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The Nightingale Grand Soloist stands among the most expressive creations ever to leave the workshop of Kevin Ryan, a builder whose decades at the bench have reshaped the modern steel string guitar. Ryan’s instruments are revered for their balance of engineering and artistry, and this example reveals the depth of that philosophy in every detail. From the moment it is lifted from its case, the guitar radiates refinement and purpose, a product of a lifetime spent listening to wood and pushing the boundaries of acoustic design.
Its voice begins with a luminous Alpine spruce top, chosen for its remarkable clarity and responsiveness. Beneath the player’s hands it delivers a tone that is at once articulate and powerful, blooming with shimmering overtones while maintaining a focused fundamental. The back and sides are crafted from striking grafted walnut, a wood prized for its balance of warmth and definition. Together these tonewoods create a sonic landscape that feels expansive and deeply musical, capable of delicate nuance or commanding projection with equal grace. The elegant Florentine cutaway adds a sculptural flourish while opening the highest registers of the fingerboard.
Ryan’s signature ebony binding theme frames the instrument with quiet authority, while radiant blue paua purfling traces the top, back, sides, and headstock with iridescent light. The Sylvan rosette glows with intricate detail, its blue paua accents echoing the purfling that continues across the blue paua truss rod cover and the luminous “R” logo rendered in blue paua and mother of pearl MicroPearl. Gold Gotoh Super 510 machines with ebonoid buttons and embossed “R” logos crown the headstock, offering precision tuning with understated elegance.
The fingerboard is nothing short of a masterpiece. The fairy scene inlay was conceived by the legendary Larry Robinson, whose work has defined the highest level of ornamental guitar design for generations. Within that enchanting tableau are micro scrimshaw engravings by Bob Hergert, adding astonishing layers of dimension and storytelling that reward every close look. It is not simply decoration. It is narrative carved into the instrument itself.
Inside the guitar lives the full Ryan Innovation Suite, the engineering heart that has helped define Ryan’s reputation. The ergonomic bevel with sculpted flutes rests comfortably beneath the player’s arm. EO bracing and the acoustic honeycomb structure shape a voice that is both powerful and responsive. The Ryan micro adjustable truss rod system ensures precise control over the neck, while titanium bridge pins and the A5 “Racing Stripe” kerfed liner contribute strength, resonance, and long term stability. Every element works together to maximize tone, comfort, and structural integrity.
Despite its remarkable complexity, the instrument remains astonishingly light at just 4 pounds 11 ounces, a testament to Ryan’s mastery of strength through thoughtful design rather than excess material. The guitar arrives protected in a custom Calton flight case, ready for travel while safeguarding a work of art that belongs on the world’s finest stages.
This Nightingale Grand Soloist is more than a guitar. It is the meeting point of visionary luthiery, legendary artistry, and meticulous craftsmanship. In every note and every shimmering detail, it reflects the enduring brilliance of Kevin Ryan and the remarkable collaborators who helped bring this extraordinary instrument to life.
Other specifications include:
- Alpine Spruce Top
- Grafted Walnut Back & Sides
- Ebony Binding Theme
- Florentine (Sharp) Cutaway
- Blue Paua Top, Back & Sides Purfling
- Larry Robinson Fairy Scene Fingerboard Inlay with Micro-Scrimshaw by Bob Hergert
- Sylvan Rosette with Blue Paua Purfling
- Blue Paua Truss Rod Cover Purfling
- Blue Paua "R" Logo with Mother of Pearl MicroPearl
- Blue Paua Headstock Purfling
- Gotoh Super 510 Gold Machines Heads with Ebonoid Buttons and Embossed "R" Logo
- Innovation Suite (Ryan Ergonomic Bevel with Flutes, EO Bracing, Acoustic Honeycomb, Ryan Micro Adjustable Truss Rod System, Titanium Bridge Pins and A5 "Racing Stripe" Kerfed Liner)
- Custom Calton Flight Case
- 4 lb 11 oz
- #1317
For more information about the Kevin Ryan Nightingale Grand Soloist, please contact us.
- Manufacturer
- Kevin Ryan
- Body Style
- Nightingale Grand Soloist, Cutaway
- Actual Weight
- 4.11
- Model
- Nightingale Grand Soloist
- Condition
- Brand New
Product Images
Product Videos
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Kevin Ryan Nightingale Grand Soloist - Alpine Spruce & Grafted Walnut #1317
- Condition:
- New
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Description
The Nightingale Grand Soloist stands among the most expressive creations ever to leave the workshop of Kevin Ryan, a builder whose decades at the bench have reshaped the modern steel string guitar. Ryan’s instruments are revered for their balance of engineering and artistry, and this example reveals the depth of that philosophy in every detail. From the moment it is lifted from its case, the guitar radiates refinement and purpose, a product of a lifetime spent listening to wood and pushing the boundaries of acoustic design.
Its voice begins with a luminous Alpine spruce top, chosen for its remarkable clarity and responsiveness. Beneath the player’s hands it delivers a tone that is at once articulate and powerful, blooming with shimmering overtones while maintaining a focused fundamental. The back and sides are crafted from striking grafted walnut, a wood prized for its balance of warmth and definition. Together these tonewoods create a sonic landscape that feels expansive and deeply musical, capable of delicate nuance or commanding projection with equal grace. The elegant Florentine cutaway adds a sculptural flourish while opening the highest registers of the fingerboard.
Ryan’s signature ebony binding theme frames the instrument with quiet authority, while radiant blue paua purfling traces the top, back, sides, and headstock with iridescent light. The Sylvan rosette glows with intricate detail, its blue paua accents echoing the purfling that continues across the blue paua truss rod cover and the luminous “R” logo rendered in blue paua and mother of pearl MicroPearl. Gold Gotoh Super 510 machines with ebonoid buttons and embossed “R” logos crown the headstock, offering precision tuning with understated elegance.
The fingerboard is nothing short of a masterpiece. The fairy scene inlay was conceived by the legendary Larry Robinson, whose work has defined the highest level of ornamental guitar design for generations. Within that enchanting tableau are micro scrimshaw engravings by Bob Hergert, adding astonishing layers of dimension and storytelling that reward every close look. It is not simply decoration. It is narrative carved into the instrument itself.
Inside the guitar lives the full Ryan Innovation Suite, the engineering heart that has helped define Ryan’s reputation. The ergonomic bevel with sculpted flutes rests comfortably beneath the player’s arm. EO bracing and the acoustic honeycomb structure shape a voice that is both powerful and responsive. The Ryan micro adjustable truss rod system ensures precise control over the neck, while titanium bridge pins and the A5 “Racing Stripe” kerfed liner contribute strength, resonance, and long term stability. Every element works together to maximize tone, comfort, and structural integrity.
Despite its remarkable complexity, the instrument remains astonishingly light at just 4 pounds 11 ounces, a testament to Ryan’s mastery of strength through thoughtful design rather than excess material. The guitar arrives protected in a custom Calton flight case, ready for travel while safeguarding a work of art that belongs on the world’s finest stages.
This Nightingale Grand Soloist is more than a guitar. It is the meeting point of visionary luthiery, legendary artistry, and meticulous craftsmanship. In every note and every shimmering detail, it reflects the enduring brilliance of Kevin Ryan and the remarkable collaborators who helped bring this extraordinary instrument to life.
Other specifications include:
- Alpine Spruce Top
- Grafted Walnut Back & Sides
- Ebony Binding Theme
- Florentine (Sharp) Cutaway
- Blue Paua Top, Back & Sides Purfling
- Larry Robinson Fairy Scene Fingerboard Inlay with Micro-Scrimshaw by Bob Hergert
- Sylvan Rosette with Blue Paua Purfling
- Blue Paua Truss Rod Cover Purfling
- Blue Paua "R" Logo with Mother of Pearl MicroPearl
- Blue Paua Headstock Purfling
- Gotoh Super 510 Gold Machines Heads with Ebonoid Buttons and Embossed "R" Logo
- Innovation Suite (Ryan Ergonomic Bevel with Flutes, EO Bracing, Acoustic Honeycomb, Ryan Micro Adjustable Truss Rod System, Titanium Bridge Pins and A5 "Racing Stripe" Kerfed Liner)
- Custom Calton Flight Case
- 4 lb 11 oz
- #1317
For more information about the Kevin Ryan Nightingale Grand Soloist, please contact us.
- Manufacturer
- Kevin Ryan
- Body Style
- Nightingale Grand Soloist, Cutaway
- Actual Weight
- 4.11
- Model
- Nightingale Grand Soloist
- Condition
- Brand New
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Downloads
Contact Us About this Item
True Product Images
Yes, this is the actual guitar you’re looking at – not a generic stock photo! We take the time to individually photograph each and every guitar we sell so that you know exactly what you’re getting. From the grain of the wood to the unique finish and subtle character marks, what you see in the photo is the very guitar that will be shipped to your door. No surprises, no guesswork – just full transparency and confidence in your purchase.
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