For guitarists chasing that raw, snarling distortion, the ProCo RAT pedal has long been a benchmark. Its distinctive and aggressive tones have inspired countless DIY enthusiasts to create their own versions. General Guitar Gadgets, a respected name in the DIY community, offers their own spin on this iconic circuit with the Rodent kit, a project I recently had the pleasure of assembling and testing.
General Guitar Gadgets stands out as a family-run business dedicated to providing high-quality kits, or “Projects,” for those looking to delve into amplifier and pedal cloning. Beyond their kits, they are also a valuable resource for the DIY community, freely sharing schematics and offering guidance for pedal and amp builders of all levels.
I was fortunate enough to build their Rodent kit, and I’m excited to share my experience and insights with you.
General Guitar Gadgets Rodent Pedal Kit Assembled on White Background
Assembling the Rodent Pedal Kit
Initially, I felt a slight sense of apprehension. While I’m comfortable with minor pedal modifications, like these Boss DS-1 mods I previously undertook, building a pedal from scratch was a relatively new venture for me. The General Guitar Gadgets kit arrived with a blank circuit board, all necessary electronic components, and an unpainted enclosure. It looked like a project, to say the least.
General Guitar Gadgets Rodent DIY Pedal Kit Components and Circuit Board
Photo Courtesy of General Guitar Gadgets
Fortunately, General Guitar Gadgets provides incredibly detailed online instructions. This step-by-step manual guided me through the entire assembly process, making what seemed daunting surprisingly manageable. In fact, the process was so smooth that I became engrossed and forgot to document the build with photos along the way!
With a basic understanding of soldering and the right DIY pedal building tools, coupled with the clear instructions from General Guitar Gadgets, I genuinely believe that anyone can successfully build one of these kits.
The Sound of the Completed Rodent Pedal
Assembled General Guitar Gadgets Rodent Pedal with Silver Knobs and Black Enclosure
This pedal is a powerhouse! It delivers the perfect amount of distortion for achieving massive, heavy rock tones that still cut through the mix in a live band setting. Running it through my Marshall JCM900, the sound is simply colossal.
The General Guitar Gadgets Rodent instantly hits you with that thick, rich distortion that is characteristic of the original RAT pedal. The Tone (or Filter) control is where this pedal truly shines in terms of versatility. It sweeps from thick, low-end rumble that could rattle walls to searing, high-end screams that will command attention. This tonal flexibility is a key reason why the RAT is a go-to distortion for so many renowned guitarists, and the Rodent confidently stands shoulder-to-shoulder with the original.
For this build, I opted for the LM308 OpAmp, known for capturing the classic ProCo RAT sound. However, the kit also includes the OP07 OpAmp, which itself produces impressive distortion. Having tested both the LM308 and the OP07 in the Rodent, I can confirm that both offer fantastic and distinct distortion flavors.
Final Verdict on the General Guitar Gadgets Rodent Kit
5 out of 5 stars. This rating reflects both the exceptional tone and the straightforward build process. The Rodent delivers the sought-after RAT distortion tones flawlessly, and assembling the kit was surprisingly easy and enjoyable. If you’re interested in exploring the world of DIY pedal building and are looking for a fantastic sounding distortion pedal kit that offers great value, I wholeheartedly recommend the Rodent and the other excellent kits available from General Guitar Gadgets.
