Keeley Noble Screamer....didn't know I needed it until I watched a video

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omahaaudio

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So let me get this straight. I can buy a genuine Nobels ODR-1 mini for $80 AND an Ibanez Tube Screamer mini for $80 or buy this thing for $200, and not have the option of combining the sounds of two pedals!
Sounds pretty pointless.
 

bluesholyman

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So let me get this straight. I can buy a genuine Nobels ODR-1 mini for $80 AND an Ibanez Tube Screamer mini for $80 or buy this thing for $200, and not have the option of combining the sounds of two pedals!
Sounds pretty pointless.

Yeah, I think it gives you options that you can't get from the two separate pedal without having to rearrange and dial things differently as opposed to flipping a couple switches on the single pedal.
 

telerocker1988

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So let me get this straight. I can buy a genuine Nobels ODR-1 mini for $80 AND an Ibanez Tube Screamer mini for $80 or buy this thing for $200, and not have the option of combining the sounds of two pedals!
Sounds pretty pointless.

The problem is that the current ODR-1 and TS-808 pedals do not sound like their vintage counterparts. The ODR-mini is actually a lot different than a stock ODR-1. The ODR-1 full size reissue is closer to an old one but even it isn't as nice or the same as the old one. And with the TS Mini it's not the same as a TS-808 at all and even the 808 reissue is different to the old ones. To me the TS Mini sounds far more like a -9 and even those aren't the same.

Also, this pedal allows you to run a TS tonestack on a ODR drive circuit and a ODR tonestack on a TS drive circuit. I'd much rather have this pedal. I generally think the boutique offerings are closer to those old pedals in tone.

Newer mass produced "big name" pedals generally isn't my thing when it comes to dirt. When it comes to Tube Screamers in 2023 Ibanez isn't even making the best Tube Screamer anymore. :lol: They make the only ones that can use that name but any of the boutique versions are a cut above and more like the ones that made them famous back in the day. The new reissues are useable, but if you are super discerning on tone or try to compare them to something like a boutique pedal or a vintage pedal then they will fall short. For most people they wouldn't care.
 

Willie Johnson

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Tangentially related, I have been digging my old Bad Monkey (don't, stop, don't start) into my ODR Mini lately. The split Treble/Bass tone controls on the former (and I do have a modded/different mids cap in there) do a lot of cool things interacting with the Spectrum control on the latter. I leave the ODR as an always on and kick the Bad Monkey at unity volume on for more drive.
 

nic'o'caster

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So let me get this straight. I can buy a genuine Nobels ODR-1 mini for $80 AND an Ibanez Tube Screamer mini for $80 or buy this thing for $200, and not have the option of combining the sounds of two pedals!
Sounds pretty pointless.
I was thinking like you, but after watching/hearing the demos I changed my mind.
The 2 classic "green pedals" tones sound like they should, but the two added combinations are very different and interesting sounding. So this pedal offers really 4 usable different tones, all usable, making for a very versatile pedal. This plus the ability to switch from true bypass to a very good buffer justify the price to my humble opinion.
 

JohnnyBandera

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I ordered one because I wanted a Nobels that was US made, true bypass, and close to the original, and this seems to nail it. Everything I had heard previously just didn’t seem to get the sound right, other than the odr- mini, plus I’m a big Keeley fan (although I just own a K mod sd-1). Having a close to original TS setting is just bonus to me.

I wonder if anyone has tried the TS setting with the Nobels clipping (I understand this can be done), seems to me this may get into Keeley phat mod bd-2 or sd-1 territory. If that’s true it may be one of the greats.
 

burntfrijoles

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I know Keeley makes some great stuff but this seems silly. It's seems like another attempt by a pedal designer to split hairs because they need a new product. So there aren't enough OD pedals with barely perceptible differences in them already flooding the market?

I guess you're on stage and you bend down to flip a few switches to achieve a unique tone that will gobsmack the audience or listener!
 

gitold

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In a year there will be used ones all over the place for $119. I might try one then. I must have 10 Keeley pedals and bought them all used. Great value.
Another thing about Keeley is their customer support is incredible. I bought a Time Machine boost used a few years back. They hadn’t made them in years. It started making loud hissing noises. I called them and asked them if they fixed their pedals and what would it cost letting them know it was used. A fellow told me rather gruffly to send it to them and they’d see what they could do. It came back fixed in a week no charge what so ever!!
 

telerocker1988

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I know Keeley makes some great stuff but this seems silly. It's seems like another attempt by a pedal designer to split hairs because they need a new product. So there aren't enough OD pedals with barely perceptible differences in them already flooding the market?

I guess you're on stage and you bend down to flip a few switches to achieve a unique tone that will gobsmack the audience or listener!

I feel like personally I couldn't care less what the audience thinks of my tone. It's for me. It's to add to my excitement and interest in the guitar and to keep me entertained and happy. Which then will ultimately show in my performance which is something the audience will care about and I care about how they feel about that, not how my guitar sounds from pedal to pedal. No, I wouldn't flip the switches mid song but I wouldn't hesitate to do it between songs if there is time. I think it also is great for those of us who play in a studio or do home recording.

Sure you can find a couple overdrives that sound alike but I think there are more differences from pedal to pedal than you might think - even in the same category between two Tubescreamers, Bluesbreakers, Klones, etc.
 

burntfrijoles

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Sure you can find a couple overdrives that sound alike but I think there are more differences from pedal to pedal than you might think - even in the same category between two Tubescreamers, Bluesbreakers, Klones, etc.
I'm the first to admit that my ear is not that sophisticated so subtle differences might escape me. Then again, they are subtle.

I've owned a great number of ODs in my life and I've chased tone for years. Zendrive, Tube Screamers, Blues Driver, Mad Professor SHOD, Timmy, OCD, KOT, Black Box 2, Klon clones, etc.

I guess I've got OD exhaustion and can't be moved by a new entry into an overpopulated market.
 

JohnnyBandera

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I'm the first to admit that my ear is not that sophisticated so subtle differences might escape me. Then again, they are subtle.

I've owned a great number of ODs in my life and I've chased tone for years. Zendrive, Tube Screamers, Blues Driver, Mad Professor SHOD, Timmy, OCD, KOT, Black Box 2, Klon clones, etc.

I guess I've got OD exhaustion and can't be moved by a new entry into an overpopulated market.
It appeals to me because I never was really a fan of OD pedals, never chased tone with pedals, even when ocd came out and the keeley mods, I just thought they were alright, the bd-2 probably being the best but not up my alley, same with TS. I was turned off for a while but changed my opinion with the awesome zendrives, the Klon stuff, and the Nobels. I just didn’t pay attention to gear like that back then so I missed the boat.

I think now probably the best stuff is being made, this new Keeley pedal supposedly nails the nobels sound, which I haven’t heard another clone do aside from the Nobels reissues, mini, and nordland. The original TS 808 part of it sounded great too, which is another thing, all the TS I used in the past were reissues. I’m expanding my horizons but am not expecting much, but I did get oddly excited when I saw the demos of this Keeley pedal.
 
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D_Malone

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I know Keeley makes some great stuff but this seems silly. It's seems like another attempt by a pedal designer to split hairs because they need a new product. So there aren't enough OD pedals with barely perceptible differences in them already flooding the market?

I guess you're on stage and you bend down to flip a few switches to achieve a unique tone that will gobsmack the audience or listener!

That’s exactly what it is. It’s common, and as long as people keep buying it will continue. Nothing wrong with it. If you’re happy with what you currently have then you’re all set.
 

burntfrijoles

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If you’re happy with what you currently have then you’re all set.
I’m not knocking folks who want it or think it’s unique and fills a need. It’s their money and their decision. I just think the market is over saturated. How many shades of overdrive are there? Transparent, mild, semi mild, edge of breakup, just beyond edge of breakup, quasi hot, hot, smoking hot.
 

11 Gauge

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It's seems like another attempt by a pedal designer to split hairs because they need a new product.
Yep.

Nothing against Keeley or any others, and my guess is that a fresh product is good for at least a short-term pickup in sales. And sales are what's required to keep the lights on.

My personal approach would be to just come up with a few good drive box designs that are appealing to users over the long haul, but I know that comes with the likelihood of sales not remaining consistent, especially for smaller companies that don't have a lot of distribution.

Anyway, for me, a dirt box that I'll use regularly is like a guitar or amp. I only need a Strat or Tele or two, so it doesn't really matter what new thing some company comes up with. And I'm fine with my Vibrolux Reverb and Origin 20, so IDK how someone could repackage an amp that would work better for my needs.
 

Brent Hutto

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The pedal market, particularly for boost/overdrive pedals seems simple enough to me as an outsider. There are a lot of people who simply love buying new dirt pedals frequently. Like a million of them or something. So whether or not there's anything truly new under the sun, it's perfectly sensible for lots of makers to be constantly offering slight variations on the most popular styles. And combo pedals seem to be a mini-trend the past couple years.

I guess there are worse addictions than needing to buy yet another $100-$200 drive pedal every few weeks. Honestly, I understand the guys with a collection of 100 overdrives and boost better than those with 100 guitars. They're mostly affordable and they don't take up much storage space.
 

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