Rodent (ProCoTM RatTM Distortion Replica) Instructions

Version 2009February12 Copyright 2009 JD Sleep

Permission refused for posting/ser ing this file from any site other than !!!"generalguitargadgets"#om

This is the Rodent Distortion kit, a replica of the ProCo Rat. There were/are several versions of the Rat. This project and kit is based on an older version of the Rat circuit sometimes known as version ! . "t does not include a #$%T on the input of the circuit as version & had. %'perimentation has shown the input #$%T does not have much effect on the sound and is probabl( not worth the e'tra parts to include it in this project.

The Opamp
The ori)inal Rat used the *+,-., which is now obsolete and e'pensive to bu(, thou)h still available from some sources. The datasheet for the *+,-. states that the special characteristics of this opamp are ver( low input bias current, low suppl( current, and )uaranteed drift characteristics, characteristics not normall( important to audio. $urther checkin) of the datasheet shows the slew rate of the *+,-. /-.01 2/microsecond3 is dismal compared to a t(pical audio opamp, like a T*-40, which " think is the ke( to wh( it sounds )reat in the R&T circuit. Comparin) the *+,-. to both the T*-50 and the T*-40, the T* opamps sound 67 in the Rat circuit, the( are bri)hter and more of a heav( metal t(pe of tone, and there is some plinkin) to the attack. The *+,-. )ives a warmer tone, less treble, and
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Rodent (ProCoTM RatTM Distortion Replica) Instructions

Version 2009February12 Copyright 2009 JD Sleep
Permission refused for posting/ser ing this file from any site other than !!!"generalguitargadgets"#om

with a smoother, more tube9like attack, no plinkin) . The dismal slew rate ma( be responsible for this 9 the opamp simpl( cannot reproduce the pick attack at hi)h )ain. The *+0-. or a *+:-. should work the same as the *+,-., the specs are the same e'cept the 0-. and :-. are )uaranteed over a wider temperature ran)e. There are also other opamps like the *+0- or the 6P9-.% with ver( similar specs. This kit uses the 6P-4 opamp that is used in the current model Rat distortions. ;e compared the sound of this circuit with the *+,-. "C and the 6P-4 "C and found little or no difference in the sound. <our results ma( var(, dependin) on (our )uitar and ri). $or that reason, the kit does include a "C socket, so if (ou wish to find and purchase a *+,-. or other "C on (our own and tr( them out, it will be eas( to do. The project also includes a nice little add9on that allows (ou to set the bias on the #$%T. The volta)e divider of R0: and R0, sets the volta)e on the 0 me) )ate resistor, which in turn sets the source volta)e. The ori)inal had that 0 me) resistor set to )round volta)e and if (ou want (our Rodent to be as ori)inal, leave R0, blank and use the included - ohm resistor /jumper3 for R0:. This will set the volta)e into R= at )round volta)e as ori)inal. ;e recommend the values listed for R0: and R0, as we believe it sounds a little better. Total current consumption of the entire effect is about , ma, which means lon) batter( life.

Populating the PCB

>se the project documents provided, startin) with the ?eneral !uild "nstructions. There are a couple of options for populatin) the small ceramic capacitors. @ince the( are usuall( available in two different lead spacin)s and itAs sometimes difficult to source the caps with just the ri)ht lead spacin), there are optional lead spacin) holes for C, and C8. @ee the dia)ram below for placement.

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Rodent (ProCoTM RatTM Distortion Replica) Instructions

Version 2009February12 Copyright 2009 JD Sleep
Permission refused for posting/ser ing this file from any site other than !!!"generalguitargadgets"#om

The output capacitor C0- placement is similar. The kit includes a )reat soundin) aluminum electrol(tic capacitor, but 0u$ film cap can be used if (ou are sourcin) (our own parts.

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Rodent (ProCoTM RatTM Distortion Replica) Instructions

Version 2009February12 Copyright 2009 JD Sleep
Permission refused for posting/ser ing this file from any site other than !!!"generalguitargadgets"#om

BereAs an inside view of the unit we built to )ive (ou a real view of our construction.

Bere is a chart of volta)es taken at the "C pins. >se these volta)es as a )uideline. <ou ma( not )et the e'act readin)s listed, but should be somewhere in the area.

Component
= volt power suppl( "C0

Location
Pin 0 Pin : Pin , Pin 8 Pin 1 Pin 5 Pin 4 Pin .

Voltage
=v ..8v 8.1v 8.0v -v -v 8.1v =v 8.5v

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