MXR Distortion+ vs ProCo RAT 2
The MXR Distortion+ and the ProCo RAT 2 are both pedals sharing gritty, full, bright. The ProCo RAT 2 leans low gain and fuzzy. Current prices: $169.99 vs $88.
cited
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.47% — somewhat different
cited
Genres both listings are associated with.- Hard Rock
- Rock
- Metal
- Punk
cited
Derived from overlapping tonal signals across both listings.- gritty
- full
- bright
MXR Distortion+
MXR · pedal
ProCo RAT 2
Proco · pedal
cited
Citation/mention fame — how often this gear is cited across artist rigs and gear discussion.$169.99via Reverb
$88via Reverb
The MXR Distortion Plus is a classic, simple two-knob dirt box first released in the late 1970s, built around germanium diode clipping with only Output and Distortion controls. It produces an old-school, gritty distortion with juicy, tube-like compression and a raw, dirty character that defined many 1970s and 1980s hard rock and punk tones, famously associated with Randy Rhoads and Dave Murray. It ranges from light, gritty overdrive to a thick, saturated distortion that is not overly piercing, with a treble lift that helps it cut. As gain rises it tightens by rolling off some low end. Beloved for its raw simplicity and vintage warmth, it suits players who want an aggressive, no-frills classic distortion rather than a flexible, EQ-laden modern one.
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.
cited
Genres this gear is documented as being used in.- Alternative Rock
- Experimental
- Grunge
- low gain
- fuzzy
- dynamic
- saturated
- transparent
- sustaining