#1
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Kevin Ryan Guitars?
I am considering a custom Ryan build, also considering others. What are your opinions, thoughts, musings on Ryan guitars? I play mostly fingerstyle with some light strumming.
I know this is a pretty open question... Your thoughts?? |
#2
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Never owned one... Played two, and loved the sound, look, and feel. Met Kevin at WILS 2016, and he's a great guy with some pretty cool ideas...
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#3
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Ditto. The Ryan I played there was one of the finest guitars I have ever had in my hands. It was just right, in every possible way.
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The Bard Rocks Fay OM Sinker Redwood/Tiger Myrtle Sexauer L00 Adk/Magnolia For Sale Hatcher Jumbo Bearclaw/"Bacon" Padauk Goodall Jumbo POC/flamed Mahogany Appollonio 12 POC/Myrtle MJ Franks Resonator, all Australian Blackwood Goodman J45 Lutz/fiddleback Mahogany Blackbird "Lucky 13" - carbon fiber '31 National Duolian + many other stringed instruments. |
#4
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I have a Ryan Nightingale and it is a special guitar. I also played one of the very first guitars he made and it was very good. In fact it was a Ryan Mission Cutaway Maple/Sitka which foosball has up for sale currently. Just make sure you like the basic tone/sound of his guitars. Like all builders he has a general sound that identifies a Ryan.
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#5
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Kevin ryan is one of this second golden age's more famous luthiers and i reckon he can truly say his guitars are different from other luthiers' guitars and he walks his own guitar path.
I have only played the cathedral and nightingale models (i own one) but both were very different from each other. The cathedral was like a high end home entertainment AV system with a earth shaking subwoofer. The nightingale was almost literally a cannon - the notes produced are loud, fat, warm and an almost unique feature was how the treble, mid and bass seemed part of each other rather than being distinct It was a huge coherent note that always rrmained very warm and the mid range ia not scooped at all but very prominent. YMMV of course. Ryan also introduced many ergonomic and technical features in his guitars and some.are paid homage tl by other luthiers such as the ryan arm bevel and the lomger scale.
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In the end it is about who you love above yourself and what you have stood for and lived for that make the difference... |
#6
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I've owned a Mission Grand Concert and a Paradiso, both wonderful but a bit too large, and thus sold to fund a smaller size Ryan - Grand Abbey Parlor. I adore these guitars - the "3D" sound, booming bass, even tone across strings, and just lovely responsiveness for fingerstyle. Added bonus, Kevin is one of the nicest humans on the planet - a pleasure to get to know, and to work with.
My Abbey has 25.5" scale length so I'm about to put it up for sale on AGF and do my own build for a short scale Abbey - will be joining you in the queue soon! |
#7
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I own a Paradiso and it is heaven. Can’t go wrong with Kevin.
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#8
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#9
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Kevin Ryan is a top-shelf builder. He would be on my short list.
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#10
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They are top shelf instruments.
There's a definite Ryan sound, much like there's a Somogyi/Wingert/Klein/Greenfield sound. His guitars don't all sound the same, but they're clearly Ryans. I'd suggest trying one out to see if it's your sound, too. If you want a vintage vibe, they're not it. But they're really great. And they're killer for fingerstyle.
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Solo acoustic guitar videos: This Boy is Damaged - Little Watercolor Pictures of Locomotives - Ragamuffin |
#11
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Ryan
I have never heard or played any guitar that was identifieable by who made it, including some of the more unusual designs.
I have owned a Kevin Ryan and it was a lovely guitar, on a par with anything else I’ve owned. |
#12
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If you decide to order new or buy used, make sure you are comfortable with the scale length. i found a 25.7" scale not to my liking regardless of the builder. Otherwise, Ryan guitars are top-shelf instruments.
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Beneteau Concert cutaway Sitka/Maple 2009 Beneteau Baritone Sitka/Walnut 2005 Beneteau Concert cutaway Adi/Honduras Rosewood 2003 Maple Beneteau for sale |
#13
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Superb guitars and great guy to deal with.
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Chris Stern Guitars by: Bown Wingert Kinscherff Sobell Circa Olson Ryan Fay Kopp McNally Santa Cruz McAlister Beneteau Fairbanks Franklin Collings Tippin Martin Lowden Northworthy Pre-War GC Taylor Fender Höfner 44 in total (no wife) Around 30 other instruments Anyone know a good psychiatrist? www.chrisstern.com |
#14
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Kenny, can you explain how the scale length affects playability? I’ve seen scale length discussions, as in getting a short scale guitar, but I’m not familiar with how scale length affects the way a guitar feels. Thanks.
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#15
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A bunch of nice archtops, flattops, a gypsy & nylon strings… |