Wampler Belle Overdrive

I was looking for an alternative to TubeScreamer type overdrive and tried a Nobels ODR-Mini but did not like like it. No mid-range boost but much too heavy on the bass and no way to dial that down.

But it did lead me to this Wampler Belle Overdrive. It is inspired by the Nobels ODR-1, which is apparently a hot favourite with Nashville studio musicians.

It is early days yet, so this review will get edited once this pedal has been on stage a few times, but so far, it is a welcome change from the ubiquitous Tubescreamer sound.

I do not love mini pedals, but having this mini overdrive is no bad idea. You can stack it with others (say, a Lightspeed, a Turnus or whatever). It is not as transparent as the Greer Lighspeed or some boosters, but it does not modify the sound too much either. It makes a Friedman preamp sound better. And it is so small you can place it almost anywhere

I had an ODR mini that I really liked as a neutral distorsion pedal, but the bass became a bit too dominant with the gain set at max. This pedal allows to remove bass from the signal with a dedicated bass control and it adds an alternative clipping section.

The pedal is well built (in USA) and it has extra features and that increases the price compared to the ODR mini, which is built in China. If you plan to keep this type of pedal for a long time I think it is worth the extra price.

I’ve already went through 4 different versions of this circuit, and the bass knob makes this one the most versatile. In my opinion this is a must for this great circuit.
I’m only giving 4 stars because of the mini format.

Objectively: well built , really compact.
Subjectively: good looking, great sound with my setup, a Tele, but no doubt it can sound good with humbuckers too (maybe better ?) , the bass trim knob helping.

Fantastic drive for my Strat into Fender Deluxe or Champ. It's very warm and pleasant. It inspired me to play more than usual. Clipping mode is a great addition.