believe me I have a 1982 big box rat and it sounds 10 times better than a 2002 rat 2. many people will attribute it to the LM308N chip, but I personally don't know why it sounds better.

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Telecaster/USA Stratocaster/Gibson LP Std>Korg Pitchblack>Fulltone Clyde Deluxe>Hermida Zendrive>Rockett Pedals FlexDrive>Hollytronics Triangle Big Muff>MXR EQ>MXR Phase 90 script RI>DMB Pedals Lunar Echo>TC Electronic Nova Reverb>BBE Sonic Stomp>Mesa Dual Rectifier>Weber MASS 100>Avatar 2X12 w/V30's

Other stuff: Alvarez MF80C, Keeley TS9 and DS-1, Devilworks Jezebel, Deja Vibe, POG2, Vox V848, Spring Chicken, Tone Bender, '68 Fender Blender, Shredmaster, Small Clone, Fender Hot Rod Deville

thanks again for all the replys. what can you say about paul cochrane tim pedal? is it really good? what can you say if you compare it to maxon overdrives? thanks

The thing about TS variants like the Bad Monkey, Tim, Red Snapper, Maxon 808, etc. is that each one has been subtly tailored to have specifics characteristics. Some are an attempt to be an exact recreation of the original Ibanez tone, while others are basically hotrodded versions with more gain or less mid hump, and still others are just affordable copies. When you get into the really high-dollar ones like the Tim, you should really have a specific idea of what you're looking for.

If this is your first Tubescreamer, I'd recommend starting with something like the Maxon, Bad Monkey or TS8. That way you have a baseline for comparison. If you go the used route, you can usually turn them over for pretty close to what you paid for them. That way you can get a sampling of what you like and dislike.

And for p_s_f... Old Rats Sound Better!

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Washburn USA Custom Shop P4 Deluxe, USA G&L Legacy, Gretsch Power Jet Firebird, Gibson SG Classic, 72 Tele Deluxe RI, Ibanez Artcore AM73
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MusicomLab Efx MkII - Zvex Fuzz Factory - ProCo Vintage Rat - Menatone Red Snapper - MXR DynaComp -
Eventide Modfactor - BBE Two Timer - Digitech Digidelay - Boss Line Selector - Boss Tuner
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Fender Super Champ XD, Kustom 36 Coupe or Crate V-Series VFX-5212
http://guitargeek.com/chat/showthrea...moren%27s+toys

Wouldn't that also mean that they were slightly different circuits?

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Stuff I use:
Standard Strat with Lace Hot Golds; Standard Ash Tele; Fulltone OCD, Line6 M9
My Music

My Rat 2 dates back to somewhere between 2000 and 2003 (US-made) but the only problem I have with it is the taper of the controls: there's no difference in gain, tone or volume past the nine or ten O'clock positions. Not sure if mine was fitted with the wrong pots at the factory or if it's a quirk of the pedal in general.

It makes settings a bit trickier to pin down but it's my fave pedal so I recommend it as so many others have here.

I've heard good things about the MXR Distortion+ but if you're into metal, would the Dime Distortion be appropriate for you? Big Muffs nail the 90s Pumpkins fuzztone but they're not the most versatile boxes around.

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Guitar rig: CIJ Fender Jazzmaster/CIJ Fender Mustang -> TU-3 -> RV-5 -> OD-3 -> custom IC Muff -> PS-2 -> DD-3 -> RE-20 -> LS-2 -> Fender '65 DRRI & Mesa/Boogie F-50

Bass rig: Fender MIM Jazz Bass -> TU-2 -> RAT 2 -> Sansamp BDDI -> RV-3

"...So now you know the true secret to great tone: all the espresso you can handle."

Mine is from the same period (2002ish, I believe), and I get changes all up and down the dials. Oh well. Gotta love the quirks of mass production. Of course, with handmade pedals, every one is essentially unique...

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Stuff I use:
Standard Strat with Lace Hot Golds; Standard Ash Tele; Fulltone OCD, Line6 M9
My Music