Jose Ramirez - 1976 - 1a No.10098 8-strings

About the luthier

The Ramírez family has been building high-quality guitars since 1882. Their instruments have been played by some of the greatest guitarists in history, including Andrés Segovia, Julian Bream, Laurindo Almeida, Oscar Ghiglia, and José Luis González. The Ramírez name is deeply woven into the history of classical guitar making. José Ramírez I (1858–1923) trained many prominent builders in his Madrid workshop. His grandson, José Ramírez III (1922–1995), revolutionized guitar construction by pioneering the use of Western Red Cedar for tops and introducing innovations such as double sides—combining rosewood and cypress—for enhanced tonal performance. Segovia himself played multiple guitars by Ramírez III, including four cedar-top models built between 1965 and 1969.

About the guitar

This José Ramírez 8-string guitar, built in 1976 and numbered 10098, is a remarkable instrument from the golden period of the Ramírez workshop under the direction of José Ramírez III. Inside the guitar, under the soundboard, the number 9 appears, identifying Ramón Peñalver Soler as the builder, one of the highly skilled luthiers in the Ramírez III workshop. The instrument is notable for its excellent playability, despite the extended 8-string setup. The response is immediate, and the guitar remains well-balanced and articulate across all registers. Tonally, it delivers the powerful voice and warm character that have become synonymous with Ramírez guitars of this era.

Condition

This guitar is in excellent structural and playing condition. It shows normal signs of playing wear, including a few nail marks and a professionally stabilized 20 cm crack on the upper left bout of the soundboard. The crack is purely cosmetic and does not affect the integrity or sound of the instrument. It is a rare and beautifully preserved 8-string concert guitar with historical significance and collector value.