Rizsanyi Guitars

Having apprenticed for several years for the legendary Master Luthier Joe Lado Kovacic, The Twelfth Fret in Toronto, and violin maker Bruce West before opening his own shop. "The whole thing has been one neat thing after another," he says, with a fervour bordering on boyhood amazement at his own success. His initial introduction to celebrity client... s began with an American superstar musician. "When I was starting out, I had this notion that I would build James Taylor a guitar." After a year of trying to track down the legendary singer-songwriter, he turned on the television one day and heard he was in Toronto for a concert. Remarkably, the TV anchor announced his hotel. Rizsanyi picked up the phone expecting to leave a message; instead he was patched through to the singer himself. Rizsanyi says Taylor was very nice. However, he was afraid of offending Rizsanyi if he didn't like the guitar being offered. Not a problem, Rizsanyi thought, so he made Taylor three guitars, to give the singer a choice. They were hand delivered the next time Taylor was in town. He loved them.Read More