The JHS PackRat vs. a Pack of Vintage Rats | Tone Report Demo

[@devinmoreno9823]

I’m honestly floored on how he nailed every single version in this pedal. They literally sound the same. Just wow 😯

[@drdre4397]

I own a bonsai and from I have seen and tested it's the same story. It's honestly insane. A ts10 cost more than a bonsai and the bonsai has a ts10 and 8 other options. I was so glad I could finally buy a pedal and support the company, I love JHS's videos. He just never talks about his own stuff really.

[@drippinglass]

I disagree. I own an Ibanez LA Metal. This doesn’t sound anywhere near as shitty as that.

[@mikeomatic9905]

I was looking away at first, and didn’t even realize he was switching between the original and JHS pedals.

[@TechnoVirus]

@@drippinglass I get that LA metal didn't sound amazing in the video, but I don't really get your point. The fact that you are getting a (subjectively) better sound with a different guitar amp and cab combination doesn't mean that the PackRat version is worse in any way - you can only compare them if you a/b the pedals using the same setup, like in the video (and in the video the PackRat and the LA Metal sounded pretty much identical). I mean, if you did a/b them and they sounded different - that's a valid point then (I guess. Although it is worth noting that since the packrat hosts so many different variations the knob settings might be slightly different between it and the RATs it is based on)

[@kilgoretrout321]

It better sound the same, it's all the same circuits crammed in there!

[@siavashmassoudi]

Andy and Josh is a collaboration I didn’t know I needed

[@stormsa-coming4315]

Amen.

[@jonathan-smith]

I've denied it for so long but I'm a full blown history nerd. And I love some good salesmanship demonstration!

[@johnathanbarrett7803]

It was weird not hearing the "He has the box" jingle in this.

[@DrBleepBlip]

Almost expected Andy to sound out the tune after he said that

[@angelotro]

I thought Josh might sing the jingle under his breath, I know I did!

[@Aethalops]

what? You didn't hear it? I certainly heard it.

[@katfishzomby]

you know.. it's almost like your'e watching a pre-edit sans jingle.

[@objectiveobserver2792]

in this case, I've got the trap

[@JUNK_ZONE]

I love that Josh makes himself available for damn near everything related to his brand and all the cool shit he makes. That's the kind of dude you want at the head of a company in a creative space like guitar effects pedal production. Also, bummed that they didn't take the opportunity with that easy one at 8:40.

[@Metempsychopath]

HE HAS THE BOX

[@jakedibiase7404]

Yeah really cool of someone who owns a business to promote a product they sell. It never happens. Lol

[@dannyllerenatv8635]

@@Metempsychopath But if he doesn't have that pedal, is he gonna survive?

[@kodykindhart5644]

Jake doesn’t get it does he? Josh literally promotes other companies with his brand

[@bluehole6019]

@@jakedibiase7404 I’m guessing you’ve never checked out the JHS channel, where almost every video is just Josh talking about how cool other people’s pedals are. He rarely ever promotes his own stuff, and when he does it’s usually really tasteful and understated.

[@thebreakfastmenu]

I like that at the end of his own episode on the pedal he says "actually just go buy a Rat." I think the thing that makes Josh a cool dude is the fact that he has a genuine love for what he does to an extent that he'll endorse the originals over his own versions.

[@LPMojoGL]

Did anybody else sing, "He Has The Box!" when Josh started talking about the Brat?

[@Supernautiloid]

Aw, I was really hoping that Andy was going to be interviewing Josh. :(

[@hellspark]

Andy, the encyclopedia of tasty riffs. And Josh, the encyclopedia of pedal knowledge. Even if I'm not planning on buying the pedal, this video is a treat.

[@ruggie.74]

Spent $300 to get this pedal and I am so happy that I did. Les Paul Standard + Marshall Silver Jubilee + Boss EQ + GRF mode is my dream.

[@joermnyc]

Would JHS ever do a Benderama of all the different Tone Bender variants?

[@BK-lx5mo]

The Legends of Fuzz series did a "Bender" using silicon transisters + witchcraft to acheive the original germanium vibe without the usual germanium issues (temperature, supply of parts). So I don't see why not... Josh?

[@stephendouglas6106]

I Like the "Benderama" Idea a Lot. It would Solve a Lot of Problems. I think that perhaps a "Benderover" might be a Pedal that's Time has Come.

[@joermnyc]

@@BK-lx5mo yes, and this pack rat does have germanium diodes in the dirty rat setting.

[@spacebass79g98]

That is the pedal I’m waiting for! Still gonna get this though.🤦🏻‍♂️

[@druwk]

YES!!!!!!!

[@Magic_Man916]

I know it would be another multi-year project.. but a blues driver type pedal of this same vain would be extraordinary

[@stephenvale937]

Are there 9 versions of a blues driver?

[@Magic_Man916]

@@stephenvale937 that's for Josh to figure out... Lol, idk

[@jakedibiase7404]

Boss already makes that. Called the Waza Blues Driver.

[@Magic_Man916]

@@jakedibiase7404 for my money the Keeley modded Blues driver still sounds better

[@endezeichengrimm]

He already has the angry driver with Boss/JHS.

[@yeahrightbear8883]

Josh is the coolest guy in the pedal business. He's so chill and he often promotes his competitors pedals as well as his own.

[@timchalmers1700]

So hilarious ... Andy never says a word but says it all with his no pick playing. I can't play like that without a pick, but then, I can't play like that with a pick either.

[@coryleblanc]

i dont like how it sounds or why he is playing without a pick... he even looks like he's holding a pick but nope... meh

[@joermnyc]

Andy is a sorcerer and his pick is coming from another universe. 😂

[@Pepper-cd9yr]

@@coryleblanc Andy is one of the best guitarists on KZbin stfu

[@jaykelley103]

@@coryleblanc nice doomer pfp incel lmao

[@icecreamforcrowhurst]

It’s funny how it looks exactly like he’s holding a pick most of time. I guess he’s using the left tip of his thumb near where the tip of a pick would be. Could be the right tip of his index though.

[@gonzalozech]

Josh might have the best sense of humor of the entire guitar community

[@hulkslayer626]

First the Muffaletta. Then the Bonsai. Now the Pack Rat. For just under $600, you can have like 18 amazing overdrives/fuzzes!! Incredible!

[@hazelelcamino7453]

The funniest thing would be if the pack rat was just the same circuit inside with slight volume changes and Josh is just trolling us, proving all Rat’s sound the same 😂😂😂😂

[@Ottophil]

Its like here. We have 9 different flavors of turd

[@l8sk8r86]

🤣

[@fraenkiboii]

I opened it up. Only one set of diodes and the rest seems fairly generic, so your theory might be true.

[@shckltnebay]

@@fraenkiboii Post a video!!!!

[@makingmusiconline2309]

Didn't you notice that when Andy pressed the 1 or 2 button, that it made no difference? I don't think they even bothered to plug in the second pedal each time, they just lit up a different led :D

[@alwatsky]

I've got an old white face I bought new in 85. I like this PackRat version . Fun stuff. You went deep !

[@semajdis]

Amazing how much time and effort Mr. Scott put into making this pedal. Now if he put that much time and effort into his slide playing his tone would be as good as Andy's.

[@stanislavmigra]

Smith?

[@semajdis]

@@stanislavmigra Brainfart - fixed, thx.

[@garybratton7756]

Sick burn!

[@tompoynton]

@@semajdis wurdz is hard

[@TheChadPad]

Maybe even Rhett Shull's!

[@Randomly_Ruli]

Just bought one off your site. Hoping it’s in the condition it says it is. Super stoked to try it out through my Vox ac30

[@gregmize01]

Still the best sounding distortion pedal ever!

[@TK-fk4po]

I’m very impressed with the amount of work that went into design this pedal. It sounds pretty damn complicated. If you ask me it’s an incredibly good deal.

[@JesseJuup]

Hats off! I salute Josh for all the in-depth reseach that he put into this pedal. Just incredible dedication! 👍🤘💪

[@patrickkeenan6331]

Collaboration between Josh and Andy? More of this, please!

[@ricardosilvestri94]

Amazing that he implemented the LA Metal circuit. When I was in a flailing high school punk band in the late '80s, I bought one to "Marshall-ize" my early-sixties Fender Bassman. Of course the pedal sounded terrible in that capacity, but I didn't know any better; as a Fuzz Face unit, it's unbeatable. Yes, I still have both the amp and the pedal!

[@12stringblues]

I have been waiting for this pedal since the release of the muffuletta pedal(great pedal), I knew Jhs would eventually make this pedal and it sounds as wonderful as I expected! Thanks Jhs, Josh and Andy.

[@sixstringsofsam]

Just got the Pack Rat. It's sick good! Using the OG mode with gain at 9, I can achieve some really chewy sounds. My favourite modes are OG and LA.

[@thaddeusfields4360]

I love the Brat setting… what’s wrong with me?

[@arphod]

I'm on Brat and LA.

[@younggoat3521]

My fav are turbo and brat

[@RaleighHeckel]

Wow, this was great. Want a Pack Rat now of course lol. But really cool hearing Josh walk through the settings and man can Andy play (his “trem picking” with his fingers in LA mode is nuts). Well produced vid too, so awesome content all around. Thanks Reverb and JHS!

[@horrifyinggelatinousblob]

HOLY SHIT, some of those are bang on. JHS knows his stuff.

[@KarzaBarza]

It should have been those eyes glowing red.

[@lucasgoncalvesdefaria7121]

If he is serious on the amount of parts in this maybe it just would not fit?

[@JC-11111]

There's really no need to keep saying it considering 50k people have already said it. He knows you all think the eyes should've been red. Make your own if that's what you want. This is his pedal. You think that didn't cross his mind? C'mon man. If literally everyone else thought of it, you can bet he did too. If he wanted the eyes red, they would've been red. That'd be the simplest thing on the entire pedal.

[@tomkatalenich8811]

Well this is thorough. Nice partnership, I'm not gonna hate having more content like this rolling out...

[@locar12]

But first, where's Andy's clean tone? Kidding. Great collab video, Josh. This is the single most informative RAT history and spec-packed video today, demonstrated by Andy's skills.

[@dkwha9709]

Just got this thing. So glad I did. Hard to find a sound I don’t like. Favourite modes at this point are probably the OG and Wave Cannon. All of em are wicked.

[@stinkystubin]

Josh your pedal kicks ass!!! What else is new? Love your pedals and videos. Keep up the great work.

[@redielg]

I was gonna buy a 3 series distortion but I might save a little and go for this instead .

[@DanHains]

Great vid, Andy (and Josh). Packrat is on my list.

[@josephpickard3108]

Sounds amazing. Love that the Turbo Rat is in this too, I thought that was such an unsung Rat. I wonder if Josh will ever get into a pedal beef with a brand and make a pedal that has the other brand's entire range in one box...

[@shinjial]

If I wasn’t looking at the switch I wouldn’t know if any changes were made at all. It’s an amazing pedal and JHS did an amazing job with that project.

[@schipbreukeling3]

It's almost to good to be true

[@pCeLobster]

Agreed. They're indistinguishable.

[@BreadandFaxes]

They're making great strides in breaking that long standing mindset that vintage gear is somewhat special or better. We literally can recreate the circuits wholesale of vintage and expensive pedals and make literally indistinguishable copies. Most guitar gear is like that, honestly. Even modern amplifiers. A point to point wired Deluxe Reverb these days is just as good as the ones of old, if not also all around safer to use.

[@shinjial]

@@BreadandFaxes yep, I agree. Sonically there doesn't seem to be relevant differences. I get the reverence for the vintage stuff, and if it satisfies the person to own and play one, by all means do. I think that nice feeling might make people better players just because they get so into it, you know. Really savour the moment.

[@therewasascene]

I always liked the packrat mod the most out of all the modern Rat-style pedals. Now for the same price I can get all these REALLY ACCURATE versions too! Love the dirty and the wave cannon, I’m stoked to try the turbo into a dirty amp (thanks, Grape!), and from what I’m hearing, the white can replace my 90’s 2 to make a gig-friendly board. Thank you so much for your hard work, Josh. a lil’ RAT lives on the board, too. Shout out! :)

[@notyetskeletal4809]

L.A Metal. I had that. Thew it away quite quickly. Love the passion put in this project. Take my money.

[@arphod]

Andy snuck in the chorus riff from Cake - Friend is a Four Letter Word. Well done.

[@hazelelcamino7453]

What I love about this is Josh has been talking trash saying the lm308 doesn’t make a difference. Then, he absolutely delivered and made a pedal that literally sounds no different than the originals. I’m a nerd about this stuff and seriously couldn’t tell the difference. Think this will be my first JHS purchase, job well done.

[@shamsuranuar4658]

We all know that the real OG here is Andy!

[@MonsterVision5000]

Thanks Josh! Excellent overview! I have my pack rat and I love it!

[@Pete_Harris]

Fantastic! I'd be all over a programmable version of this with saveable settings to presets.

[@MistyMusicStudio]

Holy crap when Andy switched from the first OG to the packrat, I saw the switch but it didn't register. I kept waiting for it... Like... is the sound gonna change or... OH WAIT :O It sounds unbelievably similar, great job tone matching and clearly Josh is a genius haha

[@carlovillacorta1149]

Andy's licks are always on point

[@OnlyElshafto]

this was great....i really enjoyed vid guys....great teamwork

[@thomascrosson8541]

Andy’s guitar playing 🤯

[@BigFuzzyLHG]

8:41 "He has the box"

[@learnmore2221]

Totally heard that in my head!

[@rampuga9531]

I heard it too.

[@jseitam]

Yep lol

[@OIP_1]

half want to buy one of these just to crack open and gawk at the switching. amazing pedal and perfect demo

[@tranquocthinh6933]

The intro song is awesome =' )

[@AndyDemos]

Thanks so much, I really wanted to show all 9 modes in a minute!

[@jamlemon]

8:41 “He has the box” 🎶

[@jimduffy9773]

Love JHS! Glad to see this come out.

[@austinbridge]

Josh is such a successful genius, yet so incredibly down-to-earth and relatable. He has a love for music and every pedal, no matter the price or brand. If it sounds good, it sounds good. Whether it's an Analog Man Sun Face or a Cuvave Fuzz😅

[@ElisandroDeLeon]

Josh + Andy is the collaboration we needed

[@davidkieltyka9]

5:09 I think Andy’s been listening to Juliana Hatfield’s Only Everything, a great album absolutely soaked in RAT-y guitar tones & textures. 😃

[@dimitriosilio3039]

Cool demo man!

[@markkirschenmann3925]

So crunchy, so hairy, so beautifully brutal! Thank you!

[@guitardave]

For me I’d love a LM308 Rat, and a Fat Rat in there, but it’s certainly very good as it is.

[@Jimbo386000]

The filter is slightly different on some of these comparisons, but there is literally no difference between the distortion. This pedal really does it all!

[@austinfailz]

Just bought one on sale. Kind of wish there was a Fat Rat mode, but then they'd probably have both switches on (where as I prefer the fat off, with the mosfet/germanium clipping on). Bought a Bonzai as well, as my favorite sound is stacking the two with the TS style pedal first as a clean boost (gain low, volume high) into the Rat (gain about 12:00, volume past unity somewhat, Filter between 1:00-2:00). Gives me sort of a Marshall type of sound. Kind of a brown-ish sound.

[@austinfailz]

No "He has the box!" bit in the video during the Brat section? Pft. 3/10 video, guys. /s

[@arnulfoparra9498]

Josh , Andy PRICELESS !!!

[@MrWilson-WithaPbass]

Man ! Andy just rules the universe ! Ladies and Gentlemen ,your new dictator ...Andy . I'm never buying another pedal unless I hear him demo it .

[@calebriley7466]

I realize deep down in my heart that THIS pedal is a vital part to my tone, a sudden urge arises in me to go to my nearest store that’s not so near and buy this right now. And I’m not sure if it’s a good thing or a bad thing…

[@ElvisPriceless]

Did you buy it ?

[@CraigCrider]

"I came here to rock your face off and throw picks! And I'm all...you get it" - Andy

[@zacharydavid403]

"and...[I'm all out of picks.]" Mixed metaphor

[@papasmamas1]

Didnt know about The Brat, sounds great !

[@billwesley]

I read a thing that said the inventor made a mistake on some components value, but liked the resulting sound and so kept the off value, hence the birth of that sound Recognition of the value of an error is the beginning of all creativity.. Other distortions I tried growl with threat but the rat SNARLS with contempt, its awesome. I always wished it had a clean channel so I added a clean channel on the board in parallel with the rat, it really really sounds good that way, like NOBLE sneering contempt, just vicious like a little rat, but huge like a rampaging elephant.

[@rylieriley]

To my ears (and I do have good ears haha), the PackRat sounds slightly better than the originals in most cases. Awesome job, Josh!

[@Alejandro1956]

I miss the SOLO RAT version. I would like more about it, and why is not included in this pack

[@bradleyshuppert3393]

Andy could fall down a flight of stairs and make anything sound great!!!! Damn man!!!

[@Clopezl01]

Josh is Great! and with Andy, ufff, nuff said!

[@fluffydelberg]

gotta buy these pedal ASAP

[@USBlues]

Top mounted jacks for version 2!

[@timhopkins3810]

🎼He’s got the box 🎶

[@devinmoreno9823]

😂 I swear I heard that too when he showed it. JHS show is the best

[@thealtered7]

Josh Scott is a national treasure.

[@jrentie]

When are we going to get an OCD with all the versions in one?? Please and thank you…

[@damiengreen5141]

i wish there was like a double barrel version of this where you could use one side as a brat for OD and the other for turbo craziness

[@l8sk8r86]

Distortion Pedal Addict here- I need this!

[@golf-freq]

Kick-ass riffage and content! 😎

[@johnmoser2689]

Excellent Rat pedal.... nice job I must have it

[@philjw3539]

I got a signed mousetrap as part of the case candy, IMHO it makes it sound better

[@Fuzzbot71]

This pedal is seriously good. I was surprised when I got one and how many of the modes I liked.

[@taur611]

For a second I thought it was going to be a one- one discussion with the dream team... Josh and Andy.

[@IcyShroomZ]

I can see him doing one of those catalog type pedals for all the fuzz face variants and for the klon pedal variants in the future years

[@kilgoretrout321]

All Klones are the same though. He's demonstrated this, that that the only significant difference of our perception of the sound is caused by looking at the case

[@truce11]

We need more of Andy with the makers of pedals

[@patrickfitzgerald2861]

Here in Tucson we have actual pack rats. They are not noisy, but they are demented, and will nest in your car's engine compartment while gleefully chewing up the wiring. 😈

[@kylegoodman5196]

I gotta love how with these catalog type pedals Josh had one for a fuzz circuit, one for an overdrive circuit, and one for a distortion circuit.

[@thaddeusfields4360]

I got one of these for my pedal collection… but I’m pretty certain it’s going on my board.

[@emeraldchan7770]

Nice shirt Andy!

[@gustavoberocan]

The problem of these videos is it not only make me want to buy the pedal but also this reverend guitar and Andy’s pick.

[@Paul-dw2cl]

1:59 That digital controller caused him a headache when that little part was backordered

[@3xcho]

I feel like they tuned the originals to be a little bit brighter to my ears. I feel like the packrat sounds a bit too compressed on the top end so it comes across a bit muted. Seems to be the same across all comparisons. Is this something done in post on purpose or just how they recorded it?

[@jeffbooth1271]

Josh, love your videos and pedals. That said… my fav RAT was an early 90’s flat box. Made from 1988-1996 I think. Just needed more volume. Why is this version always left out? Clones, etc? I am probs going to get a Pack Rat but am bummed that it doesn’t include my fav (and many 90s indie favorite) RATs as an option. Or is it hidden in another circuit…? Please advise… or can you build a clone with more volume (kinda same with lots of BMP’s… Thanks, Jeff

[@shatteredsquare]

DS-1 is in the works right??

[@ddemulling9722]

Good god this pedal sounds killer!

[@russell90ful]

Could you stack this with the bonsai or would that be crazy brilliant video reason I'm asking I've got the bonsai great pedal

[@arisawidi8649]

Josh : Thank you Andy for playing guitar better than i can without a pick Andy : u r welcome josh

[@Don_of_the_Dad]

The JHS Rat, and the Wave Cannon are top tier

[@TeddyWinny]

8:40 He has the box! 🎶

[@pr10n]

Josh gets out the Landgraff and I'm all "He has the box!"