Nordland ODR-C vs Nobels ODR-1: Evolution or Overhyped?

The Nobels ODR-1 is a renowned overdrive pedal celebrated for its warm, natural tone and versatility, making it a favourite among guitarists across genres. Originally released in the 1990s, the ODR-1 has garnered a loyal following, particularly among Nashville studio musicians, thanks to its ability to enhance the character of an amplifier while retaining clarity and dynamic response. Building on the legacy of the ODR-1, the Nordland ODR-C offers several modern enhancements that elevate the original design. Developed by the creator of the ODR-1, Kai Tachibana, the Nordland features true bypass switching, high-quality components, and additional controls for greater tonal flexibility. With its ability to deliver the classic ODR-1 sound with improved clarity and an amp-like quality, the Nordland is certainly an appealing choice— but is it worth the additional cost?

Full List of Enhancements

True Bypass: The original ODR-1 uses buffered bypass, while the Nordland features true bypass—a design choice that has also been adopted in the newer Nobels ODR-1X model.

High-Quality Components: The Nordland is built with premium components, designed to deliver superior tone, reliability, durability, and low noise. It also features a smooth, soft-touch footswitch that provides a satisfying click.

Higher Output Volume: The Nordland offers more output, ensuring ample volume even with the gain set to minimum.

18V Operation: This provides greater headroom, making the pedal feel more open and amp-like in its response.

Bass Cut: The original ODR-1 can be somewhat flubby in the low end, but the Nordland addresses this with a bass cut control, allowing you to fine-tune the low frequencies to suit different pickups and amplifiers.

O.D.C. (Overdrive De-Compress): This control adjusts the compression level, allowing for a less compressed tone if desired. Its effect is subtle at lower gain settings but becomes more pronounced at higher gain levels.

Mids Control: This lets you fine-tune the midrange, which is especially useful for fattening up Stratocaster single-coil pickups, for example.

Internal LED Brightness Control: The Nordland features an internal adjustment for the LED brightness. Additionally, the LED fades in and out to prevent pops when switching the pedal on and off.

Which is Right for Me?

The addition of the bass cut knob on the Nordland is certainly useful; however, this feature is now available on the ODR-1 30th Anniversary and the ODR-1X. Therefore, you don't need to fork out for the Nordland if you're looking for an ODR-1 with a variable bass cut.

As for the other controls on the Nordland, I could take or leave them. I don’t find the O.D.C. particularly useful, as I generally run the gain fairly low, making it difficult to discern any difference. While the mids control is a nice addition, it’s not a dealbreaker for me. Personally, I prefer the aesthetic of the ODR-1; I have the 30th Anniversary model, which looks fantastic in gold sparkle. The Nordland, with its black-on-green design and pink LED, doesn’t really do it for me.

What I love about the Nordland is that it delivers the classic ODR-1 tone with greater clarity, openness, and an even more amp-like quality—especially when running at 18V. The additional controls offer a level of tweakability that some players might appreciate. Overall, the Nordland feels like a high-quality pedal that can easily withstand the demands of a touring musician's pedalboard.

When choosing an ODR-1, I would definitely opt for the 30th Anniversary or the ODR-1X, as I find the bass cut control to be the most useful of the additional features. Both models retail for around £130. I picked up a used Nordland for £180, so for £50 more, I’d say it’s worth considering the Nordland. However, you can undoubtedly find a used ODR-1 for well under £100, making it incredible value.

Conclusion

If you love the ODR-1 sound and are looking for the best tonal version with a bit more tweakability, definitely check out the Nordland—especially if you can spare the extra cash. However, if you already own an ODR-1, I’d say stick with it; the Nobels ODR-1 is an amazing-sounding overdrive in its own right.