Twenty something years ago, my nephew started guitar lessons and I gave him my Turbo Rat. Since then I built a Rat clone, bought a used large box reissue Rat for $40 that sounded very similar to the clone (sold it for much more) and bought a used made in China Rat 2 which also sounded pretty close to the clone (sold that, too).
Yesterday I saw an ad on CL for a ratty looking Turbo Rat for $20 so I figured I'd take a chance on it. I bought it without playing it (the guy in the parking lot said it worked "100%"). I was really surprised to see that it was pretty rusty inside- even the pots and the leads on the diodes. I was even more surprised to hear that it's the best sounding Rat I've played (I don't remember what my old Turbo Rat sounded like).
From the date codes on the rusty pots it's a 1990. The guy exaggerated a bit when he said it worked "100%". The status diode does not light up. I'll figure it out. Until then, I'll know it's on- because it's a Rat.