Thin Man Music was started in 1979 by Laurence White, originally selling guitar strings and doing musical instrument repairs, the business grew into a full fledged retail and service operation in the mid 1980s. Operating on Webster Street in Alameda California for over 30 years, the business was sold to the head Guitar Instructor LeRoy Thomas and his wife Linda Thomas in 2012. In May of 2014 the shop was sold again to Rylan White, store manager and son of original owner Laurence White. In October 2016 retail operations were closed and the business became solely repair-based.