Ruetz Mod RAT Question

[msurdin]

Hey Guys,
I am wondering about replacing the 47ohm resistor on the rat with a 1k trim pot. Which on do I replace?
R14 or R5
http://www.generalguitargadgets.com/pdf/ggg_rodent_lo.pdf

http://www.diyguitaramp.com/rat.html


Thanks
Matt

[the recluse]

R5. I did the same mod to the same board.  I removed R5, and placed leg 1 and 2 of the trimmer in it's place and just bent the third leg out of the way.  If you have room in your enclosure, you could use a regualar 1K pot instead.

[msurdin]

Thanks man. 1-2-3 starting from the left side right? Just a double check

thanks

[QSQCaito]

Yes, if you are looking at its front. Anyway, it doesn't matter that. It just a trimpot you won't be moving.

[msurdin]

Is there a way to give the rat more "life" and not just a flat distortion that gets fuzzy and clean. Certain distortions when the tone is ajusted the "tone" changes also..not just brighter and darker.
I've used a eq with it, but I want to change it a little bit. I love how the distortion + has a warm tone that is just not "dry" and lifeless.
Maybe making it a little "wetter" would be a good way to explain it...

I know I have been told "why not just make a distortion +" well I love how the rat reacts with certain pedals... so is it possible?



Thanks

Matt

[the recluse]

There are all kinds of mods that are possible withthe Rat, and nearly all of them sound great for one thing or another.  You may want to check this out AMZ Rat and Big Muff ebook.  Jack Orman goes into great detail on the Rat circuit and suggests a number of possible options. 

Also, check out Dano's FKR over at Beavis Audio he's pretty much put every possible Rat mod into one box.

FWIW I was up at my local guitar center recently trying out some guitars and I brought my homemade modded Rat (built on the GGG rodent board).  Lots of compliments on the sound.  There so much you can do with it and with a few simple mods you can make it very versatile.

[WGTP]

There are a variety of EQ options with the 47 and 560 ohm resistors.  Try it with one or the other.   Also, double or half the 2.2uf and 4.7uf caps for more EQ variations. 

To get a more Dist+ EQ, make the 47 a 100-220 and disconnect the 560.  The 47 controls the high end roll off point and the 560 sort of controls the lows.  This is one of the things that makes a RAT a RAT besides the LM308 chip and the tone control. 

Jack Ormans articles are excellent.