Best of the ODR-1 style Overdrives
At the start of the week I covered the Vemuram Shanks ODS-1 as part of Rob Chapman’s favourite pedals rundown. The Vemuram goes for a stinking $385 - it was the priciest of the Rob Chapman select - and is the priciest option here.
Obviously Nobels have just recently released a Metallic Gold 30th Anniversary edition which makes the formerly binary Bass Cut hidden in the battery compartment - a full granularity mini-knob on the front facia. So the Anniversary edition is pretty much identical in control topology to Wampler’s Belle Overdrive. That is surely the best of the Nobels varieties.
While then again there is original ODR circuit engineer Kai Tachibana who has had his own brand for a few years, and makes evolved and improved versions of his original classics. The very best of the ODR-1 format in my opinion - was Kai Tachibana’s now sold out White 30th Anniversary Edition. I liked it so much I had to put gold knobs on it - to celebrate its magnificence. It has extra controls to the already brilliant ODR-C - which I would also take over and about the ODR-1 and Vemuram ODS-1.
For those lucky few of us who managed to get our hands on the ODR-C-30A - that has to be the ultimate ODR-1 - only 200 were made.
Funnily there is a step up in price here - €129 / $169 for the ODR-1-30A, €249 / $269 for the ODR-C-30A, and then finally the Vemuram Shanks ODS-1 at $385 - essentially stepping up $100/+ each time. The big question being I guess is the ODS-1 more than 2 times better than the ODR-1-30A?
Nobels ODR-1 Natural Overdrive : 30th Anniversary Gold Pedal - $169
Controls : Bass (Cut), Drive, Spectrum EQ, Level.
For sure the coolest version yet of the ODR-1 - with a fully variable Bass Cut in place on the front facia. Allowing you to fully granularly adjust the EQ. Obviously the Spectrum Tone Stack raises and lowers Bass both in tandem - so if you just want to max out the Treble - you can wind back the Bass with the Bass Cut. For many years the Secret Weapon Nashville Pedal - while the cat is long out of the bag on that one - and pretty much everyone is aware of the ODR-1 now. If you love the format and want the best of the original - then the ODR-1-30A is about as good as you can get.
The 30th Anniversary Edition is limited to 5,000 Units!
Nordland Electronics ODR-C Custom Overdrive : 30th Anniversary Edition - discontinued - €249 ($269)
Controls - Drive, Level, O.D.C. (Overdrive De-Compress), Spectrum EQ, Gain Mode : Hi/Lo, Mid, Lo-Cut, Internal Presence Switch.
This for me this is one of the all-time ultimate overdrives - and the very best version of the ODR-1 you could buy - and yes even better than the Vemuram take - for less money. Of course it would be great if everyone could get their hands on the ODR-C-30A - but since that is long sold out - then the second best choice is the regular Nordland ODR-C - with its 6 controls - still has one more over the Vemuram ODS-1. And at €238 / $258 is significantly lower priced than that too!
Only 200 of the ODR-C-30A were made
Vemuram John Shanks ODS-1 Overdrive - $385
Controls - Level, Gain, Tone, Rear Trim-pots : Bass & Saturation.
Finally the priciest of these - and Rob's choice. I'm not sure he ever got to try a Nordland ODR-C or ODR-C-30A for that matter. I'm not contesting that it doesn't sound good - it most certainly does. But $385 is a lot to splash out for the Brass enclosure - while the ODR-1-30-A is excellent in its own right, and all versions of the ODR-C are preferable for me really. I still wouldn't mind owning an ODS-1 - but it's a lot of money - and especially when I already own both Nordland ODR-C and ODR-C-30A - the Scandinavian in me is just not sure it's worth it!
Which one would you guys go for? I would hope that if you've been following me for a while - you'd already be clued up on the Nordlands. My Nordlands are so good that it's kind of putting me off getting in on the Browne Amps Protein - I just can't imagine a plain old 3-knob take of the ODR-1 could compete with the Nordlands - in terms of versatility and overall quality of tone! I remain to be convinced in any case!
