The Tube Screamer and the Nobels ODR-1 have less in common than most people may expect: they are both green and they are both overdrives. But the color of the latter has often led to the misguided assumption that it was a clone of the former, while it’s not. The Keeley Noble Screamer, in a way, is a testament to the differences between these two circuits, since it blends the character of the two circuits to create something new.
A 100% analog circuit, this stompbox offers a total of 4 modes, obtained by the interaction of two toggle switches affecting the Tone and Drive knobs. The two toggles under the Tone and Drive knobs emulate what the knobs of the two knobs do in the corresponding original overdrives:
- TS mode: Tube Screamer-inspired soft diode clipping + TS Tone control type, when both toggles are in the TS position
- OD mode Nobels ODR-1-inspired hard diode clipping + ODR-1 Tone control type, when both toggles are in OD position
- 2 x Mixed Modes (one toggle in OD and one in TS position), it blends the characteristics of the TS and the ODR-1 clipping diodes and Tone controls, according to the toggles’ configuration.
This means that when the Tone Switch is up and in the OD position you will hear the type of EQ found in the ORD-1, described by the builder as a ‘Spectrum’ type of tone control that has the ability to go from a flat EQ to an EQ that has a boost in the treble and bass response.
On the other hand, when the Tone Switch is down in the TS position you have a Low Pass Filter typical of the Tube Screamer that rolls off the high frequencies only and enhances the pedal’s distinctive mid frequency bump.
The pedal also features true-bypass or buffered, and truly silent switching.
Keeley Noble Screamer, Builder’s Notes
Imagine being able to combine your favorite parts of different overdrive & boost pedals in order to create hybrid sounds no one has ever played through before. That is exactly what we’ve engineered with the Noble Screamer. It’s a 4-in-1 pedal that gives you two very familiar drive circuits and two brand new amp-like distortion tones that no one has used before.
It’s almost like pedal-modeling, except these are 100% analog circuits, and you decide which tone-control or clipping-section you want to play through. You can play through battle-tested, classic overdrive effects or innovate new music with hybrid tones, let your ears be the judge. Even with all of these features the pedal remains a simple and easy to use three knob overdrive.
The innovation in the Noble Screamer doesn’t end there; our new design features true-bypass or buffered, truly silent switching, on the fly. The Keeley Noble Screamer Overdrive and Boost is entirely manufactured at Keeley Electronics and is the first in our new aluminum enclosure.
Tone Control
Broad Spectrum Tone Control or Narrow Focus Filter Control: The Noble Screamer gives you two tone control
circuits to choose from. When the Tone Switch is up and in the OD Position you will hear a ‘Spectrum’ type of tone
control that has the ability to go from a flat EQ to an EQ that has a boost in the treble and bass response. If the
Tone Switch is in the TS Position you have a Low Pass Filter that rolls off the high frequencies only.
Diode ClippingHard or Soft Clipping: The Noble Screamer gives you both styles of diode clipping. Diodes are used to create hard
clipping distortions or smooth overdrive sounds. If the Clipping Switch is in the OD Position it features Hard Diode
Clipping which is an edgier, more aggressive tone. When the Clipping Switch is in the TS Position that uses Soft
Diode Clipping, like a tube amplifier softly overdriven.Noble Screamer Has Both Buffered and True Bypass
The Keeley Noble Screamer features our Vitamin K Infused Buffer for noise free switching. We have developed an
amazing sounding buffer which not only makes your rig sound better, it gives you silent switching with no tone loss.
No more pops and clicks to distract from your music. If you want to turn that feature off and go back to true
bypass, simply press and hold down the foot switch for two seconds and the pedal will switch to True-Bypass (LED
will flash twice). True Bypass is great for players that want the effect of plugging directly into their amp when the
pedal is off. Alternatively, players that want a strong and clear signal even when the Noble Screamer is turned off,
simply hold the stomp switch down for two seconds and the effect is back to Buffered Bypass (LED flashes three
times). Enjoy truly silent switching and let your music be the only voice.Made In The USA
We design, engineer, and manufacture the Noble Screamer in Oklahoma City. Everything about the Noble Screamer
is geared towards the professional musician and their quest for an inspiring tone when the performance demands
it. From the inside of the pedal and its meticulously built circuit boards and metal construction audio jacks to the
outside of the effect its newly fabricated aluminum enclosure; we make guitar effect pedals to be finely crafted
musical instruments.
