Ryan Paradiso Build

[pgagnon]

Hi All,
Well it’s been about 4 years since I place my deposit for a custom Ryan Guitar. I am please to report that I have commissioned a Ryan Paradiso and the build is well underway. While this may seem like a long time for a build, the delay was partially self imposed as I wanted to wait for Kevin's new model along with all the innovation that has taken place with Ryan Guitars over the past few years. I had the privilege of visiting Kevin's shop this past summer and timing was spot on as I had the opportunity to play several guitars including the brand new prototype “Paradiso”, the “Gold Rush” and a standard Nightingale. This was probably a once in a lifetime opportunity and I have to say that the Gold Rush was by far the finest instrument that I have ever played. The sound depth of this guitar was haunting and beauty was immeasurable. After a brief A/B process I finally made my decision.

I decided to go with the Paradiso based on the slightly smaller body size and shear comfort of this guitar. My challenge to Kevin was to find a way to reproduce some of the sound quality that I heard in the Gold Rush. After some discussion we decided to search for the right Submersion Redwood top to match the Madagascar Rosewood that I had selected for the back and sides.

The appointments for my “Paradiso-Art Deco” include:

Submerssion Redwood Top, Madigascar Rosewood backs & sides

Ergonomic Bevel
Ebony binding and Bevel
Standard nut width (1.75”)
The Ryan fingerstyle scale (25.7”)
Titanium bridge pins; proprietary low-mass, low-profile design
Ox bone nut and saddle
EO bracing
A4 kerfing liner
Blue Paua/Mother-of-Pearl MicroPearlon the headstock and fretboard
Ebony headstock plate and ducktail
Blue paua logo

Art Deco Rosette and fretboard
Blue Paua purfling and Deco Corona with MicroPearl truss rod cover
Black chrome 510 machine heads with ebonoid buttons
Integrated ebony fretboard binding
String spacing at nut; graduated incremental increase toward the bass
Diamond Gloss finish (UV cure)
Signature Series fretboard termination
Ebony “winged” bridge, standard pinned

Here are a few pic's of the build:

http://members.cox.net/pgagnon512/Ryan_Madi.jpg
http://members.cox.net/pgagnon512/Sinker_J8_High.jpg
http://members.cox.net/pgagnon512/Ryan_Paradiso.jpg
http://members.cox.net/pgagnon512/Ry...adiso_Madi.jpg
http://members.cox.net/pgagnon512/Ry...adiso_Fret.jpg

[Cornerstone Guitars]

I saw your guitar a few days ago while I was at the shop.
Very nice indeed! Congrats!

[kyee]

Congrats on the upcoming guitar, looks great so far.

Any reason you opted to bypass the acoustic flutes on the bevel?

[pgagnon]

http://members.cox.net/pgagnon512/Ry...adiso_Fret.JPG
http://members.cox.net/pgagnon512/Ry...diso_Bevel.jpg
http://members.cox.net/pgagnon512/Ryan_Paradiso_Top.jpg


Enjoy!

[tpp]

Beautiful, congratulations! I can't wait to see more.

[Martin_Nut]

That's an eye-popper, for sure. Nice choice of materials and decoration. Best wishes on the whole meeting your expectations - which I am sure it will (slam dunk ... it's a RYAN!).

[cpabolting]

[riorider]

(thanks Keith - good idea)





Very nice, Paul!

rr

[cpabolting]

That is going to be a smokin build. Kevin builds some great guitars. Very cutting edge.

[pgagnon]

Yes, I’m thrilled to be able to acquire such an instrument. On the Acoustic Flutes, I think they are more of a personal choice. Sound ports have not grown on me yet so I did not add them. Perhaps in my next build. What’s funny is I never really liked Florentene cutaways but now have one on the way. I think this cutaway may also be my choice going forward. Here are a few more pics.

[pgagnon]

[pgagnon]

[tpp]

Gorgeous, should be a winner!

[buddiesorg]

Gorgeous guitar! And it looks to be almost finished! You've almost been waiting as long as I have (he was originally going to start mine at the end of 2005 ... glad he didn't, though ... so many things have happened since then)! Just a setup and it will be off. Too bad, I would have liked to have seen it.

I wasn't so sure about the flutes either when Kevin introduced them ... but he told me my guitar was screaming for them when he built it, so the guitar has them. I'm still not convinced they make that much of a sound difference ... certainly not in the venue I play in (at home in my guitar room) ... but they look pretty cool.

I was never one for sound ports ... or anything that made holes in the sides of my guitars (my Ryans don't even have end pins) ... but I like the flutes. They will be on my Paradiso.

[cpabolting]

Ryan sure knows how to build a beauty!