Tim White began winding his now-legendary Timbucker pickups in the late 1990s, quietly, from his kitchen and without fanfare or a flashy brand launch. Much like ThroBak, Don Mare, Peter Florance, Virgil Arlo, Ron Ellis and Wolfetone, he rose to prominence almost entirely through early internet forum hype. But while some of those names built savvy marketing machines, Tim White just kept winding. For more information, visit the Timbucker Tribute Website.

Despite the lack of polish in presentation, many players consider Timbuckers to be superior to other boutique offerings of the era, praised for their clarity, responsiveness, and vintage-correct tone. His use of meticulous winding techniques and select components led to a two-year waiting list by the early 2000s.

Then he stopped.

Tim White ceased production around 2008, and just like that, Timbuckers became folklore, discontinued, hard to find, and cherished by those lucky enough to own a set. Sometimes, players don’t realize how good something is until it’s gone. And in the case of Timbuckers, they may have been the best-kept secret in the boutique pickup world. For more information, visit the Timbucker Tribute Website.