Guitars
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2008 Ryan Nightingale 12-String, Brazilian Rosewood/Moonspruce
Exquisite. One look at this Nightingale 12-string from Kevin Ryan, and you understand what all the fuss is about. We love Kevin’s guitars for their flawless fit and finish, modern aesthetics, and surgically precise tone, and this 12-string brings all of that to the table with the added presence and dynamism of doubled strings. You can bang out cowboy chords, sure, but any regular 12-string can handle that. Where this Ryan 12-string excels is in the definition of each individual note, from string to string and across the registers. This is an incredible fingerstyle guitar, and Kevin’s patent effortless playability really makes this one shine. This beauty was built in 2008 with Kevin’s finest woods (the Brazilian Rosewood is primo grade, and would today only be used on Kevin’s Signature models). Brazilian and Moonspruce, a perfect combination. Additionally, this Nightingale features Kevin’s namesake arm bevel and acoustic flutes, plus a custom fit Calton flight case for travel.
Other keywords: lutherie, luthier, 12 string, leo kottke, fingerpicking, brazilian, kevin ryan guitars, paua, abalone, gotoh
SOLD Read moreScale Length 25.5 in Nut Width 1.875 in String Spacing 2.4375 in Woods Spruce - Moonspruce, Rosewood - Brazilian 
2010 Ryan Paradiso Brazilian Rosewood/Swiss Spruce
Paradise on Earth, or at least in your lap: our Kevin Ryan 2010 Paradiso in Brazilian Rosewood and Swiss Spruce. This is Ryan’s small-bodied fingerstyle guitar, deep and resonant. Thanks to the 25.5″ scale, the bass is well defined and balanced. The longer scale length, combined with Ryan’s deeper-than-average body, give the guitar a big-bodied feel, but with all the ease of play of a much smaller instrument–and a low profile neck helps ensure effortless fretting.
The tone is rich and complex, and the entire build is executed with laser (no pun intended) precision, right down to the Paua Abalone trim which spans the length and breadth of the body and Kevin’s innovative Fluted Arm Bevel for soundports and EO (“Engineered Openings”) bracing and spherically arched back. This guitar was made with fingerstylists in mind, and it does not disappoint.
Here’s an additional demo with our own Al Petteway: https://youtu.be/LrCjmrNxkfY
SOLD Read moreScale Length 25.5 in Nut Width 1.75 in String Spacing 2.25 in Woods Spruce - Swiss, Rosewood - Brazilian 
2002 Ryan Abbey Grand Parlor, Indian Rosewood/Sitka Spruce
Sweet, sweet, and sweeter. Our 2002 Abbey Grand Parlor from Kevin Ryan is a delightful small-bodied guitar with an easy balance between warmth and precision that you’ll not want to put down. Indian Rosewood back and sides with a Sitka Spruce top and Kevin’s stepped bridge & slotted headstock, this Ryan has opened up handsomely in the intervening years, and is in great playing shape for many more years to come. We love the bass response this Grand Parlor offers, which sets it apart from its fellow small-bodied guitars. Combined with a glassy setup and slim weight, this Ryan Abbey is a guitar that’s easy to play, hard to put down.
Other keywords: lutherie, ryan guitars, abby, fingerstyle, parlor, small guitar, 0, 00, abalone, waverly
SOLD Read moreScale Length 25 in Nut Width 1.75 in String Spacing 2.25 in Woods Spruce - Sitka, Rosewood - Indian 
2007 Ryan Nightingale Grand Soloist, African Blackwood/Engelmann Spruce
Tall, dark, and handsome. Our latest Ryan comes to us from 2007, and it’s blossomed handsomely in the intervening years. African Blackwood back and sides with an Engelmann Spruce top & arm bevel, this Nightingale Grand Soloist has an extremely smooth response from nut to saddle, and plays even more smoothly. The setup is glass; this Ryan almost plays itself. We found this one soaked up DADGAD particularly well, where the bass strings sweetened up without turning muddy. In excellent condition, and comes bundled with a McIntyre Feather pickup for onstage work, and a Calton flight case to safely deliver this Ryan to that stage. Kevin manages to coax a lot of color out of his guitars when voicing them, and that’s here with this Nightingale in spades, which dovetails nicely with the string-to-string balance for a rich, fat tone.
Other keywords: lutherie, luthier, kevin ryan, fingerstyle, grand auditorium, black woodSOLD Read moreScale Length 25.7 in Nut Width 1.75 in String Spacing 2.25 in Woods Spruce - Engelmann, Blackwood - African 
2001 Ryan Mission Grand Concert, Indian Rosewood/Cedar
We love to see a Ryan with some years under its belt. This 2001 Mission Grand Concert doesn’t disappoint! Only a few shallow love bites here to let you know this Ryan hasn’t been wasting away in its case. The voice is lively and responsive, with more dry mids than you would usually find on a Cedar-topped guitar, and that gives this particular Mission a defined response that holds up well to both fingertips and flatpicks. Straight-grained Indian Rosewood back and sides, venetian cutaway, and Kevin’s 25.7” fingerstyle scale length. 18 years strong and counting, this is a sweet slice of the Ryan & Dream Guitars life.
Other keywords: lutherie, luthier, finger style, abalone, red cedar, tkl
SOLD Read moreScale Length 25.75 in Nut Width 1.75 in String Spacing 2.25 in Woods Cedar, Rosewood - Indian 
2014 Ryan Paradiso, Cocobolo/Master Sitka Spruce
Kevin Ryan’s Paradiso model offers, in one instrument, both the warmth and color of a smaller bodied guitar and the attack and projection of a larger one. We’ve got an excellent example of that balance in this 2014 Paradiso in Cocobolo and master grade Sitka Spruce. Fabulous fit and finish from tailblock to tuners, with Titanium bridge pins, Kevin’s acoustic flutes arm bevel and 25.7” scale—this Paradiso is a smooth operator under your hands.
The lower bout is a trim 15 1/4”, and with a Florentine Cutaway and slim neck profile you’ll find this Ryan to practically play itself. We in particular appreciate the smoothness of the response, and this Paradiso’s ability to remain crisp and articulate even when we dipped down into C tuning territory. Really, we were hard pressed to find note we didn’t like!Other keywords: finger style, fingerpicking, tkl, paridiso
SOLD Read moreScale Length 25.7 in Nut Width 1.75 in String Spacing 2.2813 in Woods Spruce - Sitka, Rosewood - Cocobolo 
2017 Ryan Nightingale Grand Soloist, Honduran Rosewood/Adirondack Spruce
If you’re looking for clean energy, look no further: our 2017 Ryan Nightingale’s fuel reserves are renewable, bottomless, and crystal clear. We have been, hands down, blown away by the clarity and power of this Nightingale Grand Soloist. Kevin Ryan’s guitars are an obvious choice for fingerstyle, and we had an absolute ball in standard tuning, right on down to C# territory. The Adirondack Spruce top lends strength and projection to the voice, and that pairs well with the smooth note definition and dynamic color that the Honduran Rosewood back and sides provide. The acoustic-flutes-and-arm-bevel combination gives the player a bit extra in their own ear, and keeps playability gossamer smooth (ditto for Ryan’s slim neck profile). Gorgeous Blue Paua Abalone trim, titanium bridge pins, and a Calton flight case complete the package.
This is the Ryan you’ve been waiting for.Other keywords: lutherie, luthier, finger style, adriondack, hondo rosewood, hondo rw, gotoh 510, florentine cutaway, ebony bindings
SOLD Read moreScale Length 25.7 in Nut Width 1.75 in String Spacing 2.25 in Woods Spruce - Adirondack (Red), Rosewood - Honduran 
2004 Ryan Nightingale, Cocobolo/Cedar
Listen to this 2004 Nightingale sing, and you’ll understand why Kevin Ryan’s guitars are so revered: string-to-string balance is even and clear, the trebles smooth and round, the bass and mids with a profound sonority and depth. This is, simply put, a fingerstyle dynamo. Cocobolo for the back and sides, Cedar on top, and Kevin’s arm bevel and 25.7” scale all make for smooth clarity, and just the right amount of velvet overtones to make its acoustic voice an almost palpable presence.
Abalone appointments set off the dark woods, and Gotoh 510s are the golden capstones of the headstock. Playability is pure butter, not that hydrogenated junk. This Ryan Nightingale is the real deal.
Other keywords: lutherie, luthier, contemporary guitar, fingerstyle guitar, cocobolo rosewood, red cedar
SOLD Read moreScale Length 25.7 in Nut Width 1.75 in String Spacing 2.313 in Woods Cedar, Rosewood - Cocobolo 
2009 Ryan Nightingale, Madagascar Rosewood/Caspian Spruce
Kevin Ryan’s guitars are known for being methodically engineered for fingerstyle music and dressed to the nines with ergonomic features. We recently landed a whopper that exemplifies all of that and more. This 2009 Nightingale was custom built for a client who needed a thinner body for playability, so Kevin reduced the depth of the sides by a half inch, and added his acoustic flutes and arm bevel and a short 25” scale fretboard to make this instrument as effortless as possible. Primo-grade Madagascar Rosewood make up the arched back and sides, which Kevin paired with a set of his Caspian Spruce (Picea Orientalis), and a rose inlaid into the headstock from none other than inlay virtuoso Larry Robinson. The neck is reinforced with graphite rods, which enabled Kevin to pare the neck carve down to a trim C shape that flattens slightly at the peak.
Additionally, there’s an L.R. Baggs Lyric pickup installed, a Calton flight case custom fit for this Nightingale’s unique dimensions, and a fresh set of frets ready for action. The voice has opened up into a sweet panoply of overtones and clear fundamental since 2009. The trebles have that round quality reminiscent of bells, and we love how silkily the bass notes roll out of this guitar. With Kevin’s acoustic flutes, the player gets a bit extra in their ear, which is a wonderful boon when you’re on stage, or playing with another musician. In short, this Ryan Nightingale is the complete package for playability with no sacrifice to tone and projection.
Other keywords: nightinggale, lutherie, maddie rosewood, mother of pearl, mop, abalone, florentine cutaway
SOLD Read moreScale Length 25 in Nut Width 1.75 in String Spacing 2.313 in Woods Spruce - Caspian, Rosewood - Madagascar 
2007 Ryan Abbey Grand Parlor Signature, Brazilian/Cedar
A guitar like this, it’s between a rock and a hard place: you want to stare at all the gorgeous curves, but you also want to pluck the strings. Tough call. This 2007 Ryan Abbey is one of Kevin’s Signatures, and it shows not only in the extensive art deco-style inlays but also in the knife’s edge note separation and velvety sustain.
Brazilian Rosewood back and sides, Cedar top, Mother-of-Pearl inlays, fossilized bridge pins, trimmed in Abalone and Ebony with a darkly glittering finish. Ryan’s Grand Parlor body offers the warmth of a parlor, but none of the squishiness (thanks in part to the 25 inch scale). The voice has a great balance of colorful overtones and a well-defined fundamental. Even a light attack yields a capacious response, and impressive sustain.
This is the cream of the Ryan crop: elegant exterior and a wide open throttle underneath.
SOLD Read moreScale Length 25 in Nut Width 1.81 in String Spacing 2.31 in Woods Cedar, Rosewood - Brazilian 
1997 Ryan Mission Grand Concert East Indian/Cedar
Just when you thought our inventory couldn’t possibly improve, we’ve recieved a gorgeous 1997 Ryan Mission Grand Concert in impeccalble condition! Featuring the classic combination of Red Cedar and Indian Rosewood, this guitar combines the warmth of the former with the rich projection of the latter, making this an instrument equally at home for recording and playing in sessions. With a tight, focused tone that isn’t muddied by excessive overtones, this GC comes across as a stellar instrument in the studio, where your fingerstyle arrangements can fill out the articulate middle registers. Later, when you’re sitting down with your fiddle player friends to practice some tunes, this Ryan packs plenty of punch as a flatpicker for accompaniment in DADGAD. Having practiced, it’s time to perform a set of Irish jigs–and that’s when the K&K Dual pickup system comes in to faithfully translate the Mission’s acoustic tone into amplified territory. Honestly, there’s not a situation that this guitar won’t outshine the competition.
SOLD Read moreScale Length 25.63 in Nut Width 1.75 in String Spacing 2.25 in Woods Cedar, Rosewood - Indian 
1999 Ryan Mission Grand Concert, Indian Rosewood/Cedar
Easy on the eyes, ears, and hands–this ’99 Ryan Mission Grand Concert feels as familiar as an old friend. Even in 1999 Kevin Ryan was doing Indian Rosewood and Cedar right, giving this GC a combination of breathy trebles, balanced registers, and a warmly articulate bass response. The neck profile is slim and fast, perfect for the nimble fingerstylist who needs a guitar which can keep up.
We found the voice to be equally present and expressive, regardless if you were in first position or sprinting around the 14th fret and into the Venetian Cutaway’s territory. Something about playing in DADF#AD really let this Ryan sing, but the GC body and 25.7″ scale handled standard and even C tunings just as easily. With the use of a K&K passive pickup, this Mission transitions beautifully into amplified territory for gigging or recording (it fits nicely with a Henriksen Bud or AER Compact 60/3, for instance). You’ll be hard-pressed to find a better all-around guitar.
SOLD Read moreScale Length 25.75 in Nut Width 1.75 in String Spacing 2.25 in Woods Cedar, Rosewood - Indian 
2010 Ryan Paradiso, Mahogany/Adirondack Spruce
What a great day to be alive! Playing this 2010 Paradiso Grand Concert from Kevin Ryan is sure to put a smile to your lips and some tasty tunes to your fingertips. The perfect size for someone who wants a big ole’ voice in a medium-small package, the Paradiso is lively, responsive, and a breeze to play.
This is one of only a few Mahogany Ryans we’ve ever seen, and we gotta say that Kevin does Mahogany right: there’s a bit more bark and woody edge than his other guitars, and that translates into a very energetic tone and added verve to your playing. Great for fingerpicked blues! But you can pull off just about any style in style with this 2010 Paradiso, and the Adirondack Spruce top will keep projection at the forefront. This guitar plays like butter melts: sizzling in your hands with the fast action like grease in the pan. When you’re ready to mount up for amplified performance, this Ryan comes with a K&K Pure Western Mini; one of our favorite passive pickups of all time!
SOLD Read moreScale Length 25.75 in Nut Width 1.75 in String Spacing 2.25 in Woods Spruce - Adirondack (Red), Mahogany 
2015 Ryan Paradiso Grand Concert Malaysian Blackwood/European
Practically brand new, this 2015 Paradiso Grand Concert from Kevin Ryan is everything you could hope for out of a medium-sized fingerstyle guitar: flawless articulation, consistent balance across the registers, glassy playability–and that’s just for starters. Part of Ryan’s signature sound is a great balance between warmth and clarity, which this Paradiso exhibits handsomely; passages in Standard, DADGAD, or even Cadd9 have a delicious color in the middle registers that fills out the voice and offsets the sparkle of the treble strings for an even response.
If you’re looking to record, this Paradiso is an excellent choice! When the glitter of Paua Abalone is used to delineate the Malaysian Blackwood back and sides from the European Spruce top, the result is gorgeous, elegant. Of course, the arm bevel with Kevin’s “Acoustic Flutes” doesn’t hurt, either!
SOLD Read moreScale Length 25.75 in Nut Width 1.75 in String Spacing 2.31 in Woods Spruce - European, Blackwood - Malaysian 
2016 Ryan Nightingale Grand Soloist Indian/Sitka
You can’t get much closer to brand new than this 2016 Ryan Nightingale Grand Soloist. Essentially hot off the presses, this Nightingale already has a powerful, focused voice which is only going to improve as the guitar is played in. Straight-grained as an arrow, the Indian Rosewood back and sides and Sitka Spruce top are an excellent pairing, and are bound up nicely with Kevin Ryan’s signature Paua Abalone trim and rosette. Along the lower bout you can find an Ebony armrest with Ryan’s trademark “acoustic flutes” which combines player comfort with a little boost of music to the player’s ear.
Tonally, this guitar has a voice to match Ryan’s engineer-precise craftsmanship: the string-to-string balance is surgical with an even response characterized by clarity and articulation. Excellent for recording, this Nightingale Grand Soloist is a wonderful candidate for experiments in altered tunings, from DADGAD to Cadd9. When’s the next time you’re going to see a Ryan guitar this shiny and new, unless you’re already on the waiting list?
SOLD Read moreScale Length 25.75 in Nut Width 1.75 in String Spacing 2.31 in Woods xx, Rosewood - Indian