The Red Witch Pristina is a limited edition dual channel germanium boost pedal from Red Witch, hand built in New Zealand by the company's founder, Ben Fulton. Only 99 were ever made, each one hand signed and hand numbered1. Red Witch describes it as offering "a mountain of crystalline, sparkling, clean boost to push even the most lack luster of valve amplifiers" into dynamic overdrive1.
Inside are two independent germanium amplifiers, one per channel, each built around a single hand selected NOS (new old stock) germanium transistor1. MusicRadar's Jonathan Horsley noted that the two footswitches and two volume controls "all equates to three levels of boost from using the footswitches alone," since you can run either channel by itself or both stacked together2.
The controls
The Pristina keeps its control set minimal. There are two volume controls, one for each channel, and two footswitches, one to engage each channel12. The controls sit on the top edge of the enclosure rather than the face, and the face carries a stripped back monochrome graphic45.
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Volume (channel one) | Sets the boost level of the left channel |
| Volume (channel two) | Sets the boost level of the right channel |
| Footswitch (left) | Engages the left channel, true bypass |
| Footswitch (right) | Engages the right channel, true bypass |
A bi-color LED shows which channels are active: red for the left channel, blue for the right channel, and violet when both are engaged1. GuitarPlayer's Jackson Maxwell described it as "an LED indicator that flashes red for the left channel, blue for the right, and violet for both"6.
Because each channel is a separate boost stage, switching gives you three levels of boost from the footswitches alone: left channel, right channel, or both stacked2. MusicRadar also pointed out a playing technique the stacking makes possible: with both channels engaged, you can use your guitar's volume control to dial in how much overdrive you need, without the treble loss you get when rolling the volume back2.
Power and headroom
The Pristina runs from an external regulated DC supply between 9 and 18 volts, fitted with a 2.1mm tip negative plug, and draws only 3mA13. There is no battery option3. Red Witch says running it at a higher voltage within that range accesses even more headroom1.
The 9 to 18 volt range means the Pristina works with a standard pedalboard supply, and Red Witch says a higher voltage gives access to even more headroom.
Who made it, and how many exist
Each Pristina was built by hand by Red Witch founder Ben Fulton in his workshop in New Zealand1. The run was strictly limited: 99 pedals, each hand built, hand signed, and hand numbered16. Gearnews' reviewer, writing from experience with Red Witch's other pedals, said "I find the build quality to be excellent and the choice of components in Ben's pedals to always be top notch"4.
Red Witch's other boost pedals include the Red Witch ELIOS PRE and the Red Witch Lily Boost.
Availability
The Pristina is listed as sold out on Red Witch's product page, where it carried a price of 599 USD1. With only 99 made and none left new at the maker, finding one now means the secondhand market.
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Questions
Does the Red Witch Pristina take a battery?
No. The Pristina has no battery option and runs from an external regulated DC power supply between 9 and 18 volts, fitted with a 2.1mm tip negative plug. Running it at a higher voltage within that range gives more headroom.
Is the Red Witch Pristina true bypass?
Yes. It has two true bypass footswitches, one to engage each channel, so each boost stage is fully bypassed when it is switched off.
What do the LED colors on the Pristina mean?
The bi-color LED shows which channels are active. Red means the left channel is engaged, blue means the right channel is engaged, and violet means both channels are on at once.
Who designed the Red Witch Pristina?
Ben Fulton, founder of Red Witch, designed and hand built each Pristina in his workshop in New Zealand. Every one of the 99 pedals is hand signed and hand numbered.
Can you still buy a Red Witch Pristina?
Not new from the maker. Red Witch lists the Pristina as sold out on its product page, and only 99 were ever made, so finding one now means the secondhand market. It was priced at 599 USD.
Sources (6)
- PRISTINA, Red Witch Pedals
- Red Witch's Pristina is a limited edition two-channel boost pedal that will add “depth and dynamics to any amplifier“, MusicRadar, 2020-12-07
- Red Witch Unveils the Pristina, Premier Guitar, 2020-12-08
- Red Witch conjures up the Pristina, its new germanium dual boost pedal, gearnews.com, 2020-12-07
- Red Witch launches a limited-edition dual-channel clean boost, the Pristina, Guitar.com, 2020-12-07
- Red Witch Debuts New Pristina Boost Pedal, GuitarPlayer, 2020-12-11
