Can the RAT do all of these tones? (JHS PackRat)

The RAT is iconic, dirty distortion that everyone loves. Or at least everyone should love it. It's very diverse and has been used on many different albums. Josh is finally back and is taking us on a sonic tour through some of his favorite songs showcasing the many sounds of the RAT. We're including lots of goodies here in the description, so click around!
RAT RIFFS Playlist:
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Learn more about the PackRat:
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PackRat Episode:
• JHS PackRat: Every RAT...
ProCo RAT Pedal Myths, History, and Timeline:
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www.jhspedals....
JHS Fresh Clips: / @jhsfreshclips7880
#jhs #thejhsshow #theRAT

[@calebmorales6288]

I’m so grateful for your insistence that Parachutes is a brilliant album. It’s the sole reason I bought a Rat II 10 years ago, and my falling in love with that pedal is the reason I bought the Pack Rat this week. High gain/high filter is fun, but the low gains are truly special!

[@jdwilliams202000]

I always play the “I might be wrong” riff when I’m in Drop-D too lol

[@failgun]

This was so good. Making the point about how widely used a piece of gear is by playing the songs is perfect in the spirit of this channel. If this was unrehearsed It does make me wonder what you guys could achieve with a couple hours of rehearsal

[@drtm1718]

This was really fun. I like this long-form pedal showcase jam. It feels like a tribute to a pedal, but gives you a better understanding of the pedal than a demo without being as boring as a demo. And it feels like hanging out with you guys, which is a plus.

[@Kennephus]

Next episode: playing a handful of songs that *didn't* utilize a RAT and presenting an alternate universe in which they did, then let the people vote which is better

[@thaddeusfields4360]

+1 on this - start with Clapton’s “Wonderful Tonight”

[@michaelcurran3451]

“Hallelujah” would be epic. Josh has the pipes for it.

[@WhatsUpWhitey]

Like this idea

[@Kennephus]

And here I was just thinking of something like Siamese Dream. This crowd knows how to dream big.

[@iggymcgeek730]

Where does the time machine come in?

[@donaldpfaff4205]

Just bought a PackRat based on this video. It will join my recently acquired Morning Glory. Been into your videos for a couple years now, happy to finally have a couple JHS pedals on my boards!

[@drloqutis2492]

Josh actually rubs the gold tube screamer like it is his precious!!! LOL. Love you guys

[@RJ-vv9wi]

Alot of fun, watching this. Hope you keep them coming every so often.

[@goatman3057]

Bro that Cuban tres link toward the end of the Chat blew my mind! That guy is amazing!

[@alancrapo2881]

That was awesome please do the same thing for muffaletta

[@landonech]

Seconded

[@GraniteSoundtrack]

Up my alley. This as close as I get to jamming with friends.

[@dojyr3130]

this episode was fantastic!

[@nightpandas7178]

Great now I have Man on the Moon stuck in my head, thanks Josh

[@HerveBoisde]

80s REM is maligned but underrated. Yes The One I Love is great but that whole album Document is a masterpiece

[@martianmurray]

This is one of my favorite episodes

[@houseofshred3725]

I went and listed to A Go Go... aaaand it's awesome. Thanks for that.

[@andrewmire9493]

First off your channel is the first one I ever liked and subscribed to and it's still my favorite. Secondly I wanted to bring up Xan McCurdy from Cake has the best tone ever imo and only uses a Rat and the amp.

[@jakeerbst4073]

I like this format a lot!

[@robomalo]

Was learning My Iron Lung with my Whammy just this morning…

[@adrianlikins1314]

I think "Song #2" by Blur was with a Dod Punkifier? Another cool Jason Lamb pedal you covered.

[@GrzesiuMusic]

Another great episode, gentlemen. Funny and informative as always. Also, seeing as I too am from the 90's, it hits that spot. I have to say tho, not quite the same without Nick, that guy is funny and cool.

[@Chris.Wiley.]

Kudos for playing Scofield!

[@-OK-Fine-]

I got my headshaved lol Its I got my head checked by a jumbo jet. superb song

[@jdpower6360]

Hahahah and it sounds identical to Radiohead. You guys have become really great over the last few years. Sick

[@nelsonw2096]

“It’s playing in Kohl’s right now.” 🤣🤣🤣 Funny cause it’s true.

[@Loki_Morningstar666]

I really liked this.

[@Skoltrain]

Love this! The bass is always way too low in your mixes. I'm sure its to highlight the guitar pedals more, but just my 2 cents.

[@nathanrking]

Fantastic episode…

[@stichriddle1535]

I read on the inner web Albert king used a mxr phase 90 I never would of guessed

[@stichriddle1535]

I like your guitar playing it’s inspiring my favorite bands ledzep pink Floyd Pearl Jam so glad you share all your knowledge and keep it real on the name brand illusion front your guitar with all the pickups very useful I don’t use pedals because I tinker to much I do have a katana so cool you showcased David gray

[@matthewhook3668]

Awesome idea. I love this.

[@JamesSClapperton]

Keep on doing these!!!!!!

[@CarlyonProduction]

I’m actually tempted to grab one of those Amazon rats after your last vid. Just need a power supply first!

[@jhspedals]

Do it

[@Aristophis]

Hey guys, I just want to say that the bonsai is the coolest pedal I have ever owned!

[@jhspedals]

Thank you! Glad you love it :)

[@johnbriannafreeburn5146]

Awesome. Really enjoyed! Maybe next time spoken word version of lyrics 🤣

[@jhspedals]

😂

[@denverm4x]

great ending!

[@bfitz111]

I need more RATs. Like 5 RATs, stacked, I have one RAT..... Tisn't stacked with enough other RATs.... Turbo Rats rule!

[@willwetherington]

I got my head "checked" by a jumbo jet

[@DanielBrophyMusic]

Add to this the ARC Effects Soothsayer, and the Greer Gorilla Warfare MK II. Both amazing Rat style pedals, both with LM-308 chips too I believe (I know the Greer has one)

[@HahaDamn]

The first track with the hollowbody reminds me of the beastie boys instrumental record from like 2005

[@jennoscura2381]

I have the Mosky Black Rat. I use it with my synths. It works great. I am tempted to get a PackRat so I can try out the different Rat flavors with my synths.

[@tristancroft2995]

PLEASE do that video with Rhett about Sco-Tone

[@quininde]

Go waaay back and check out REM’s first LP Murmur. 1981 if I remember correct. Magical album.

[@kwyatt261]

I just want to understand why Nick and Joshua have a rivalry

[@TIMExBANDIT]

Can you all do a video comparing ALL YOUR DRIVES?

[@davemish4163]

I'm sure nobody cares 3 months later, but the lyrics are " I got my head checked, by a jumbo jet."

[@balke7935]

The Bends influenced by Nirvana?! I’m not sure either band were directly influenced by each other at the time, they did however share a lot of influences for sure. I may be wrong, it’d make an interesting discussion.

[@Seriouslycantplayguitar]

I also was learning Just using a Rat, I thought it used a Governor too and Thom was using the Rat? When I watched an interview with the producer they said almost every song for heavy tone Johnny used tele, deluxe and a govenor pedal basically.

[@fascinationinthings7033]

Always nice that you guys include Courtney Cox's ex-husband on drums. Such a sweet guy

[@jonnyhafer7376]

i got the same ghost on my key chain that dude has on his desk

[@TheLawapa99]

Go for it.

[@timhurtado9023]

This is the best

[@jeremyversusjazz]

very fun! is that a golden TS?

[@jeremyversusjazz]

yes it is. u just shouted it out. great show. addison kills on drums and bass? dang🙌

[@moo3992]

Miss you Nick!

[@jamescerone]

Favorite REM album is stuck between Monster, Document, or AftP. Ironically, Kurt Cobain loved AftP and was listening to it when he ended his life. Everybody Hurts indeed. Also, that version of Kenneth was fucked 😂

[@scottm8285]

Love it

[@xx05jurtos]

Addison: Waaahooo!!! 😂😂😂

[@rocknblues87]

What? My Switchback works without a patchcable as bypass looper

[@brandonabney4863]

……. And Also, first time I heard that CP song was on Garden State. …what about you??

[@brunodelandev]

Don't panic with a rat 🤔 interresting. I'm going to relisten the whole first album from Coldplay ( the best ) and try to reproduce this tone with my rat.😃

[@matthewmcdonald4222]

Rock for nerds

[@iheartsanman]

v gud epi

[@soundsmyth]

Chalkie go poopie

[@MusicFillsTheQuiet]

Is like, half of Relent K a Marshall, and the rest a Rat? Hoops did base the 1981 off of his wishlist for a rat, right?

[@chilidogcowboy]

I spent my entire junior year in my bedroom playing The Bends. It set the course of my life playing in coffee shops and driving customers away. It is a sad tale.

[@joeliswhere]

Can we just appreciate how amazing the drums sound!?

[@jhspedals]

Yes

[@barstow_]

@@jhspedals no dude

[@PedalChainsAddiction]

I really enjoyed the “here’s what they used” aspect of this video very much. Learning that REM used a tube screamer into a Rat for Monster was quite the find. I’ve been messing around stacking the Plumes into the PackRat for a couple of days now and am having a blast pretending to be Peter Buck. More of these would be so greatly appreciated. Pedal stacking, settings, types of clipping, etc would be so educational for a lot of us, I think. Thanks for an eye-opening video!

[@Megarobotsquadron]

I've been a buck fan forever, and I gotta say, a tube screamer into a rat is probably my favorite distorted electric tone ever

[@jakeerbst4073]

Even rewatching this months later… this was a great show and I still vote for this format to make a comeback.

[@arphod]

Agreed. They could do a Muffaletta show in this format.

[@jakeerbst4073]

@@arphod that would be awesome!

[@loopydemos]

I believe for Song 2, it’s actually a widespread misconception that it’s drop D. I think he plays in E standard, but in the chorus he plays the power chords with 5th in the bass.

[@TonyHawkTuah]

Did you watch the video from Paul Davis about the song ?

[@loopydemos]

@@TonyHawkTuah ah yes that’s where I got it from! Honestly didn’t remember and when I was in my first little cover band years ago, I also played it drop D.

[@TonyHawkTuah]

@@loopydemos Same here. Always thought it was drop D and saw Paul's video 4 weeks ago. I never thought it is played that way although I use this technique to make powerchords on the A string sound louder. But in Song 2 it is so powerful that I thought it was Drop D and the f...ing loud sound of the bass.

[@loopydemos]

@@TonyHawkTuah and the coolest thing I learned: the little melody at the end of the chorus is actually a bass, played through one of those tiny little 1 watt toy marshall amps.

[@AdamTheGuitarist]

Yep, he plays an inversion

[@tommytehcat]

Just wanted to say that I enjoyed this format/specific style of episode. I'd definitely encourage doing more of these "one pedal, all the iconic sounds it was used for." For example, a Small Stone episode would be great, starting on Pink Floyd and so on.

[@treehugger745]

Such a fun episode! Keep them coming. Also Love that you brought Driller out of the corner and gave him a mic but then turned his bass down just to show him who the boss is (which I’m sure won’t be brought up in the next mean comments video.) Thanks JHS crew- you really do make the best videos.

[@edlib02169]

That F# with the open top strings: instant Alex Lifeson. He’s probably not the first to ever play it... but like Eddie Van Halen and two hand tapping, it will forever be associated with him.

[@pcole11]

When I was a younger man, learning to play Hemispheres, we always called that "the Lifeson chord".

[@edlib02169]

@@pcole11 I still do. Leon Todd almost always plays that chord when showing his “Clean Tone” during effects demos.

[@lilybeejones]

I love any chord that sounds cool with open strings.

[@matthewkennedy7283]

Can you point out what part that was played ?

[@edlib02169]

@@matthewkennedy7283 39:35

[@mattrobbins2268]

I love the early '80s IRS Records era of REM. Chronic Town, Murmur, and especially Reckoning. Folk rock from Mars, and not a lot of effects or distortion, so that early phase of the band's career might be an acquired taste for some tonemonsters. I love my effects and LOTS OF 'EM, but it can be great to get back to basics.

[@baronrogers806]

Irs records has Sub lawns on it. That is all. Nothing but amazing music

[@t.r.backenbaum7325]

I think they used chorus on some tracks of Fables, on the bass too

[@mattrobbins2268]

@@t.r.backenbaum7325 You'll hear modulation effects going all the way back to Chronic Town. But subtle, for the most part. Mitch Easter has said in interviews that they used a Scholtz Rockman. Which is almost too blasphemous to consider, but then again what the hey? Those things were great.

[@sirrealistic5625]

Addison's face when he's playing Coldplay...someone should get a screen grab of that and put it on a t-shirt that says, "JHS Pedals - make you rock way harder than you really have to."😹😹😹

[@michaelnewell9662]

someone in chat asked for more "stank-face" - he obliged

[@bghammock]

Monster. That album is on my listening rotation and has been there since it came out. I love the tremolo slathered all over the album too.

[@bobfromatlanta8991]

YES!!!!

[@williamknell864]

Sco is a badass. That era where he hooked up with Medeski, Martin & Wood is a lot of fun "Swimmin' In Rat Juice." What a way to go.

[@yoshiobermeyer2867]

true! love sco, just saw him recently, great tones...

[@catchofthedave8681]

this is one of the best episodes youve ever done. But I'm 39, pretty much your age, I'll be 40 this year. I'm also a huge pedal nerd. cant play for shit, but I love pedals. I loved this episode and I love the "deep dive" nerdy super in depth vids you do about rats and bluesbreakers and that kinda stuff. My fav vids you do.

[@iwannabeyourshirt]

What's up, twinning? Definitely spending more time at work with a laptop than home with a guitar, but there is no feeling like plugging in on a Saturday, hitting a big chord with fat OD, raunchy distortion, and forgiving reverb, and remembering what it feels like to breathe pure fire.

[@brianfrancis4662]

I think I like "got my head shaved" better but it's actually "I got my head CHECKED by a jumbo jet". who cares, I thought the tone was pretty good.

[@gitarboi6760]

All their albums are great! (REM) I love the howling feedback on “begin the beguine”

[@xoverinfinity]

This is the most JHS episode of the JHS show! But also, I’m pretty sure the words are “I got my head *checked* by a jumbo jet” or at least according to the subtitles in a bmwfilms dvd.

[@mrfits]

Das sehe ich auch so.

[@bsjeffrey]

i'll be your guitar tech if you pay me in pedals.

[@bsjeffrey]

the reason the song 2 lyrics rhyme is because its not shaved its checked....i got my head checked by a jumbo jet

[@mosesortiz9978]

This is the content I’ve been waiting for- cover jams!!! Hope this is the first of many, these shows make my day. Thank you guys 😩🤌🏻

[@baldyhead]

I'm fairly sure Song 2 is in standard E, as that is the tuning my band plays it in. The bass actually provides the majority of the distorted sound during the choruses, though it is still likely to be through a Rat, or possibly a Big Muff.

[@jhspedals]

That's what I keep hearing!! 🤦🏻‍♂ This doesn't reflect too poorly on us, I hope, lol.

[@baldyhead]

@@jhspedals I always enjoy the jams. Everyone involved in the making of these videos, on or off screen, are very talented.

[@GregBonks]

One of the many things that I love about Graham Coxon is that he has used Rets since Blur's first record. He has a really recognizable style of playing and sound, as well as really good at using a ton of different effects.

[@OTOss8]

9:51 Blur was a band I liked, then I saw how Dave Rowntree treated Nardwuar during an interview while the rest of the band just stood by and I like them significantly less than I once did.

[@JuanCarruyo]

Nah man, 80s REM is where it's at. From chronic town through green they did no wrong.

[@dongonzulman6478]

I missed the first bit of the live, so im back to watch the beginning...Josh is friends with Radiohead?????? IM SO JEALOUS

[@JonadanandtheFreaks]

Just for the information, Song 2 from Blur is not tuned in open D. It's standard tuning, but he plays also the fifth (inversion) with the E string. > It's the same fret than the root on A.

[@TheSavagederek]

I was thinking the same. When we used to play it , it was in standard . It needs a bit more low end as well , possible he used 2 or 3 Rats in the chorus as it was a bit heavier .

[@JonadanandtheFreaks]

​@@TheSavagederekjust of a overdrive before (tube screamer for example). And in the studio version, bass get a LOT of distorsion on it, and sounds louder than the guitar

[@sirrealistic5625]

Paul Reynolds from A Flock of Seagulls used a Rat (the first big one) along with many Bay Area thrash bands like Metallica. Keep rockin' guys!!!

[@uncle_ike]

I'm currently building a RAT made up of parts harvested from dead PCBs. I work in an R&D electronics environment, so we often have boards destined for the recycler. I don't know what to call it yet. It's working name is "the trash pedal."

[@agostinosoldati3242]

Great episode dudes. Sounds like that some of the distortion for Song 2 by Blur comes from the bass guitar too.

[@MizzouCus]

Love this format. Please do episodes playing famous songs and rifts featuring other famous gear (klon, tube screamer, bluesbreaker style, univibe, various delays, etc). Great way to tie the gear into music that made the gear famous.

[@AllofJudea]

It just occurred to me...Packrat is a good name for that pedal, but I think "Rat Salad" would be even better. Anyway I'm going to pick one up. I have the bonzai and it's always in my pedal line up

[@christianmartin7047]

Putting together a playlist for us is a NICE touch, thanks.

[@jhspedals]

Enjoy!

[@MrGroovergeorge]

The Bends is truly one of the greatest albums of the 90's.Well done on honouring it.

[@CHodgy]

I went to the hardware store and asked the salesman "Do you have any supply chain? Id like to stock up..." And, he told me to get out of his store.

[@anthonycutt8854]

Monster had a reissue last year where they remixed it. EVERYONE involved went, 'We prefer the original' then released it anyway.

[@cortical1]

Okay, REM expert old guy here. For the love of all that is decent on God's flat Earth, please go listen to their debut album Murmur. It was Rolling Stone's Best Album of 1983, beating Michael Jackson's Thriller, The Police's Synchronicity, and U2's War. Now, I'm not saying it's better than all of those albums (it's not), but this just goes to show you that it was very unique when it came out and made a huge positive impression on many of us. You're welcome.

[@cortical1]

Life's Rich Pageant, which is very different from Murmur, is also one that was really unique when it came out (1986).

[@cortical1]

This is directed at the viewers. I know Josh knows these albums. 👍🏻

[@Telorchid]

Generally speaking, I enjoyed the 90s jams. I don't blame y'all for not having seen this video, but Paul Davids has talked about how the Blur song is not in drop D, but simply adds a 5th below (on the E string) for the chorus, which gives it a more octave down feel.