Timbre Cases, the Fredericton startup making upmarket guitar cases, is launching its product with a Kickstarter campaign aimed at raising $30,000.

Though the minimum pledge in the crowdfunding drive is one dollar, the goal of the campaign is to get early purchases of its Dreadnaught guitar cases, which will ship in May.

Founded by music aficionado Peter McMath, Timbre Cases is a startup dedicated to making the best guitar cases available.

“The Big Idea with Timbre Cases is to provide guitarists with the ultimate solution to eliminate all those challenges associated with moving, storing and getting to and from gigs with their much-loved guitars,” said the company on the campaign web page.

As well as a sleek design, Timbre Cases set out last year to produce a case that will protect the instrument. The team has worked with Felipe Chibante, a chemical engineer at the University of New Brunswick, to find the best materials to ensure a protective case that houses a cushioned interior.

Timbre Cases are made of aerospace-grade Kydex, a material that is tough, waterproof and lightweight. The company says it is the ultimate option for creating guitar cases designed to deliver the ultimate protection.

Guitars are too often damaged when they are transported in flimsy cases. Sometimes the necks break when the cases’ lids close suddenly, so Timbre Cases have “constant torque hinges” so they only close if someone purposefully pushes them shut.

A lifelong music fanatic, McMath wants to emulate the success of local companies Sabian Cymbals and Los Cabos Drumsticks, which have excelled in the global market for music equipment. McMath, who took his company through the ACcelr8 accelerator at Planet Hatch, announced the campaign at the Launch36 Demo Day in Fredericton last week.

As of this morning, the Timber Kickstarter campaign has raised $6,753 with 31 pledges. Three people have made the top pledge of $849 or more, which entitles them to a premium limited edition Dreadnaught DNone case with a personalized name plate.

The campaign ends on Dec. 17.