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I've had the pleasure of knowing Alan Rigg for the past 20 years and can safely say that from my experience, there is no better guitar tech anywhere, and quite frankly, I wouldn't know what to do without him. Al and has looked after all my vintage guitars including black face Tele's, pre 'L' series Strats and a host of other old school Gibsons and Gretsches .
Most recently, Al has been fettling my new Duesenberg guitars to extract a whole range of sounds not normally found on these lovely guitars. The other thing worth mentioning is the genuine love and admiration Al has for his precious musical instruments - - he always approaches every job with the same enthusiasm and willingness to do a great job for his customer.
There's two things I really admire about Al. One is his mastery of his trade - after nearly 30 years of constant devotion to his work, Al has just about seen it all, so if Al doesn't know the answer, then no one does! The other is that Al is a true gentleman; he is honest, caring and a great Dad to his children and therein lies the true value of the man. Good luck with your business Al, we all wish you well.
Sincerely, Steve Laue |
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Big Al, The ‘59 neck is so radically improved, it’s gone from the ridiculous to the sublime. The stuff of true genius, thank you. Paul Christie (PC) The Party Boys, Mondo Rock, Almost Famous |
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I have known Alan for the past 10 years and am always satisfied with his impeccable work. He is one of the few left in the industry who is down to earth & great at his craft, as well as being honest and fair when it comes to pay time! He takes the time to talk to you about your repairs and always gets the job done on time!! (very important ingredient people ...)
He is also a great guitarist so obviously appreciates other peoples' instruments and treats them like his own. I am sure you will not be disappointed when you give him a go, just don't tell everybody about him (or he might get a chip on his shoulder like all the others!!)"
Cheers Al,
Conrad Galanos Swinging Sixties, The Bandits |
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There is nothing Al doesn’t know about getting the most out of your guitars for you, he takes a good look at how you play before setting it up for you then gets to work, he have worked on my gear for nearly 10 years. I could not recommend him highly enough for repairs, setups, services and even appraisals. I personally have a number of vintage guitars from Fenders and Gibsons to Rickenbackers and Gretsches and there is no one I trust more in Australia. Besides all that he is one of the nicest guys in the world and a joy to spend time with. Pete Rizzo |
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I first met Al in Sydney in the late ‘70’s when I was playing in bands like Rabbit and Finch/Contraband. He did some set up work for me on my ’76 Gibson Explorer back in the Rock Repairs days, and I was immediately impressed with his work. We were also two certified guitaroholics, and we soon became firm friends, as we are to this day. Al has worked on several precious guitars of mine including my ’87 Strat Plus, ’82 Tele and ’63 Jaguar, doing everything from refrets to pickup replacements and general fine tuning and tweaking, and I have always been totally blown away with his workmanship, passion for his craft, and general professionalism. And he charges very reasonable prices too. Only someone who loves guitars as much as Al does, could DO what he does, and having said that, I don’t know anyone who does do what he does as well as he does, and that’s the reason why he’s the only one who I’ll let work on my precious babies (apart from myself when it’s something I can handle). We’ve shared some great times together, from jamming together with Phil Emmanuel when Al was playing in Kakadu, to spending a ‘lost afternoon’ with Al and my wife Lyn in the Blonde Fender Amp room at Jackson’s whilst trying out several droolworthy vintage Strats – if only I’d had the money to buy just one! Al, Lyn and I wish you all the best with your new venture, and we’d just like to say to any guitarists out there who have an instrument in need of anything from a major overhaul to a restring and setup – Al’s your man! Cheers mate, Dave Hinds Bounty Hunters , The Garth Brooks Show |
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Al is the only guy in Sydney I would use to work on my guitars as he not only knows guitars better than anyone else I know, but more importantly as a gun musician himself he treats my guitars the same way he would treat his own i.e. ‘with loving care’. All the best mate,
Jeff Rodgers |
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I've been turning up on Al's doorstep with various stringed instruments for about 20 years now, and no matter what I bring, he's always able to get the most out of the instrument and set it up just right. I have a number of guitars, and always seek Al's advice when looking for a new one, but my favourite would have to be the black Strat that he built himself, from parts - I use that guitar all the time. Al treats every guitar on his workbench as if it were his own, and that is how you know that the results are going to be the best that they can possibly be, every time.
Tom Rice |
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I have known Al Rigg since 1988 when Phil Emmanuel recommended him to me as a guitarist for a band I was putting together. After three rehearsals that band worked 4 nights a week for the next year - what a blast. But the good Dr Rigg has other talents as well. He had worked on Phil's Strats and Tommy's Teles & acoustics for years and he resurrected my ‘68 Strat from an under-the-bed relic to a player’s dream. Al has worked on all my guitars for twenty years now, and he knows how to get the best out of an instrument. Al is also one of the World's Best People. Besides doing great work, he is honest to the bone, totally reliable, a dedicated family man, and he knows more about what makes a great guitar than anyone else I know.
John Spence The Fargone Beauties, Barry Leef Band, Producer of ‘The Guitar Show’ TV series |
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Al Rigg has repaired/set up at least 3 guitars for me and all are still going strong. To me he’s the most trusted man in the business in Australia, the world for all I know. I’ve seen a lot of dodgy repairs over the years and none ever from Al’s workshop.
His knowledge is uncharted! Good luck, Al. Richard Atkinson Luthier (in training) |
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I’ve been taking my guitars [acoustic and electric] to Al for years now and some miracles have happened as a result, some basket cases have been resurrected and others have been turned into much better instruments because of Al’s touch, his attention to detail and his knowledge of all things guitar have helped myself and my friends out heaps over the years and I would recommend anybody who has a problem instrument to take it to Al.
Ian Dittman The Bellhops, The Hellboppers |
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For over twenty years, Al's worked on my most precious guitars - the '59 Gretsch, '56 Martin, '32 Gibbo and more - it's nice to be able to put that much trust in someone's skill and professionalism. Thanks Al! Glenn Cardier www.glenncardier.com |
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Through the past 20 years, my guitars have become like my family and there is only one person I would trust to look after them, in fact, they are in better condition now than when I bought them all those years ago. Thanks for looking after my guitars, Al. Tony Martin The Tony Martin Band, Great Southern Land Marketing & Promotions |
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Without hesitation I recommend Alan Rigg as a skilled, professional, and artistic 'guitar doctor'. Alan has worked on four of my guitars, including my Clapton Strat and my SRV Strat, and I am not only pleased with his work, and I sincerely grateful for his contribution to the health of these guitars. Richard Kraus Bellevue Hill NSW |
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My association with Al goes back a bit – we started in the same band in the 70’s. Even then his passion for guitars and music was apparent. While the rest of us had grungy strings, dodgy leads etc, Al’s gear was always clean, in tune, sounded great - and generally the envy of us all. It’s this genuine love and knowledge of guitars and tone that Al brings to his Guitar Repair service. Over the ensuing decades, Al has worked on, and provided advice on, many of my own guitars, Including Stratocaster, Precision Bass, Telecaster, Rickenbacker 360/12, Martin D18, Hofner Beatle bass, to name some. I have absolute confidence in recommending Al to anyone keen to get the best from their instrument. John Collins JCaudio www.users.bigpond.com/johnacollins/ |
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Overseas and away from home my guitar split down the side. Fortunately, I was living down the street from Alan. After a cup of coffee and some fine conversation, my Martin was fixed. The crack was mended, frets were shaved down, and guitar was sounding better than it has in years. All I can say is thank you and that i would recommend Alan Rigg to anyone in need of guitar repairs. Cheers, David M. Tropp myspace.com/davetropp Princeton, USA |
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Alan Rigg has been repairing my guitars for over ten years. As a gigging musician I have various acoustic and electric guitars and it is no exaggeration to say that Al has always done an excellent job, going the extra mile and really listening to what you want.
Reasonable prices and timeframes, always a phone call away for a discussion and help when required.
I can't recommend him highly enough as a luthier. He is also a player who has a real passion for what he does.
Marvin Storm Guitarist, Swinging Sixties |
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When I was living in Sydney, Alan has always come through for me, with his excellent repairs and set-ups.
But even more impressive was how he was able to locate some original parts for my vintage "Stratocaster" and my old "Les Paul", when nobody else seemed able to source them. He came highly recommended to me for very good reasons, and I also highly recommend his services.
Cheers mate
Ken McMahon Deja Vu |
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Al Rigg is the best guitar tech in the country and I’ll stand on _ _ _ _ _’s (name of other well known guitar repairer omitted!) coffee table in my cowboy boots and say that!
Matt Dwyer www.mattdwyermusic.com.au |
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I have used Alan for all the difficult repairs that come into Dicksons Music for the past 2 years. There have been plenty of instruments that I thought were going to the scrap heap but Alan has a magic touch and can bring even the most abused instruments back to life. After years of repairing myself, he is still the only person I will trust to work on my custom electric basses. I have converted quite a few customers, who now regularly bring their guitars back for him to setup and always rave about the quality of the work. He is a true craftsman.
Jara Johnston-Anderson Guitar Department Manager |
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Alan has been looking after my guitars since 1987. I love his work, and particularly that he knows each of my instruments well. This enables him to instinctively know what to do to keep them tweaked. He has a lot of clients, so must have a massive data base of guitars in his head............. His attitude is always positive, and his turnaround fast. I look forward to another 22 years of guitar maintenance and guitar talk with him.
Justin McCoy. |
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I knew Alan way back in the Rock Repairs days of the late 1970s. Brought him a Gibbo Charlie Christian and then a Gibbo 'Black Beauty' LP Custom to setup ... and then mod :p. I remembered we jammed to the vamp out of George Benson's 'This Masquerade".
Point is Alan always made you feel welcome and comfortable ... especially since I was just a non-gigging glass-onioned space cadet with guitars I didn't deserve. (The mods, remember?) Looking back I question the wisdom of modding the Gibsons especially the Black Beauty... though I was delighted at the time ... & Alan was too much the gentleman to patronise me.
Fast forward to 2007 and I'd practised then quit the Architectural profession, cabbied and muso'd in Adelaide and repatriated from years of ESL work in Tokyo ... brought back a nice Japanese 335, LP Std ... & another Black Beauty ... which I had setup (NOT modded) ... I'd long forgotten who Alan was but he remembered me ... down to the guitars I brought him 30yrs ago!
Beautiful job he did on it ... perfect in every way ... that was through a local guitar store. Now I deal directly with him once again. Still take real nice guitars to him. Still the consumate gentleman.
Still the fantastic quality and promptness.
Still talk about that black 'Fretless Wonder' ...
Anyway had another creative urge and casually mentioned modding my current Lawsuit Burny 'Black Beauty" ... I thought I saw Alan's specs steam up ... in the interests of self-preservation I shut me trap & trotted away with my beautifully setup pre-Lawsuit Ibanez 330. I'm picking up my Burny 335 later tonight and I'll not have any more creative urges :P
Onya Alan & more power to you!
Terry Mar |
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My Maton is back from the grave. Action is spot on. Fret shaved. I don't know why, but even the tone is completely restored. Thank you Alan, you've done it again! Roy Marcellus Youth Pastor |
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Hi Alan, Just a quick note to thank you for the set up you did on my Martin OM the other day. It has made a huge difference to the playability and it seems to sound better than ever. Great job (and service) Alan. Cheers Garry Johnson |
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I LOVE THE MARTIN!!!!!!!!! Mate I seriously could not be more happy...I’ve been singing your praises all day to my guitar friends. They came over and played the Martin and all of them are in shock. We think you’re a magician.!!!!!!! You have the magic touch and I’m so very grateful my guitars are in your care.......What you did with my Fender was sensational but the Martin feels like a completely different guitar (in a good way)...has all the nice bits I liked and none of the bad bits.....I feel like I’ve just been given a new guitar!!!!!!!! Sooooo happy! Thank you :) AM Gray |
