Proco Lilrat - Distorsion

A cult distortion, condensed into a "mini" version

Heard on an impressive number of recordings, the RAT has marked the history of saturated sounds thanks to its unique balance: more aggressive than an overdrive, but more controllable than a fuzz. The Lil' RAT carries this philosophy in a smaller format, without sacrificing the essentials: a rich grain, musical compression, and the ability to switch from main drive to a powerful boost.

This compact version retains the "plug and play" spirit of the range: few controls, but a huge palette of textures, from classic rock to punk, through snappy blues, alternative, and even some jazzier approaches when dialing in the saturation.

For whom and for what: from cutting riffs to singing solos

The Pro Co Lil' RAT is aimed at guitarists who want an expressive distortion that's easy to dial in, whether you're a beginner looking for a first serious saturated tone, or an experienced musician seeking a compact pedal with a strong character.

In live settings, it's formidable for cutting through the mix: sharp attack, present mids, and enough gain reserve for dense rhythms as well as sustaining leads. In studio, its filter allows quick adjustment of the high frequencies to find the right balance between bite and roundness, depending on the guitar, amp, and mic setup.

It also pairs very well with the guitar's volume control: slightly roll down the volume knob to clean up and open the sound, then roll it back up to instantly regain bite and saturation.

Controls and design: three potentiometers, a true sonic palette

The Lil' RAT gets straight to the point with three controls, calibrated to be immediately useful. The DISTORTION knob adjusts the amount of saturation: turning it left yields a snappy, articulate crunch, then as you turn it up you gain sustain, compression, and density, up to more abrasive textures.

The FILTER is the secret weapon of the RAT family: it "sculpts" the upper spectrum by removing more or fewer highs. The more you turn it right, the rounder and darker the sound becomes; to the left, the guitar regains bite and presence.

The VOLUME controls the output level independently of the gain: handy for balancing your volume in bypass, or conversely pushing the amp's input for more impact. On the build side, you find the Pro Co approach: 100% analog signal processing, true bypass, components and assembly designed to withstand rehearsals and stage use, with electronics on glass epoxy and a battery access advertised as simple (battery sold separately).

The sound

The Lil' RAT stands out with a dense grain and slightly rough distortion, with a sensation of solid mids that helps the guitar remain clear in a band context. It can be biting and aggressive for punk or rock riffs, but also surprisingly singing for solos, especially when the Filter is set to let just the right amount of highs through.

Its dynamics are very sensitive to playing: hitting hard makes the sound tighten and compress more; playing lighter (or lowering the guitar volume) makes it more open and airy. This is typically the kind of pedal that "responds" to your right hand and gives real personality to any clean or slightly crunchy amp.

Technical specifications

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

Signal processing	100% analog	Weight	229 g
Potentiometers	Distortion, Filter, Volume	Required power supply	9V DC
Input	6.35mm (1/4") TS jack	Current consumption	about 5 mA
Output	6.35mm (1/4") TS jack	Recommended power supply current	at least 50 mA
Dimensions (L x H x D)	8.55 x 5.08 x 5.72 cm