🎛️ Pedal settings · Distortion

ProCo RAT settings

A gritty, versatile distortion that goes from light crunch to searing fuzz-like lead.

Recommended starting point
Distortion
5
medium crunch
Filter
4
a touch bright (remember it is reversed)
Volume
5
unity
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What each knob does

DistortionGain amount — huge range from mild grit to saturated lead.
FilterA reverse tone control: turning it DOWN adds treble, turning it UP darkens the tone.
VolumeOutput level.

Tips

The Filter knob works backwards — clockwise makes it darker. Set it low-to-mid for a bright, cutting tone.
Rolled back Distortion (2–3) gives a great transparent-ish crunch; maxed it becomes a thick, fuzzy lead voice.

Famous uses

Jeff Beck, Radiohead (Thom Yorke/Jonny Greenwood), Kurt Cobain, Dave Grohl.

Compare the RAT

Big Muff Vs Proco Rat →Proco Rat Vs Boss Ds1 →

More distortion pedals

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ProCo RAT settings — FAQ

What are good ProCo RAT settings?

A solid starting point is Distortion 5, Filter around 3–4 (bright — the Filter is reversed, so lower = brighter), and Volume at unity. Lower the Distortion for a crunch, raise it for a saturated lead.

Which way does the RAT Filter knob work?

Backwards compared to a normal tone control: turning the Filter UP rolls off treble (darker), turning it DOWN adds treble (brighter). Keep it low-to-mid for a cutting tone.

Recommended starting points are community-researched estimates — every pedal, amp and guitar is different. Dial from here, then GuitarToneAdapt helps you match a target tone on your own rig. Pedal comparisons · Amp settings · All tones