Saddle up, buckaroo — Gottlieb’s Buckaroo is an electromechanical single-player wrapped in a classic American West theme, and it comes from the legendary team of designer Wayne Neyens and artist Roy Parker, one of the most beloved creative partnerships of pinball’s golden woodrail age. With reel scoring and a confirmed run of 2,600, it’s a handsome and popular early Gottlieb celebrating the rodeo spirit of the frontier.
The layout is a solid, engaging spread with a distinctive touch: two flippers, three pop bumpers, three passive bumpers, a pair of slingshots, two roto-targets, and a standup target. Those two roto-targets, the spinning drum targets, add unique mechanical variety to the playfield, while the combination of pop and passive bumpers promises a lively, bouncy ball that demands active nudging. The standup target gives a clear objective to chase, all in service of the frontier theme and the cowboy romance it evokes. It’s a clean, well-balanced design in the classic Neyens-and-Parker mold, rewarding a player who keeps the ball alive and works the targets methodically.
Buckaroo is a fine showcase of the celebrated Gottlieb team’s craft, pairing an evergreen western theme with a satisfying, roto-target-driven playfield and Parker’s warm artwork. The frontier motif captured the era’s romance with the West, all cowboys and open range, and Parker’s illustration brings it to life. For the collector who loves the golden age of EM pinball and its greatest creative teams, it’s a rewarding find. Work those roto-targets, ride the bumpers, and stay in the saddle. Some machines just capture the spirit of the Old West, and this Gottlieb rodeo classic rides tall. Yee-haw, and drop a coin.