The name itself is a nickname, one given to Ekdahl by his best friend over a decade before the company existed1. Knas works mostly with analog circuits, which Ekdahl credits for "the vast possibilities of unpredictable and chaotic behavior"1. Its stated philosophy is to make interesting products at a decent price that utilize well known concepts for the purpose of producing something new1.
Known for the Ekdahl Moisturizer and Polygamist
Knas is best known for two unusual products. The Ekdahl Moisturizer is a spring reverb and filter unit with, in its original form, "tons of CV / Expression pedal options on the back"2. The Ekdahl Moisturizer 2 expands on that with six CV/expression pedal jacks on the back, one of them an LFO output that can control other gear3.
The other headline product is the Ekdahl Polygamist, a synthesizer. Knas describes it as growing out of a combined frustration with existing gear: "Out of this combined frustration, the Ekdahl Polygamist was born"4. Alongside these, the company's identity is tied to circuit bending and related experimental projects4.
| Product | What it is | Notable feature |
|---|---|---|
| Ekdahl Moisturizer | Spring reverb and filter unit | Extensive CV / expression pedal options on the back2 |
| Ekdahl Moisturizer 2 | Updated Moisturizer | Six CV/expression jacks, including an LFO output3 |
| Ekdahl Polygamist | Synthesizer | Born from frustration with existing gear4 |
Karl Ekdahl and the contributors
Ekdahl runs Knas as a one-person company, but he names a group of significant contributors, many from the Baltimore arts and music scene5:
- Martin Schmidt (Matmos)
- Jason Willet (Leprechaun Catering / Half Japanese)
- Zoe Burke (Myconids / Reverse Baptism)
- Max Eilbacher (Needle Gun)
- Lars Ekdahl
- Joshua Atkins (Polygons)
- Nicolette Le Faye (Double Date)
- Miguel Sabogal (Polygons)
- Ryan Wirth5
At times of high order volumes, Ekdahl has made a point of contracting extra help only from within that Baltimore scene, and only when a decent salary can be guaranteed5.
Built without loans: how Knas makes its gear
Knas's manufacturing policy is unusual among effects makers. The company "does not, and have never, taken any official loans," and Ekdahl writes that it avoids business with banks and money institutions5. The consequence is a deliberate cap on output: "For this reason, however, the production volume is limited to a comfortable amount"5.
Quality control is strict regardless of volume. Everything must be in 100% working order for a unit to ship, and each unit is tested at least two times during the manufacturing process1.
Knas gear is made in small runs. Because production volume is intentionally limited, individual products may not always be available, and the company describes itself as deliberately anti-capitalist in how it operates1.
The range (2)
| Type | Pedals |
|---|---|
| Reverb | Knas Ekdahl Moisturizer, Knas Ekdahl Moisturizer 2 |