Did two hours of comparing 4 nice drives and here are some thoughts:
Buffalo TD-X (SS Tube driver)
Gets a bit hairy on the top when the gain goes up and yet still sounds smooth on lead lines, nice neutral midrange that just works really well, esp if the top is rolled a bit down it sings.
Blackstone Mosfet
The most clean smooth notes of all with no extra ghosting or grit around the edges, puts me in the mind of Knopfler on the BIA album. Has an mid peak that is also a teeny bit reminiscent of 80's Zz top but in a very natural way. Gain cleans up very fast on the guitar volume knob, uncanny.
Kingsley Minstrel
The most hair or fuzz around the notes of all four but still extremely pleasing. The mid control is subtle and rolled up full is at a much lower frequency than the blackstone so can sound more scooped in the high mids plus clear & toppy. Huge low end, I keep it on 9. Gain cleans up a few more notches lower down than the Blackstone, sounds very nice like this.
Nordland ODR-C
Nice fat low mids and a very controlled predictable sound. It can sound close to the others but is a bit more 80's in tone, something about the mids makes me think of that Steve Lukather session guy rack tone.
I personally prefer the nasally mids of the Rockett GTO, (another ODR-1 type but Different) although this has way more low end and versatility overall.
Hard to say what is best, the buffalo is fab for lead lines, the blackstone is versatile and stacks things in front nicely, kingsley a good alrounder and could be a great allrounder with a specific mid boost in front.
Comments
Interesting how Buffalo called the TD-X an 'equalizer and gain booster'. I have only owned/heard the actual B.K. Butler and Chandler Tube Drivers, I really like them as a fat overdrive pedal for single coil guitars a la Gilmour and Johnson but found them a bit too thick and mushy with humbuckers. Mind my experiences date from like 10 years ago.
The Nordland/Nobles ODR-1 remains one of my favourite circuits. It sounds very 'natural' and seems to act more like an extra gainstage on top of your amp. It's one of those pedals that work really well if you like the core tone of your amp and setup. A 'more' pedal.
I sort of would have expected a Zendrive of some sorts in there too. Have you tried one of those? I have the Warmaudio, really smooth Dumble-y sounding pedal. Might be quite different compared to the others mentioned.
This was long before the huge profusion of boutique pedals, it still works amazingly well.
I tried a zendrive clone years ago, at the time it gave me the impression of "TS but more", which didn't suit my needs.
Haven't tried any of those, but I did try J Rockett The Dude which was exceptionally smooth actually too smooth for me so I sold it!
I have a Chandler Tube Driver being modded as we speak and will be keen to hear them side by side when it gets back to me.
View my feedback at www.thefretboard.co.uk/discussion/comment/1201922