Guitar pedals are an essential piece of technology for all professional musicians out there.
In fact, they aren’t vital only for guitarists, but also for singers, keyboardists, and some drummers.
The fact that you aren’t a professional guitar player doesn’t mean that you don’t need a pedal of your own.
Even as a complete beginner, you will have more fun and acquire skills faster while utilizing a pedal of your choice.
In this article, we will talk about the Pro Co RAT2 Distortion Pedal, which is an excellent choice for both experts and amateurs alike.
What We Like
- Versatile sound output
- DC or battery power supply
- Durable construction
What We Don’t Like
- Can cut upper frequencies on the fast setting
- Power supply requires an adapter
Pro Co RAT2 Distortion Pedal Review
Pro Co is a company founded in 1974. Since then, they have been steadily producing high-quality accessories to help musicians all over the world improve their craft.
From simple things like cables for guitars and microphones, up to complicated and expensive support sound systems, you will be able to find anything while browsing their catalog.
The RAT2 from Pro Co has been around for a long time. The model has many variations with different prices and sound effects, and the main product has received significant quality upgrades throughout the years.
Who Is This Product For?
Distortion pedals are a part of every guitarist’s toolbox. If you are planning on playing shows, you will definitely need a right stomp box for different parts of different songs.
Additionally, unless your band will play only songs that feature no distortion at all, a distortion pedal will be a must.
However, this is highly unlikely since most metal and rock songs that are created using guitar have at least a small amount of distortion in them.
Also read: this pedal is on the top of the best distortion pedals list
What’s Included?
When buying the RAT2 guitar pedal, you will get the device itself plus a user manual and a one-year warranty.
However, you will be required to purchase the cable needed to connect the device to the guitar and the power adapter.
The more exciting thing is the number of different models you will be able to choose from.
The RAT2 is the least expensive option, perfect for beginners and those looking to play in front of a smaller audience.
The Dirty RAT and the FATRAT are there for more experienced players.
Alternatively, you can opt for getting the Solo Rat premium guitar pedal, which is created for skillful lead guitarists who are going to be playing for hours on a daily basis.
The RAT2 guitar pedal is pretty lightweight and easy to transport. It weighs a bit over one and a half pound, and it measures 4.8 x 4.5 x 3.3 inches.
The enclosure is made out of steel, and it is unlikely to be damaged unless in the case of extreme physical impact.
The endurance of the surface, combined with the heavy-duty knobs for adjusting the volume and the distortion level, makes this guitar pedal a very sturdy and useful accessory for playing the electric guitar.
It works well with amps of different sizes and power levels.
More than that, it’s also exceptionally good at helping you find the sweet spot that makes transitions from clear to distorted parts enjoyable to hear.
When unboxing this guitar pedal, you will find that there is no assembly required.
Using your own power adapter and the cable, you should attach the stomp box to the power source and connect your guitar to it.
Afterward, you can start playing and experimenting with different distortion/filter settings using the knobs on the pedal.
You will be required to set up these effects before playing, and you can turn them off and on using your foot at any time during a performance.
Alternatives
If you are looking for something more adjustable, you might want to check out the MXR M116 Fullbore Metal Distortion Pedal.
It has three more knobs than the product we reviewed, which will allow you to adjust the gain levels more precisely.
However, it is more expensive and more suited for professional guitarists.
Aside from that, we already talked about other models of the RAT guitar pedal, which are all very high quality and feature the design and the dimensions of the RAT2 Distortion Guitar Pedal.
Conclusion
Whether you are an amateur just starting to learn about the wonders of playing an electric guitar, or a semi-pro starting to play real shows as a lead guitarist, you are going to find the RAT2 Distortion Pedal extremely convenient.
The sturdy design will sustain almost any form of damage while being easy to transport. Furthermore, the knobs and the actual pedal are very easy to operate during performances.
If there is something you don’t quite like about this model, make sure to check out the other RAT pedals we mentioned, or the MXR pedal that also delivers superb quality of sound but is a little less durable.
Also read: these are the best guitar pedals you should consider
I'm Joost Nusselder, the founder of Neaera and a content marketer, dad, and love trying out new equipment with guitar at the heart of my passion, and together with my team, I've been creating in-depth blog articles since 2020 to help loyal readers with recording and guitar tips.
