Roman Belonozhko's Shnobel Tone Delivers the Richly Textured and Aptly Monikered Ratatouille Distortion

Readers will know that I was a big fan of Roman’s first gain pedal - the Daily Driver - which is still one of my all-time favourite overdrives albeit there was so much activity this year that it’s been momentarily displaced and out of the chain quite a lot - currently by the Pete Cornish GC-1 - while it should come back to the fore again early next year.

In the meantime Roman has done his own take on the old 80’s classic ProCo Rat - or at least ’inspired by’. I would assume Quimper Electronic Systems is the production partner on this pedal too - like they were with the Daily Driver. We know we’re going to be getting highest quality components immaculately arranged. The pedal is described as an original circuit - so would be good to know what’s different about this particular variety, and which combination of opamp and diodes this particular pedal is making use of.

You should know by now that I’m a massive Rat fan - and have 32 of that type of distortion currently in my collection - this would be the 33rd if / when it happens!

It seems somewhat brave in the wake of the JHS PackRat and Drunk Beaver Heavy Bat - just to be releasing a regular 3-knob rat. Obviously there are a lot of good Rats out there already - and I see this being somewhat similar to Matthew Hoopes direction (1981 Inventions) who has made an industry out of his pseudo-rat 1981 DRV - 3 knobs in a classy enclosure - while the DRV is a somewhat smoother and lower gain affair. Roman describes the Ratatouille at maximum gain as sounding like a tube amp pushed to its absolute limits.

There’s a myriad of nuances which turn a good Rat into a great one - richness of texture, tonal range, dynamics and feel. And some of those things are only fully discernible through proper hands-on interaction.

The demos certainly sound great, and while I typically favour the compact style of enclosure - I too have a soft spot for Shnobel Tone’s elegant black and white aesthetic - just a classic timeless elegance.

I think I probably want one of these too - and I will be starting negotiations to acquire one in the new year. Once it’s landed I can tell you whether this is another one of the greats!

These are available right now for $269 from the Shnobel Tone Webstore. 

Anyone else considering one of these - or maybe you already have one? Do feel free to share your insights with us!