Pro Co Vintage Rat Reissue

^# 94

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$225.00 Price Tier: High-end

5.0 (3)

1 Review

This product is Vintage or Discontinued

Find out who is using Pro Co Vintage Rat

1 wishlisted

12 saved

Page last updated Jun 29, 2026

Pricing and availability

We compare 600+ stores and found this item at 1 store. Prices updated June 29, 2026.

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Reviews

Price

5.0 (20)

$225.00 14 available Used

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Average Price: $225

High-end/Boutique

$80

$181+

Price Tier

In the Distortion Effects Pedals category, Pro Co Vintage Rat Reissue is priced in the High-end/Boutique range. This premium gear is built to very high standards and offers premium features.

Budget

Standard

High-end

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Description

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For years, guitarists have sought that "magic" sound, that elusively perfect blend of distortion, sustain and cutting power, usually found only at a volume too loud for club and studio work. Distortion boxes, master volume controls, and "hot" pickups all have been touted as the instant solution to this problem, but each in turn has proved to be too hard to control, too expensive to afford, or simply "not the sound."

Enter the Vintage Rat.

Full control of the sound is provided by distortion amount, filter, and volume controls. Tune in just the right amount of overdrive, get the presence you need without the tinny treble, and balance the volume for the perfect extra "kick" for lead breaks. Distortion, sustain, fuzz, or overdrive: the sound remains unmistakably yours--not fake or gimmicky.

Also, the Rat won't change the tone or power of you guitar when it's turned off; our true bypass switch disconnects it completely from the instrument when it is not in use, eliminating the loading effects common among other devices.

Effects boxes are notorious for unreliable operation, but the Rat was engineered to survive the abuse and neglect of life on the road. The rugged steel chassis houses a mil-spec epoxy-glass PC board for extreme shock resistance, vital in a foot-operated unit. The heavy-duty industrial-grade footswitch was chosen for its reliable positive action and long, dependable life.

The controls use the latest innovation of potentiometers, resistive elements of conductive plastic, ensuring a linearity and "feel" far superior to ordinary carbon elements, and also offering a drastically increased life span. Similarly, each of the other components that make up the Rat were carefully selected for performance and reliability. Special "micropower" circuit design and IC selection results in greatly extended battery life. And each unit is thoroughly tested not once but twice to ensure that any potential problems never leave our factory.

So if that "search for sound" seems familiar, you owe it to yourself to check out the Rat. Once you've checked out its amazing variety of distortion and overdrive effects, rugged, reliable construction, and that incredibly "real" sound--we think you'll have found what you've been searching for.

Product specs

Power	9V
Bypass	true bypass
Analog/Digital	analog

Videos

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Reverb

ProCo The Rat Distortion | Reverb Demo Video

Reverb

VINTAGE DEMO // The ProCo RAT: Do I Love It Or Hate It? (1996 RAT Big Box Reissue demo)

Aaron Sternke

ProCo Rat 1991 Big Box Reissue on Bass

Joby

proco rat - vintage

don felipe

Reviews

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PROS

Versatile: excels in overdrive, distortion, and fuzz
Works well as a booster in various setups
Pairs well with a wide range of amps (Fender, Mesa, Marshall)
Unique tonal quality with the LM308 chip
Aesthetically pleasing design
Can significantly cut through mix for live performances

CONS

Some models may be inconsistent in sound quality
Might not be as impressive with high-gain amps
Historical component myths (LM308N vs. OP07) may mislead buyers

Owner Insights

We analyzed real musician discussions from forums and Reddit to find what players love, question, and tweak about Pro Co Vintage Rat Reissue.

Features and functionality

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The Pro Co Vintage Rat Reissue lacks an LED indicator, which some users find manageable since they can audibly detect when it's active.
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The knobs on the Pro Co Vintage Rat Reissue are reported to glow in the dark, aiding visibility in low-light settings.
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The newer Pro Co Vintage Rat Reissues eliminate the need for a special power adapter, accommodating standard 9V center-negative plugs.
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Comparisons

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The Hartman LM308 is considered more versatile and pedalboard-friendly compared to the Pro Co Vintage Rat Reissue.
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Differences in tone between vintage LM308 Rats and newer OP07 Rats are minimal, often attributed to slight variances in pots and capacitors rather than significant circuit changes.
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Some users believe the perceived warmth of vintage Rats over newer models is largely psychological, with actual differences being negligible in controlled A/B testing.
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The TC Electronic Magus Pro is recommended as a cost-effective alternative offering Classic, Fat, and Turbo Rat modes, mimicking tonal variations of different Rat models.
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Use cases and applications

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The pedal is favored for its distinct cutting sound, with some users wishing they had explored its low gain capabilities further.
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The LM308 chip version is noted for producing a rumbly, sub-bass effect on sustained, downtuned chords, making it ideal for doom/drone styles.
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User experience

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Owners frequently leave the Pro Co Vintage Rat Reissue always on for low gain/light overdrive settings, indicating satisfaction with its consistent tonal quality.
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Owners note that perceived tonal differences between Rat models often result from psychoacoustic effects rather than actual circuit variations.
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Some owners find newer models slightly more compressed in sound, though this is only noticeable in direct A/B testing.
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Setup and maintenance

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The pedal requires an adapter for a standard 9v power cable, specifically the RPS-1 adapter mentioned for compatibility.
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Mods and upgrades

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Swapping diodes can produce noticeable tonal changes. Options include replacing silicon diodes with LEDs for a Turbo Rat sound or Germanium diodes for a Dirty Rat tone.
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The Aion DIY kit with an LM308 op amp in a spaceship-style casing is recommended for those seeking a unique aesthetic and sound customization opportunity.
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Owners have modded their Rats with IC sockets to swap between OP07 and LM308 chips, preferring the latter for perceived louder output.
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