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In 2014, my album My Guitar’s My Only Friend was nominated for a JUNO Award.
Every note on that record came through the same pickups I’ve played for over 30 years — my B94 Strat-style single coils.
They weren’t bought in a store. I wound them myself back in 1994, and they’ve been my #1 ever since.
The Story Behind the B94
The “B” stands for Buddy — my dad’s name, and the man who got me into music. The “94” is for 1994, the year I wound them.
They were built for my 1994 Honeyburst Strat, which has been my main guitar for almost every show and every album since. Those B94s have been on every record I’ve made, including my JUNO-nominated album My Guitar’s My Only Friend, produced by Tom Lavin of Powder Blues Band fame.
One of the highlights of that record is Buddy’s Walk, a song I co-wrote with Tom that carried my dad’s favorite kind of blues shuffle. It’s fitting, because these pickups have been the voice behind my playing for decades… except for the six months they were gone.
The Stolen Guitar Story
(A 6-Month Fight to Get My Tone Back)
In 2011, my main guitar — the Honeyburst Strat with my original B94 pickups — was stolen. This wasn’t just losing wood and wire; it was losing my voice.
I spent months searching pawn shops, scouring online classifieds, and asking around local music stores. Then, six months later, I spotted it on Craigslist. I set up a sting at a gas station in Maple Ridge.
When the seller showed up… let’s just say it didn’t end with a handshake. I left with my guitar — and a ride in the back of a cop car. Charges were dropped, and the B94s came home.
That guitar has been with me ever since. Every note on my JUNO-nominated album? Played on it. Every gig since? Played on it. These pickups didn’t just survive decades of touring — they survived being stolen.
Why I Wound My Own Pickups
When I was a teenager, I couldn’t afford boutique pickups. But I wanted to control the source of my tone instead of constantly fighting it. I started by rewinding old pickups, charging the magnets myself, and experimenting until I found the sound I was chasing.
Knowing exactly what the pickups were designed to do — and how to adjust them — became the foundation of my tone. That approach has stayed with me to this day.
Why They Stayed in My Strat for 30+ Years
The B94s have touch-sensitive dynamics — they clean up beautifully when I roll back the volume and bite hard when I dig in. They have the clarity and feel that makes them feel like an extension of my hands. And they’ve proven themselves over and over again through countless gigs, tours, and recording sessions without ever failing me.
They’re not magic. They’re just right for me.
What Makes BTone Pickups Different
Every guitar and every player is different — and I believe pickups should be voiced with that in mind. Tone depends on the whole chain: the guitar, the strings, the cables, the amp, and the pedals.
At BTone, I focus on the small but important details:
- The winding style
- The gauss levels
- The magnet type
- The wire type
- The potting method and finish
I don’t claim BTone is “better” than every other boutique brand — tone is subjective. But I do know that BTone offers an affordable option built by a player, for players.
From Rogers Pickups to BTone
In 2010, before my dad passed away, I tried to launch my pickups under the name Rogers Pickups. Life had other plans, and I stepped back. After he passed, I renamed them BTone — short for Buddy’s Tone — as a way to carry on his legacy.
Some of my other models carry that connection too:
- B43 — the year my dad was born (1943)
- B10 — the year he passed (2010)
Every BTone pickup I wind carries the same respect for tone and family that the B94s were born from.
The Takeaway
The B94s are more than just pickups. They’ve been the voice of my career, my JUNO nomination, and my connection to my dad — but they’re also built for any player who believes tone starts at the source.
Whether you’re stepping on stage, hitting the studio, or just playing for the love of it, BTone pickups are designed to respond to your touch, your guitar, and your style. They’re about helping you find the sound that feels like home — the one that makes you want to keep playing.
