EarthQuaker Devices Barrows Fuzz vs ProCo RAT 2
The EarthQuaker Devices Barrows Fuzz and the ProCo RAT 2 are both pedals sharing sustaining, full, saturated. The ProCo RAT 2 leans low gain and fuzzy. Current prices: $119 vs $88.
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Blended from circuit-archetype lineage, dynamic feel, tone-signal overlap and tone-vector distance — the tone vector itself is derived from editorial description text, not a measured acoustic signal, so this reflects how similarly the catalog copy describes the two, not a lab measurement. Shown only within a gear class, and only where there's enough evidence to be meaningful.36% — somewhat different
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Genres both listings are associated with.- Rock
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Derived from overlapping tonal signals across both listings.- sustaining
- full
- saturated
- transparent
- mid-forward
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Citation/mention fame — how often this gear is cited across artist rigs and gear discussion.$119via Reverb
$88via Reverb
The EarthQuaker Devices Barrows Fuzz Attacker is a compact fuzz pedal from the Akron, Ohio boutique builder, delivering warm, velvety fuzz with midrange bite and phat, full-bodied saturation. The circuit prioritizes thickness and sustain over pick articulation, producing warm fuzz that suits sludge, doom rock, and bass guitar applications. A compact enclosure makes the Barrows practical for space-limited pedalboards. Suited for doom, sludge, stoner rock, and bass players seeking warm fuzz density.
The ProCo RAT 2 is a classic hard-clipping distortion pedal whose circuit dates to the late 1970s, built around an LM308 op-amp and silicon diode clipping. Its three controls are Distortion, Filter, and Volume, with the distinctive Filter knob acting as a reversed tone control that runs from bright and cutting to dark and warm. Capable of far more than its name suggests, it spans gritty low-gain overdrive, thick midrange distortion, and nearly fuzz-like saturation while keeping notes present and clear even at high gain. It is a staple of punk, grunge, garage, stoner, doom, and alternative rock, and has been used by players from Jeff Beck and Thom Yorke to countless heavy and experimental guitarists. Dynamic and harmonically rich, it cleans up with guitar volume and stays articulate rather than overly compressed.
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Genres this gear is documented as being used in.- Stoner Rock
- Alternative Rock
- Experimental
- Punk
- Grunge
- Metal
- Hard Rock
- low gain
- fuzzy
- gritty
- dynamic