Johnie Lopez Jr aka Johnie Love

I may be biased, but I have never needed to buy, or do research for that matter, for any distortion or overdrive, fuzz, etc. You can literally get any sound you need from a Rat. What I love about this pedal is using it along with the volume knob, at really low volumes it has a whole different character. As you turn it up, the character changes and becomes something more, but just as intriguing. I have had mine since 1987, I bought it from a friend for $40. I have never played any other distortion in my signal path and I played top 40, metal, rock, blues, funk, 80's, 90's etc, using this pedal for all kinds of effects. The filter knob, this is the key, when you play a room and the reverb is drowning you out, just turn this know until the frequency cuts through the hoopla, I cannot convey how great it is to have that ability and fix it in 5 seconds with no soundman debates, or having to turn your rig up and then you look like an a**hole. If you don't have a Proco Rat, a Whiteface, vintage or reissue, my preference, then stop reading and go get one if you want to have any integrity as a guitarist. If you kick this pedal on, and there are any guitarists in the audience, oh they will come to see what is making you sound like a beast! believe me, it will happen as it has to me countless times. Good luck in acquiring one!