2021 - Kevin Ryan Paradiso Grand Concert - Moonglow Redwood & Brazilian Rosewood

The 2021 Kevin Ryan Paradiso Grand Concert in Moonglow Redwood and Brazilian Rosewood stands as a breathtaking union of artistry and innovation, a guitar born from the restless imagination of one of the most influential modern luthiers alive. Built originally for our own Matt Chulka, this Paradiso carries with it a personal history as well as the legacy of Kevin Ryan’s ceaseless pursuit of refinement and musical grace. Though used, it remains in excellent condition, having lived a quiet, cherished life in a meticulously maintained studio environment.

For over three decades, Kevin Ryan has reshaped the boundaries of what a steel-string guitar can be, fusing sculptural design, acoustic architecture, and pure tone into instruments that feel both futuristic and timeless. His work has continually sought to solve the age-old challenges of resonance, comfort, and beauty not through tradition alone, but through invention. The Paradiso Grand Concert, one of his crowning achievements, is the result of this philosophy fully realized—a guitar that feels alive in the hands, luminous in sound, and breathtaking in detail.

Its Master Grade Moonglow Sinker Redwood top glows with quiet depth and subtle shimmer, the wood drawn from riverbeds where time and current have infused it with both strength and soul. Paired with Brazilian Rosewood back and sides, the voice of this instrument opens into a world of rich overtones, liquid sustain, and a responsive sensitivity that captures every nuance of touch. Each note blooms with a cathedral-like clarity, carrying both warmth and dimension that few instruments can ever approach.

Every element of its construction is a conversation between craft and art. The Florentine cutaway arcs like a sculpted phrase in motion, wrapped in an elegant ebony binding theme and framed by blue Paua purfling that shimmers like starlight at every edge of the soundboard and headstock. The Arts & Crafts Rose rosette, delicately inlaid with Paua, and the matching fingerboard inlay speak to Ryan’s sense of visual harmony—ornamentation not as decoration, but as poetry rendered in wood and shell. The Brazilian rosewood bridge, headstock veneer, and truss rod cover bring unity to the tonewoods, while details like the Macassar ebony backstrap and the blue Paua “R” logo with Mother of Pearl MicroPearl affirm the instrument’s identity as a work of extraordinary intention.

Beneath its beauty lies Ryan’s groundbreaking Innovation Suite: the ergonomic bevel with flowing flutes that cradle the player’s arm in comfort; the EO bracing and Acoustic Honeycomb architecture that balance strength and resonance; the Micro Adjustable Truss Rod System that allows for effortless precision; the titanium bridge pins that add clarity and sustain; and the A5 “Racing Stripe” kerfed liner that reveals Ryan’s hidden world of acoustic engineering. Every aspect exists to serve the sound and the player in equal measure.

Its Gotoh Super 510 black chrome tuners with ebonoid buttons and the embossed “R” logo offer both elegance and control, while the strap buttons at neck heel and tail nod to practicality for performance. Though there is a slight finish delamination near the fingerboard, it has no effect on playability or tone, remaining only as a faint whisper of use in an otherwise pristine instrument.

With its 1.75-inch nut width, 2.25-inch bridge spacing, and 25.7-inch scale length, the Paradiso Grand Concert offers a perfect balance of intimacy and dynamic range. At only 5 pounds, 1 ounce, it feels effortlessly resonant against the body, yet the sound it produces is vast and enveloping. The guitar rests in a fitted Calton flight case, ensuring that its protection is equal to its beauty.

The 2021 Kevin Ryan Paradiso Grand Concert is not simply a guitar—it is the embodiment of a lifetime’s pursuit of excellence, a meeting of science and soul. In its presence, one hears not just notes, but the echo of vision itself, shaped into wood, light, and air.

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For more information about the Ryan Paradiso Grand Concert, please contact us.

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