I'll second that. You could try messing with the bias resistor on the fet output buffer to get some more gain?