Chris Perricelli, the guitarist and vocalist for St. Paul’s Little Man, has been using a ProCo RAT 2 for years.

“I think my guitar teacher used one and recommended it. I was 13 at the time,” he says. “Been using the RAT 2 distortion pedal ever since.”

The ProCo RAT 2 first appeared in 1988 (following, as one might expect, the ProCo RAT). Early versions of the pedal were apparently made on a per order basis. Numerous guitarists from Jeff Beck to Andy Summers have used the pedal over the years and it even finds its way into the arsenal of the odd jazzy-fusion guitarist here and there. You can pick one up now for around a $100.

The pedals are pretty rugged according to Perricelli. Over the years he has only had three—despite giving the pedals a severe beating.

“Usually it's the input / output jacks that have problems or the on / off light,” says Perrocelli. ”Overall, very rugged -- we tour a bit and it gets A LOT of use. [It's] used on every song live.”

Perricelli says he has not noticed any difference in the older versus the newer RAT 2. Others would dispute this and swear those from the 80s are superior. Feel free to weigh in.

There have been some improvements to newer versions of the RAT 2 according to Perricelli.

“The new RAT has a new slanted design for better stomp-ability,” he says. “I can get a real good guitar solo tone that cuts through when playing live with the band. As much as I love the Big Muff sound, for normal guitar solos I need the RAT. I also like it for that extra big punch for choruses. Little Man is a three piece rock band, so with one guitar it really helps thicken the band's overall sound.

Perricelli says there are no “tricks” to using the RAT but he does have one piece of advice.

“I just don't overdo the distortion knob to get something more reasonable than full out fuzz.” he says.

When I mention I have heard the RAT used on vocals he says he has employed the rockin' pedal in that way as well (it is always a temptation isn’t it).

“I have used it for vocals before. It is great with other effects too. I use it with a phaser and delay,” he says. “I get great feedback with it too that I love to work with on stage.”

Little Man will be releasing their 4th full length album Of Mind and Matter this fall.