NZ guitar pedal firm launches crowdfunding campaign

Guitar pedal company Red Witch is seeking to raise up to $700,000 through a crowdfunding campaign.

A New Zealand guitar pedal company conceived in a Paekakariki garage is seeking to raise up to $700,000 through a crowdfunding campaign.

Red Witch Analog Ltd was started by Ben Fulton in 2003 producing boutique analogue guitar and bass effects pedals.

The company was now seeking capital to drive global sales through an offer on Snowball Effect, director Geoff Matthews said.

The pedals were used by some of the world's leading musicians, including Sting and Andy Summers of The Police, The Arctic Monkeys, Faith No More and Tool, Matthews said.

Local artists including Shihad, Neil Finn, Trinity Roots and Jakob.

"We've spent a number of years developing a full suite of products," he said.

"Having established an enviable brand reputation we're now ready to ramp up our marketing and really drive sales.

"We're unaware of anyone else doing anything similar, and it's another way of setting ourselves apart."

The company says the global market for guitar effects pedals is estimated to be worth US$195 million annually and was the fastest growing segment in the industry.

The crowdfunding campaign was being hosted on the Snowball Effect platform.

Red Witch was seeking to raise a minimum of $368,000, representing 17.32 per cent of the firm's shares, Matthews said.

By this afternoon the company had raised $273,086, representing 74 per cent of the $368,000 target

The funding cap is set at $700,000, or 28.49 per cent of the firm's shares.

The campaign was timed to coincide with NZ Music Month, he said.

Full details of the crowdfunding offer can be found here.

Red Witch founder Ben Fulton with Madonna's guitarist Monte Pittman.