Proco Rat Vs Boss DS-1, The Ultimate Alt-Rock Distortion Battle

These two pedals are the go-to distortions of some of the best Alt/Grunge albums of all time but which one actually sounds better? Today, we're going to test them on 3 different settings to find out!
We'll be listening to them side by side in a low gain, high gain and with a reverb to see how it sounds in a more shoegaze type sound.
Here’s a link to the video I mentioned in this one: (Tip 2): 90s Alt Rock Guitar Hacks To FIX Your Tone For Good!
• Do These 3 Things To F...
Grab them here (UK & USA links)
Proco Rat:
(USA) amzn.to/44AdirF
(UK) amzn.to/44gYT3M
Boss DS-1:
(USA) amzn.to/3rjZSSi
(UK) amzn.to/44hXKcf
Here's some other videos:
• 90's Alt-Rock/Grunge G...
• This Fuzz Pedal IS The...
• Why Drop D Is The BEST...
• The SECRETS To Pedalbo...
• The GREATEST Guitar Pe...
Here's the audio interface id recommend for guitarists:
UK - amzn.to/430bhnk
USA - amzn.to/3NMTZGb
Here's the camera gear I use:
Canon m50:
Uk - amzn.to/42ZMLTF
USA - amzn.to/42Uz3Bf
22mm lens:
UK - amzn.to/3r2yTL7
USA - amzn.to/3PvQDZl
Here's a link to my band so you can see this stuff in action:
/ octoberdrift

[@thesethingsmakenoises]

Which did you prefer? One thing I'd like to add that I noticed while editing - When I showed the RAT being played with the reverb, I actually filmed this after, and I had the wrong settings on the pedal. It was actually the same settings as the 'high gain' sound.

[@lefthandluke8923]

Thanks! I scrolled back just to see that setting and glad I saw this comment. Great video.

[@macaius]

I've always been a Boss user since my younger years, and I'm very accustomed to it. It's great. With that being said, I really love what Rat brings to a mix, mids are great with a band in a record or live.

[@ЗлоеЗло-я1ж]

What do tou think of ds-2?

[@macaius]

@@ЗлоеЗло-я1ж It's a great pedal as well!

[@j.koppany]

For me the DS-1 sounds weird, I love the midrangey tone of the RAT

[@rileyphillips9943]

The song that Kurt Cobain plugged the rat straight into the recording desk was territorial pissings, it’s why the song is tonally different from everything else on the album

[@thesethingsmakenoises]

Ahh no way really that makes loads of sense. Love the tone on that song!

[@yotaiji012]

Thank you

[@reubenrozeyt5716]

Kurt also used a SansAmp (Amp Simulator Pedal) that he often used live and in studio

[@marvinthemartian6788]

What is cool about the rat pedal is that it acts more like overdrive to the left on the gain, then more like distortion towards the right. Both of these pedals have their place

[@thesethingsmakenoises]

100%!

[@sallgoodman2323]

I loved that versatility. Especially the warm overdrive tones you can get

[@confusedcryptid]

also if you turn down the filter you have a good fuzz pedal!

[@rmch_]

Just ordered a RAT after watching this video! Thanks so much for your informative comparison! :)

[@thesethingsmakenoises]

Legend! No probs 🙌

[@sallgoodman2323]

How is it?

[@rmch_]

@@sallgoodman2323 Love it man, still using it everyday!!

[@connergoetz574]

hey man I really love the channel! I feel like so many ppl who talk about shoegaze on here have absolutely no clue about the genre so it’s nice to see someone with actual expertise

[@thesethingsmakenoises]

Thanks so much mate!

[@nicolas.grisanti]

Amazing video! DS1 was my first pedal when I was 16, so I have a special place in my heart for it. But i LOVE Rat pedals, is my favorite distortion, also is such versatile pedal. Also Graham and Kurt are 2 of my favorite guitar players of all time!

[@thesethingsmakenoises]

Thanks so much! An awesome choice for your first pedal ✌️Yeah, they’re both amazing guitarists, and Graham Coxon is truly so underrated!

[@nicolas.grisanti]

@@thesethingsmakenoises Thank you for the videos! I'm massive alt-rock/grunge/shoegaze fan, so i love your channel!

[@angelotro]

Great video! After a shootout with these two pedals in a guitar store 30 years ago (😂 I'm old), I went with the Rat because of the volume boost. The DS-1 sounded cool, but it didn't seem to boost the volume, which I thought was missing the point of how I was planning on using it. When the song gets loud and you wanna hit the distortion, you want it to get loud with everything else. The DS-1 sort of limits the volume, so, as it 'sounds' loud, it doesn't 'feel' loud (like, in your chest). There are some after-market companies that can mod this for you, but the Rat had it built in. The TurboRat actually has even MORE volume, which is great for pummelling your amp into soaring Hendrix-style feedback. It can go clean or dirty, has a very useable tone sweep, and works great as a preamp for recording direct bass. -Funny story: I ordered a TurboRat through the mail (by check, I'm old). They sent a regular Rat by mistake. I had a gig the day it came, and I really wanted to play with a new pedal, so I decided to temporarily use it. I was worried that I'd spill beer or puke on it, so I put it in a Ziploc bag next to my other pedals to keep it clean. It sounded great, but sure enough, a couple of people asked why I had the pedal in a Ziploc. Of course, I told them that I felt that it compressed the sound more to my liking and that they should try it🤣. I exchanged the regular Rat for the Turbo and still use it to this day, it's a tank.

[@GuitarsRgood7]

I finally bought a Rat yesterday! I saw a $57 offer that I couldn't refuse on Reverb and decided to go for it. I can't wait to try it!

[@thesethingsmakenoises]

You’ll love it mate.

[@huwwebb8059]

I’ve got a DS1 but off the back of this I think I prefer the Rat. Was great that you used them on their own, in a song and then with a reverb pedal as well. Really showed the functionality of it 👍🏼

[@thesethingsmakenoises]

Thanks so much! I honestly think both pedals have their place ✌️

[@huwwebb8059]

@@thesethingsmakenoises yeah definitely, and each to their own as well… on a side note, I picked up a plumes OD after seeing one of your vids and wanted to thank you. It sounds incredible!!

[@James-kj9hw]

The Rat is so much easier to get a good sound with. Plus who doesnt like blur.

[@thesethingsmakenoises]

Haha exactly!! Wish I was at Wembley.

[@James-kj9hw]

@@thesethingsmakenoises i was, it was actual insanity

[@boopsnoot2807]

I do not like Blur

[@alexeimoshonka]

Can't stand blur

[@regortex3364]

Me

[@henri_.leal68]

Main thing about the DS1 is that it was designed mostly as a kind of “puxed amp boost”, like putting it to boost a slightly broken amp like a marshall, thats why it sounds so mid scooped when going through a clean amp

[@Adren-Duraz]

this is probably the best pedal comparing video ive ever seen without going through your channel

[@BrodyWoelke]

Get both! I use both on the same pedalboard and swap between the two, the Ds-1 sound is great for making your stuff sound like it’s from the 90’s and the turbo rat I have makes everything sound fuller and the light distortion it’s capable to making is awesome!

[@919ofak]

Great video dude!!! you really helped me on some decisions that i was on the fence about. Everyone is different with their own sound, and this video really helped. Well done!!!

[@tsmerk]

In your demos, the DS1 sounds so timid compared to the Rat, which drops tone and girth. I've used the Rat since it was introduced. Still have one!

[@thesethingsmakenoises]

Yeah I don’t think I did it justice. I made another video called ‘underrated pedals’ where I revisited it and did it more Justice I think.

[@sallgoodman2323]

Rat was my favorite pedal. Own and tried a bunch, but the Rat stuck around longest

[@CyrusFreeman]

The answer is yes. Both pedals are amazing and both are incredibly versitile. I can't wait to mix them.

[@thesethingsmakenoises]

Great shout!

[@stillpist]

Rat with a treble booster in front of it is amazing.

[@thesethingsmakenoises]

🤘🤘

[@waitin4winter]

I read for blur song 2, even though he steps on a rat in the video, for the studio recording a DOD FX76 Punkifier was used.

[@Jammonstrald]

It definitely doesn't sound like a Rat in the song. Maybe if it's being heavily EQ'd.

[@al271987]

Excellent videos in general, this one included. We have a lot of the same taste in music it would seem. The big three of 90’s stomp are basically DS-1, Rat, and Big Muff; if you have one of each (clone or otherwise) you’re pretty much covered. Though I would say most folks would be better off with a DS-2 vs a DS-1. Nothing against the DS-1, but Boss took care of all the common DS-1 complaints with mode 1 of the DS-2. It has a very similar distortion character to the DS-1, but way more output volume, it can handle higher output pickups without farting out, and the tone sweep is less harsh, you can get the tone past noon on a DS-2 without it getting harsh. The DS-1 is a legend, no doubt, but mode 1 of the DS-2 is everything people like about a DS-1 without any of the stuff they dislike.

[@thesethingsmakenoises]

Thanks so much! Ahh I had always wondered, maybe it’s time for me to buy a DS-2!!

[@conalmcintyre]

Great job on the videos - I've been really enjoying them over the last few weeks. I felt I should mention that I own the re-issue of the big box rat (without the LED - from the late 90s) and I also had issue with the foot switch - I got switch replaced and have never had an issue since. PS: I also love a good hard stomp! Keep it up sir.

[@thesethingsmakenoises]

Thanks so much! Ohh nice, maybe there’s an issue with the switches they use then? I’ll look at getting mine replaced. ✌️

[@BobbyCrane]

Love your knowledge! And that you care about your video quality!!!

[@design1of470]

I have a RAT and the DS-1. You can get both used pretty cheap. I bought a brand new RAT for like a hundred dollars b/c I was at Sweetwater and just wanted to buy something haha

[@Anjohl]

I bought my EHX Flat Iron Fuzz (a RAT clone) for the same reason!

[@garfield1987]

the song on nevermind that kurt used on it was territorial pissings, it's one of my favorite off that album 🙂

[@thesethingsmakenoises]

Ahh no way? Thanks!

[@blainetrahan8883]

The Rat makes the tone come to life. Great video.

[@michelvondenhoff9673]

Got both and my fav is the Rat. Can't go wrong with either but my taste has evolved and now I'd add a BD-2 or Boss FZ to the Rat. Not that the DS-1 is a bad pedal, it is a classic for a reason. As always great video.

[@thesethingsmakenoises]

Fair play! Rat is so well rounded isn’t it. Thanks again mate!

[@michelvondenhoff9673]

Today noodled with both, the RAT is great though darker sounding then I forgot the tonesetting on DS-1 😂

[@bricecpops8171]

I prefer the Rat as well, but I actually just bought a DS-2 Turbo Distortion and it's my favourite. Has that midrange with all of the aggression of the DS-1. Also, as both a guitarist and a singer, I find it easier to step on BOSS pedals while I'm performing. Sometimes I miss the switch on other pedals, but never with BOSS. That's why my board is all BOSS except for my tuner haha.

[@thesethingsmakenoises]

DS-2 seems to be getting a lot of love! Yeah that’s a really good point actually, they’re super easy to step on. Can’t beat that design for practicality really!

[@bangdude5630]

I paired the DS2 with BD2 this cover all sounds I like from big muff to rat

[@oliverlangrall2014]

I like to go distorion into overdrive, particularly the ds-1, it can really revive those mids as you pointed out. I've never owned a rat but I've been thinking about getting one cause GAS

[@thesethingsmakenoises]

Great tip! The rat is a really great pedal, i think you'll love it.

[@mindfield9832]

I’d recommend the Rat or Rat clone a someone’s first dirt pedal. It’s pretty versatile throughout the distortion pot. Overdrive, distortion and fuzz. Also, the slight mid hump helps going into a clean Fender. The mid scoop of the DS-1 can make your guitar sound like it goes down in the mix when clicked on depending on the amp. The Rat can clean up with your guitar’s volume knob as well.

[@KrisHalpin]

Wow. I’m so glad I found this channel! This is my world as a guitarist - KZbin doesn’t have a ton of that stuff (I can dig the Polyphia vibe but I don’t/can’t play it)

[@thesethingsmakenoises]

Thanks so much mate! Me too haha 😂

[@coccobelo]

THIS VIDEO SHOWED ON MY FEED EXACTLY IN THE SECOND I NEEDED IT

[@robbaskerville253]

DS1 sounds a bit thin on its own, but run it into another OD, such as a BD2, at low gain, and it fattens it back up while keeping shape of the distortion. Also, swapping one of the clipping diodes for an LED gives a nicer asymmetric sound.

[@Urizen777]

I did that with SD-1 and just when I was about to give up on the pedal, I've found a new dimension to DS-1.

[@altayant3174]

I like how you didnt make the common mistake of turning the DS-1's tone knob past noon. You can always back it off to get rid of that fizz. I guess it depends on your amp as well. cheers

[@thesethingsmakenoises]

Yeah it’s a fine like between awesome and brittle on that pedal haha

[@altayant3174]

@@thesethingsmakenoises have you tried the Rat with the LM308 chip?

[@mycawild]

I've never owned either of these but I the love the tone from both of them ♥

[@thesethingsmakenoises]

Thanks! They really are capable of some great stuff 🤘

[@flowerpeckermusic]

Awesome video - Both sounded so good with reverb! Slightly prefer the rat!

[@thesethingsmakenoises]

Thanks so much! It does have a super 'complete' sound doesn't it!

[@cactus-mcjacktus]

i prefer the Rat, but the two people i love who’ve used them used them in pretty unorthodox ways. Brian Aubert from Silversun Pickups (a band i think you’d really like TTMN guy) turns the distortion up to max and combines it with a short delay to create this awesome, ultra compressed lead sound (he used a BMP before that, but i prefer the Rat), but Steve Von Till from Neurosis uses two of these into two amps, one set to kill and one to massage the high gain channel of his Mesa Boogie.

[@thesethingsmakenoises]

I absolutely love Silversun Pickups, you’re right! I don’t actually know Neurosis, but that sounds like a really cool way to use the pedal!

[@cactus-mcjacktus]

@@thesethingsmakenoises Neurosis are super heavy, but yeah, Silversun Pickups are fantastic.

[@LeviBulger]

They're quite different as the rat is closer to a fuzz than a proper distortion. Both have their uses and both sound fantastic in the right rig. I find that the rat is best used in lead playing as it has great sustain and a smooth vocal quality and dynamics. The DS1 absolutely shines in rhythm playing, particularly in a live band setting. Unlike the rat, power chords punch right through a mix with fantastic clarity and loads of harmonic content. The most important thing about the DS1 is to make sure your guitar's intonation is spot on because any dissonance will be very apparent. Kurt Cobain used that to great effect, however. But a perfectly tuned power chord through a DS1 is just fantastic. One other plus with the DS1 is how great they work with modulation pedals. Think Nitvana with chorus and Prince with Flanger. That said, the Rat tends to work well with any amp while the DS1 can be harsh on some amps without keeping the tone knob pretty low.

[@abelramirez7320]

DS2 was my first pedal. I went straight to my local music shop to buy one after I read about Kurt having used it.

[@gronxman1]

Great comparison 👏

[@gazeunderthesunmusic]

Brilliant demonstration video, both distortions are good for post hardcore/noise rock bands As for reverb i would like to try a FX 40 soft focus by catlinbread and my Boss OS 2 for Distortion.

[@thesethingsmakenoises]

Thanks mate. That fx40 looks really awesome!

[@Hello_Foxy]

I see Kurt and Graham and the same video?! This is probably my dream of distorsion pedal

[@thesethingsmakenoises]

Yeah!

[@sordidsentinel]

Have owned both for years. I think the DS-1 does its own tone really well, like no other pedal can - but the Rat is my go-to, for many of the reasons listed here. Even if it can sometimes be a pain to dial it in just right - once you do, it's a beast that can take anything you throw at it.

[@bifftannen1058]

I too have the same issue with the bypass switch on the Rat.

[@thesethingsmakenoises]

Ahh no way! Did you manage to fix it with a new switch?

[@ThomasNicholsContent]

with the reverb I think turning down the time but the effect up would be nice

[@rkphilpot]

"The switches go" proceeds to show Instagram short of you stamping your pedal board through the floor 😂😂

[@thesethingsmakenoises]

Hahaha! It’s an illness 😂

[@AMurder0fCrows]

Someone else on yt did a comparison video if the different distortions kurt used and i came away liking the rat, but i couldn't nail down which version kurt used so i haven't pursued it yet. I still have my DS-2, literally took it apart and cleaned it last night. My grunge pedals aren't in the board at the moment, one being dead and the other having the wrong kind of power jack. My BIT is defective in some way and didn't get on the board. The MD-2 mega distortion is also not working so out it went. The jhs multi muff went in the board last night, and the blue sky 2 went on today. You should consider a video on physical placement vs signal chain placement. I know you have the pedal board build video which is great for a tour board, I'm curious about a "dream" board. I tend to want every pedal I own to be in the chain somewhere so I COULD use it, even if I might not use it. Side note: I know you tend to point to your previous videos in the vid itself but my yt app blocks those. Think you could add the vids you reference in the description as well?

[@thesethingsmakenoises]

Yeah I’m not 100% sure, I guess it could have been any really couldn’t it?! The ds2 looks like a really cool pedal. Shame I’ve never owned one. Oh know, what’s wrong with the BIT? Oh awesome how do the new JHS/Bluesky sound? Have you had chance to play them yet? Yeah that’s a good idea for a video actually! Thanks! Oh no probs, yeah I’ll look at doing that ☺️

[@AMurder0fCrows]

@@thesethingsmakenoises The DS2 isn't really a huge progression from the DS-1. i don't know a single person who uses the switch to go between normal and turbo modes, so i get the feeling that a lot is left on the table. I don't know what changes, if any, the non-turbo DS-1 side has from an original DS-1, but i can't imagine switching between normal and turbo without adjusting the tone as the DS2 side is a bit bright/high-endy. the BIT was having this weird issue where my sound out of the speaker was completely cutting out and "normal" levels. low levels seemed to do okay, and none of the other pedals had similar issues. i took it apart and the soldering is top notch, so i don't think there's a problem there. it may just not be a pedal i can use myself if this is what it is supposed to do. Welp, the blue sky is killer, though after you showcasing it i knew it would be. I'm not traditionally a reverb guy so this is VERY new territory for me, but i was able to sit in my studio room and just zone out on a newish riff/song and kinda just let the reverb surround me while i got lost in it. The JHS muffuletta i have turned out to be a v1 (which is why it was so cheap i guess) and it doesn't have the OpAmp/Pumpkin Pi variant so i'm a lot less excited about it now. haven't really played with it since then, but at least it is in the board...it only took me like 3 months.

[@snozer6966]

I’ve been DS-1 loyal for so long but I’m starting to think with what I’m going for in my sound now the RAT might actually be better for me.

[@thegreatpatsy]

I switch back and forth depending on the song because they are both awesome!

[@blpaul3]

I've been agonizing over which of these two pedals I wanted to add to my board. No longer. Your comparison technique was brilliant! My rig will sound better with a Rat, it more represents the tone I'm trying to achieve. Fuller, rounder, I dunno, just sounds better. Cheers!

[@thesethingsmakenoises]

Awesome, thanks so much! Really pleased it was helpful. ✌️

[@rome8180]

I preferred the sound of the Rat just from this video. The DS-1 has a brittle fizzy top end I don't like. It seemed to sit on top and separate from the mix. It almost had that digital sound I associate with bad amp sims.

[@holderrrrname]

Get both because they look cool next to eachother

[@charlesrubitschung7592]

I'm a Metalhead that likes all distortion pedals because fuzz, distortion, overdrive, reverb, delay, chorus, phaser, flanger, and wah can be used in all styles of Hard Rock, and Heavy Metal including Extreme Metal such as Death Metal, Black Metal, and my favorite style of Extreme Metal which is Doom Metal.

[@PhillipGolden-o7o]

I didn’t know doom metal was extreme metal but then again I’ve only dipped my toe into the genre

[@eli_the_crypto_guy]

Cool story bro

[@notgringe2574]

Nice review of those pedals showing the differences and how similar you can use them. Personally I love both DS-1 for rhythm guitar and RAT for lead guitar at the same time. Pat Smear used it when playing with Nirvana in 1993-1994 and you can clearly hear how massive the sound is by supporting already good sounding band with RAT. Unfortunately never owned Rat, but I will buy it some day. What is the song you play in about 7:07, I don´t know the song but it sounds very cool by your demos...

[@Al3x_is_here]

I feel like that song is the intro stuff to Bullet with Butterfly wings but distorted and a little editied like he said. I didnt realize this till I checked the tabs again today but yeah it seems to match up

[@Deatg-ek8rf]

Obviously the RAT is the better choice for most people. But it's totally doable with a DS-1. I prefer distortion to fuzz.

[@thesethingsmakenoises]

🤘🤘

[@frankieparasite9666]

sometimes when dirt or dust gets in a foot switch it causes the defect you described with the rat hit the switch with a tiny sprits of wd40 an it fixes it right up

[@cjbrewdog]

Wouldn't it be better to run the verb through a loop so it's clear?

[@alecsmallridge9636]

I have both pedals and love them both

[@thesethingsmakenoises]

Awesome pedals aren’t they!

[@cheezuz666]

My first pedal ever was a ds 1 because Kurt used to use one but I didnt really enjoy it as much as I thought I would. Sold it and now Im thinking of getting a rat.

[@thesethingsmakenoises]

Fair play, give a Rat a go, I’m sure you’ll love it!

[@nedim_guitar]

I had the DS-1 and used it only with practically no gain, going into other distortion pedals to tighten them up. DS-1 is great into a distorted Marshall amp. The Rat is one of my favorite distortion pedals, it just has something special.

[@thesethingsmakenoises]

That sounds like a great shout with the DS-1 I’ll have a go into a cranked Marshall!

[@Uninterested69420]

Simple answer is to buy both and layer them in your recordings!

[@M-G-n-T]

Don’t forget Nuno Bettencourt. He uses the rat as an always on pedal to this day

[@VodkaSelekta]

I use a rat pedal as my always on boost pedal as it does the job better than any of my dedicated boosts or over drives. I ended up buying a DS1 to cover the higher gain distortion as I ended up using the rat as a boost. I like to run the DS1 into the rat about 9 o clock on the gain. The rat sounds pretty similar to a light crunch on a marshall amp this way.

[@kaycool73]

Regarding your RAT switch problem, you need BW-100 to make it work properly.

[@YetAnotherRcChannel]

Love the more open sound of the RAT. I'm quite the noob when it comes to dialing in the right noises. So I'm hoping you could give me a tip. I totally love the sound you have in the intro and verses on Waltzer. Is it possible to ask for a break down of what you are using?

[@thesethingsmakenoises]

Yeah sure! That was the plumes overdrive just into a clean amp. I imagine it was my jazzmaster which gives it that chimey sound!

[@YetAnotherRcChannel]

@@thesethingsmakenoises Cool. Thanks. That plumes sure seems brilliant 👍

[@rogerYT69]

cool video ...have the DS-1 Waza and it's incredible for low and higain and a bit more versatile with the two settings.😊

[@thesethingsmakenoises]

Ahh awesome. What did they do to it? Is it low gain/high gain settings?

[@rogerYT69]

@@thesethingsmakenoises ds-1 waza has the classic mode and a new custom mode. the custom mode sounds a bit fatter and maybe more modern. you should try the pedal if you already like the ds-1😊

[@thesethingsmakenoises]

Ahh awesome. That sound great!!

[@rogerYT69]

@@thesethingsmakenoises yep, it's a cool pedal ...I also like the Boss Fuzz fz-1w by the way ...awesome fuzz/distortion pedal ...greetings from switzerland 😉

[@HK007Filmworks]

Which one do you recommend for a Heavy Rock sound? I've been kicking around with this Metallic Grunge idea.

[@reinotsurugi]

Love the RAT! but just to throw some sunshine the other way, the DS1 is a great pedal for recording guitar and getting it clear in the mix.

[@stevenconnor4221]

I had the ds1 and ds2 currently on the big muff op amp, never heard the rat before but that sounds the biz to me. The ds1 sounds to compressed for my liking.

[@thesethingsmakenoises]

I think I need to get myself a DS-2! Looks like everyone is loving it in the comments. Yeah the Rat is an epic pedal.

[@stevenconnor4221]

@@thesethingsmakenoises save your money buy the boss me90 ? Floor pedal it has every boss pedal in a nice floor pedal. My friend had the old gfx 700? Rack mount and foot pedal back in the mid 90's. But this Me90 looks a good wee turn it tweek it and save it in a bank unit. £320 a bargain for every Boss pedal.

[@GregBonks]

It's the Rat, no contest, it sounds so much more full and way less "clank-y." It's perfect for Teles too. Graham Coxon is also probably the best Rat player as well, the Live At The Budokan album has the Rat all over it. Boss does have the best switches though.

[@thesethingsmakenoises]

Yeah it is such a well rounded tone isn’t it! Such an awesome guitarist! And yeah you can’t beat that Boss build design.

[@GregBonks]

@@thesethingsmakenoises Graham is a genius with effects, using them like a seasoning, and the Rat works so well as a base.

[@Pr1mitivo]

DS-1 as a fuzz is good but it loses a lot of mids/treble, on the other hand the ProcoRat, having the 3 drives, can accept it. Greetings from Peru 🇵🇪 P.d: and do you recommend the digitech DF-7 as a bigmuff?

[@thesethingsmakenoises]

Yeah definitely! Greetings back to you 👋 I haven’t looked into it actually, I’ll have a look ☺️

[@michaelmarchei8539]

Bro you didn’t mention REM. Monster was pretty much the rat into an ac30 the whole album 🙏

[@thesethingsmakenoises]

Ahh man! Missed out there, I didn’t know that!

[@brostoevsky22]

I like my Boss DS-2, now I have a better idea of how to use it to achieve the sounds I'm looking for. Also I want a Rat pedal now as a replacement for the Tube Screamer clone on my pedal board.

[@thecookreporting]

good video. I like the Rat best. Just have more fun using it.

[@thesethingsmakenoises]

Thanks! Epic pedals aren’t they 🤘

[@juliankeck9609]

I think the rat song on nevermind is probably breed and he had it on stage alot during pre-nevermind era, but krist definitely used it live and in the studio through out his career

[@kelwinser]

I’ve had 2 Rat pedals, one blew when I accidentally put an 18v adapter in it! The second one I bought is not quite of the same quality, seems more trebbly than my first one - I wonder if that’s me or there are subtle differences between them.

[@NateThunder]

I get the sentiment, but the Mesa Studio Preamp and the Fender amps were a much bigger part of Nevermind than a DS1.

[@stuartchapman5171]

Second time around for me on this vid, sterling work as ever. I don't play guitar, I love it though, grew up with the UK punk scene. I'd have to say that scooped thing was a late 70's and beyond staple, with the high end cutting through the mix nicely, especially as a lit of it was diy recordings, without the gear we have now. It worked, it helped propel these bands. I've always done more of a tech side of audio and make indusrtial Dub. I find the Rat much better on my drone machines. I think you're right, anecdotally the Rats are shonky internally, I don't use my feet on my pedals and they're usually on all the time. I send the signal through using offboard controls. So I have a Donner Rat clone. Being as I love the build and price I have an old DS-1 clone, the Hothead. Like its notorious Tube Screamer clone, the BM, it has the expanded eq knobs, secret built in cab sim and the twin, amp/mixer outputs, I'd like to see how that sounds with the Bass and Treble at noon or cut slightly, with the level knob cranked? Would it get closer to a Rat? Would it boost the mids a bit?

[@danyb8078]

First Rat player that comes to mind for me is Nuno Bettencourt. He would have it on all the time.

[@stuartchapman5171]

Has anyone tried the Digitech Hothead. Digitech clone of the DS1, but given the Bad Monkey treatment, ie a broken out eq and an extra output to the mixer. Still affordable on Reverb, because you heard it from me not Josh.

[@thesethingsmakenoises]

Hahaha! Keep it a secret otherwise it’ll be $500 in no time

[@timhopkins4372]

I own both. I prefer the RAT over the DS-1. I always felt like the RAT you could a much better and fuller tone than the DS-1. But I will say… the DS-1 is a definitely super nostalgic pedal, it was my first pedal I got when I was learning how to play guitar. So I definitely have some good memories to go along with the Boss DS-1. Oh and I agree with you about the RAT not being as strong as the DS-1. I replaced my RAT about a year ago but I’ve had the same DS-1 now for almost 17 years lol.

[@unnamedproject]

RAT. Nothing wrong with the Boss, but the RAT is super versatile. From low gain to high gain to borderline fuzz there is not a bad sound there as long as you don´t go below the 10 o´clock on the filter

[@boriscat1999]

both of these are affordable pedals, so you should consider having both or maybe a DS-2. And probably buy them before you blow lots of money on boutique pedals. ProCo Rat is a very versatile pedal, and gets pretty wild if you stack it with any kind of boost or overdriver at a lowish gain. You should be able to stomp super hard on that switch if it is good quality. That's one of the problems with ProCo moving manufacturing to China, their components aren't always good. If you can find someone handy with a soldering iron they can easily replace it with a 3PDT foot switch of a better brand (DeMont is an easy to find foot switch brand and of consistent quality. Alpha is well known. Tayda sells their own in house brand as well as kits that are very beginner friendly)

[@bigwavedave8492]

Good honest stuff 👏

[@thesethingsmakenoises]

🙌🙌

[@heggy_69]

Rat is the right answer imo but ds1 is great after mods. And not even the ones everyone knows, increase the capacitor going into the first transistor and it does a decent big muff impression

[@thesethingsmakenoises]

Awesome!

[@robbyclark6915]

Definitely prefer the Rat. And I love Boss pedals. I have never actually tried a Rat before either, but now I’m going to have to go get one of course. $89 bucks at the local GC!

[@teddobbs6516]

I way prefer the sound of a Rat but I’ve never once had a Boss pedal fail on me. Also I’ve found the Rat a little awkward to mount to a pedalboard. They have a screw with a foot near the battery door that makes it a little tricky. Other than that both iconic pedals.

[@randomcrap7682]

so what you're saying is that the LED on the rat pedal is right in the a hole?

[@christopherguzzi1316]

I guess I need both. To my ear,v.the Rat fit better with the Smashing Pumpkins examp!e but the DS1 better with the Shoe Gaze example.

[@ShaneStoneOfficial]

I’m about to buy one or the other and can’t decide which. Do you know what one sounds more “fuzzy”?

[@calebcroy07]

I own a DS-1 I love it, but I REALLLY want to get my hands on a Rat

[@pawelsobaszek6363]

For me Rat is the winner! It has a jfet buffer just before output level pot, and it probably adds some tube kind of sound to it.

[@leftundersun]

I'm used to using a Rat going into a Marshall-in-a-box type of pedal, so as you can imagine I have lots of mids that I always have to tame it a little bit. So one day I tried my friend's pedals: a Ds-1 and a Bd-2, oh boy, 2 mid-scooped pedals 😂 I hated the stinking shit out of those things. But this was years ago, today I'm more open minded and willing to give them a second chance 😊

[@BreauxBobby]

Getting into some My Bloody Valentine and Ride territory. Nice! Great video. Thanks.

[@McRocking]

Rat and You Dirty Rat varient, plus DS-2 in Turbo mode. All "middly", all great!

[@monovision566]

The DS2 sounds far more like the recorded Nevermind sound too. Not just the tour. DS1 is the Bleach sound. The In Utero sound is a Sans Amp.

[@davidthompson8929]

I was totally team Boss before watching this video but I think I'm now gonna go and pick up a Rat instead!!

[@thesethingsmakenoises]

They’re both awesome pedals dude, the rat does just sound so well rounded in my opinion though’

[@BellsCuriosityShop]

My may has/had a Rat. Sounded great when he used it, I never seemed to like it. Still haven't tried a DS1 ((shock)). Loved my MT2 a lot of.the time, but sold it on eventuality as I ended up just using drive channels on my amps.

[@thesethingsmakenoises]

Yeah can’t beat an amp drive can you! The MT2 gets a lot of hate but it’s actually a great pedal. Our bassist actually uses it on certain songs haha!

[@BellsCuriosityShop]

@@thesethingsmakenoises I can't tell you the last time I used OD/distortion on a guitar other than by changing channel. But then, I've been playing bass in cover bands for nearly 15 years.

[@thesethingsmakenoises]

@@BellsCuriosityShop Haha fair!

[@Goldstein_955]

After this cool video i would go for the RAT!

[@reubenrozeyt5716]

a Boss DS1 level is suppose to be turned up full and tone rolled down

[@AndyNyle]

thing about ds1 is that it’s better to start with tone all the way off. pedal has incredible dynamic range

[@randym3982]

Does the DS-1 Work through a clean amp?

[@Urizen777]

It is not really meant for that. And in my opinion, neither is the Rat. I've found that DS-1 works the best with a slightly dirty amp and sounds pretty good when mellowed down by overdrive pedals like SD-1, BD-2 or a TubeScreamer (SD-1 being my personal favorite for that purpose). Rat suffers from similar issues as it isn't really a pedal to be used to drive a clean amp, however it also combines very well with aforementioned overdrive pedals and it is more versatile than the stock DS-1, ranging from overdrive over distortion to fuzz.