Spruce | Santos Rosewood, Cherry

Ryan is a maker I’ve admired for a long time. I was immediately impressed by one of his earlier concert guitars from 2021, which showed remarkable maturity and skill for a luthier who, at that stage, was really in the outset of his career. His guitars have always stood out for their precise craftsmanship and tasteful, modern design. I remember that 2021 instrument vividly: a beautifully balanced guitar, warm yet clear, with a refinement that far exceeded his experience at the time. Ever since then, I’ve been eagerly anticipating the opportunity to explore one of his latest creations.Time moves on of course, and Ryan is now a man with a career that looks poised to accelerate rapidly. His journey as a luthier has seen him refine and develop his signature concert model, incorporating clever evolutions of the ideas present in that earlier guitar. The result is an instrument that elevates tone, comfort, playability, and overall musical application well beyond what was already an impressive foundation.Construction & CraftsmanshipRyan Gibson’s work has always been defined by thoughtful engineering and the most meticulous skill as a craftsman.A change to his earlier 650mm/52mm design his latest guitar sports a 648mm scale length and 51mm nut offer a subtly more comfortable playing experience—ideal for players who appreciate classic proportions but also value an easier workload for the left hand. You might not think 1 or 2mm would make any perceptible difference, but it does. This adjustment is just one indication of Ryan’s meticulous nature when it comes to crafting the most perfectly proportioned instrument that is built to serve the player.The double-sided body construction (Santos rosewood exterior with walnut interior) enhances structural rigidity while still keeping weight in check. This is a clever design that retains aesthetic beauty on the outside, functions effectively to firm up the body and utilises the lighter density of walnut to keep the weight down.  The result is a body that channels more of the string energy into the soundboard, increasing projection and liveliness, whilst delivering a guitar that is light and therefore very responsive to touch.The guitar also features an angled harmonic bar, a design associated with deeper, more open bass response. By increasing cross-grain stiffness—particularly on the treble side—it reinforces the fundamental frequencies, producing trebles that are clean, articulate, and beautifully focused.A set of Kris Barnett tuners adds a further touch of refinement: smooth gearing, exceptional tuning accuracy, and a noticeable elevation over standard hardware. The finish is completed with subtle Ebony/Malaysian Blackwood detailing on the headstock—a classy, understated nod to the guitar’s aesthetic identity.ToneFor all it’s aesthetic beauty, the tonal palette is where this guitar truly shines.The trebles are full-bodied, colourful, and lyrical, characterised by a singing quality that remains consistent across the dynamic range. The basses are rich, defined, and resonant, countering the expressive trebles with gorgeously resonant depth without ever becoming loose or boomy. What stands out most is the openness and clarity: each note feels well-anchored, well-weighted, and expresses its musical character without strain. This is a guitar which delivers the most ‘musical’ of tones, rather than attempting to flatter with one dimensional tricks such as extreme warmth or crashing great waves of volume.For a brand-new spruce guitar, the response is already impressively mature. Even at higher volumes, the guitar maintains musical integrity without becoming shouty—a hallmark of a well-voiced concert guitar. Across all registers, there is a welcome sense of coherence, as though each string understands its role in the broader harmonic picture.PlayabilityThe action is intentionally set slightly higher than the current trend of low action guitars. This is to satisfy classical players who rely on and favour the widest possible dynamic range and control. This setup gives the guitar ample room to breathe and project. Yet, despite this, the guitar never feels taxing or unwieldy. Once acclimatised, fast scales, complex passages, and delicate articulation fall naturally under the fingers.Ryan’s neck design is rather nice too. He has mastered the art of shaping curves that are both aesthetically elegant and highly functional. The neck depth is largely consistent along the length—22mm at the nut, only 24mm by the 9th fret—resulting in a stable, comfortable and familiar feel as you move up the fingerboard.With E-to-E string spacing of 41.9mm at the nut and 56.7mm at the saddle, the proportions feel balanced and intuitive. This is fractionally on the narrower side than the majority of concert guitars we’ve measured, which syncs with this guitars identity as a player friendly instrument.Whilst the action is set at around 4mm / 3mm (bass / treble), there is also plenty of scope to bring the action down should a player prefer a lower setup.ConclusionThe term “concert guitar” is sometimes applied a little too generously in the classical guitar world—but not here. The Ryan Gibson Concert Model sits unambiguously in the realm of serious, professional-grade instruments.It has the power, depth, control, and refinement that a concert artist requires across an entire season of diverse repertoire. Yet it is equally suited to discerning non-professional aficionados who make the highest demands of their instrument and still expect sublime results.Around 5 years of development have gone into this guitar since the first Ryan Gibson guitar I played back in 2021. I can say with hand on heart that the improvement on what was already a superb guitar is staggering. The whole instrument carries an air of authority with a classy elegance that is impossible to ignore. There are more renowned guitars way beyond the price tag of this instrument that simply can’t hold a candle to Ryan Gibson’s work. Do not miss the opportunity to acquire one of these stunning guitars before the prices soar in line with Ryan’s growing reputation.