Dual analog drive / SD-1 + RAT
Critical Mass
Stacked dirt without the board sprawl.
Two famous dirt architectures rebuilt into one compact enclosure: the mid-forward push of an SD-1-style overdrive, the teeth of a RAT-style distortion, and the controls to make both useful well beyond a tribute act.
Check live stock
- 2 independent sides
- Clean RAT mod
- Bass-aware filter
- Glow finish
The idea
Two classics, then the useful changes.
Critical Mass runs its overdrive and distortion sides independently. Use either one alone, or stack them in the enclosure instead of spending two pedalboard spaces. The familiar foundations are there, but the practical weaknesses were not treated as sacred.
Rebuilt signal path
Upgraded NE5532 and OP07 op-amps replace the usual parts, with a dedicated regulator holding the internal bias steady across real-world pedal supplies.
Clipping choices
External switching changes clipping behaviour on both sides. An internal red switch enables the Clean RAT mod when you want more attack and less compression.
Low end that survives
The filter voicing was tuned on a five-string bass so the low B stays defined instead of collapsing into indistinct distortion.
Glow that has a job
Internal UV LEDs charge the glow-in-the-dark enclosure while a side is engaged. Switch it off and the box keeps a green afterimage.
Signal map
Six knobs. Two voices.
- Overdrive controls
- Drive / Tone / Level
- Distortion controls
- Dist / Tone / Level
- Overdrive engine
- SD-1-style / NE5532
- Distortion engine
- RAT-style / OP07
- Clipping
- External mode switches
- Internal option
- Clean RAT mod
- Switching
- Independent true-bypass footswitches
- Finish
- UV-charged glow paint
- Power
- 9 V DC, centre negative
- Build
- Hand assembled in Alberta
Video evidence
It does distort things.
Two short demonstrations. Set your volume like an adult.
