Japan's KGR Harmony makes uniquely textured high quality hand-crafted cast iron pedals using traditional techniques

I’ve been meaning to cover these KGR Harmony pedals for a while - since I first saw them on the Coast Sonic newsletter. If I recall correctly EarthQuaker Devices did some custom limited editions of its Plumes and Blumes Overdrive Pedals - in collaboration with the same KGR Harmony! I just can’t recall which of those mailers I saw first.

In any case these pedals are hand-made using traditional Japanese techniques including  Nanbu-tekki. and utilising a proper iron foundry to make those very distinctive enclosures - which all have incredible surface textures and patterns. Typically referred to as Nanbu Ironware.

My favourite looking one also happens to be the priciest of the quartet - the Blue Starry Night edition of the ARARE Overdrive - which is also the most interesting of these 4 pedals for me, while I’m also tempted by the KUROFUNE Fuzz. I’m not sure I need another clean boost or 808 overdrive variant. While each of these is very attractive - particularly in the looks department. While the same attention to detail has been lavished on the circuits too - which have distinctive textures also.

I seem to be a little behind the times here - as my friend Dave Simpson covered most of these some 6 years ago now - not sure how I overlooked those then! But as always - better late than never!

My featured quartet is :

• ARARE 3-Band Overdrive / Preamp - in Blue Starry Night / Tsukihoshi Yoru edition - $430
• IRON808 Classic Screamer style Overdrive - in Light Tea Green edition - $250
• KUROFUNE Ram’s Head style Muff Fuzz - in Vintage Gold edition - $289
• SHIZUKU Transparent Boost - in Mizumari Water Droplet Blue edition - $189

With the amount of hand-crafting that is involved in the making of these they’re mostly priced a little higher than other boutique pedals of a similar stripe. These are proper ’Art Pedals’ built to last a lifetime!

Further details and demos below :