When sitting at home and browsing Reverb, you may not know just how far you're traveling—with Reverb sellers and shops around the world, any listing could be a portal into a far-off locale, a foreign city's local music shop that you're able to visit from the comfort of your home.
Today, we're catching up with one such shop, Al's Music Factory in Gijón, Spain. Located on the Iberian Peninsula's northern coast, Al's has been selling unique and hard-to-find instruments for three decades, specializing in left-handed guitars, among other items.
Keep reading below to hear about the shop and check out some of what's currently available in Al's shop. Visit the Reverb shop here.
What are the origins of Al's Music Factory?
We started in 1990 looking for material for our customers that was either not available or very difficult to get. Our motto was, "If they tell you it doesn't exist... call us"—especially for left-handed instruments.
What kind of music gear can buyers find at your stores?
We always try to have the latest thing. We are always looking for the best tone for our customers so that they can be happy and make their dreams come true.
And for many musicians to be able to provide the tools necessary to create music and expand their creativity.
How would you describe your customers?
Our customers are demanding—they want quality from us and they trust us to make them feel satisfied.
Adapt to their budgets without being a beginner, and give the professionals everything they need to progress and create great songs and fabulous shows.
In short, make them feel at home and that they can trust us.
Which are the guitars you must have in your shop?
Something different and limited that no one else has to make our customers feel special.
What are your plans for the future?
Our plans are always to seek the best tone for our customers and increasingly expand our sales around the world. There are no borders to offer the best tone.
And when you visit us at our showroom in Gijón or at our Reverb store, you will feel at home. When you buy something from us, you’re not simply buying an instrument, but the whole experience and care before, during, and after-sale.
We take photos and videos and personalize everything to the client's request. We make a report of the whole process of packaging until it goes to their homes.
We want our customers to feel part of the Al’s family.
What's your favorite left-handed guitar?
I can say that I have a favorite and it is my Nik Huber Dolphin with a Rosewood Brazilian fingerboard, curly mahogany body and neck, a spectacular top, and Haüssel pickups, signed by Nik Huber himself.
I am also very fond of my 1994 Music Man Silhouette Special with special pickups made by Jason Lollar.