Chicago-based fingerstyle guitarist Eric Lugosch recently visited the Peghead Nation studio to talk about his main guitar, a custom Kevin Ryan Abbey Grand Parlor. Built with Brazilian rosewood and Adirondack spruce, the guitar has a cutaway, long scale, and contemporary neck profile, making it a hybrid of vintage and modern designs.
Eric began playing Kevin Ryan guitars in the late ’90s, when he acquired a Mission Grand Concert model. “I played that instrument for three years, but it was a 14-fret instrument, which wasn’t really correct for my style, which is sort of a mixture of gospel and classical music,” he says. When Eric found out that Kevin had started experimenting with a 12-fret parlor-size guitar, he asked him if he would build him one with a cutaway. Kevin agreed and offered to build it out of Brazilian rosewood, trade for Eric’s Mission Grand Concert, and move the order up on his waiting list. Eric’s guitar became the very first Abbey production model.
“This instrument has offered the best of two worlds to me,” says Eric. “I can play with a heavy right hand, and I can also play with a more subtle and delicate right hand. It doesn’t break up with the heavy hand, and if I play with a light touch, the notes really sing.” Eric used the guitar on his last two albums, Revision and New Tradition, and it’s his primary performing instrument.
In this video, Eric talks about the process of acquiring the guitar and plays the traditional tune “Eighth of January” as well as a complete performance of his original “The Cajun Cook.” Ericlugosch.com
SPECS:12-fret cutaway body with 14-inch lower bout. Adirondack spruce top. Brazilian rosewood back and sides. Mahogany neck. Ebony fingerboard and bridge. 25.5-inch scale. 1¹³/₁₆-inch nut width. Made in USA. Ryanguitars.com
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