{"product_id":"proco-rat-distortion-pedal-effect-1979-11068","title":"ProCo Rat Distortion Pedal Effect (1979)","description":"ProCo Rat Model Distortion Pedal Effect (1979), made in Kalamazoo, Michigan, serial # 401994, black enamel finish. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThis little black pedal was a practically ubiquitous find in every black-jeaned New Yawk rocker's gig bag, starting way back in the early 1980's continuing through today. Back then they were stomped and kicked on beery stages without a care; today the early Rats are a collectible and widely coveted pedal. This particular Proco Rat Distortion Pedal is what is now called \"Version 1B; Tone Control\/Fluted Knob''. The early Rats exist in several sub-variants, of which this is one of the first. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e This is pretty early transitional rat pedal which was only produced for a few months after the introduction of the \"Bud Box Rat\" and \"Fringe logo Rat\". This version uses the last remaining V1-A knobs and only shows a logo change between version 1-A and 1-B, with the rat's tail slimmed on the box graphic. The now-revered first-generation circuitry remains entirely the same. This Rat contains the coveted Motorola LM-308 OP Amp chip that give the circuit a vast range of tones achieved with such a simple design. This pedal can be used to slightly push the preamp of a tube amp to the verge of breaking up or cranked into a fully blown out wall of distortion mode with shades of fuzz and harmonic richness.\u003cbr\u003e \u003cbr\u003eHeight is 2 in. (5.1 cm.), 5 in. (12.7 cm.) width, and 4 in. (10.2 cm.) deep. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThis pedal has been used (kicked around a bit, probably!) and shows some typical superficial wear. The case enamel had scratches and dings, with a few rubs to the graphics and rust spots on the bottom edge. Still for a 43 year old pedal is in good used condition. Internally it is very clean with all original components still intact, the pots are a matched set dating to the third week of 1979. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThere has been one modification, a battery bypass switch has been very neatly added to turn off the 9V consumption when the pedal is used with a external power supply. While not original this is a very handy feature as otherwise the battery is in constant drain mode. This entailed a mini-switch added to the back panel next to the power input, with a small drill hole in the box. This could be removed but at this point is more useful than not and not a major alteration. The coveted Rat sound remains fully intact, as snarly-to-flat-out-nasty as it was back in the heyday of NY Punk. We know, some of us were there� Very Good + Condition.","brand":"ProCo","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46853412946060,"sku":"11068","price":1000.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0672\/8702\/3756\/files\/01_bcfcb9d9-d701-47b2-90df-e4da1d75bda5.jpg?v=1774338075","url":"https:\/\/retrofret.com\/products\/proco-rat-distortion-pedal-effect-1979-11068","provider":"RetroFret","version":"1.0","type":"link"}