The ProCo Sterling Vermin is a Proco distortion pedal, currently around $349.99. Close alternatives include the Tru-Fi Rat Pack Compact and the Fulltone OCD Obsessive Compulsive Drive. It pairs well with the Fender Vibrolux 6G11 and the Magnatone 280.
ProCo Sterling Vermin
Proco · pedal
The ProCo Sterling Vermin is a boutique take on the classic Rat circuit built around an LM741 op-amp with selectable clipping diodes, letting players flip between the classic silicon-diode RAT grind and a smoother, more articulate voice using BAT41 diodes. Its Distortion and Filter knobs set around 2 o'clock hit a sweet spot that's thick, heavy, and spongy, while backing off the Distortion knob shifts it toward a soft-clipping, nuanced, amp-like overdrive rather than full fuzz-edged distortion. It preserves the RAT's familiar shaggy distortion-and-fuzz blend on the silicon setting while sounding tighter and more defined even when pushed toward fuzzier textures. It suits players wanting the classic RAT voice with real added tonal versatility from its filter and diode-selection options.
What stands out
“ProCo's Rat-family distortion, providing the classic Rat distortion character”
— from the community notes
“Rock and punk players who want the Rat's distinctive aggressive tone find ProCo Vermin variants familiar and practical options”
— from the community notes
“It preserves the RAT's familiar shaggy distortion-and-fuzz blend on the silicon setting while sounding tighter and more defined even when pushed toward fuzzier textures”
— from the listing
“The ProCo Vermin delivers Rat-family distortion with the classic LM308-based aggressive character”
— from the reviews
“Build quality is solid”
— from the community notes
Trade-offs
“clock hit a sweet spot that”
— from the listing
- distortion
- aggressive
- punk
- rock
- clipping
- diode
- amp like
- overdrive
Price updated Oct 23, 2026
Genres the ProCo Sterling Vermin is commonly used in
- Punk
- Rock
- Grunge
cited
Inferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag. - Pop Punk
cited
Inferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag. - Alternative
cited
Inferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag.
Amps that pair well with the ProCo Sterling Vermin
Fender Vibrolux 6G11
amplifier
21% matchsits in the right chain slotPlaced for where it does its job cleanly in the chain, not for a tonal interaction with the anchor. (fuzzy → modulated)
What Fender Vibrolux 6G11 brings here leans toward modulated — that's worth building a pairing around
Comes later in the signal chain
Magnatone 280
Magnatone
21% matchsits in the right chain slotPlaced for where it does its job cleanly in the chain, not for a tonal interaction with the anchor. (fuzzy → modulated)
Magnatone 280's own modulated character is the real reason this is worth trying
Comes later in the signal chain
Gibson Les Paul LP-1 Preamp
Gibson
tonal matchComes later in the signal chain
Put Gibson Les Paul LP-1 Preamp after ProCo Sterling Vermin
Magnatone 510
Magnatone
tonal matchComes later in the signal chain
Put Magnatone 510 after ProCo Sterling Vermin
Pedals that stack with the ProCo Sterling Vermin
Cordovox PH-8
Cordovox
23% matchsits in the right chain slotPlaced for where it does its job cleanly in the chain, not for a tonal interaction with the anchor. (fuzzy → modulated)
Cordovox PH-8's modulated voice goes after ProCo Sterling Vermin in the signal chain — it's not there to compete with ProCo Sterling Vermin's own aggressive character
Comes later in the signal chain
Walrus Audio EB-10 Black Edition
Walrus Audio
22% matchgain stackingStacks two gain stages for more saturation than either produces alone. (fuzzy → clean boost)
What Walrus Audio EB-10 Black Edition brings here leans toward clean boost — that's worth building a pairing around
Comes earlier in the signal chain
Walrus Audio Ages
Walrus Audio
22% matchgain stackingStacks two gain stages for more saturation than either produces alone. (fuzzy → clean boost)
Walrus Audio Ages leans toward clean boost, and that's a real, usable character to pair with
Comes earlier in the signal chain
Walrus Audio Mako D1 High-Fidelity Stereo Delay V1
Walrus Audio
14% matchsits in the right chain slotPlaced for where it does its job cleanly in the chain, not for a tonal interaction with the anchor. (fuzzy → modulated)
Run Walrus Audio Mako D1 High-Fidelity Stereo Delay V1 after ProCo Sterling Vermin in the signal chain, clear of ProCo Sterling Vermin's own gain stage — goes in the amp's FX loop (or last, into a clean amp)
Comes later in the signal chain
Pigtronix Echolution
Pigtronix
14% matchsits in the right chain slotPlaced for where it does its job cleanly in the chain, not for a tonal interaction with the anchor. (fuzzy → modulated)
Run Pigtronix Echolution after ProCo Sterling Vermin in the signal chain, clear of ProCo Sterling Vermin's own gain stage — goes in the amp's FX loop (or last, into a clean amp)
Comes later in the signal chain
Jackson Audio Bloom MIDI
Jackson Audio
10% matchshapes the dynamic responseShapes how the tone responds to picking dynamics rather than its frequency or gain.
Jackson Audio Bloom MIDI leans toward spring, and that's a real, usable character to pair with
Comes earlier in the signal chain
Subdecay Octave Theory Octave Modulator Synthesizer
Subdecay
tonal matchComes earlier in the signal chain
Subdecay Octave Theory Octave Modulator Synthesizer belongs in front of ProCo Sterling Vermin, since pitch tracking is cleanest before anything colours the note
EarthQuaker Devices Swiss Things
EarthQuaker Devices
Cheaper alternatives
RHC Audio Ydrat
Rhc Audio
66% similarityShared character: filter, fuzz, distortion
Donner Dark Mouse
Donner
60% similarityShared character: filter, distortion, aggressive playing
ProCo RAT 2
Proco
60% similarityShared character: filter, thickness, fuzz
MXR Prime Distortion
MXR
59% similarityShared character: distortion, aggressive playing
MXR M69P Prime Distortion
MXR
58% similarityShared character: distortion, aggressive playing
ProCo Lil Rat
Proco
54% similarityShared character: filter, fuzz, distortion
Boutique & premium upgrades
Similar charactersee all similar tone character →
Tru-Fi Rat Pack Compact
Tru Fi
56% similarityShared character: distortion, aggressive playing
Fulltone OCD Obsessive Compulsive Drive
Fulltone
55% similarityShared character: distortion, overdrive
JAM Pedals Rattler mk.2 Distortion
Jam Pedals
53% similarityShared character: distortion, aggressive playing
Catalinbread CB-Distortion
Catalinbread
52% similarityShared character: sweet, thickness, distortion
JHS Ross Distortion
JHS Pedals
51% similarityShared character: distortion, aggressive playing
Dunlop MXR M94SE Super Badass Distortion
Dunlop
51% similarityShared character: distortion, overdrive
See all alternatives to the ProCo Sterling Vermin (cheaper + boutique) →
Questions people ask
What are good alternatives to the ProCo Sterling Vermin?+
The closest matches in character are the Tru-Fi Rat Pack Compact, the Fulltone OCD Obsessive Compulsive Drive, the JAM Pedals Rattler mk.2 Distortion. Budget picks: RHC Audio Ydrat, Donner Dark Mouse, ProCo RAT 2. Boutique upgrades: Chase Bliss Automatone Preamp MKII.
What pairs well with the ProCo Sterling Vermin?+
Strong matches from rig and tone-complementarity evidence: Fender Vibrolux 6G11, Magnatone 280, Gibson Les Paul LP-1 Preamp — What Fender Vibrolux 6G11 brings here leans toward modulated — that's worth building a pairing around.
How much does the ProCo Sterling Vermin cost?+
Around $349.99 (live listing price, updated Oct 23, 2026).