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These guitar brands are releasing gear to contribute to anti-racism causes
These brands are using their effects to raise money for racial justice charities
Image: God City Instruments
In response to the ongoing protests against police brutality and racism happening all across the United States, several device makers have come up with special releases and raffles that see proceeds donated to charity organisations and campaigns standing for racial justice.
Sargent House BLM Fundraiser Raffle
Record Label Sargent House has announced a raffle of various items from its roster of artists. Notably, for guitarists, both Chelsea Wolfe’s Fender Jazzmaster (signed) and Deafheaven’s custom Dunable Flying V are up for grabs. Atop these, there’s some rare signed test pressing, clothes and other memorabilia up for grabs.
Find out more over at hellomerch.com.
Band Memes x She Shreds Pedal Raffle
Bandmemes and She Shreds have teamed with a coalition of 22 device builders for a massive stompbox raffle, in support of three racial justice organisations: Black Lives Matter, the Bail Project and Critical Resistance. Each $10 donation to either organisation counts as an entry in the raffle. Take a look at Bandmemes’ announcement video for the raffle below.
https://www.instagram.com/p/CBRD6sZH5KN/
Big Ear Pedals
Big Ear Pedals recently donated 100% of its sales towards Color of Change and Black Lives Matter, raising over $5,000 for the causes. See its post below:
Anti Flag x Abominable Electronics
On top of its ‘Hate Stomper’ PCB (see below), Abominable Electronics contributed a fuzz/distortion pedal labelled simply ‘Fuck White Supremacy,’ to be raffled off by the band Anti-Flag in aid of Black Lives Matter. Four units in total were up for grabs, with thee grand prize winner also receiving a unique LP pressing of Anti-Flag’s Live: Vol. 1, complete with the burnt remains of an American Flag. The raffle raised over $14,000 for the cause.
Mythos Pedals #001 Mjolnir Overdrive
Nashville-based Mythos Pedals announced that its very first Mjolnir overdrive pedal ever made will go under the hammer on eBay to support the Black Lives Matter organisation. “This is the first ever Mythos pedal,” Device maker Zach Broyles wrote. “It’s very important to me but it pales in comparison to how important it is that we all work together to end racism in America.”
The pedal’s eBay listing noted that the device was also at a time used by roots and blues guitarist Joey Landreth of the The Bros. Landreth. Bids for the overdrive pedal will be accepted until 12 June.
“I hope that whoever wins this auction will love this as much as I have,” Broyles wrote. “This was my main overdrive when I used to gig and I’ve spent countless hours playing music on this very box just at home. It’s very special to me but in light of everything that is happening in the world I think raising money with an auction is so much more important than having a pedal on a shelf.”
Red Witch Pedals
Ben Fulton of Red Witch Pedals took to Instagram to announce that he would be “donating all the profit margin from any Red Witch pedal” sold from its online store towards the NAACP’s Legal Defense Fund.
In his statement, the Kiwi wrote that he “would never have picked up the guitar” if not for the pioneering musical work of Black artists from Jimi Hendrix, BB King and Albert King.
“I feel such a debt for how much that culture has improved my life – musically and beyond. I genuinely hope out of all this horror that a new, better way forward, is found.” His full Instagram post below.
Abominable Pedals “Black Lives Matter” Hate Stomper PCB
Seattle-based Abominable Pedals has announced a special PCB for its Hate Stomper JFET Boost, one that’s adorned with the words “Black Lives Matter”. Proceeds from these circuit boards will go towards the Black Lives Matter Seattle-King County Freedom Fund; each is priced at $6.66, an apt price for the makers of the Hail Satan fuzz pedal.
God City Instruments “Black Lives Matter” PCB
Converge guitarist Kurt Ballou – through his instrument and device company, God City Instruments – has unveiled a special Tone Bender-style PCB, featuring the words “Black Lives Matter”. Profits from the sale of the fuzz circuit will be split between Massachusetts Bail Fund and the Boston DSA. Ballou wrote in an Instagram post: “They’ll be available in the GCI shop just as soon as I verify the design works and sounds good.”
Chase Bliss Automatone Preamp MKII, Serial #00001
Chase Bliss Audio of Minnesota is hosting a global raffle for a chance to win its Automatone Preamp MKII with the serial number #00001. Entry to the raffle is granted with either a proof of donation towards Campaign Zero, or with “a written paragraph on how you plan to fight police brutality in your community or the world”.
Additionally, Chase Bliss will be matching contributions to Campaign Zero up to $5,000. A winner for the preamp will be announced on 11 June. See the brand’s full Instagram post below.
Cooper FX owner’s personal Generation Loss
Tom Majeski of Cooper FX will be raffling off his personal Generation Loss pedal so “it can be more productive”. Each $10 donation pledged towards an organisation within a provided list grants one entry into the raffle. Majeski also stated that the would be matching the highest donation.
“I don’t know what to say and I feel like my voice isn’t the one who should be heard,” he wrote in his Instagram post. “I just want to contribute some way. Thank you”
Old Blood Noise Endeavors
Old Blood Noise Endeavors announced last Friday (5 June) that it would be donating the entirety of its web sales proceeds from that day towards Black Lives Matter (Oklahoma). A follow post from the brand announced that its campaign raised over $50,000 – which will be confirmed publicly once the contribution has been made.
Black/Mass Effects 1312 Distortion
Last week, Black/Mass Effects announced that it would be donating its profit from pre-orders of the 1312 Distortion stompbox – a eight-clipping option super Rat pedal – towards two Boston-based organisations: the Massachusetts Bail Fund and Families For Justice As Healing.
“There’s so much to be said about the needless killing and violence carried out by the police,” wrote the one-man building operation. “We need to work everyday to dismantle the oppressive systems that allow the police to behave the way they do. We need to use whatever voice we can find to work to demilitarize the police [and] reinvest in uplifting our communities.”
Pre-orders were later capped, after meeting with “overwhelming demand”. The company announced a total of $2,380 raised – with additional desires to “do more of these soon”.
See the full post below.
Kauer Guitars Korona Prototype
On 5 June, Kauer Guitars unveiled the Korona, an “upscale version” of the brand’s Titan KR-1 model – which along with three “builders choice” editions, sold for the special price of $2,000 a piece. 100% of the sales, plus an extra 25% contribution by Kauer would go towards the buyer’s organization of choice, either the George Floyd Memorial Fund, Minnesota Freedom Fund, Black Visions Collective, Reclaim the Block, Campaign Zero, or Unicorn Riot.
A follow-up post from Kauer revealed that a total of $30,000 in contributions were collected through the plan.
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