Which did you prefer? One thing I'd like to add that I noticed while editing - When I showed the RAT being played with the reverb, I actually filmed this after, and I had the wrong settings on the pedal. It was actually the same settings as the 'high gain' sound.
I've always been a Boss user since my younger years, and I'm very accustomed to it. It's great. With that being said, I really love what Rat brings to a mix, mids are great with a band in a record or live.
The song that Kurt Cobain plugged the rat straight into the recording desk was territorial pissings, it’s why the song is tonally different from everything else on the album
What is cool about the rat pedal is that it acts more like overdrive to the left on the gain, then more like distortion towards the right. Both of these pedals have their place
Amazing video! DS1 was my first pedal when I was 16, so I have a special place in my heart for it. But i LOVE Rat pedals, is my favorite distortion, also is such versatile pedal. Also Graham and Kurt are 2 of my favorite guitar players of all time!
I’ve got a DS1 but off the back of this I think I prefer the Rat. Was great that you used them on their own, in a song and then with a reverb pedal as well. Really showed the functionality of it 👍🏼
@@thesethingsmakenoises yeah definitely, and each to their own as well… on a side note, I picked up a plumes OD after seeing one of your vids and wanted to thank you. It sounds incredible!!
hey man I really love the channel! I feel like so many ppl who talk about shoegaze on here have absolutely no clue about the genre so it’s nice to see someone with actual expertise
Main thing about the DS1 is that it was designed mostly as a kind of “puxed amp boost”, like putting it to boost a slightly broken amp like a marshall, thats why it sounds so mid scooped when going through a clean amp
Great video! After a shootout with these two pedals in a guitar store 30 years ago (😂 I'm old), I went with the Rat because of the volume boost. The DS-1 sounded cool, but it didn't seem to boost the volume, which I thought was missing the point of how I was planning on using it. When the song gets loud and you wanna hit the distortion, you want it to get loud with everything else. The DS-1 sort of limits the volume, so, as it 'sounds' loud, it doesn't 'feel' loud (like, in your chest). There are some after-market companies that can mod this for you, but the Rat had it built in. The TurboRat actually has even MORE volume, which is great for pummelling your amp into soaring Hendrix-style feedback. It can go clean or dirty, has a very useable tone sweep, and works great as a preamp for recording direct bass. -Funny story: I ordered a TurboRat through the mail (by check, I'm old). They sent a regular Rat by mistake. I had a gig the day it came, and I really wanted to play with a new pedal, so I decided to temporarily use it. I was worried that I'd spill beer or puke on it, so I put it in a Ziploc bag next to my other pedals to keep it clean. It sounded great, but sure enough, a couple of people asked why I had the pedal in a Ziploc. Of course, I told them that I felt that it compressed the sound more to my liking and that they should try it🤣. I exchanged the regular Rat for the Turbo and still use it to this day, it's a tank.
I have a RAT and the DS-1. You can get both used pretty cheap. I bought a brand new RAT for like a hundred dollars b/c I was at Sweetwater and just wanted to buy something haha
Excellent videos in general, this one included. We have a lot of the same taste in music it would seem. The big three of 90’s stomp are basically DS-1, Rat, and Big Muff; if you have one of each (clone or otherwise) you’re pretty much covered. Though I would say most folks would be better off with a DS-2 vs a DS-1. Nothing against the DS-1, but Boss took care of all the common DS-1 complaints with mode 1 of the DS-2. It has a very similar distortion character to the DS-1, but way more output volume, it can handle higher output pickups without farting out, and the tone sweep is less harsh, you can get the tone past noon on a DS-2 without it getting harsh. The DS-1 is a legend, no doubt, but mode 1 of the DS-2 is everything people like about a DS-1 without any of the stuff they dislike.
Got both and my fav is the Rat. Can't go wrong with either but my taste has evolved and now I'd add a BD-2 or Boss FZ to the Rat. Not that the DS-1 is a bad pedal, it is a classic for a reason. As always great video.
I prefer the Rat as well, but I actually just bought a DS-2 Turbo Distortion and it's my favourite. Has that midrange with all of the aggression of the DS-1. Also, as both a guitarist and a singer, I find it easier to step on BOSS pedals while I'm performing. Sometimes I miss the switch on other pedals, but never with BOSS. That's why my board is all BOSS except for my tuner haha.
DS-2 seems to be getting a lot of love! Yeah that’s a really good point actually, they’re super easy to step on. Can’t beat that design for practicality really!
I like to go distorion into overdrive, particularly the ds-1, it can really revive those mids as you pointed out. I've never owned a rat but I've been thinking about getting one cause GAS
DS1 sounds a bit thin on its own, but run it into another OD, such as a BD2, at low gain, and it fattens it back up while keeping shape of the distortion. Also, swapping one of the clipping diodes for an LED gives a nicer asymmetric sound.
Great video dude!!! you really helped me on some decisions that i was on the fence about. Everyone is different with their own sound, and this video really helped. Well done!!!
Great job on the videos - I've been really enjoying them over the last few weeks. I felt I should mention that I own the re-issue of the big box rat (without the LED - from the late 90s) and I also had issue with the foot switch - I got switch replaced and have never had an issue since. PS: I also love a good hard stomp! Keep it up sir.
i prefer the Rat, but the two people i love who’ve used them used them in pretty unorthodox ways. Brian Aubert from Silversun Pickups (a band i think you’d really like TTMN guy) turns the distortion up to max and combines it with a short delay to create this awesome, ultra compressed lead sound (he used a BMP before that, but i prefer the Rat), but Steve Von Till from Neurosis uses two of these into two amps, one set to kill and one to massage the high gain channel of his Mesa Boogie.
I like how you didnt make the common mistake of turning the DS-1's tone knob past noon. You can always back it off to get rid of that fizz. I guess it depends on your amp as well. cheers
Get both! I use both on the same pedalboard and swap between the two, the Ds-1 sound is great for making your stuff sound like it’s from the 90’s and the turbo rat I have makes everything sound fuller and the light distortion it’s capable to making is awesome!
I’d recommend the Rat or Rat clone a someone’s first dirt pedal. It’s pretty versatile throughout the distortion pot. Overdrive, distortion and fuzz. Also, the slight mid hump helps going into a clean Fender. The mid scoop of the DS-1 can make your guitar sound like it goes down in the mix when clicked on depending on the amp. The Rat can clean up with your guitar’s volume knob as well.
Have owned both for years. I think the DS-1 does its own tone really well, like no other pedal can - but the Rat is my go-to, for many of the reasons listed here. Even if it can sometimes be a pain to dial it in just right - once you do, it's a beast that can take anything you throw at it.
Wow. I’m so glad I found this channel! This is my world as a guitarist - UA-cam doesn’t have a ton of that stuff (I can dig the Polyphia vibe but I don’t/can’t play it)
I had the DS-1 and used it only with practically no gain, going into other distortion pedals to tighten them up. DS-1 is great into a distorted Marshall amp. The Rat is one of my favorite distortion pedals, it just has something special.
My first pedal ever was a ds 1 because Kurt used to use one but I didnt really enjoy it as much as I thought I would. Sold it and now Im thinking of getting a rat.
I preferred the sound of the Rat just from this video. The DS-1 has a brittle fizzy top end I don't like. It seemed to sit on top and separate from the mix. It almost had that digital sound I associate with bad amp sims.
Someone else on yt did a comparison video if the different distortions kurt used and i came away liking the rat, but i couldn't nail down which version kurt used so i haven't pursued it yet. I still have my DS-2, literally took it apart and cleaned it last night. My grunge pedals aren't in the board at the moment, one being dead and the other having the wrong kind of power jack. My BIT is defective in some way and didn't get on the board. The MD-2 mega distortion is also not working so out it went. The jhs multi muff went in the board last night, and the blue sky 2 went on today. You should consider a video on physical placement vs signal chain placement. I know you have the pedal board build video which is great for a tour board, I'm curious about a "dream" board. I tend to want every pedal I own to be in the chain somewhere so I COULD use it, even if I might not use it. Side note: I know you tend to point to your previous videos in the vid itself but my yt app blocks those. Think you could add the vids you reference in the description as well?
Yeah I’m not 100% sure, I guess it could have been any really couldn’t it?! The ds2 looks like a really cool pedal. Shame I’ve never owned one. Oh know, what’s wrong with the BIT? Oh awesome how do the new JHS/Bluesky sound? Have you had chance to play them yet? Yeah that’s a good idea for a video actually! Thanks! Oh no probs, yeah I’ll look at doing that ☺️
@@thesethingsmakenoises The DS2 isn't really a huge progression from the DS-1. i don't know a single person who uses the switch to go between normal and turbo modes, so i get the feeling that a lot is left on the table. I don't know what changes, if any, the non-turbo DS-1 side has from an original DS-1, but i can't imagine switching between normal and turbo without adjusting the tone as the DS2 side is a bit bright/high-endy. the BIT was having this weird issue where my sound out of the speaker was completely cutting out and "normal" levels. low levels seemed to do okay, and none of the other pedals had similar issues. i took it apart and the soldering is top notch, so i don't think there's a problem there. it may just not be a pedal i can use myself if this is what it is supposed to do. Welp, the blue sky is killer, though after you showcasing it i knew it would be. I'm not traditionally a reverb guy so this is VERY new territory for me, but i was able to sit in my studio room and just zone out on a newish riff/song and kinda just let the reverb surround me while i got lost in it. The JHS muffuletta i have turned out to be a v1 (which is why it was so cheap i guess) and it doesn't have the OpAmp/Pumpkin Pi variant so i'm a lot less excited about it now. haven't really played with it since then, but at least it is in the board...it only took me like 3 months.
Brilliant demonstration video, both distortions are good for post hardcore/noise rock bands As for reverb i would like to try a FX 40 soft focus by catlinbread and my Boss OS 2 for Distortion.
I'm a Metalhead that likes all distortion pedals because fuzz, distortion, overdrive, reverb, delay, chorus, phaser, flanger, and wah can be used in all styles of Hard Rock, and Heavy Metal including Extreme Metal such as Death Metal, Black Metal, and my favorite style of Extreme Metal which is Doom Metal.
I've been agonizing over which of these two pedals I wanted to add to my board. No longer. Your comparison technique was brilliant! My rig will sound better with a Rat, it more represents the tone I'm trying to achieve. Fuller, rounder, I dunno, just sounds better. Cheers!
I use a rat pedal as my always on boost pedal as it does the job better than any of my dedicated boosts or over drives. I ended up buying a DS1 to cover the higher gain distortion as I ended up using the rat as a boost. I like to run the DS1 into the rat about 9 o clock on the gain. The rat sounds pretty similar to a light crunch on a marshall amp this way.
RAT. Nothing wrong with the Boss, but the RAT is super versatile. From low gain to high gain to borderline fuzz there is not a bad sound there as long as you don´t go below the 10 o´clock on the filter
sometimes when dirt or dust gets in a foot switch it causes the defect you described with the rat hit the switch with a tiny sprits of wd40 an it fixes it right up
Nice review of those pedals showing the differences and how similar you can use them. Personally I love both DS-1 for rhythm guitar and RAT for lead guitar at the same time. Pat Smear used it when playing with Nirvana in 1993-1994 and you can clearly hear how massive the sound is by supporting already good sounding band with RAT. Unfortunately never owned Rat, but I will buy it some day. What is the song you play in about 7:07, I don´t know the song but it sounds very cool by your demos...
I’ve had 2 Rat pedals, one blew when I accidentally put an 18v adapter in it! The second one I bought is not quite of the same quality, seems more trebbly than my first one - I wonder if that’s me or there are subtle differences between them.
I had the ds1 and ds2 currently on the big muff op amp, never heard the rat before but that sounds the biz to me. The ds1 sounds to compressed for my liking.
@@thesethingsmakenoises save your money buy the boss me90 ? Floor pedal it has every boss pedal in a nice floor pedal. My friend had the old gfx 700? Rack mount and foot pedal back in the mid 90's. But this Me90 looks a good wee turn it tweek it and save it in a bank unit. £320 a bargain for every Boss pedal.
Second time around for me on this vid, sterling work as ever. I don't play guitar, I love it though, grew up with the UK punk scene. I'd have to say that scooped thing was a late 70's and beyond staple, with the high end cutting through the mix nicely, especially as a lit of it was diy recordings, without the gear we have now. It worked, it helped propel these bands. I've always done more of a tech side of audio and make indusrtial Dub. I find the Rat much better on my drone machines. I think you're right, anecdotally the Rats are shonky internally, I don't use my feet on my pedals and they're usually on all the time. I send the signal through using offboard controls. So I have a Donner Rat clone. Being as I love the build and price I have an old DS-1 clone, the Hothead. Like its notorious Tube Screamer clone, the BM, it has the expanded eq knobs, secret built in cab sim and the twin, amp/mixer outputs, I'd like to see how that sounds with the Bass and Treble at noon or cut slightly, with the level knob cranked? Would it get closer to a Rat? Would it boost the mids a bit?
I'm used to using a Rat going into a Marshall-in-a-box type of pedal, so as you can imagine I have lots of mids that I always have to tame it a little bit. So one day I tried my friend's pedals: a Ds-1 and a Bd-2, oh boy, 2 mid-scooped pedals 😂 I hated the stinking shit out of those things. But this was years ago, today I'm more open minded and willing to give them a second chance 😊
Rat is the right answer imo but ds1 is great after mods. And not even the ones everyone knows, increase the capacitor going into the first transistor and it does a decent big muff impression
Love the more open sound of the RAT. I'm quite the noob when it comes to dialing in the right noises. So I'm hoping you could give me a tip. I totally love the sound you have in the intro and verses on Waltzer. Is it possible to ask for a break down of what you are using?
both of these are affordable pedals, so you should consider having both or maybe a DS-2. And probably buy them before you blow lots of money on boutique pedals. ProCo Rat is a very versatile pedal, and gets pretty wild if you stack it with any kind of boost or overdriver at a lowish gain. You should be able to stomp super hard on that switch if it is good quality. That's one of the problems with ProCo moving manufacturing to China, their components aren't always good. If you can find someone handy with a soldering iron they can easily replace it with a 3PDT foot switch of a better brand (DeMont is an easy to find foot switch brand and of consistent quality. Alpha is well known. Tayda sells their own in house brand as well as kits that are very beginner friendly)
It's the Rat, no contest, it sounds so much more full and way less "clank-y." It's perfect for Teles too. Graham Coxon is also probably the best Rat player as well, the Live At The Budokan album has the Rat all over it. Boss does have the best switches though.
Definitely prefer the Rat. And I love Boss pedals. I have never actually tried a Rat before either, but now I’m going to have to go get one of course. $89 bucks at the local GC!
I own both. I prefer the RAT over the DS-1. I always felt like the RAT you could a much better and fuller tone than the DS-1. But I will say… the DS-1 is a definitely super nostalgic pedal, it was my first pedal I got when I was learning how to play guitar. So I definitely have some good memories to go along with the Boss DS-1. Oh and I agree with you about the RAT not being as strong as the DS-1. I replaced my RAT about a year ago but I’ve had the same DS-1 now for almost 17 years lol.
I like my Boss DS-2, now I have a better idea of how to use it to achieve the sounds I'm looking for. Also I want a Rat pedal now as a replacement for the Tube Screamer clone on my pedal board.
Has anyone tried the Digitech Hothead. Digitech clone of the DS1, but given the Bad Monkey treatment, ie a broken out eq and an extra output to the mixer. Still affordable on Reverb, because you heard it from me not Josh.
I way prefer the sound of a Rat but I’ve never once had a Boss pedal fail on me. Also I’ve found the Rat a little awkward to mount to a pedalboard. They have a screw with a foot near the battery door that makes it a little tricky. Other than that both iconic pedals.
@@thesethingsmakenoises ds-1 waza has the classic mode and a new custom mode. the custom mode sounds a bit fatter and maybe more modern. you should try the pedal if you already like the ds-1😊
@@thesethingsmakenoises yep, it's a cool pedal ...I also like the Boss Fuzz fz-1w by the way ...awesome fuzz/distortion pedal ...greetings from switzerland 😉
DS-1 as a fuzz is good but it loses a lot of mids/treble, on the other hand the ProcoRat, having the 3 drives, can accept it. Greetings from Peru 🇵🇪 P.d: and do you recommend the digitech DF-7 as a bigmuff?
My may has/had a Rat. Sounded great when he used it, I never seemed to like it. Still haven't tried a DS1 ((shock)). Loved my MT2 a lot of.the time, but sold it on eventuality as I ended up just using drive channels on my amps.
@@thesethingsmakenoises I can't tell you the last time I used OD/distortion on a guitar other than by changing channel. But then, I've been playing bass in cover bands for nearly 15 years.
Which did you prefer?
One thing I'd like to add that I noticed while editing - When I showed the RAT being played with the reverb, I actually filmed this after, and I had the wrong settings on the pedal. It was actually the same settings as the 'high gain' sound.
Thanks! I scrolled back just to see that setting and glad I saw this comment. Great video.
I've always been a Boss user since my younger years, and I'm very accustomed to it. It's great. With that being said, I really love what Rat brings to a mix, mids are great with a band in a record or live.
What do tou think of ds-2?
@@ЗлоеЗло-я1ж It's a great pedal as well!
For me the DS-1 sounds weird, I love the midrangey tone of the RAT
The song that Kurt Cobain plugged the rat straight into the recording desk was territorial pissings, it’s why the song is tonally different from everything else on the album
Ahh no way really that makes loads of sense. Love the tone on that song!
Thank you
Kurt also used a SansAmp (Amp Simulator Pedal) that he often used live and in studio
What is cool about the rat pedal is that it acts more like overdrive to the left on the gain, then more like distortion towards the right. Both of these pedals have their place
100%!
I loved that versatility. Especially the warm overdrive tones you can get
also if you turn down the filter you have a good fuzz pedal!
The Rat is so much easier to get a good sound with. Plus who doesnt like blur.
Haha exactly!! Wish I was at Wembley.
@@thesethingsmakenoises i was, it was actual insanity
I do not like Blur
Can't stand blur
Me
Just ordered a RAT after watching this video! Thanks so much for your informative comparison! :)
Legend! No probs 🙌
How is it?
@@sallgoodman2323 Love it man, still using it everyday!!
Amazing video! DS1 was my first pedal when I was 16, so I have a special place in my heart for it. But i LOVE Rat pedals, is my favorite distortion, also is such versatile pedal. Also Graham and Kurt are 2 of my favorite guitar players of all time!
Thanks so much! An awesome choice for your first pedal ✌️Yeah, they’re both amazing guitarists, and Graham Coxon is truly so underrated!
@@thesethingsmakenoises Thank you for the videos! I'm massive alt-rock/grunge/shoegaze fan, so i love your channel!
I finally bought a Rat yesterday! I saw a $57 offer that I couldn't refuse on Reverb and decided to go for it. I can't wait to try it!
You’ll love it mate.
I’ve got a DS1 but off the back of this I think I prefer the Rat.
Was great that you used them on their own, in a song and then with a reverb pedal as well. Really showed the functionality of it 👍🏼
Thanks so much! I honestly think both pedals have their place ✌️
@@thesethingsmakenoises yeah definitely, and each to their own as well… on a side note, I picked up a plumes OD after seeing one of your vids and wanted to thank you. It sounds incredible!!
hey man I really love the channel! I feel like so many ppl who talk about shoegaze on here have absolutely no clue about the genre so it’s nice to see someone with actual expertise
Thanks so much mate!
Main thing about the DS1 is that it was designed mostly as a kind of “puxed amp boost”, like putting it to boost a slightly broken amp like a marshall, thats why it sounds so mid scooped when going through a clean amp
Rat with a treble booster in front of it is amazing.
🤘🤘
Great video!
After a shootout with these two pedals in a guitar store 30 years ago (😂 I'm old), I went with the Rat because of the volume boost. The DS-1 sounded cool, but it didn't seem to boost the volume, which I thought was missing the point of how I was planning on using it. When the song gets loud and you wanna hit the distortion, you want it to get loud with everything else. The DS-1 sort of limits the volume, so, as it 'sounds' loud, it doesn't 'feel' loud (like, in your chest). There are some after-market companies that can mod this for you, but the Rat had it built in.
The TurboRat actually has even MORE volume, which is great for pummelling your amp into soaring Hendrix-style feedback. It can go clean or dirty, has a very useable tone sweep, and works great as a preamp for recording direct bass.
-Funny story: I ordered a TurboRat through the mail (by check, I'm old). They sent a regular Rat by mistake. I had a gig the day it came, and I really wanted to play with a new pedal, so I decided to temporarily use it. I was worried that I'd spill beer or puke on it, so I put it in a Ziploc bag next to my other pedals to keep it clean. It sounded great, but sure enough, a couple of people asked why I had the pedal in a Ziploc. Of course, I told them that I felt that it compressed the sound more to my liking and that they should try it🤣. I exchanged the regular Rat for the Turbo and still use it to this day, it's a tank.
In your demos, the DS1 sounds so timid compared to the Rat, which drops tone and girth. I've used the Rat since it was introduced. Still have one!
Yeah I don’t think I did it justice. I made another video called ‘underrated pedals’ where I revisited it and did it more Justice I think.
Rat was my favorite pedal. Own and tried a bunch, but the Rat stuck around longest
I read for blur song 2, even though he steps on a rat in the video, for the studio recording a DOD FX76 Punkifier was used.
It definitely doesn't sound like a Rat in the song. Maybe if it's being heavily EQ'd.
The answer is yes. Both pedals are amazing and both are incredibly versitile. I can't wait to mix them.
Great shout!
this is probably the best pedal comparing video ive ever seen without going through your channel
the song on nevermind that kurt used on it was territorial pissings, it's one of my favorite off that album 🙂
Ahh no way? Thanks!
I have a RAT and the DS-1. You can get both used pretty cheap. I bought a brand new RAT for like a hundred dollars b/c I was at Sweetwater and just wanted to buy something haha
I bought my EHX Flat Iron Fuzz (a RAT clone) for the same reason!
Excellent videos in general, this one included. We have a lot of the same taste in music it would seem. The big three of 90’s stomp are basically DS-1, Rat, and Big Muff; if you have one of each (clone or otherwise) you’re pretty much covered. Though I would say most folks would be better off with a DS-2 vs a DS-1. Nothing against the DS-1, but Boss took care of all the common DS-1 complaints with mode 1 of the DS-2. It has a very similar distortion character to the DS-1, but way more output volume, it can handle higher output pickups without farting out, and the tone sweep is less harsh, you can get the tone past noon on a DS-2 without it getting harsh. The DS-1 is a legend, no doubt, but mode 1 of the DS-2 is everything people like about a DS-1 without any of the stuff they dislike.
Thanks so much! Ahh I had always wondered, maybe it’s time for me to buy a DS-2!!
I've never owned either of these but I the love the tone from both of them ♥
Thanks! They really are capable of some great stuff 🤘
Got both and my fav is the Rat. Can't go wrong with either but my taste has evolved and now I'd add a BD-2 or Boss FZ to the Rat. Not that the DS-1 is a bad pedal, it is a classic for a reason.
As always great video.
Fair play! Rat is so well rounded isn’t it.
Thanks again mate!
Today noodled with both, the RAT is great though darker sounding then I forgot the tonesetting on DS-1 😂
I prefer the Rat as well, but I actually just bought a DS-2 Turbo Distortion and it's my favourite. Has that midrange with all of the aggression of the DS-1. Also, as both a guitarist and a singer, I find it easier to step on BOSS pedals while I'm performing. Sometimes I miss the switch on other pedals, but never with BOSS. That's why my board is all BOSS except for my tuner haha.
DS-2 seems to be getting a lot of love! Yeah that’s a really good point actually, they’re super easy to step on. Can’t beat that design for practicality really!
I paired the DS2 with BD2 this cover all sounds I like from big muff to rat
THIS VIDEO SHOWED ON MY FEED EXACTLY IN THE SECOND I NEEDED IT
I like to go distorion into overdrive, particularly the ds-1, it can really revive those mids as you pointed out. I've never owned a rat but I've been thinking about getting one cause GAS
Great tip! The rat is a really great pedal, i think you'll love it.
Simple answer is to buy both and layer them in your recordings!
DS1 sounds a bit thin on its own, but run it into another OD, such as a BD2, at low gain, and it fattens it back up while keeping shape of the distortion. Also, swapping one of the clipping diodes for an LED gives a nicer asymmetric sound.
I did that with SD-1 and just when I was about to give up on the pedal, I've found a new dimension to DS-1.
Great video dude!!! you really helped me on some decisions that i was on the fence about. Everyone is different with their own sound, and this video really helped. Well done!!!
Great job on the videos - I've been really enjoying them over the last few weeks. I felt I should mention that I own the re-issue of the big box rat (without the LED - from the late 90s) and I also had issue with the foot switch - I got switch replaced and have never had an issue since.
PS: I also love a good hard stomp! Keep it up sir.
Thanks so much! Ohh nice, maybe there’s an issue with the switches they use then? I’ll look at getting mine replaced. ✌️
i prefer the Rat, but the two people i love who’ve used them used them in pretty unorthodox ways. Brian Aubert from Silversun Pickups (a band i think you’d really like TTMN guy) turns the distortion up to max and combines it with a short delay to create this awesome, ultra compressed lead sound (he used a BMP before that, but i prefer the Rat), but Steve Von Till from Neurosis uses two of these into two amps, one set to kill and one to massage the high gain channel of his Mesa Boogie.
I absolutely love Silversun Pickups, you’re right! I don’t actually know Neurosis, but that sounds like a really cool way to use the pedal!
@@thesethingsmakenoises Neurosis are super heavy, but yeah, Silversun Pickups are fantastic.
I like how you didnt make the common mistake of turning the DS-1's tone knob past noon. You can always back it off to get rid of that fizz. I guess it depends on your amp as well. cheers
Yeah it’s a fine like between awesome and brittle on that pedal haha
@@thesethingsmakenoises have you tried the Rat with the LM308 chip?
Love your knowledge! And that you care about your video quality!!!
Get both! I use both on the same pedalboard and swap between the two, the Ds-1 sound is great for making your stuff sound like it’s from the 90’s and the turbo rat I have makes everything sound fuller and the light distortion it’s capable to making is awesome!
I have both pedals and love them both
Awesome pedals aren’t they!
I’d recommend the Rat or Rat clone a someone’s first dirt pedal. It’s pretty versatile throughout the distortion pot. Overdrive, distortion and fuzz. Also, the slight mid hump helps going into a clean Fender. The mid scoop of the DS-1 can make your guitar sound like it goes down in the mix when clicked on depending on the amp. The Rat can clean up with your guitar’s volume knob as well.
I switch back and forth depending on the song because they are both awesome!
Obviously the RAT is the better choice for most people. But it's totally doable with a DS-1. I prefer distortion to fuzz.
🤘🤘
I too have the same issue with the bypass switch on the Rat.
Ahh no way! Did you manage to fix it with a new switch?
Have owned both for years. I think the DS-1 does its own tone really well, like no other pedal can - but the Rat is my go-to, for many of the reasons listed here. Even if it can sometimes be a pain to dial it in just right - once you do, it's a beast that can take anything you throw at it.
I see Kurt and Graham and the same video?!
This is probably my dream of distorsion pedal
Yeah!
Awesome video - Both sounded so good with reverb! Slightly prefer the rat!
Thanks so much! It does have a super 'complete' sound doesn't it!
Wow. I’m so glad I found this channel! This is my world as a guitarist - UA-cam doesn’t have a ton of that stuff (I can dig the Polyphia vibe but I don’t/can’t play it)
Thanks so much mate! Me too haha 😂
I had the DS-1 and used it only with practically no gain, going into other distortion pedals to tighten them up. DS-1 is great into a distorted Marshall amp. The Rat is one of my favorite distortion pedals, it just has something special.
That sounds like a great shout with the DS-1 I’ll have a go into a cranked Marshall!
Great comparison 👏
My first pedal ever was a ds 1 because Kurt used to use one but I didnt really enjoy it as much as I thought I would. Sold it and now Im thinking of getting a rat.
Fair play, give a Rat a go, I’m sure you’ll love it!
I preferred the sound of the Rat just from this video. The DS-1 has a brittle fizzy top end I don't like. It seemed to sit on top and separate from the mix. It almost had that digital sound I associate with bad amp sims.
I’ve been DS-1 loyal for so long but I’m starting to think with what I’m going for in my sound now the RAT might actually be better for me.
Someone else on yt did a comparison video if the different distortions kurt used and i came away liking the rat, but i couldn't nail down which version kurt used so i haven't pursued it yet.
I still have my DS-2, literally took it apart and cleaned it last night.
My grunge pedals aren't in the board at the moment, one being dead and the other having the wrong kind of power jack.
My BIT is defective in some way and didn't get on the board. The MD-2 mega distortion is also not working so out it went.
The jhs multi muff went in the board last night, and the blue sky 2 went on today.
You should consider a video on physical placement vs signal chain placement. I know you have the pedal board build video which is great for a tour board, I'm curious about a "dream" board. I tend to want every pedal I own to be in the chain somewhere so I COULD use it, even if I might not use it.
Side note: I know you tend to point to your previous videos in the vid itself but my yt app blocks those. Think you could add the vids you reference in the description as well?
Yeah I’m not 100% sure, I guess it could have been any really couldn’t it?! The ds2 looks like a really cool pedal. Shame I’ve never owned one.
Oh know, what’s wrong with the BIT?
Oh awesome how do the new JHS/Bluesky sound? Have you had chance to play them yet?
Yeah that’s a good idea for a video actually! Thanks!
Oh no probs, yeah I’ll look at doing that ☺️
@@thesethingsmakenoises
The DS2 isn't really a huge progression from the DS-1. i don't know a single person who uses the switch to go between normal and turbo modes, so i get the feeling that a lot is left on the table. I don't know what changes, if any, the non-turbo DS-1 side has from an original DS-1, but i can't imagine switching between normal and turbo without adjusting the tone as the DS2 side is a bit bright/high-endy.
the BIT was having this weird issue where my sound out of the speaker was completely cutting out and "normal" levels. low levels seemed to do okay, and none of the other pedals had similar issues. i took it apart and the soldering is top notch, so i don't think there's a problem there. it may just not be a pedal i can use myself if this is what it is supposed to do.
Welp, the blue sky is killer, though after you showcasing it i knew it would be. I'm not traditionally a reverb guy so this is VERY new territory for me, but i was able to sit in my studio room and just zone out on a newish riff/song and kinda just let the reverb surround me while i got lost in it. The JHS muffuletta i have turned out to be a v1 (which is why it was so cheap i guess) and it doesn't have the OpAmp/Pumpkin Pi variant so i'm a lot less excited about it now. haven't really played with it since then, but at least it is in the board...it only took me like 3 months.
with the reverb I think turning down the time but the effect up would be nice
Brilliant demonstration video, both distortions are good for post hardcore/noise rock bands
As for reverb i would like to try a FX 40 soft focus by catlinbread and my Boss OS 2 for Distortion.
Thanks mate. That fx40 looks really awesome!
I'm a Metalhead that likes all distortion pedals because fuzz, distortion, overdrive, reverb, delay, chorus, phaser, flanger, and wah can be used in all styles of Hard Rock, and Heavy Metal including Extreme Metal such as Death Metal, Black Metal, and my favorite style of Extreme Metal which is Doom Metal.
I didn’t know doom metal was extreme metal but then again I’ve only dipped my toe into the genre
Cool story bro
I've been agonizing over which of these two pedals I wanted to add to my board. No longer. Your comparison technique was brilliant! My rig will sound better with a Rat, it more represents the tone I'm trying to achieve. Fuller, rounder, I dunno, just sounds better. Cheers!
Awesome, thanks so much! Really pleased it was helpful. ✌️
For me Rat is the winner! It has a jfet buffer just before output level pot, and it probably adds some tube kind of sound to it.
I use a rat pedal as my always on boost pedal as it does the job better than any of my dedicated boosts or over drives. I ended up buying a DS1 to cover the higher gain distortion as I ended up using the rat as a boost. I like to run the DS1 into the rat about 9 o clock on the gain. The rat sounds pretty similar to a light crunch on a marshall amp this way.
Love the RAT! but just to throw some sunshine the other way, the DS1 is a great pedal for recording guitar and getting it clear in the mix.
RAT. Nothing wrong with the Boss, but the RAT is super versatile. From low gain to high gain to borderline fuzz there is not a bad sound there as long as you don´t go below the 10 o´clock on the filter
Bro you didn’t mention REM. Monster was pretty much the rat into an ac30 the whole album 🙏
Ahh man! Missed out there, I didn’t know that!
sometimes when dirt or dust gets in a foot switch it causes the defect you described with the rat hit the switch with a tiny sprits of wd40 an it fixes it right up
Nice review of those pedals showing the differences and how similar you can use them. Personally I love both DS-1 for rhythm guitar and RAT for lead guitar at the same time. Pat Smear used it when playing with Nirvana in 1993-1994 and you can clearly hear how massive the sound is by supporting already good sounding band with RAT. Unfortunately never owned Rat, but I will buy it some day. What is the song you play in about 7:07, I don´t know the song but it sounds very cool by your demos...
I’ve had 2 Rat pedals, one blew when I accidentally put an 18v adapter in it! The second one I bought is not quite of the same quality, seems more trebbly than my first one - I wonder if that’s me or there are subtle differences between them.
RAT is my favourite because of more dirty/more grainy sound
Yeah nice!!
After this cool video i would go for the RAT!
good video. I like the Rat best. Just have more fun using it.
Thanks! Epic pedals aren’t they 🤘
I had the ds1 and ds2 currently on the big muff op amp, never heard the rat before but that sounds the biz to me. The ds1 sounds to compressed for my liking.
I think I need to get myself a DS-2! Looks like everyone is loving it in the comments. Yeah the Rat is an epic pedal.
@@thesethingsmakenoises save your money buy the boss me90 ? Floor pedal it has every boss pedal in a nice floor pedal. My friend had the old gfx 700? Rack mount and foot pedal back in the mid 90's. But this Me90 looks a good wee turn it tweek it and save it in a bank unit. £320 a bargain for every Boss pedal.
Both. Obviously. Also Graham Coxon. Legend.
🤘🤘 indeed!
Rat and You Dirty Rat varient, plus DS-2 in Turbo mode. All "middly", all great!
Second time around for me on this vid, sterling work as ever.
I don't play guitar, I love it though, grew up with the UK punk scene.
I'd have to say that scooped thing was a late 70's and beyond staple, with the high end cutting through the mix nicely, especially as a lit of it was diy recordings, without the gear we have now. It worked, it helped propel these bands.
I've always done more of a tech side of audio and make indusrtial Dub. I find the Rat much better on my drone machines.
I think you're right, anecdotally the Rats are shonky internally, I don't use my feet on my pedals and they're usually on all the time. I send the signal through using offboard controls. So I have a Donner Rat clone. Being as I love the build and price I have an old DS-1 clone, the Hothead. Like its notorious Tube Screamer clone, the BM, it has the expanded eq knobs, secret built in cab sim and the twin, amp/mixer outputs, I'd like to see how that sounds with the Bass and Treble at noon or cut slightly, with the level knob cranked? Would it get closer to a Rat? Would it boost the mids a bit?
thing about ds1 is that it’s better to start with tone all the way off. pedal has incredible dynamic range
I was totally team Boss before watching this video but I think I'm now gonna go and pick up a Rat instead!!
They’re both awesome pedals dude, the rat does just sound so well rounded in my opinion though’
Which one do you recommend for a Heavy Rock sound? I've been kicking around with this Metallic Grunge idea.
Regarding your RAT switch problem, you need BW-100 to make it work properly.
I'm used to using a Rat going into a Marshall-in-a-box type of pedal, so as you can imagine I have lots of mids that I always have to tame it a little bit. So one day I tried my friend's pedals: a Ds-1 and a Bd-2, oh boy, 2 mid-scooped pedals 😂 I hated the stinking shit out of those things. But this was years ago, today I'm more open minded and willing to give them a second chance 😊
I like the RAT, cause I love that early arctic monkeys sound
Rat is the right answer imo but ds1 is great after mods. And not even the ones everyone knows, increase the capacitor going into the first transistor and it does a decent big muff impression
Awesome!
Love the more open sound of the RAT.
I'm quite the noob when it comes to dialing in the right noises. So I'm hoping you could give me a tip.
I totally love the sound you have in the intro and verses on Waltzer. Is it possible to ask for a break down of what you are using?
Yeah sure! That was the plumes overdrive just into a clean amp. I imagine it was my jazzmaster which gives it that chimey sound!
@@thesethingsmakenoises Cool. Thanks. That plumes sure seems brilliant 👍
"The switches go" proceeds to show Instagram short of you stamping your pedal board through the floor 😂😂
Hahaha! It’s an illness 😂
Getting into some My Bloody Valentine and Ride territory. Nice! Great video. Thanks.
both of these are affordable pedals, so you should consider having both or maybe a DS-2. And probably buy them before you blow lots of money on boutique pedals.
ProCo Rat is a very versatile pedal, and gets pretty wild if you stack it with any kind of boost or overdriver at a lowish gain.
You should be able to stomp super hard on that switch if it is good quality. That's one of the problems with ProCo moving manufacturing to China, their components aren't always good. If you can find someone handy with a soldering iron they can easily replace it with a 3PDT foot switch of a better brand (DeMont is an easy to find foot switch brand and of consistent quality. Alpha is well known. Tayda sells their own in house brand as well as kits that are very beginner friendly)
I get the sentiment, but the Mesa Studio Preamp and the Fender amps were a much bigger part of Nevermind than a DS1.
It's the Rat, no contest, it sounds so much more full and way less "clank-y." It's perfect for Teles too. Graham Coxon is also probably the best Rat player as well, the Live At The Budokan album has the Rat all over it. Boss does have the best switches though.
Yeah it is such a well rounded tone isn’t it! Such an awesome guitarist! And yeah you can’t beat that Boss build design.
@@thesethingsmakenoises Graham is a genius with effects, using them like a seasoning, and the Rat works so well as a base.
Definitely prefer the Rat. And I love Boss pedals. I have never actually tried a Rat before either, but now I’m going to have to go get one of course. $89 bucks at the local GC!
I own both. I prefer the RAT over the DS-1. I always felt like the RAT you could a much better and fuller tone than the DS-1. But I will say… the DS-1 is a definitely super nostalgic pedal, it was my first pedal I got when I was learning how to play guitar. So I definitely have some good memories to go along with the Boss DS-1.
Oh and I agree with you about the RAT not being as strong as the DS-1. I replaced my RAT about a year ago but I’ve had the same DS-1 now for almost 17 years lol.
I had the same problem with the RAT switch!!!
Annoying isn’t it!
I like my Boss DS-2, now I have a better idea of how to use it to achieve the sounds I'm looking for. Also I want a Rat pedal now as a replacement for the Tube Screamer clone on my pedal board.
Has anyone tried the Digitech Hothead. Digitech clone of the DS1, but given the Bad Monkey treatment, ie a broken out eq and an extra output to the mixer. Still affordable on Reverb, because you heard it from me not Josh.
Hahaha! Keep it a secret otherwise it’ll be $500 in no time
I’m about to buy one or the other and can’t decide which. Do you know what one sounds more “fuzzy”?
Always had a ds2 with me since 1999. I will get a Rat!
I way prefer the sound of a Rat but I’ve never once had a Boss pedal fail on me. Also I’ve found the Rat a little awkward to mount to a pedalboard. They have a screw with a foot near the battery door that makes it a little tricky. Other than that both iconic pedals.
I guess I need both. To my ear,v.the Rat fit better with the Smashing Pumpkins examp!e but the DS1 better with the Shoe Gaze example.
cool video ...have the DS-1 Waza and it's incredible for low and higain and a bit more versatile with the two settings.😊
Ahh awesome. What did they do to it? Is it low gain/high gain settings?
@@thesethingsmakenoises ds-1 waza has the classic mode and a new custom mode. the custom mode sounds a bit fatter and maybe more modern. you should try the pedal if you already like the ds-1😊
Ahh awesome. That sound great!!
@@thesethingsmakenoises yep, it's a cool pedal ...I also like the Boss Fuzz fz-1w by the way ...awesome fuzz/distortion pedal ...greetings from switzerland 😉
I own a DS-1 I love it, but I REALLLY want to get my hands on a Rat
DS-1 as a fuzz is good but it loses a lot of mids/treble, on the other hand the ProcoRat, having the 3 drives, can accept it.
Greetings from Peru 🇵🇪
P.d: and do you recommend the digitech DF-7 as a bigmuff?
Yeah definitely! Greetings back to you 👋
I haven’t looked into it actually, I’ll have a look ☺️
My may has/had a Rat. Sounded great when he used it, I never seemed to like it. Still haven't tried a DS1 ((shock)). Loved my MT2 a lot of.the time, but sold it on eventuality as I ended up just using drive channels on my amps.
Yeah can’t beat an amp drive can you! The MT2 gets a lot of hate but it’s actually a great pedal. Our bassist actually uses it on certain songs haha!
@@thesethingsmakenoises I can't tell you the last time I used OD/distortion on a guitar other than by changing channel. But then, I've been playing bass in cover bands for nearly 15 years.
@@BellsCuriosityShop Haha fair!
I have owned and used both since the late 1980s, I tend to prefer the rat.
🤘🤘
The rat sounds good with any amp.
First Rat player that comes to mind for me is Nuno Bettencourt. He would have it on all the time.
so what you're saying is that the LED on the rat pedal is right in the a hole?
Get both because they look cool next to eachother
Btw, David Gilmour of Pink Floyd is a notorious Rat user as well. Who doesn’t LOVE his tone?
thing about the ds1 is that it requires a lot of tweaking amp wise.
If you know how to set everything up, youre golden. If not…
I have a DS1 and I don't even play guitar XD
Hahaha! Boss must have found the cheat code to selling.