A nearly new Ryan Paradiso, get it before it’s gone! This lovely number comes to us from 2020 with lightweight Mahogany body and Engelmann Spruce on top, plus Kevin’s full suite of Design Innovations to meet the needs of virtually any guitar player. The GC body has a heavily arched back for added resonance and projection without being a big guitar (the lower bout is only 15 1/4” across), and the addition of the bevel with acoustic flutes and florentine cutaway make for an effortless playing experience to boot. The voice is glassy and clear, with sweet trebles pairing with a juicy, juicy midrange. It’s a fingerstyle powerhouse that’s equally at home with picks and strumming.

Other keywords: lutherie, luthier, guitarbuilding, Kevin ryan guitar, 1032, fingerpicking, modern guitar, calton, gc

Kevin Ryan has been at it a long time, honing his craft and bringing us some of our favorite fingerstyle guitars this century. At the top of line we find his signature models, like this Signature Nightingale Grand Soloist from 2006. Premium plus Brazilian Rosewood back and sides with dramatic figure fanning out from the Abalone center strip, paired with an amber Engelmann Spruce top, Ebony bindings, and of course Ryan’s ubiquitous arm bevel. Fossil Mammoth Ivory saddle pairs with a Fossil Walrus Ivory nut and dark Select Blue Paua Abalone appointments.
Fifteen years of music have passed through this box, and left their mark on the incredibly precise and wide open voice of the Nightingale. Note to note clarity is superb, allowing for big chords to ring out clear and perfectly defined from bottom to top. And the color and dynamism with that perfect definition! This Ryan is enveloping at the first note.


Other keywords: lutherie, luthier, fingerpicking, grand auditorium, brazilain, florentine cutaway, 25.7, calton, #570.62

The petite powerhouse: Kevin Ryan’s Abbey Grand Parlor. This full-throated, small-bodied 2018 model is dressed up with Indian Rosewood back and sides, an Italian Spruce top, and Kevin’s acoustic flutes-style arm bevel. The neck was custom commissioned with a wider spacing ( 1 7/8” at the nut) for a spacious lefthand experience, as well as no position markers. Gotoh 510 tuners, Calton flight case, 12 frets to the body an weighing in at four and a half pounds, this 2018 Ryan Abbey is a grand parlor, indeed.

Other keywords: lutherie, ryan guitars, abby, fingerstyle, parlour, small guitar, 0, 00, abalone

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

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