If you love tremolo, you’ve probably noticed that most pedals fall into two camps: classic amp-style “volume up / volume down” wobble, or lush, almost phase-like modulation. The JAM Pedals Harmonious Monk MK2 gives you both – and then some – in one ridiculously musical box.
Designed in collaboration with Dan & Mick from That Pedal Show, the Harmonious Monk MK2 takes JAM’s already-beloved harmonic tremolo and dials up the flexibility, control and fun factor, while keeping everything fully analogue and super tone-friendly.
And the best bit for Aussie players? Colemans Music currently has a Preloved Harmonious Monk MK2 in stock, ready to drop straight onto your board.
What Is the Harmonious Monk MK2?
At its heart, the Harmonious Monk MK2 is:
-
A fully analogue harmonic tremolo with a switchable amplitude (standard) trem mode.
-
A That Pedal Show signature pedal, based on Dan & Mick’s favourite classic trem sounds, refined with JAM Pedals’ boutique Greek pedal-wizardry.
“Harmonic” tremolo splits your signal into high and low bands and modulates them out of phase – so you get a chewy, almost Uni-Vibe-ish movement that feels alive under your fingers, instead of just “volume going up and down”.
The MK2 version builds on the original Harmonious Monk with a bunch of clever upgrades:
-
Tap tempo – set your rate exactly to the song.
-
Ramp function – hold the TAP switch to ramp smoothly between two different speeds, and you can choose both speeds and how fast it ramps.
-
Legacy mode – keeps the original MK1 style but lets you multiply the speed by x2 or x1.5 for dotted-eighth style pulses.
-
Three LFO shapes – square, sine and reverse sawtooth, so you can go from smooth and subtle to hard-chopped stutter.
-
CHOP (kill-dry) mode – completely mutes the dry signal for ultra-percussive trem stutters.
-
Internal trimmers for 3-band EQ and input gain, so you can dial it in perfectly for guitar, bass, keys and more.
All that is wrapped in classic JAM Pedals artwork, true bypass and a compact footprint that still feels “stage-friendly” underfoot.
Why Is the Harmonious Monk MK2 Such a Cool Pedal?
1. It turns tremolo into a songwriting tool, not just an effect
Because you’ve got tap tempo, ramping, different waveforms and both harmonic and amplitude modes, the Harmonious Monk MK2 isn’t just “a trem sound” – it’s a rhythmic engine.
-
Use slow harmonic trem for width and movement under chords.
-
Use faster square-wave amplitude trem for choppy, almost sequencer-like parts.
-
Use Ramp mode to glide between a slow and a fast speed for dynamic builds and breakdowns – great for post-rock and ambient textures.
Premier Guitar even notes that the MK2 could easily cover “90 percent” of a gigging player’s tremolo needs, and for many players it might be the only trem they need.
2. Harmonic tremolo just feels inspiring
That split-band, phase-y movement is addictive. It can:
-
Make clean parts feel 3D and “hi-fi”.
-
Give overdriven tones a swirly, vocal quality without turning into full chorus or phaser.
-
Sit surprisingly well in a mix, especially in stereo or wet/dry rigs, where harmonic trem is often used as a “widening” effect.
If you’ve ever tried to fake a Uni-Vibe vibe with trem and never quite got there, this is much closer – but in a more controllable, modern package.
3. It’s genuinely versatile across different instruments
Because JAM added that internal input-gain trimmer and the 3-band EQ, the MK2 isn’t just a “guitar only” pedal. It’s designed to happily take:
-
Electric guitar and baritone
-
Bass
-
Keys and synths
-
Even studio signals if you’re re-amping or getting weird in a mix
That makes it a fantastic studio tool, not just something that lives on one guitarist’s board.
4. It’s part of the wider JAM Pedals ecosystem
JAM Pedals have built a reputation for boutique, hand-built pedals that show up on serious pro boards. Their lineup is used by players like Steve Lukather, Greg Koch and Kenny Wayne Shepherd, among others – a good sign that these boxes are built to tour and sound great night after night.
So while the Harmonious Monk MK2 is quirky in its artwork and concept, it’s absolutely a “real world” tool, not just a studio toy.
Why Grab the Preloved Harmonious Monk MK2 from Colemans Music?
Boutique pedals like the Harmonious Monk MK2 aren’t always easy to find in Australia – and they’re not exactly “budget” pedals brand new.
That’s why a Preloved JAM Pedals Harmonious Monk MK2 is such a sweet spot:
-
You’re getting all the same analogue circuitry and feature set as a new one.
-
You save money compared to importing one yourself.
-
You’re buying from Colemans Music, so the pedal has been checked over and is ready to gig.
