The Donner Dark Mouse is a Donner distortion pedal, currently around $39.99. Close alternatives include the JAM Pedals Rattler V2 and the Catalinbread Katzenkonig. It pairs well with the Vox AC30 Guitar Combo Amp and the Vox AC15CH Custom 15W Head.
Donner Dark Mouse
Donner · pedal
The Donner Dark Mouse is a distortion pedal from the Chinese budget effects manufacturer Donner, inspired by the ProCo RAT circuit with a darker voicing. RAT-inspired distortion circuits deliver a distinctive clipping character using an LM308 op-amp and variable filter for bright to dark tone shaping. The Dark Mouse name references the original RAT mouse design while emphasizing a darker, warmer distortion voicing.
- distortion
- dark
- clipping
- aggressive
- filter
- reverb
- bright
- delay
Price updated Aug 27, 2026
Genres the Donner Dark Mouse is commonly used in
- Grunge
- Rock
- Punk
cited
Inferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag. - Alternative
cited
Inferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag. - Metal
cited
Inferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag. - Hard Rock
cited
Inferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag.
Amps that pair well with the Donner Dark Mouse
Vox AC30 Guitar Combo Amp
Vox
30% matchWhere this leans dark, Vox AC30 Guitar Combo Amp answers back bright
Vox AC15CH Custom 15W Head
Vox
30% matchRun Vox AC15CH Custom 15W Head after it and the dark edge settles into something more bright
Vox MSB25 Mini SuperBeetle
Vox
tonal matchWhere this leans dark, Vox MSB25 Mini SuperBeetle answers back glassy
1964 Vox AC30
Vox
tonal match1964 Vox AC30 leans glassy right where the dark tone needs it
Ceriatone Dizzy 30
Ceriatone
tonal matchRun Ceriatone Dizzy 30 after it and the dark edge settles into something more bright
Vox Ac30 1960s
Vox
tonal matchRun Vox Ac30 1960s after it and the dark edge settles into something more glassy
Bad Cat Cub V EL84
Bad Cat
tonal matchBad Cat Cub V EL84 leans glassy right where the dark tone needs it
Matchless DC-30
Matchless
tonal matchMatchless DC-30 leans glassy right where the dark tone needs it
Pedals that stack with the Donner Dark Mouse
Catalinbread Galileo
Catalinbread
26% matchCatalinbread Galileo leans bright right where the dark tone needs it
Catalinbread Formula 55
Catalinbread
22% matchWhere this leans dark, Catalinbread Formula 55 answers back bright
Orange King-Comp
Orange
22% matchDonner Dark Mouse's dark character and Orange King-Comp's bright voice sit in the same lane rather than fighting each other
Wampler Latitude Deluxe Tremolo
Wampler
21% matchRun Wampler Latitude Deluxe Tremolo after Donner Dark Mouse in the signal chain, clear of Donner Dark Mouse's own gain stage
Alexander Pedals History Lesson Vol. 2
Alexander Pedals
10% matchRun Alexander Pedals History Lesson Vol. 2 after Donner Dark Mouse in the signal chain, clear of Donner Dark Mouse's own gain stage — goes in the amp's FX loop (or last, into a clean amp)
Keeley Vibe-O-Verb
Keeley
10% matchPut Keeley Vibe-O-Verb after Donner Dark Mouse in the signal chain, clear of Donner Dark Mouse's own gain stage — goes in the amp's FX loop (or last, into a clean amp)
Aguilar DB 925
Aguilar
tonal matchAguilar DB 925's bright balances out the dark tone
Tech 21 SansAmp Character Plus Mop Top Liverpool
Tech 21
tonal matchRun Tech 21 SansAmp Character Plus Mop Top Liverpool after it and the dark edge settles into something more bright
Boutique & premium upgrades
JHS PackRat 9-Way Rodent Distortion
JHS Pedals
71% similarityShared character: warm, dark, filter
ProCo RAT 2
Proco
70% similarityShared character: warm, dark, filter
MXR M69P Prime Distortion
MXR
69% similarityShared character: aggressive_playing, bright, distortion
Menatone None More Black
Menatone
69% similarityShared character: warm, dark, distortion
MXR Prime Distortion
MXR
69% similarityShared character: aggressive_playing, bright, distortion
JHS 3 Series Distortion
JHS Pedals
93% similaritysimilar tone character
Similar charactersee all similar tone character →
JAM Pedals Rattler V2
Jam Pedals
71% similarityShared character: warm, dark, filter
Catalinbread Katzenkonig
Catalinbread
71% similarityShared character: dark, filter, aggressive_playing
MXR Distortion II
MXR
70% similarityShared character: aggressive_playing, bright, distortion
Aria Lil' RAT Distortion
Aria
69% similarityShared character: filter, aggressive_playing, distortion
RHC Rat Turbo Rat Distortion
Rhc Audio
69% similarityShared character: aggressive_playing, distortion
Joyo dark flame
Joyo
93% similaritysimilar tone character
See all alternatives to the Donner Dark Mouse (cheaper + boutique) →
Questions people ask
What are good alternatives to the Donner Dark Mouse?+
The closest matches in character are the JAM Pedals Rattler V2, the Catalinbread Katzenkonig, the MXR Distortion II. Boutique upgrades: JHS PackRat 9-Way Rodent Distortion, ProCo RAT 2, MXR M69P Prime Distortion.
What pairs well with the Donner Dark Mouse?+
Strong matches from rig and tone-complementarity evidence: Vox AC30 Guitar Combo Amp, Vox AC15CH Custom 15W Head, Vox MSB25 Mini SuperBeetle — Where this leans dark, Vox AC30 Guitar Combo Amp answers back bright.
How much does the Donner Dark Mouse cost?+
Around $39.99 (live listing price, updated Aug 27, 2026).