Kevin Ryan Guitars
	"Out of all of Kevin's guitars,
	this is one of his top ten."
	FOR SALE: African Blackwood Mission Grand Concert ('98 ~ Mint)
	This instrument is very unique: not only is it the only guitar Kevin has made out of African Blackwood, but it has some of the most special qualities of any guitar we have carried. I was told that when you compare the sound of this guitar to all of Kevin's others, this African Blackwood is considered one of his top 10 (according to his wife!). And it has all the characteristics you look for in a guitar for a lifetime: great tone and sustain, incredible volume, precise playability (articulate), and immaculate, solid workmanship.
	Is African Blackwood special? According to respected luthier Jeffrey Elliott, African Blackwood could be, arguably, better even than Brazilian Rosewood. He says, "African blackwood is to Brazilian rosewood as Brazilian rosewood is to Indian rosewood" (Luthiers Mercantile International Price List Catalog, Winter 2000, pg. 12). African Blackwood (formally called mpingo) is a very rare hardwood with an enchanting history. Found only in East Africa (Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Uganda, Zimbabwe and extensively in Tanzania), it is prized by the makers of the finest Oboes, Clarinets and Bagpipes. Known as "The Music Tree", only 3% of a mpingo tree is usable for these wind instruments. And at this time, larger trees, that are wide enough for the back and sides of a guitar, are particularly difficult to find. The tree is now under a number of conservation efforts. If you want a guitar made out of African Blackwood, if you can find it, there can be a year and a half wait for the wood alone.
	The African Blackwood on this guitar is dark and rich. The headstock contains front and back Macassar ebony plates. The back of the headstock transitions to the neck with an elegant ducktail. The body is bound in flamed maple. The top is made from heavily silked Sitka spruce, protected with a clear pickguard. Finally, there is a great piece of ebony for the fingerboard and bridge.
	Other appointments include an elegant rosette made from large pieces of Tahitian black-lip pearl (also very difficult to find), which compliment the African Blackwood and the ebony draft circlet in the rim of the soundhole. Known as "The Queen of Pearls", black-lip pearl is mainly grown in the clear, warm waters of French Polynesia, in the large black-lip oysters. Tahitian pearls are rarer than other types of pearls, since only a small number of the oysters survive. The color in the rosette is a luminescent white, with dark accents, along with a rainbow of colors when reflecting light.
	The neck is solid mahogany, with gold Schaller tuners and ebony buttons. The top nut and saddle, fully compensated, are made from bone. The end pins are ebony with MOP dots.
	See pictures: front ~ cutaway ~ rosette ~ head (front) ~ head (back) ~ back
	Don't miss this opportunity to own one of Kevin's best! $SOLD!