In 2019, the original designer of the ODR-1 released a boutique, hand-made “custom” version with three extra controls for bass, mids and clipping diodes. The Nordland ODR-C is a marvelously-engineered pedal that occupies the far end of the spectrum from the original ODR-1 and its budget build quality . Level: controls the output level of the pedal. This control has a healthy range, but not nearly the level of headroom as a Klon. Another reason that the ODR-1 is a great option for something to color your signal, but probably not a great first choice if you’re looking for a clean boost. The pedal’s right-side booster derives from the Dane’s clean boost circuit, employing a ‘lows’ knob for thinning or fattening up signals as needed. This all functions the same on the left side booster, with the only exception being that the left boost equips germanium diodes for added grit. Both versions of the pedal work really well with a Telecaster; they are a perfect complement to a Fender amp if you play country but there’s also plenty for blues players in a pedal that can push an amp in a very natural way. Specs The ODR-1 was first released in 1992, developed by Nobels to contrast with the mid-heavy Ibanez Tube Screamer. According to the pedal’s designer Kai Tachibana, he was inspired by the smooth breakup of a Fender Bassman head, its responsiveness to changes on the guitar’s volume knob, and how it preserved the original sound of his guitar.

If you are, or have ever been part of the Nashville scene, it is likely that you already know about the Nobels ODR-1. Otherwise it is very likely that you have never even heard of this German-engineered pedal. Occupying some of the (enormous) space between the Tubescreamer and the Klon, the ODR-1 provides a versatile yet uniquely flavored take on the overdrive genre. Further tweaking of the knobs, however, shows that both are capable of the same tonal range and that the mini model cleans up very naturally with guitar volume just like its bigger sibling. There are likely a few more viable varieties out there, but this is as good a selection as any really. If you feel I've missed out on any of the usual suspects do let me know by all means.Overall the Nobels ODR-1 is a great option to consider if you like having a versatile rig. Perhaps you prefer not to schlep multiple guitars to a gig, or you play in a cover band, or you do lots of session work where you might be playing vastly different styles of music on either side of your lunch break. It seems like these are the cases for which the ODR-1 was designed. Couple its versatility with the fact that the ODR-1 is priced to cater to working musicians, and you have a winning combination. Nobels has even redesigned the battery compartment so that you can change out the old battery without having to remove the pedal from your pedalboard. German engineering at its finest. The Spectrum knob, though, does have a notched center detente position and in an A/B test with that knob in its detented position the sound matches the larger pedal (without its bass cut switch engaged) when that pedal’s Spectrum knob is set to about 4. Playing with the Heavy Water’s two distinct boosts against a tube amp makes for the most of its fun factor. Running it into a 30-watt tweed combo, we found it only took the lightest push from the clean boost circuit to tip the amp into full-on overdrive – and with the lows control at midday, it sounded every bit as pure and transparent as we remembered from the right-hand side of The Dane. We think this video may sell a few mini Nobels ODR-1s, as well as the new Pedaltrain Nightlight distortion but we can't wait to see more with delays, reverbs and modulation blind tests.

I know there's lots of players who prefer this to the Tube Screamer - but it largely serves a different genre. Definitely its own thing and a classic within the overdrive category - everyone should probably have at least one of these. Aion FX traced the ODR-C in 2021 and a PCB is available called the Andromeda Deluxe. It does not in any way replace the Andromeda, but is a more complex build with a more complex control scheme. Notes & referencesFEATURES: True bypass, remote momentary operation, luminous knob markings, integral pedalboard mounting plates

Nobels are an interesting pedal company that have been around since 1985, but you may have not seen them around too much. They are considered to be one of the industry's best kept secrets and the ODR-1 is the pedal that got them that name. Thanks to the Spectrum control tone pot you can actually increase the Bass and Treble frequencies simultaneously, with the Midrange remains untouched in either direction, giving complete transparency with a pinch of warmth. All New Features The circuit has never changed and all versions are identical, except for some of the silver versions—the initial run of these had the Drive and Volume pots mistakenly switched during production, so Drive was 50k and Volume was 250k. This severely limited the pedal’s maximum gain. Later productions had this corrected, but many owners had to take out the soldering iron and switch the pots around to correct the factory error.

The best overdrive pedals in 2023 – at a glance:

Powered by 9 -18 V DC PSU (not supplied) or PP3 9V Battery (9 V DC, centre -, 2.1 mm, ~11 mA current draw) Amongst these new features you'll find the inclusion of a bass-cut switch under the battery cover, which will allow you to tame the low end by reducing the sub-bass frequencies. If you want the ODR-1 sound but need something a little more compact for your pedalboard, here’s the ODR-mini.