Role in the Collection
Every instrument in The ANICETO Collection has passed through Garrett Riley's hands. His inspections are the foundation of the collection's conservation record, the evidence behind the documentation, the standard behind every claim.
Every acquisition undergoes a Riley inspection before it enters the permanent record. He assesses structural integrity, condition tier, conservation needs, and string protocol. His findings become the factual foundation of each instrument's dossier and form the basis of its insurance record.
When La Sanada, a Ramírez II flamenca blanca from 1925, required conservation intervention in 2026, Garrett supervised the protocol. When pre-war instruments arrive with uncertain histories, his assessment determines what is documented as confirmed and what remains labeled as unknown. The collection's curatorial standard requires that uncertainty be acknowledged, never concealed. Garrett's work makes that standard possible.
Background
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Education
Roberto-Venn School of Luthiery One of the most respected luthiery programs in the United States. Garrett trained here before returning to the Pacific Northwest to begin his career in guitar building and repair.
Garrett Riley is the founder of Riley Custom Guitars in Everett, WA, a full-service lutherie practice spanning custom building, repair, setup, and structural modification across the full range of stringed instruments. His hands-on experience across high-volume instrument assessment and repair has built the diagnostic range and material judgment required to work confidently across instrument ages, construction traditions, and condition states.
He has served as conservation and inspection partner to The ANICETO Collection from its earliest acquisitions, conducting structural assessments on incoming instruments, establishing string tension and storage protocols calibrated to each instrument's age and construction, executing all conservation interventions, and maintaining the inspection record that anchors the collection's permanent dossiers.
Work with The ANICETO Collection
Acquisition Inspection
Every instrument acquired for the collection undergoes a formal Riley inspection on receipt. Structural integrity, condition tier, conservation needs, and string protocol: all documented in the instrument's permanent dossier before it enters the archival record.
Conservation Protocol
Each instrument is inspected by Garrett prior to acceptance into the collection to determine immediate conservation needs and the ongoing preservation plan. No intervention proceeds without his assessment. All work is executed by him directly, materials used, date, and outcome recorded in full. Every intervention is reversible where possible.
String & Storage Protocol
Garrett establishes the tension and storage standard for each instrument based on its age, construction history, and current structural condition. Pre-war instruments receive specific protocols derived from his structural assessment, logged and reviewed at each inspection cycle.
Ongoing Consultation
As the collection grows and instruments age, Garrett remains the primary consultation point for new arrivals, emerging conservation questions, and the evolution of the documentary standard. His relationship with the collection is continuous, not transactional.
Contact Riley Custom Guitars
Riley Custom Guitars
Serving the broader instrument community across the Pacific Northwest: repair, modification, and custom building.
713 SE Everett Mall Way Suite E · Everett, WA 98208
Tuesday – Friday · 10:30 AM – 5:30 PM