The Protein & The Nobels ODR-1 - Which Is Right For You?

[@JamesOnGuitar]

Hey all - the giveaway winner will be announced next week... and the next pedal will also be announced for a 3,500 sub giveaway 😁 have a great weekend! Cheers

[@ollieneilson2815]

Idk why this guy hasn't got more subs, this in depth content is bloody brilliant

[@jerryrailey740]

One of my new favorite channels. I like your chill presentation style

[@JamesOnGuitar]

Thanks! 🤟🏼

[@onian7861]

You’re amazing dude. Incredibly articulate analysis with balance and nuance. Instant follow. Thanks for your thorough review.

[@6stringlounge813]

Well done, great start to your channel!

[@IamMusicNerd]

I prefer the sound of the Protein in this comparison. The ODR seems to get slightly fuzzier and muddier, which many people might prefer, but for the style of music I play, the Protein tone would be a better fit. But they are so close, it would be hard to tell the difference if not back to back like this.

[@JAFOpty]

I really like your reviews... you show all the process of getting different tones and your observations. I like the feeling of not feeling that someone is trying to sell me something.

[@GTV101]

Been waiting for a comparison vid like this. Thanks!

[@JamesOnGuitar]

Cheers 👍🏼

[@sanitynow777]

Thanks for comparing these two, I couldn't find any other videos of these together.

[@JamesOnGuitar]

Yup, someone else pointed that out and it seemed like there should be a vid out there 😃

[@stevefearon9337]

Nice to see you back with regular content. Congrats on 3.5 k well deserved, enjoyed this 👍👍

[@tonykirk6362]

I love my ODR-1. Works with any guitar. I love the way it doesn’t interfere with the natural warmth of my Fender Deluxe Reverb. Some others I have add a processed feel. Not yet tried the Protein, so your demo was helpful. I like both subtle crunch and higher driven (use hum buckers by default). One pedal that can do both would be useful so the Protein is on my list to checkout. Well done. Useful 👍

[@JamesOnGuitar]

Yes, it can really bring out the best of your rig i feel. The protein is fantastic, really up with the best of the best i think 👍🏼

[@powderkeg5332]

I've been impressed with the protein every demo I've heard. The Nobels is a proven pedal. I'd be happy with either.

[@RiffLair]

Very nice video! In the blind tests, I found the Protein had more clarity especially in the mids, yet a bit more low end as well. May need some tweaking there in a mix but also love the extra umph. Now I need to decide how much money I want to spend :)

[@frasersurfs]

Loving these videos James. If you’ve not tried it, the Nordland ODR-C is well worth a look. Knocked my Protein off the board

[@JamesOnGuitar]

Mine literally arrived in the post today 👌🏽

[@MagedElSergani]

Another informative and beautifully filmed video as always! I do love listening to your views on gear - I actually really enjoyed the tones coming from the Nobel - adding this one to my next purchase 😀😅

[@JamesOnGuitar]

Thanks! 😁 nice one - it has lots of great and usable tones 🤟🏼

[@erictait6322]

Zz top riffs and nobels just feel like home. Well done sir, cheers 🍻

[@lcvol73]

Love this comparison!! Protein for me. Great content as always!!

[@JamesOnGuitar]

Cheers! Yeah, i mean the protein, if you can afford it, is a no brainer imho!

[@j.b.4867]

G-R-E-A-T Video James! You are correct that the Blue side is the true gem on the pedal, and the Green side is just gravy as far as I'm concerned (I agree with you as well that the Green side sounds better than the ODR-1 for all the reasons you mentioned). That being said, now that the Protein has top mounted jacks and soft switches, those two changes alone (plus having the Blue side) make the Protein a no brainer over the ODR-1 as far as I'm concerned.

[@johnchilds3319]

Great demo, I use the protein as my maim sound

[@telestratman65]

Hi James I bought the protein last month and love it! Great comparison video. Cheers Andy

[@JamesOnGuitar]

Nice one! Just an absolute pleasure to use, the Protein 🤟🏼

[@Musicbrain-y3r]

I have the Protine and play with Les Pauls through a JCM800 and a Fender Deluxe Reverb. I have 7 overdrive pedals and it’s the best one by a good margin.

[@matthewcole6456]

Just listened to the new Browne amplification podcast. The creator said he modified the ODR-1 sound to have less bass and a bit more mids and ended up with something between the ODR-1 and a Tubescreamer. It’s perfect for me!

[@JamesOnGuitar]

Ah, interesting! That definitely makes sense, the protein felt that bit tighter and less dark in the low end. Cheers 👍🏼

[@matthewcole6456]

Ps love the riff choices! Brown sugar baby!

[@JamesOnGuitar]

😃🤟🏼 love that, man!

[@seanmoore5499]

This video convinced me to keep my protein on the main board....good on you sir!

[@JamesOnGuitar]

🤟🏼nice one!

[@Livelaughlimpbizkit]

This is awesome, you keep doing videos on pedals I love

[@JamesOnGuitar]

😃🤟🏼

[@darrenotoole5317]

Interesting how I could hear a clear difference at first and preferred the Protein ... until the blind test! Then had no idea! Hmmm, I hear better with my eyes it appears! :-D

[@JamesOnGuitar]

Yup, but the eyes are important too 👍🏼

[@nilsx3020]

Great LaGrange tones... Nailed that vibe in the video. Makes me want to crank that album tomorrow morning. LP straight into Suhr also gets you there.

[@JamesOnGuitar]

Get that music on 😃 and enjoy 🤟🏼 cheers. You know i didn’t know until i learned a little zz this last weekend, that track was recorded using a 55 hard tail strat and a marshall super lead 🤓

[@nilsx3020]

@@JamesOnGuitar oh wow, didn't know that. But you nailed the overall vibe and style, which is regardless of gear and specific tone. Good stuff..

[@JamesOnGuitar]

@@nilsx3020 thanks. Yeah i’m sure mr gibbons could play a tin can guitar into any amp and be him. It is the attitude and the intent that is key with so much of it 🤟🏼

[@scottmoreau5630]

I love my Protein but I think I need a Nobels! I just wish they would add true bypass to the full sized ODR. Having that bass reduction switch is huge but I hear the buffer isn’t that great.

[@firstnamelastname9370]

odr1-bc's buffer absolutely has noticable tone suck. was disappointed, as it's new production. ended up with a wampler belle which is great, but i wish it was a bit plasticky sounding like the original odr1.

[@scottmoreau5630]

@@firstnamelastname9370 I just put my ODR in a true bypass looper. Don’t have to worry about the buffer.

[@daviddonithan6180]

Great demo! Keep up the great work!

[@JamesOnGuitar]

Thanks

[@MrShredarg]

Great video, greetings from Indonesia 🔥🔥🔥

[@lanetacker1496]

Man those pedals sound amazing

[@whodunitpros8555]

I really enjoy your videos. Though can you do versions that aren’t so long?

[@bravopj123]

The answer is yes, you should always buy more pedals.

[@JamesOnGuitar]

Correct. 😁

[@JamesKeen]

That’s interesting - I thought Pedal A would be the same pedal all through each test and my thoughts were that I liked Pedal A for test 1&3 but Pedal B for test 2. Didn’t realise you’d switched it up. Suffice it to say, The Protein hands down. Always like to feel good about pedals I’ve already bought 😅 and yes the blue side is phenomenal.

[@JamesOnGuitar]

Haha it’s funny, i like to watch stuff about gear i already have.. 😃 good ear man!! 👍🏼

[@Jamz9132]

That amp played clean is suberb!

[@Paul_Lenard_Ewing]

It is not the same in any way but a $50 Boss DS-1 can cover both these pedals if you keep the gain around 10 o'clock. What's more if you need a bit more bite you have it. Just try it ...you will be surprised.

[@rgr4929]

It was me who requested this video!!! :D Well done James!! I'm amazed how similar are they... Nobels is more muddy though, isn't it? By the way... Thanks for the chords! ;)

[@JamesOnGuitar]

Thanks for the suggestion too, it was staring me right in the face! You’re right, just that muddiness in the nobels slightly, but lots of great tones in there. Haha my lame chord effort - will sort it properly next time 👍🏼

[@joesaxon6566]

Here is a video comparing an apple to half an apple....

[@katseazzz]

nobels 135th anniversary sounds better than the protein for sure i don't know about the stock nobels

[@paulc4935]

Great channel, very relatable (other than accumulated price of gear 😂). Do you find yourself using the green side often? I find the blue absolutely glorious but I can't bond with the green at all and can't help but feel the protein is somewhat wasted on me for that reason (maybe it just doesn't like my iridium or my tele)

[@JamesOnGuitar]

Hi... thank you 👍🏼 (yeah, it has accumulated a little😂) totally with you on that - don’t really use the green side at all, hence why it took someone asking me to do the comparison, but the blue side is indispensable to me. If they did that as a single pedal i’d probably pay £200 for it!

[@paulc4935]

@@JamesOnGuitar definitely! Whats your opinion on whether something like an automatone could match the glory of that blue side?

[@JamesOnGuitar]

@@paulc4935 good question. For me, the automatone is a little fiddly and can distract you while you dial it in. I don’t think it can do the glorious, transparent thing quite as well as the blue protein, but now you ask I might spend a few minutes comparing them soon 👍🏼

[@paulc4935]

@@JamesOnGuitar would be interested to hear how it goes on. Your automatone videos are great. Is funny, am trying to condense my setup and find myself looking at the automatone 😂 But with a 360 euro pedal with one tone that i use and being in the market for fuzz and heavier OD, I find myself thinking the automatone of all things would help me simplify everything and stop worrying about the latest and greatest pedals and just play the guitar instead 😂

[@efsglass]

i better win that preamp!! I subscribed a few months ago but have no idea what it means to subscribe “publicly”

[@JamesOnGuitar]

Ah - i’ll have a look through my list and let you know but i think you are 👍🏼

[@johnw6648]

i didnt see you reduce the famously overdone bass on the odr1 with the bass cut switch. the muddiness comes from too much pre distortion bass. not as bad with a single coil guitar of course

[@JamesOnGuitar]

I cant remember exactly but i think i had done it off camera 🤔 not 100% sure though

[@TaxExemptBinge]

Love 'em both, but I think the Protein has the edge.

[@LeviBulger]

Wampler Belle does the Nobels thing better than the ODR1. Plus it also has a separate setting that honestly sounds like a Timmy. Don't sleep on the Belle!

[@JamesOnGuitar]

Cheers man - will check it out!

[@GazP23]

A thumbs-down from somebody whilst on zero views, what a knob! Have a thumbs-up from me, I’ll watch it later!! :-)

[@JamesOnGuitar]

Thank you!! So bizarre isn’t it. Cheers and have a good weekend 👍🏼

[@GazP23]

@@JamesOnGuitar it’s just a weird thing to do! I fear when I watch this I’m going to want a Protein. I managed to convince myself an ODR mini will be enough (still yet to be purchased) but this video could spell trouble! I’ll watch later and find out

[@JamesOnGuitar]

You might be surprised... :)

[@steveturner6770]

I'm always impressed by videos about the Nobels but never been inclined to actually purchase one. Nice though, and this is the usual enjoyable video!

[@JamesOnGuitar]

Cheers 👍🏼 i know what you mean though... it stays on the shelf a lot, but then I’m reminded how good it can sound 🤟🏼