The Nobels ODR-1 and the Pedals It Inspired

Sometimes called "the other green overdrive," the Nobels ODR-1 was once a secret weapon of Nashville guitarists. Today, Andy checks out the history of this legendary stompbox and some of the latest creations that this pedal has inspired. This includes Way Huge's new STO, which they were kind enough to let us borrow for this video.
Learn more on Reverb: bit.ly/365kS1h
Shop the Nobels ODR-1 Natural Overdrive: bit.ly/3AknrKD
Shop the Wampler Belle Overdrive Mini: bit.ly/3jzRMPp
Shop the Way Huge STO: bit.ly/2Tijupv
Gear in Video:
Amp: Rola Overdrive Custom 50, Hamstead Soundworks 1x12 Cab
Guitars: Nik Huber Twangmeister, Gibson Custom CME Les Paul
Recording Gear: Universal Audio Apollo 8 QUAD, UA OX Amp Top Box, de Lisle Amp-Speaker Switcher 4x4 Pro Plus, Royer R-121 Mic
Strings: Stringjoy Signatures 10-46
Cables: Sinasoid Sable & Sliver patch cables, Revelation Guitar Cables
*From time to time, brands and builders send Reverb free gear to test and review, some of which may have been included in this video.

[@al271987]

Single coil guys wanna fatten up their sound, humbucker guys wanna thin it out… Everybody just wants p90s then.

[@AndyDemos]

You might be right! 😄

[@kalebaldwin5398]

Or mini humbuckers, or Fender Wide Range humbuckers, or Filtertrons....

[@alexiaf23]

god. if i could have one guitar for the rest of my life, it would be my jazzmaster with jazzmaster shaped p90s. pretty much it can do every sound imaginable. not too sharp but definitely not as fat as a humbucker. it has been my go-to for years now.

[@ModestEgg]

@@alexiaf23 J Mascis approves

[@edadpops1709]

Yep 😎

[@whatspadethinks]

Andy Martin is one of the most tasteful guitarists around. He always seems to play the right thing for any situation. His right hand technique is a big time inspiration. Keep doing work brother...

[@bobtucker1049]

I watch these videos just to steal his riffs

[@whatspadethinks]

@@bobtucker1049 Hell yeah, lol. Mama didn't raise no dummies Bobby. If Andy is playing, I'm going to school...

[@AndyDemos]

I really appreciate it!!!

[@mdmusic2130]

I love the new Wampler Belle overdrive specifically the side switch button ON all the time!!!Fantastic improved by Brian Wampler!!!Killer tones!!!🔥🎸

[@andreweaton5598]

My favorite overdrive of all time. I've been rocking the Belle for a while now and it does a fantastic job!

[@mdmusic2130]

I have the old Nobel and the mini and they are great but since I got the Wampler Belle I didn’t use them anymore.The Belle is just killer man!!!It has such a fantastic tone!!!

[@GlennJimenez]

@@mdmusic2130 you’re saying the Wampler is better?

[@mdmusic2130]

@@GlennJimenez The original Nobel is good but the bass is an issue for me.The mini is a disappoint because I am still with some not versatile…a little less bass… With the Wampler Belle EQ you control the BASS and also all the gain range is usable.Plus there is a switch side button option where you can use OFF for the typical Nobel circuit or IN that it gives you a more open sound with even more clarity and punch….It’s a keeper for sure!!!Try it if you can and let me know what you think about it!Good luck!👍🏻

[@godfreydaniel6278]

The tone on that opening tune KILLS - I don't think I've ever heard Andy play quite that way...

[@AndyDemos]

Hey thanks! I don’t usually play this style but love me some Roy Buchanan bends!

[@godfreydaniel6278]

@@AndyDemos Trust me - you need to do this a LOT more! And thanks for the acknowledgement - you don't know it, of course, but I've been a fan since you started doing pedal demos. You're one of my internet stations of the cross...

[@alwayssunnyinbayside]

I use an ODR-1 with my P Bass and G&L L2000. One of my favorite pedals ever!

[@nobelsofficial5766]

Thank you very much and kind regards from the Nobels Team!

[@raimonalvarez8748]

Have you tried their odr-b (bass overdrive)? it's great

[@RaffaeleBoni]

Nordland ODR-C best overdrive pedal I've owned

[@davidkieltyka9]

I discovered the ODR-1 sound around 2009 when Visual Sound (now TrueTone) put out their Open Road. It’s been one of my fav dirt pedals ever since.

[@nobelsofficial5766]

Thank you very much and kind regards from the Nobels Team!

[@markgatland977]

Brilliant video as always, but I'm all over that Nik Huber guitar 👍

[@SomeKindOfMadman]

I got my Noble ODR-1 off Reverb (in 2020)! It’s my always on pedal, that and the Cali76; they’re my “crutch-perk” effects.

[@nobelsofficial5766]

Thank you very much and kind regards from the Nobels Team!

[@mattgilbert7347]

That really is a great overdrive. I really like the Underdog side of the Wampler Paisley Deluxe. I believe that's an ODR based circuit, ODR-S? Some of the fattest and warmest tones I've ever heard from Andy. Great stuff.

[@nobelsofficial5766]

Jepp - the ODR-S is based on the ODR-1 circuit! Kind regards from Hamburg :-)

[@johnhubbs]

I have developed a bit of an ODR obsession in the last year. An obsession that’s driving me to buy every pedal that is inspired by it. Of the few I have, I would have to say that the green side of the Brown Protein is by far my favorite. It just sounds so damn good with my setup.

[@JoelK]

Thoughts on Truetone VSXO left hand side? I’ve found it my least fav of all the variants. Something to do with the mids or clipping. Can’t put my finger on it

[@TwangTen]

Great comparison! My Nordland ODR-C is my all time favorite OD pedal. The build is second to none. Really like the sounds coming from Wampler's Belle in this video.

[@fraidwoodcesco]

Andy, you're the hero of reviews and demos since the early days :) love you

[@JosePineda-jn8jk]

My Wampler Belle is hands down the best pedal I own.

[@sabretooth9830534552]

Interesting review and history.

[@nunocarmona]

This Dumble clone Andy is using sounds amazing. Hope we hear more often.

[@AndyDemos]

Thanks, the punch of this amp is amazing! I’m working up a demo real soon.

[@derekspringer1596]

Thank you kindly!

[@fredericadda]

I went to a shop to try out a Wampler Tumnus (a Klon clone), the seller plugged in a Belle, I bought both. I had to.

[@fvckoff4ever561]

That opening jam is jaw dropping. Hell yeah!

[@nintendoor1]

I don’t love the Nobels by itself for my playing, but when I use it to boost my RAT, It’s amazing. I haven’t found another OD that I like as much for the purpose of boosting another dirt pedal or a dirty amp. I swear, the bass boost that it gives the RAT pedal is insane

[@RJ_HTx]

I would say the Rat has plenty of Bass already and all that bass boost in a band context is not really desirable.

[@nintendoor1]

@@RJ_HTx Perhaps not for you, but for me, it works. I keep the Bass on my amp pretty low, seeing as a Fender Twin has low end in spades. On the brighter side of the RATs Filter control, it can become brittle. I find it to have quite the bass cut, which is why I like the combination of the two, because I usually leave the RAT on with low gain and boost it with the Nobels. Personally, I’ve tried quite a few different dirt pedal combinations before I settled on this one, and I haven’t looked back since

[@arphod]

This. Running an ODR into a tubescreamer with a strat is gorgeous, too.

[@blackbeltjones2903]

@@RJ_HTx they really dont. part of a rats distinctive tone is its bass cut.

[@LeviBulger]

@@RJ_HTx My rat definitely doesn't have lots of low end. I don't think most I've played ever had much bass TBH. But then again the best Rat tone is more on the other end of the filter so having something to boost lows and mids in it turns it into something akin to a Muff but with clarity that no muff could ever achieve.

[@jeffrey.a.hanson]

Love my ODR-1 but it is paired with a basic EQ set for my SG or when using any closed back amps. The STO looks like a potential option, tho. Will have to try one. Way Huge knows how to smooth out any OD it seems.

[@frankenstein4106]

I have the ODR-1 with the bass cut and the ODR-1 mini pedal. Fantastic pedals!!

[@nobelsofficial5766]

Thank you very much! Kind regards from Hamburg :-)

[@TheLuizdj]

One of the bests overdrives ever made

[@nobelsofficial5766]

Thank you very much and kind regards from the Nobels Team!

[@wanamirhisyam7462]

I still have the Nobels ODR-1 pedal bought through PGS, Andy convinced me back then sometime in year 2011-12 !! Check out the tribute he made for Soundgarden in PGS KZbin channel !!

[@AndyDemos]

That was a fun video, thanks!

[@wanamirhisyam7462]

@@AndyDemos it was, I bought the Four Eyes Fuzz by Fairfield Circuitry pedal after seeing your demo too, not a true bypass pedal but the amount of tone is endless !

[@jameshalbert181]

Just pulled the trigger on an ODR1 BC currently in USPS zig zag snail crawl system. Looking forward to getting my hands on it

[@nobelsofficial5766]

Thank you very much and kind regards from the Nobels Team!

[@jensenbell]

Another great video Andy. I was doing a lot of experimenting on my Instagram with the ODR-1 and a variation with a bass cut made by my friend in Mississippi. If you only ever play a Telecaster... or the bridge pickup of a Jazzmaster, all you ever need is the Mini ODR 1... what is that 70 bucks new? And it sounds like a million bucks... but if you want to play more guitars with this smooth drive you are getting, the bass cut is REQUIRED... these other features are a revelation and I am so glad you demonstrated them so clearly for us... but hey... that's what you do. :)

[@AndyDemos]

Thanks for sharing, I think you’re spot on with the bass cut too. Happy to help!

[@nobelsofficial5766]

Thank you very much and kind regards from the Nobels Team!

[@jensenbell]

@@nobelsofficial5766 You must be proud that your creation is finally getting global praise at the highest levels. Congratulations!

[@nobelsofficial5766]

@@jensenbell Thank you very much! It was a long, long journey....regards from Hamburg

[@joeriffanucci]

Man the STO with the Huber "Tone Bigley!" Great work Andy!

[@jimfbailey]

Another great video by Andy!

[@JoelK]

Nobles Team: your Mini is a great pedal - my base reference and go to. Favourite overall variant: Belle Favourite variant to stack with another ODR: Rockett Chicken Soup Least favourite variant: Visual Sound VSXO Looking forward to trying more variants :)

[@nobelsofficial5766]

Thank you very much! Kind regards from Hamburg :-)

[@pippydog28]

Sto is one of my new fave pedals. I like it a lot better than the nobles. Fits my guitars and amps better I reckon

[@BlueTheChannel]

ODR-1 sounds SO good, especially when he cranked the Drive to 10!

[@timvanboening9432]

All the pedals sound great and enticing. I own zero of them, so I have some tough decisions to make.

[@ianbrailsford5843]

God I love the ODR-1.

[@nobelsofficial5766]

Thank you very much and kind regards from the Nobels Team!

[@davidsisbarro1501]

Love the ODR-1. I have the Mythos Erlking and it’s fantastic. Sadly it’s discontinued.

[@nobelsofficial5766]

Thank you very much and kind regards from Hamburg :-)

[@lavitroladeldiablo]

Im sooooo glad for have bought it (The Nobels) way before it got that famous and expensive! Its my "always on" pedal.

[@billpholde4816]

Forget the ODR-1, where can I get me one of them invisible picks Andy uses?

[@MSMWorkshop]

Where's the nordland one? :(

[@ellg5278]

I have the belle and I love it, the bass cut is awesome with humbuckers but I think I’ll still by the noble just to have it .

[@stanislavmigra]

The STO feels like it dont belongs. It sounded way more open articulate and dynamic then others. More like boost with little bit of hair on top. It dont "crunch" like the original or Belle.

[@imslicc]

your playing really improved over the years.

[@reallysuperfathog86]

That SRV type number was a zinger 👍🏽👍🏽

[@timchalmers1700]

I got the ODR-mini (on Reverb of course) and love it. But it looks like I need to experiment with the settings as I'm not using its full range of capabilities.

[@danielmarti]

Good Video thank you Andy. I use the Belle from Wampler and I am totally happy with it! Which of the pedals is your favorite?

[@tehsamjones]

Andy, I like that Data action figure

[@martinezq1]

Maybe some test of loop pedals ? I am searching some with compressor and drums. Between nux mg300 and Boss. Boss have better drums but no compressor. But i need long loop...hard to decide. Maybe there is something new?

[@jamesschaffner1992]

Isn't one side of the Truetone VS-XO also based on the odr-1? Never thought the vs-xo got the love it deserved.

[@nunocarmona]

Visual Sound / True Tone pedals are amazing and yes, they're criminally underrated. The left side of the Truetone Jekyll & Hyde (V3) is a ODR-1 with extra controls. Quite unique overdrive. The stand alone version is the Visual Sound Open Road

[@JoelK]

Yep. I found the VSXO to be the hardest variant to get a good sound out of

[@darklight4815]

I really want them both

[@brucebaldy]

Very nice

[@Neilybob100]

Love my OTS-S

[@rasm0225]

Andy/Reverb do a history of a pedal and it’s 12 min long. If JHS does one and it’ll be 3 episodes, each 2 hours long. TBH, 12 min is more my speed.

[@Bruhaha9]

Anyone know how many iterations of the odr 1 there are? Just two - the original and the reissue? I got one used that appears to be the OG. Some of these seem really expensive and I’m just curious what determines that. Pedal sounds great.

[@MeatyController]

🎶Flies in the Vaseline, we are Sometimes it blows my mind I keep getting stuck here all the time...🎶

[@carolinehaf21]

Stone temple pilots and soundgardens overdrive sound is of the Gods 🤘👌

[@MeatyController]

@@carolinehaf21 indeed! HAIL

[@vboyadjian3593]

Alex Nennig said right!

[@michaelb.42112]

I like the DATA action figure. I'm sure a whole bunch of these just got sold on Reverb....

[@loicrechard]

Andy !

[@horizon712]

use one as a clean boost for going on like 12 years now

[@mjtan6787]

The Boss OD3 already does this

[@Brannington]

Would you say that the STO has more gain on tap or the Conspiracy Theory also from Way Huge

[@andymccormick7542]

Way Huge pedals tend to have more gain than the pedals they’re “inspired by”. I have a Conspiracy Theory and I was surprised how much gain it has. I think almost all Way Huge overdrives have more than enough gain for us blues/classic rock guys

[@Brannington]

@@andymccormick7542 thanks Andy! I've been mighty curious about Way huge for a while now truth be told. My birthdays coming up in some time, might just bite the bullet and scoop one up for fun

[@hawg427]

Hey Andy, have you used many guitar amp software programs? I'm trying to choose between the Overloud THU program or the Amplitube 5 that includes the Axe hardware. What's your take? Thanks man.

[@nobelsofficial5766]

Check out also the ODR-1 Plug In from Lancaster Audio....:-)

[@jakeryanshepard]

Loving my 30th anniversary

[@georgewoelfel4691]

I thought the Nobel ODr1 and Wampler Belle sounded great. You didn’t spend enough time on The Nordland version and spent too much time on the Way Huge STO( got bored with it, and probably won’t get it).

[@nobelsofficial5766]

Thank you very much and kind regards from Hamburg :-)

[@AndyDemos]

We didn’t have a Nordland

[@guitarradioshow]

Nobels is my always on pedal. Not really sure, why anyone would want a clone of one. They’re not that expensive. It’s like I saw someone once ask on an online thread, “Can anyone recommend a good Rat clone?” I suggested they just buy a Rat… To each his own I guess…

[@nobelsofficial5766]

Thank you very much......Kind regards from "The Original" Nobels Team....:-) www.Nobels.com

[@adamnesbitt11]

Many clones are tweaked, modded or have additional features

[@bobbysbackingtracks]

Tone Central.

[@NablusRain]

Is the Noble overdrive MINI sounds as good as the ODR-1? Thank You

[@ryans9029]

Same pedal. Different enclosure.

[@jordanb9511]

It does not sound as good as the ODR-1 from my experience owning both.

[@ryans9029]

@@jordanb9511 what did you notice being different?

[@9below011plus11]

What guitar is that?

[@chrisjw5]

Is it me, or does the Way Huge STO logo seem to be implying something about Dean DeLeo from Stone Temple Pilots. I know Dean doesn’t use one in his live right, but the graphic, and the acronym being one letter off (STP/STO), and Jorge’s aesthetic in general make me wonder…

[@mrmapegothe13th]

Pretty sure it’s going more for the old STP motor oil logo that was popular way back when

[@brandonvaughan4236]

Very Local-H at @5:35

[@SlyHikari03]

Tachibana, isn’t that a Japanese name? That’s funny, A German company with a Japanese builder. Talk about “Worldwide Engineering”!

[@Elaleyelunivese]

Fuckin’ great pedal Andy!, but I have the V1 Korean Made.. just awesome!

[@lcbryant78]

Yeah, but will it chug?

[@Ferruidoblanco]

View the video made by Andy playing Soundgarden covers only with and odr 1

[@stevejones3868]

Ask yourself, how much of your output is controlled by software/hardware purchases, and how much is really you?

[@waynegram8907]

What does the overdrive Decompress control do? I never heard of it before