José Ramirez Guitars
Madrid, Spain
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Since this firm was founded by Jose Ramirez I in 1882, its main activity has consisted in the artisan construction of high quality guitars, and to date this traditional knowledge has been handed down from fathers to sons. During this period, Ramirez created his own personal style which still serves as a model for the construction of guitars the world over. The most important breakthroughs were accomplished by José Ramirez III, who created a series of decisive modifications in the internal structure of the guitar. At present, José Ramirez IV is in charge of the direction of the workshop and devotes his time to the design of these instruments.
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"In the construction of my guitars, I employ precious woods of the highest quality, which have been used, traditionally in the guitar building craft, with the exception of the Red Cedar for the harmonic tops, which was used for the first time by my father, Jose Ramirez III, sometime during 1960, when he discovered its characteristic sonorous quality. The traditional woods used in my guitars are: Honduras Cedar, Cameron Ebony, German Spruce, Cypress, Indian Rosewood and Jacaranda[ (Brazilian Rosewood). Once these woods are sawn, they have a natural aging time of at least 15 years. Once dried and having reached the ideal point of humidity, they are selected to commence the construction of the instrument. The relative environmental humidity in my workshop is controlled, in such manner that it is maintained within the ideal margins of 55%, which is exactly the advisable level for the lifetime conservation of the instrument. The work performed at my shop is totally artisan insofar as the guitar itself is concerned. Therefore, from start to finish the guitar gradually takes form in the hands of the very craftsman. Once it is finished in wood, it passes on to the varnishing and finishing process. I personally am in charge of supervising the process to control the quality of each guitar. Once completed, I check them again in order to assure myself that there is nothing to be corrected in their construction" |
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