Jhs Pedals Packrat

A "RAT" in the DNA: 40 Years of Evolution Packed into One Pedal

Born in the late 1970s in Michigan, the Pro Co RAT established itself as one of the most influential distortion circuits, capable of navigating between muscular overdrive, sharp distortion, and abrasive fuzz depending on the setting and attack. The JHS Pedals PackRat takes this founding idea much further: it condenses several decades of evolutions, revisions, and mods around a single sonic core, with a 100% analog approach. The result: a "sound box" dedicated to the RAT tone, designed to reproduce precise signatures from different periods, but also to inspire modern combinations.

Who Is It For? From Rock Riffs to Gritty Textures, in Studio and Live

The PackRat is aimed at guitarists who love characterful saturation: rock, punk, grunge, stoner, indie, hard rock riffs, and even some old-school metal approaches when seeking attack and bite. It is also perfect for studio musicians who want to quickly select a tone (tighter, more open, more compressed, or "dirtier") depending on the guitar, amp, and song. On stage, it's a formidable solution: one pedal for multiple distortion voices, with a dynamic response that reacts to playing nuances and guitar volume.

9 Analog Modes: Historical Revisions, Cult Variants, and Inspired Mods

The concept is simple: offer several faithful interpretations of the RAT circuit, each with its own personality (filtering, gain level, compression, clipping type). The PackRat then becomes a sculpting tool: first choose the mode for the overall "texture," then fine-tune with the controls to place the distortion in the mix, thicken a lead, or toughen up a riff.

• The OG V1 (1979-83): reproduction of the very first RATs, with an iconic tone and direct attack.
• White Face V3 (1984-1986): a more traditional "Filter" approach rather than a simple "Tone," useful for controlling brightness.
• Turbo V5 (1989): LED clipping for more powerful distortion, increased headroom, and enhanced impact.
• BRAT V6 (1997): a more atypical and very original version, with a strong character and immediate big sound.
• Dirty V7 (2004): germanium diodes for even dirtier, rougher, and more organic saturation.
• LA (1986): inspired by the LA Metal, a particularly striking variation from this period.
• Landgraff MO'D (1999): a high-end RAT-style distortion, appreciated for its balance and lead effectiveness.
• Caroline Wave Cannon: a modern reinterpretation of the RAT concept, with a strong identity and excellent presence.
• JHS Mode: JHS's vision, built around what Scott loves most in this circuit, enriched with his favorite modifications.

The Sound

The PackRat is above all a grain pedal: a present midrange that helps the guitar cut through, a texture ranging from tight crunchy to gritty saturated, and the ability to shift from a sharp and precise sound to something thicker and "dirtier" depending on the chosen mode. It excels when you want distortion with character that "speaks" under the fingers, with a sensitive response to attack: playing softer yields more definition, while digging in thickens the saturation and makes it more aggressive. Depending on the mode, you can favor a more open and powerful saturation (LED type), or conversely a more pronounced compression and rawer bite (germanium type / dirtier variants).

Technical specifications

Effects	Distortion / Overdrive / Fuzz, Fuzz, Distortion, Overdrive	Type	sector
Technology	Analog	Use	electric guitar
Format	Pedal	Color	Black
EQ	Tone

Saturation pedal	overdrive, distortion, and fuzz	Power supply	9V DC (center negative)
9 modes	The OG V1 (1979-83), White Face V3 (1984-1986), Turbo V5 (1989), BRAT V6 (1997), Dirty V7 (2004), LA (1986), Landgraff MO'D (1999), Caroline Wave Cannon, JHS Mode	Current	requires a power supply capable of delivering at least 100 mA
Clipping varies by mode	diodes (including germanium) and LED (depending on the reproduced version)