Kevin Ryan "Rain Barrel" Nightingale Grand Soloist - Adirondack Spruce & Honduran Mahogany #1251

Kevin Ryan has spent decades redefining what a modern acoustic guitar can be. Trained originally as a cabinetmaker before turning fully to luthiery, Ryan brought a furniture builder’s eye for structure, proportion, and fine finishing into the guitar world. From his California workshop, he leads a small, intensely skilled team of craftspeople who build only a limited number of instruments each year, each one reflecting an obsessive pursuit of tonal balance, ergonomic comfort, and visual artistry. The Nightingale Grand Soloist has long been one of his most celebrated designs, and this Cellar Door Series example with the “Rain Barrel” finish is a stunning expression of that legacy.

Visually, the guitar is arresting before a single note is played. The Adirondack spruce top is finished in the dramatic Rain Barrel treatment, a deep, swirling stain pattern inspired by aged wine casks and cellar wood that feels organic, stormy, and alive with movement. Set against ebony binding and framed by black Tahitian pearl soundboard purfling, the top has a richness that draws the eye straight to the rosette, where black Tahitian pearl circles the soundhole with quiet luxury. The Florentine cutaway adds a sharp, elegant silhouette while granting easy access to the upper register, reinforcing the Grand Soloist’s role as a true performance instrument.

Flip the guitar over and the Honduran mahogany back and sides glow with a dark, chocolate warmth that complements the moody top perfectly. The neck flows into Ryan’s distinctive violin style headstock, outlined with refined purfling and crowned with the luminous blue Paua “R” logo. Gotoh Super 510 tuning machines in black chrome, fitted with Cosmo Black buttons and embossed Ryan logos, complete the headstock with mechanical precision and understated flash. Every small detail, from the black Tahitian pearl bridge purfling to the Arts and Crafts rose bud inlays on the bridge wings, shows the handwork of a shop that simply does not rush.

Ryan’s signature Innovation Suite is where this instrument truly separates itself from tradition. The ergonomic bevel with sculpted flutes melts into the player’s body, making long sessions effortless. Inside, EO bracing and the Acoustic Honeycomb structure work together to maximize stiffness to weight ratio, producing remarkable headroom, clarity, and responsiveness across the spectrum. Titanium bridge pins contribute to quick attack and articulation, while the A5 “Racing Stripe” kerfed liner adds both visual intrigue and structural efficiency. A Ryan micro adjustable truss rod system ensures precise setup control for decades to come.

The fingerboard carries a ghost inlay pattern rendered in black Tahitian pearl and gold mother of pearl, subtle from a distance yet richly detailed up close. Paired with a 1.75 inch nut width, 2.25 inch bridge spacing, and a 25.7 inch scale length, the Nightingale Grand Soloist offers a platform that fingerstylists and flatpickers alike will appreciate for its string separation, power, and dynamic range. At just 4 pounds 12 ounces, the guitar feels almost impossibly light for the authority it delivers.

Delivered in a Calton flight case, this Cellar Door Series Kevin Ryan Nightingale Grand Soloist is far more than a visual statement piece. It is the product of a master builder and a tightly knit team working at the peak of contemporary acoustic guitar making. With its Rain Barrel finish, Adirondack spruce and Honduran mahogany voicewood pairing, and an array of forward thinking structural innovations, this instrument stands as both a bold work of art and a serious tool for the most demanding musicians.

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For more information about the Ryan Nightingale Grand Soloist, please contact us.

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