The Nobels ODR-1X is an analog overdrive pedal, the next generation of the Nobels ODR-1, a design that dates back to 199212. Released in 2024, it keeps the character the ODR line is known for and adds the features players had been asking for: an adjustable Bass Cut knob, a Gain Boost, switchable true or buffered bypass, and a remote socket for an external footswitch3.
Nobels describes it as an analog overdrive pedal with natural distortion and a vintage '90s sound, and says that with the Gain Boost engaged the ODR-1X can be turned into a genuine hard-rock monster4. Guitar World's Trevor Curwen found it strongest in the gentler range: "it's really in the just-beyond-clean and low-level crunch where the pedal truly excels, making it a shoo-in for completely natural drive sounds that don't mess with your core tone"5.
A natural overdrive for just-past-clean tones
The ODR-1X sits in the overdrive family rather than the high-gain distortion camp, though the Gain Boost pushes it further than the original. Nobels positions it as a natural-sounding drive, and Guitar World's review bears that out, placing its strength at the point where a clean amp just starts to break up54.
The pedal's lineage matters here. The original ODR-1 was developed in Hamburg, Germany and first released in 199223. In 2020 the ODR-1BC updated it with an internal bass-cut switch and the option to run between 9V and 18V9. The ODR-1X builds on that, moving the bass cut to an external knob and adding the boost and remote functions9.
The controls
The control set is Drive, Spectrum, Level, a mini Bass Cut knob, and a Gain Boost, plus the internal True/Buffered Bypass switch in the battery bay105. The knobs have glow-in-the-dark pointers, a practical touch for dark stages1.
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Drive | Sets the amount of overdrive |
| Spectrum | A double-filter tone control that cuts or boosts bass and treble simultaneously4 |
| Level | Sets the output volume |
| Bass Cut | A mini knob for taming and shaping the low frequencies4 |
| Gain Boost | Adds extra gain; Nobels says it can turn the pedal into a hard-rock monster4 |
| True/Buffered Bypass | Internal switch in the battery bay selects the bypass mode10 |
The Spectrum control carries over from earlier ODR pedals: Guitar World describes it as "a double filter tone control that simultaneously cuts/boosts lower mid and treble frequencies"5. The Bass Cut is the newer feature. Where the ODR-1BC hid its bass cut on an internal switch, the ODR-1X "offers more flexibility on that bass-cut by giving the facility its own mini knob"511.
Power and the 18V option
The ODR-1X runs on 9 to 18 volt DC from a supply or a battery, with a top-access battery compartment for quick swaps41. The power connector is a center 2.1 mm barrel7. Running at 18 volts, Nobels says, allows more headroom12. Current draw is listed as 11mA by RockBoard8 and about 15mA by Guitar Pedal X7; either figure is light enough for most isolated supplies.
The remote socket
The Remote (TRS) socket accepts an external footswitch, which can turn the pedal on and off and also bring in the gain boost59. For players who only want remote control of the boost, Nobels' support documentation says a simple switch connected with a standard mono jack cable is sufficient13.
ODR-1 versus ODR-1X
The ODR-1X is the next generation of the legendary Nobels ODR overdrive1. The practical differences for a player choosing between them:
- Bass Cut: external knob on the ODR-1X, versus none on the original ODR-1 and an internal switch on the ODR-1BC49
- Gain Boost: new on the ODR-1X5
- Bypass: switchable true or buffered on the ODR-1X4
- Remote control: the ODR-1X's Remote (TRS) socket supports an external footswitch5
- Current draw: 11mA for the ODR-1X versus 25mA for the ODR-1, per RockBoard's listings814
Nobels also released the compact ODR-mini2 alongside the ODR-1X, which adds a Bass Cut control of its own6.
What reviewers said
Guitar World's Trevor Curwen reviewed the ODR-1X and rated it four and a half stars, concluding5:
"The ODR-1's long-term efficacy as a transparent drive pedal is all still here in the ODR-1X edition, freshly enhanced with fully adjustable bass-cut, but the extra gain on tap adds a flexibility that means it's capable of going beyond that traditional role"5
The same review noted the build: "the metal chassis on the ODR-1X with its chunky footswitch makes for a pedal that feels nigh on indestructible"9.
Guitar Pedal X's Stefan Karlsson was equally positive when the pedal was announced, calling the compact ODR-1X "now pretty much an essential buy with those latest changes"7, and later including it in a best new boost and overdrive pedals roundup for 20247.
Videos
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Questions
Is the Nobels ODR-1X true bypass?
It can be. Inside the battery bay there is a switch that selects either true bypass or buffered bypass, so you can set it to suit the rest of your pedalboard. The earlier ODR-1BC used an internal bass-cut switch in the same compartment, but on the ODR-1X the bypass mode is the internal choice.
Does the ODR-1X run on a battery?
Yes. The pedal runs on 9 to 18 volt DC power, either from a supply or from a battery, and it has a top-access battery compartment so you can swap the battery without taking the pedal off the board. The power connector is a standard center 2.1 mm barrel.
What does running the ODR-1X at 18V do?
Nobels says that running the pedal at 18 volts allows more headroom. In practice that means the clean-ish settings stay cleaner before the drive kicks in, which suits players using the ODR-1X for low-level crunch rather than heavy distortion.
What's the difference between the ODR-1 and the ODR-1X?
The ODR-1X is the next generation of the 1992 ODR-1. It adds an external Bass Cut knob, a Gain Boost, switchable true or buffered bypass, a remote socket for an external footswitch, and glow-in-the-dark pointer knobs. The ODR-1BC of 2020 had already introduced an internal bass-cut switch and 9 to 18V operation.
How do I use a remote footswitch with the ODR-1X?
Connect a footswitch to the Remote (TRS) socket. An external footswitch can turn the pedal on and off and also bring in the gain boost. If you only want to control the boost remotely, Nobels says a simple switch connected with a standard mono jack cable is enough.
Where is the Nobels ODR-1X made?
The ODR-1X is made in China. Nobels designs its pedals in Germany, and the original ODR-1 was developed in Hamburg. Guitar World's review of the ODR-1X also lists its origin as China.
Sources (14)
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- Tracing Journal: Nordland ODR-C Custom Overdrive, Aion FX, 2021-10-22
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- Nobels ODR-1X review, Guitar World, 2025-11-08
- Nobels ODR-1X & ODR-Mini2: Upgrades for the Nashville Pedal, gearnews.com, 2024-09-30
- Guitar Pedal X, Guitar Pedal X, 2024-09-27
- ODR-1X by Nobels, RockBoard PedalPedia, 2026
- Nobels ODR-1X review, Guitar World, 2025-07-25
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- What can be operated remotely with the ODR-1X?, Nobels, 2025-04-28
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