Simply when guitarists thought the golden age of substances couldn’t get higher, Robert Keeley has mixed two nice pedals that sound nice collectively.

One aspect of his new Noble Screamer OD/increase is impressed by the Nobels ODR-1, the opposite is a tackle the Tube Screamer. Keeley calls it a “four-in-one pedal,” nearly like modeling however utilizing a purely analog circuit.

Designed to be user-friendly, the Screamer’s Tone, Degree, and Drive knobs work with OD and TS toggle switches to regulate the temperament of acquire, from flat-EQ to boosted treble and bass. In TS mode, the Tone knob acts as a low-pass filter that rolls off highs as Degree is dialed up. It’s simple to seek out settings for arduous clipping, chunk, and all-around nastiness – every little thing from buttery boosts to crusty crunch could be had with switchable bypass, powered by a 9- or 18-volt adapter.

Performed by means of a Deluxe Reverb with a Les Paul Commonplace and customized Tele, the overdrive and increase alternatives (together with their combine choices) produced every little thing from candy Nashville punch to L.A. loopy. The Les Paul produced Santana-esque maintain, whereas the Tele went from twangy to super-thick and ominous, all whereas preserving the inherent character of the guitar and amp.

Keeley’s Noble Screamer can mould, chisel, or tame – however extra importantly, it evokes imaginative textures with extremely usable coloration.

This text initially appeared in VG’s December 2023 situation. All copyrights are by the writer and Classic Guitar journal. Unauthorized replication or use is strictly prohibited.